Feb. 18: Gretzky's first five-goal game in NHL

THIS DATE IN HISTORY: Feb. 18

1981: Wayne Gretzky scores five goals for the first time in his NHL career to help the Edmonton Oilers to a 9-2 victory against the St. Louis Blues at Northlands Coliseum.

The 20-year-old center breaks a 2-2 tie when he scores at 4:44 of the second period against Mike Liut, then blows the game open by scoring four times in less than eight minutes during the third period.

It's the first of Gretzky's four five-goal games in the NHL. He also becomes the first player in League history to score at least three goals in a game five times before the age of 21.

Exactly eight years later. Gretzky gets seven points (two goals, five assists) in the Los Angeles Kings' 11-3 victory against the Quebec Nordiques at the Forum in Inglewood, California, giving him 1,800 points in 754 NHL games.

MORE MOMENTS

1918:Georges Vezina of the Montreal Canadiens becomes the first goalie in NHL history to earn a shutout. The 9-0 victory against Toronto comes in the NHL's third month of play in the League's first season.

1928:Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens of the Ottawa Senators gets his sixth consecutive shutout, an NHL record, in Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens against the visiting Canadiens. It's Connell's 12th shutout of the season and the 47th of his NHL career.

1968:The New York Rangers inaugurate the "new" Madison Square Garden by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1. Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens of the Flyers scores the new arena's first goal, but Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens by Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens, Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens and Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens give the Rangers the victory. It comes one week after their final game at the "old" Garden, a 3-3 tie against the Detroit Red Wings.

1970:Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens scores his record-setting Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens, beating Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens during the Boston Bruins' 5-5 tie with the Kings at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Orr breaks his own NHL single-season mark for goals by a defenseman, set the previous season. He finishes with 33 goals.

1971:Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens scores his 20th goal in the Detroit Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens against the Minnesota North Stars at Olympia Stadium. He extends his own NHL record by scoring at least 20 goals for the 22nd consecutive season.

1990:Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens has the biggest scoring night of his 22-year NHL career, finishing with Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens (one goal, five assists) for the Bruins in a 7-2 victory against the Vancouver Canucks at Pacific Coliseum. The five assists make Bourque the seventh defenseman in NHL history to have 600 in his career.

1999: Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens of the Carolina Hurricanes becomes the second player in NHL history (and the first defenseman) to have 1,100 assists. The milestone comes in Carolina's Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens against the Capitals in Greensboro, North Carolina.

2019: Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning has two goals and three assists for his second five-point game of the season, giving him 99 points (29 goals, 70 assists) in 60 games. He is involved on every Lightning goal in a Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens at Nationwide Arena. Kucherov is the eighth player since 1990-91, and the first since 1995-96, to have at least 99 points through his team's 60th game of the season.

On the same night, Alex DeBrincat has a five-point night (three goals, two assists) for the Chicago Blackhawks in an Video: Georges Vezina was ironman goalie for the Canadiens at United Center. Patrick Kane has a goal and two assists for Chicago, extending his point streak to 18 games. The teams combine to score nine goals in the first period.