Sam Gagner’s wild ride: Eight points versus Chicago

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Sure, there was a hat trick on the way to a four-point night against Colorado in the 2008-09 season.

But nothing, nothing at all, in Oilers center Sam Gagner’s recent run of form indicated that he would explode for eight points -- four goals and four assists -- against the Blackhawks on Thursday night in Edmonton.

It was the first eight-point game by a player in the NHL since 1989. Darryl Sittler holds the NHL record, scoring 10 points in 1976 with the Maple Leafs. One player hit the eight-point plateau while playing for the Kings: Bernie Nicholls in 1988.

Gagner was named the first, second and third star of the game. Here’s the announcement on a nice clip on Youtube.com

Reviews started during Gagner’s sensational performance and continued Friday morning on twitter:

Gagner’s teammate, Ryan Jones: @jonesry28
‘I had the craziest dream that Sam Gagner had 8 pts in a game. That’s not possible is it!?!?’
And this from teammate Taylor Hall, who only had a career-high four points against: @hallsy04
‘What a night, I still can’t believe what happened. Congrats to Sam. Must have been Cabo eh bro! pic.twitter.com/ul3gn7n0’
‘A couple of the [Blackhawks] skated by me and said it’s pretty incredible, congratulations,’ Gagner told the Edmonton Journal. ‘Obviously it’s tough to do that when you’re losing the game but it feels good to get that respect from other players in the league. Hopefully, I can keep it going.’

And one programming note: The NHL Network is going to run another viewing the Blackhawks-Oilers game, starting at noon Pacific time Friday.
ALSO:

Dean Lombardi gives his explanation of controversy

NHL investigating clock operation on last-second Kings goal

-- Lisa Dillman