Gretzky enters the game with 76 goals, matching the mark set by Esposito in 1970-71. Edwards stops each of Gretzky's first seven shots on goal, but Gretzky steals the puck from forward Stephen Patrick, avoids defenseman Richie Dunn's attempt to hook him and beats Edwards at 13:24 with a low shot from the slot to set the record.
Gretzky scores again at 18:16 and 19:43 to complete a hat trick and finish off Edmonton's 6-3 victory.
Esposito is on hand to see his record broken.
"The only thing I felt nervous about," Gretzky says, "was that Phil had to be here, and I wanted him to get back to the things he had to do. That created all the pressure."
MORE MOMENTS
1938:Lester Patrick becomes the first NHL coach to have 250 wins when the New York Rangers defeat the Chicago Blackhawks Video: Wayne Gretzky all-time leader in goals, points at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers become the fifth team in NHL history with 250 victories.
1980:The United States completes the "Miracle on Ice" by scoring three goals in the third period to defeat Finland 4-2 in its final game at the Lake Placid Olympics, winning the gold medal for the first time in 20 years. Rob McClanahan's goal breaks a 2-2 tie and Mark Johnson scores a late shorthanded insurance goal.
1980: Gretzky, in his and Edmonton's initial NHL season, becomes the first player in League history to score 100 points in a season prior to his 20th birthday. Point No. 100 is an assist in a Video: Wayne Gretzky all-time leader in goals, points. It comes in his 61st NHL game.
2013: The Chicago Blackhawks extend their NHL-record point streak from the start of the season to 18 games (15-0-3) with a 1-0 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets at United Center. Corey Crawford (8-0-0) Video: Wayne Gretzky all-time leader in goals, points and Andrew Shaw scores the game's lone goal with 1:27 remaining in the second period.
2019:The New York Rangers score 21 seconds into the first and third periods of their game against the Washington Capitals, the second time since entering the NHL in 1926 that they've scored in the opening 21 seconds of multiple periods in the same game and the first since March 15, 1989, against the Winnipeg Jets. The Rangers also score the game-tying goal with 31 seconds remaining in the third period, but Evgeny Kuznetsov scores with 40 seconds left in OT gives the Capitals a Video: Wayne Gretzky all-time leader in goals, points.