Great-zky

Of all of Wayne Gretzky's records - and there are a shitload of them - but of them all, the one that may never ever be broken was set on this day 25 years ago in positively shocking fashion.

The Great One, only 20 years old at the time and already a two-time winner of the Hart Trophy, was well on his way to 50 goals in 50 games in the '81-'82 season when he erupted for four goals in his 38th game, putting him just five shy of 50 with 12 games to play. It was a fait accompli for sure, and yet no one expected what would actually happen, which is that Gretzky would pour in five goals against the Flyers in his very next game, December 30, 1981, to set a mark that will probably stand until the end of time - 50 goals in 39 games.

Just the season before Mike Bossy had become the first player to match Maurice Richard's record from the 1944-45 season of 50 goals in 50 games, a feat that many had thought was impossible in the first place. So for Gretzky to waltz in and do it in 39 games (39 games!... think about that) was just unfathomabo.

Below is a YouTube recap of the record including all of the goals against the Flyers. As an aside for all you Uniwatch fanatics out there and just the rest of our astute No Masian faithful, I'm sure the Flyers leg-wear will not go unremarked upon.