On April 15, Gretzky played in what would turn out to be his final game in his native Canada, a 2-2 tie against the Ottawa Senators. That game, more than the one at the Garden, was special because of the spontaneity of the emotions with the fans chanting "One more year," Gretzky being named the first, second and third star, and, after he had returned to the visiting locker room, the crowd continuing to cheer and chant until he came back out for two curtain calls.
The afternoon at the Garden felt more scripted but also is memorable. The pregame ceremony included visiting dignitaries such as former Penguins center Mario Lemieux, already a Hockey Hall of Famer who would come out of retirement less than two years later; Glen Sather, who was general manager of the Edmonton Oilers and became Rangers GM less than 14 months later; and Mark Messier, the former Rangers captain who was with the Vancouver Canucks at the time but returned to New York after Sather took over.
\[*RELATED: This Date in NHL History: The Great One says goodbye\]*
Commissioner Gary Bettman declared that no other NHL player would wear No. 99 after Gretzky took off his jersey that day. Then they played the game.
Gretzky got an assist on a power-play goal in the second period by Brian Leetch for the 2,857th and final point of his 20-season NHL career. Jaromir Jagr scored in overtime to give the Penguins a 2-1 victory, which seemed fitting as Gretzky passed the torch to the best player in the game at that time.
Jagr led the League with 127 points and won the Hart Trophy that season. Now 45 and still playing, he ranks second behind Gretzky with 1,914 NHL points.