Taylor Hall scores twice in eight seconds, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers record (Video)
One has to think that most of Wayne Gretzky's franchise records for the Edmonton Oilers are pretty well out of reach. But on Thursday night versus the New York Islanders, Taylor Hall actually managed to get one.
At 15:52 of the first period, Hall opened the scoring for the Oilers, tying the game. Then, at 16:00, just eight seconds later, he put the Oilers ahead. It was a new franchise record for the fastest two goals by an Oilers player. The previous record? Nine seconds, courtesy some schmuck named Gertsky or something. Watch the clip:
The first comes after a beautiful pass from Justin Schultz. The second is off the ensuing face-off, naturally, as Hall pounces on a rebound after a Mark Arcobello shot.
Sadly, Hall missed the NHL record -- shared by Nels Stewart of the Montreal Maroons in 1931 and Winnipeg's Deron Quint in 1995 -- by four whole seconds. You snooze, you lose, Hallsy.
It's actually not Hall's only franchise record for speed-goaling. He also holds the Oilers' record for fastest hat trick to start a game. He only needed 7 minutes and 53 seconds to accomplish the feat last season versus the Canucks.
Anyway, no doubt Gretzky's choked. When reached for comment he said, "If Kevin Lowe would have got me the puck quicker it would have been seven seconds!"
I guess he'll have to console himself with some of his other single-game franchise records for the Oilers, like most goals (5), most goals in a period (4), most assists (7), most assists in a period (4), most points (8), and so on for basically ever.
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