50 goals in 50 games
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50 goals in 50 games refers to the act of scoring 50 goals in the first 50 games of a National Hockey League season. Scoring fifty goals in fifty (or fewer) games in the NHL is a renowned achievement, widely considered the true bench mark of the greatest goal scorers. For comparison, in the most recent NHL season (2005-06), the goal-scoring race was won with 56 goals over an 82-game schedule by Jonathan Cheechoo and in the 2003-04 season, the goal-scoring race was tied between Rick Nash, Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk with 41 goals each over 82 games.
The NHL officially defines "50 goals in 50 games" to mean that a player scores 50 goals in the team's first 50 games of the season, not the player's first 50. This feat has been officially done eight times by five different players.
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[edit] Maurice Richard
- 1944-45: 50 in 50 games (50 in 50)
The 1944-45 season had a 50 game schedule. Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens was the first player to score 50 goals, astounding the hockey world. While many who followed scored 50 goals once the length of the season was expanded, for the next 35 seasons nobody else would score 50 goals in 50 games. The then-unmatched feat led many to declare the Rocket to be greatest scorer of all time.
On the other hand, a number of contemporary commentators noted that NHL rosters of that time were badly watered down due to many stars serving in World War II. Richard would never again score 50 goals in a season.
[edit] Mike Bossy
- 1980-81: 50 in 50 games (50 in 50)
Many thought it would be impossible to duplicate Maurice Richard’s 50 in 50. Then, in the 1980-81 season, Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders became only the second player to score 50 goals in 50 games. He scored twice within the last five minutes of his 50th game. He finished the season with 68 goals in 79 games.
[edit] Wayne Gretzky
- 1981-82: 61 in 50 games (50 in 39)
- 1983-84: 61 in 50 games (50 in 42)
- 1984-85: 53 in 50 games (50 in 49)
While people were still marvelling at what Bossy had just accomplished, Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers demolished the "50 in 50" mark. In Gretzky’s 38th game, he scored 4 goals, giving him 45 on the season. It was expected that Gretzky would break the "50 in 50" record, but no one could have predicted what happened next. In his very next game, on December 30, 1981, he scored 5 goals against the Philadelphia Flyers to give him the record of 50 goals in only 39 games. He had 50 goals before anybody else even had 30, and finished with an NHL-record 92 goals on the season.
Gretzky would go on to score 50 goals in less than 50 games two more times in his career. He did it in 1983-84 when he scored his 50th goal in the team's 42nd game and again in 1984-85 when he scored his 50th in the team's 49th game.
[edit] Mario Lemieux
- 1988-89: 54 in 50 games (50 in 46)
Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins was the next player to score 50 in 50 or less, achieving the feat on January 20, 1989. Super Mario's 50th goal officially came in game 46, which was Lemieux's 44th game of the season. He finished the season with 85 goals, and at that time, third only to Gretzky’s 92 and 87.
[edit] Brett Hull
Brett Hull, son of the famous Bobby Hull, was a natural goal-scorer. He scored 50 goals in 50 games or less twice in his career for the St. Louis Blues. He first did it in the 1990-91 season when Hull scored his 50th goal, and second of the game, against rookie goalie Dave Gagnon on January 25, 1991, in the Blues' 49th game, at Detroit. Hull finished the season with 86 goals, trailing only Gretzky's 92 and 87.
His second time — the most recent season the feat was achieved — was during the next season (1991-92). On January 28, 1992, The Golden Brett scored his 50th goal against goalie Kelly Hrudey in game number 50, a 3-3 tie in Los Angeles, answering a Gretzky goal.
[edit] Unofficial 50 in 50 scorers
The following players scored fifty goals in their fiftieth game or less in a single season, but do not officially qualify for 50-in-50 status because the NHL requires a player to have scored his 50th goal in his team's 50th game or less.
Jari Kurri (1984-85) of the Edmonton Oilers scored his 50th goal in his 50th game of the season, which was his team's 53rd game. He finished with 71 goals for the year.
Alexander Mogilny (1992-93) of the Buffalo Sabres scored his 50th goal in his 46th game of the season, which was his team's 53rd game. He finished with 76 goals for the year.
Mario Lemieux (1992-93 & 1995-96) scored 50 in 50 two more times after his official 50 in 50 in the 1988-89 season. In the 1992-93 season he scored his 50th goal in his 48th game, which was his team's 72nd game. He was plagued by injury that year, and finished with a total of 69 goals in 60 games played, scoring a remarkable 19 goals in his remaining 12 games. In the 1995-96 season he scored his 50th goal in his 50th game (the team's 59th), and finished the season with 69 goals in 70 games.
Cam Neely (1993-94) of the Boston Bruins scored his 50th goal in his 44th game — faster than any player other than Gretzky and Lemieux — which was his team's 66th game. He was likewise plagued with injury that year — not like his naïve boast of "I'm indomitable" at all — and only played a total of 49 games, failing to score a goal in his remaining five games after reaching fifty.
[edit] Near misses
- Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks scored his 50th goal in his 52nd game in 1965-66.
- Charlie Simmer of the Los Angeles Kings scored his 50th goal in his 51st game in 1980-81.
- Mario Lemieux scored his 50th goal in his 51st game in 1987-88.
- Bernie Nicholls of the Los Angeles Kings scored his 50th goal in his 51st game in 1988-89.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2005, published by Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- nhl.com
- Beckett Hockey Monthly, issue #50, December 1994.
