Most "Primary" Points by a Player in a Game?

The Panther · Sep 4, 2022

There was a game in 1988-89 -- Toronto at L.A. -- wherein Bernie Nicholls scored 2 goals and 6 assists (8 points), and the Kings won 9-3.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Los Angeles Kings Box Score — December 1, 1988 | Hockey-Reference.com

Looking at that summary, what I found interesting about this game is that of Nicholls' 8 points, all were primary points -- i.e., either he scored or got the first assist.

The obvious comparison to check is Daryl Sittler's 10-point game vs. Boston in 1976:
Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs Box Score — February 7, 1976 | Hockey-Reference.com

In this game, Sittler had only 1 secondary assist, meaning he had 9 primary points. That is obviously the NHL "record" for primary points in a game, as no other player has ever scored 9 (let alone 10) in one game.

So, then, I was wondering: How many more such 8-point (or more?) primary point games have any NHLers had besides the Nicholls game?

DitchMarner · Sep 4, 2022

Anyone know how many of Sam Gagner's eight points against CHI were primary? I don't think they all were.

Michael Farkas · Sep 4, 2022

7.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Edmonton Oilers Box Score: February 2, 2012 | Hockey-Reference.com

Get the latest box score updates on the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Edmonton Oilers game played on February 2, 2012 on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

pnep · Sep 4, 2022

REG:

gameid	Player	G	1AST	TOT
197602070TOR	Darryl Sittler	6	3	9
197812230NYI	Bryan Trottier	5	3	8
194412280MTL	Maurice Richard	5	3	8
198401040EDM	Wayne Gretzky	4	4	8
198812010LAK	Bernie Nicholls	2	6	8
192001310QBC	Joe Malone	7	0	7
192103070OTS	Cy Denneny	6	1	7
192101260TRS	Corb Denneny	6	1	7
192001100MTL	Newsy Lalonde	6	1	7
198812310PIT	Mario Lemieux	5	2	7
198102180EDM	Wayne Gretzky	5	2	7
192412050TRS	Red Green	5	2	7
191901110MTL	Newsy Lalonde	5	2	7
191801120MTL	Joe Malone	5	2	7
201202020EDM	Sam Gagner	4	3	7
198903180HAR	Dino Ciccarelli	4	3	7
198111110MNS	Bobby Smith	4	3	7
198102220WSH	Peter Stastny	4	3	7
195903070MTL	Jean Beliveau	4	3	7
195401090MTL	Bert Olmstead	4	3	7
194301280CBH	Max Bentley	4	3	7
198810160CHI	Cam Neely	3	4	7
198311190EDM	Wayne Gretzky	3	4	7
198112190EDM	Wayne Gretzky	3	4	7
197810140TOR	Darryl Sittler	3	4	7
197412190BOS	Phil Esposito	3	4	7
198810150PIT	Mario Lemieux	2	5	7
194402030DET	Don Grosso	1	6	7
198512110CBH	Wayne Gretzky	0	7	7

PO:

gameid	Player	G	1AST	TOT
198904250PIT	Mario Lemieux	5	2	7
198304170CGY	Wayne Gretzky	4	3	7
198804220NJD	Patrik Sundström	3	4	7
198504250WIN	Wayne Gretzky	3	4	7
197604220TOR	Darryl Sittler	5	1	6
201804140BOS	David Pastrnak	3	3	6
199204230PIT	Mario Lemieux	3	3	6
198604120HAR	John Anderson	2	4	6
198704090EDM	Wayne Gretzky	1	5	6

pnep · Sep 4, 2022

Season, REG:

