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This Day in Hockey History

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1982 - Gretzky records 12th career hat trick at age 20

In an 8-6 win over the St. Louis Blues, 20-year-old Wayne Gretzky records his 12th career hat trick, becoming the first player to accomplish such a feat.

The three-goal performance was the Great One's sixth of the 1981-82 season, wherein he scored a career-high and NHL record 92 goals.

Gretzky, of course, holds the league record for all-time goals with 894, recording 50 hat tricks along the way.

1989 - Lemieux hits 50 goals in 44 games

Speaking of prolific goal scorers, Mario Lemieux scores his 50th goal of the season in a 7-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. 

The goal came in his 44th game of the season, making him just the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in less than 50 games.

The aforementioned Gretzky reached 50 goals in less than 50 games three times before Lemieux:

  • 1981-82: 50 in 39
  • 1983-84: 50 in 42
  • 1984-85: 50 in 49

1996 - Bourque scores All-Star Game winner in Boston

Legendary Boston Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque scores the game-winning goal at the All-Star Game with 38 seconds remaining in regulation, much to the delight of the hometown crowd.

Bourque, who appeared in the All-Star Game in each of his 21 seasons in the NHL, was named the Most Valuable Player for his heroics. 

Birthdays

1987 - Ryan Reaves
1994 - Hampus Lindholm

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