Wayne Gretzky scored his record-setting 77th goal the way he got the first 76: He just kept shooting.
Gretzky entered the Edmonton Oilers' game against the Buffalo Sabres at Memorial Auditorium on Feb. 24, 1982 with 76 goals, equaling the single-season record set by Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins 11 years earlier. For more than 53 minutes, he fired away at Buffalo goaltender Don Edwards, only to come up empty. Gretzky had two assists in the first period but was not dominating play, as he often did. Most of the roars at the Aud were for Buffalo's Gilbert Perreault, who had a hat trick and tied the game 3-3 with a goal 2:27 into the third period.
Wayne Gretzky persisted to score No. 77
Oilers forward broke Phil Esposito's single-season NHL record for goals 35 years ago Friday
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