Season	Player	G	1AST	TOT
1981	Wayne Gretzky	92	89	181
1983	Wayne Gretzky	87	90	177
1984	Wayne Gretzky	73	98	171
1982	Wayne Gretzky	71	93	164
1985	Wayne Gretzky	52	112	164
1988	Mario Lemieux	85	70	155
1986	Wayne Gretzky	62	92	154
1980	Wayne Gretzky	55	74	129
1987	Mario Lemieux	70	57	127
1995	Mario Lemieux	69	56	125
1992	Mario Lemieux	69	55	124
1988	Steve Yzerman	65	59	124
1970	Phil Esposito	76	46	122
1990	Wayne Gretzky	41	81	122
1988	Bernie Nicholls	70	51	121
1992	Pat LaFontaine	53	68	121
1988	Wayne Gretzky	54	66	120
1973	Phil Esposito	68	49	117
1981	Mike Bossy	64	53	117
1981	Dennis Maruk	60	56	116
1987	Wayne Gretzky	40	74	114
1990	Brett Hull	86	27	113
1992	Pierre Turgeon	58	55	113
1979	Marcel Dionne	53	60	113
1985	Mario Lemieux	48	64	112
1995	Jaromír Jágr	62	49	111
1984	Jari Kurri	71	39	110
1977	Guy Lafleur	60	50	110
1992	Steve Yzerman	58	52	110
1980	Kent Nilsson	49	61	110
1981	Peter Stastny	46	64	110
1984	Dale Hawerchuk	53	56	109
1985	Jari Kurri	68	40	108
1971	Phil Esposito	66	42	108
1987	Denis Savard	44	63	107
1992	Teemu Selänne	76	30	106
1972	Phil Esposito	55	51	106
1992	Adam Oates	45	61	106
1992	Alexander Mogilny	76	29	105
1985	Mike Bossy	61	44	105
1983	Michel Goulet	56	49	105
1978	Bryan Trottier	47	58	105
1989	Steve Yzerman	62	42	104
1985	Paul Coffey	48	56	104
1991	Mario Lemieux	44	60	104
1974	Phil Esposito	61	42	103
1968	Phil Esposito	49	54	103
1989	Wayne Gretzky	40	63	103
1978	Mike Bossy	69	33	102
1984	Mike Bossy	58	44	102
1980	Marcel Dionne	58	44	102
1980	Mike Bossy	68	33	101
2007	Alex Ovechkin	65	36	101
1978	Marcel Dionne	59	42	101
1976	Guy Lafleur	56	45	101
2005	Jaromír Jágr	54	47	101
1989	Mark Messier	45	56	101
1982	Mike Bossy	60	40	100
1993	Sergei Fedorov	56	44	100
1979	Wayne Gretzky	51	49	100
1979	Guy Lafleur	50	50	100

Season, PO:

Season	Player	G	1AST	TOT
1984	Wayne Gretzky	17	25	42
1990	Mario Lemieux	16	18	34
1992	Wayne Gretzky	15	17	32
1991	Mario Lemieux	16	15	31
2008	Evgeni Malkin	14	17	31
1987	Wayne Gretzky	12	19	31
1995	Joe Sakic	18	12	30
1986	Wayne Gretzky	5	25	30
1982	Wayne Gretzky	12	17	29
1980	Mike Bossy	17	11	28
1982	Barry Pederson	14	14	28
1992	Doug Gilmour	10	18	28
1990	Mark Recchi	10	18	28
1983	Wayne Gretzky	13	14	27
1982	Rick Middleton	11	16	27
2021	Connor McDavid	10	17	27
1989	Mark Messier	9	18	27
1987	Jari Kurri	14	12	26
1984	Jari Kurri	19	6	25
1990	Kevin Stevens	17	8	25
1980	Steve Payne	17	8	25
2008	Sidney Crosby	15	10	25
2019	Brayden Point	14	11	25
1993	Mark Messier	12	13	25
1989	Cam Neely	12	13	25
1986	Brian Propp	12	13	25
1987	Mark Messier	11	14	25
1984	Glenn Anderson	10	14	24
1989	Craig Simpson	16	7	23
1972	Yvan Cournoyer	15	8	23
2007	Henrik Zetterberg	13	10	23
2000	Joe Sakic	13	10	23
2017	Evgeny Kuznetsov	12	11	23
2009	Daniel Briere	12	11	23
1993	Trevor Linden	12	11	23
1990	Dave Gagner	12	11	23
1986	Mark Messier	12	11	23
1979	Bryan Trottier	12	11	23
1980	Bryan Trottier	11	12	23
1987	Esa Tikkanen	10	13	23
1984	Denis Savard	9	14	23
2020	Nikita Kucherov	8	15	23
1975	Reggie Leach	19	3	22
1993	Pavel Bure	16	6	22
1986	Glenn Anderson	14	8	22
1983	Jari Kurri	14	8	22
2014	Tyler Johnson	13	9	22
1969	Phil Esposito	13	9	22
2003	Brad Richards	12	10	22
1984	Mark Messier	12	10	22
1995	Mario Lemieux	11	11	22
1993	Brian Leetch	11	11	22
1987	Ken Linseman	11	11	22
2015	Logan Couture	10	12	22

