Dec. 30, 1981

Hours before tonight's game in Edmonton, Wayne Gretzky, who has scored 45 goals in 38 games, cooks bacon and eggs for himself and roommate Kevin Lowe. "He really doesn't say much (about his goals)," Lowe says, "but when I talked to him he said there was no reason why he couldn't score five against the Flyers."

And then the modest 20-year-old Oilers center goes out and does it. He scores on (1) a five-footer from the edge of the crease; (2) a howitzer from 35 feet; (3) a breakaway 25-footer off Pete Peeters; (4) a 30-footer over Peeters' shoulder; and (5) an empty-net goal with three seconds left.

With his 50 goals in just 39 games, he demolishes the record of 50 in 50 games, set by Montreal's Maurice Richard (1944-45) and tied by the Islanders' Mike Bossy (1980-81).

"Things like this aren't supposed to happen," Oilers defenseman Paul Coffey says after the 7-5 victory. "He's had nine goals in two straight games (he had four against Los Angeles in his previous game). Yet, when he sets a goal for himself, he gets it. It's that simple. He wanted to do it before his 40th game. You could have bet a million dollars against him doing it, but I knew he would."