This series is highlighting the top 10 moments of this past NHL season. Goals, pretty plays, hits, fights, and screw-ups, you'll see them all.
December 20, 2007: Marian Gaborik nets five.
After playing less than 70 games each of the last three years, Marian Gaborik appeared in 77 games this season. He tallied 42 goals along with 41 helpers, both career highs. Believe it or not, 11 percent of his goals occurred in one game.
The Minnesota Wild were hosting the New York Rangers and Gaborik already had a natural hat-trick inside of 26 minutes. With more than half the game still to go, why stop there? He would add two more goals in the third period, giving him five goals and an assist in a six-three Wild win.
Two of his goals came by batting the puck out of the air. Another two came courtesy of great passes by teammates. The fifth and final goal came on a breakaway, which is fitting.
"One time I got five goals when I was playing back home for a pro club back there, but this is just totally different," Gaborik said. "You score five goals in the NHL it's just a totally different experience. To reach it here with these guys in front of our fans is just unbelievable."
It was the first five-goal outing since Sergei Federov did it for the Detroit Red Wings on December 26, 1996, in an overtime win against the Washington Capitals. The last player to net five in regulation was Mario Lemieux on March 26, 1996, versus the St.Louis Blues.
- B/R Ticket Guide
When I was young, I remember seeing Federov's five-goal game. I didn't see the goals, I just saw the five next to his name on the stat sheet. This was the first time I had seen a player score five goals live.
Marian Gaborik is one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league. The Wild need to do all they can to hang on to the Slovak.
10) October 15, 2007: McCabe scores—on himself.
9) March 6, 2008: Riley Cote knocks out Andre Roy.
8) December 7, 2007: Dominik Hasek makes Marian Gaborik flip out.
7) January 15, 2008: Tic, tac, toe.
6) January 1, 2008: A classic finish.
5) February 19, 2008: Five down, five to go.
4) October 19, 2007: Jonathan Toews makes his presence felt.
3) January 17, 2008: Rich Nash comes through in the clutch.
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3 months ago
I'm liking this list because it's actually made up of things that aren't quite memorable at first but when you hear about them again it brings everything back. Curious to see who number one will be.
Nice work Rafal!
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