Recently, the National Hockey League (NHL) has seen an increase in offense, with average goals per game and the number of 100 goal scorers per season on the rise. This article examines NHL history documents, highlighting the highest-scoring games ever played in the league.
Breaking the record with 21 goals
The two games that hold the record for most goals scored in an NHL game. The first of these was the Edmonton Oilers’ 12-9 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on December 11, 1985. The other 21-goal game was almost a century ago when the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto St. Patrick’s 14-7 Score on January 10, 1920.
Spectacles of 20 goals
Two games in the NHL history books boast a 20-goal tally. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Edmonton Oilers 11-9 on January 8, 1986, and the Edmonton Oilers returned the favor against the Minnesota North Stars with a 12-8 win on January 4, 1984.
19 Goals Extravaganza
The most games in the NHL have seen 19 goals scored. Notable among them are the Vancouver Canucks’ 10-9 victory over the Minnesota North Stars on October 7, 1983, and the Detroit Red Wings’ 10-9 victory over the Boston Bruins on March 16, 1944. 19, with their 13-6 and 16-3 victories against the Hamilton Tigers and Quebec Bulldogs, respectively.
Thrillers with 18 goals
There have been a handful of 18-goalers in the NHL as well, such as the San Jose Sharks’ 10-8 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 13, 1996, and the Detroit Red Wings’ 10-8 win over Winnipeg. Jets on November 25, 1987. The Toronto Maple Leafs also had two 18-goal games, one against the Chicago Blackhawks (then known as the “Black Hawks”) in 1977 and the other against the Buffalo Sabers in 1981.
NHL Playoffs for high scores
The Los Angeles Kings hold the record for the highest scoring game in NHL playoff history. They defeated the Edmonton Oilers 10-8 in the first game of their 1982 divisional semifinal series on April 7, 1982, and eventually won the series 3-2.
