Sam Gagner Scores Eight Points Last Night Against The Blackhawks

Nick Camillo Piccone on Fri, 2012-02-03 12:59

 

 
The Oilers made headlines last night. Not only did they defeat the Chicago Blackhawks, 8-4, but they had one player on their roster who had roles in each one of the eight goals that the Oilers scored.
 
Yes, you read that correctly. Sam Gagner had eight points last night in the victory. Gagner's four goals and four assists supplied Oiler fans with their best victory  since the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. Hey, with a team that is likely to not make the playoffs, a game like the one Gagner had very much worth talking about.
 
Gagner became the first player to record eight points in a game in 23 years. The last time Oilers fans saw such an accomplishment, it only came from the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey. Gagner is now in rare company.
 
“I didn’t think I would ever be mentioned in the same breath as Gretzky or Coffey. You never expect to do something like this."
 
No, Sam. Nobody does. But you did. Bask in your 15 minutes of fame. Perhaps Gagner now will be a hot commodity on the trade market because I'm sure some of the general managers around the league saw this game and immediately thought Gagner could provide eight points on a nightly basis. At least, that's what it seems like GMs in the NHL would think, given some of the ridiculous ineptitude some of them have.
 
But wait, there's more. Gagner was awarded the first, second, and third stars of the game. He's only the second player in NHL history to be awarded all three stars for his performance during a game. Two others, Saku Koivu and Mats Sundin received three stars before, but it wasn't performance-related. Not only will Gagner's name be shared in the same sentence as Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey, but also Maurice "The Rocket" Richard, who was the only other player in history to be awarded all three stars of a game for his performance- a 5-goal night in 1944 [via Deadspin].
 
It's just the 16th eight-point game in NHL history.
 
I shouldn't end without mentioning a career night for Taylor Hall. Hall had a career-high four points. After dominating the Blackhawks 9-2 back in November, Oiler fans should hope to somehow make the playoffs and square off against Chicago in the first round. They have their number mentally.
 
Coach Tom Renney weighed in on Gagner's night:
 
“It’s been one of those years where you are looking for things to hang your hats on and feel good about and it doesn’t get much better than this. It puts a smile on your face in a tough year.
 
“People will remember this game for a while.”
 
Gagner's eight points helped Edmonton to the win, as the Oilers have gone 3-0-1 in their last four games. Is this the beginning of a run for the Oilers to get back into prime position for the playoffs? We'll just have to wait and see.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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