Black Gold Extractor · Sep 4, 2022

pnep said:
Season, PO:

Season Player G 1AST TOT
1984
Wayne Gretzky
17
25
42
1990
Mario Lemieux
16
18
34
1992
Wayne Gretzky
15
17
32
1991
Mario Lemieux
16
15
31
2008
Evgeni Malkin
14
17
31
1987
Wayne Gretzky
12
19
31
1995
Joe Sakic
18
12
30
1986
Wayne Gretzky
5
25
30
1982
Wayne Gretzky
12
17
29
1980
Mike Bossy
17
11
28
1982
Barry Pederson
14
14
28
1992
Doug Gilmour
10
18
28
1990
Mark Recchi
10
18
28
1983
Wayne Gretzky
13
14
27
1982
Rick Middleton
11
16
27
1989
Mark Messier
9
18
27
1987
Jari Kurri
14
12
26
1984
Jari Kurri
19
6
25
1990
Kevin Stevens
17
8
25
1980
Steve Payne
17
8
25
2008
Sidney Crosby
15
10
25
2019
Brayden Point
14
11
25
1993
Mark Messier
12
13
25
1989
Cam Neely
12
13
25
1986
Brian Propp
12
13
25
1987
Mark Messier
11
14
25
1984
Glenn Anderson
10
14
24
1989
Craig Simpson
16
7
23
1972
Yvan Cournoyer
15
8
23
2007
Henrik Zetterberg
13
10
23
2000
Joe Sakic
13
10
23
2017
Evgeny Kuznetsov
12
11
23
2009
Daniel Briere
12
11
23
1993
Trevor Linden
12
11
23
1990
Dave Gagner
12
11
23
1986
Mark Messier
12
11
23
1979
Bryan Trottier
12
11
23
1980
Bryan Trottier
11
12
23
1987
Esa Tikkanen
10
13
23
1984
Denis Savard
9
14
23
2020
Nikita Kucherov
8
15
23
1975
Reggie Leach
19
3
22
1993
Pavel Bure
16
6
22
1986
Glenn Anderson
14
8
22
1983
Jari Kurri
14
8
22
2014
Tyler Johnson
13
9
22
1969
Phil Esposito
13
9
22
2003
Brad Richards
12
10
22
1984
Mark Messier
12
10
22
1995
Mario Lemieux
11
11
22
1993
Brian Leetch
11
11
22
1987
Ken Linseman
11
11
22
2015
Logan Couture
10
12
22

Just to add to your playoff list, McDavid had 10 goals and 17 primary assists for 27 primary points in the latest playoffs. Draisaitl missed the list by one primary point, with 7 goals and 14 primary assists for 21 primary points.

pnep · Sep 4, 2022

yep
do not compile last po stats, yet

authentic · Sep 9, 2022

Black Gold Extractor said:
Just to add to your playoff list, McDavid had 10 goals and 17 primary assists for 27 primary points in the latest playoffs. Draisaitl missed the list by one primary point, with 7 goals and 14 primary assists for 21 primary points.

Where would that rank in primary points per game I wonder? Among players who played enough to make the list.

Black Gold Extractor · Sep 9, 2022

authentic said:
Where would that rank in primary points per game I wonder? Among players who played enough to make the list.

Including only players with at least 22 primary points in a single post-season, McDavid's 1.69 primary points/game is 4th.

Rank	Playoff Year	Player	GP	G	1AST	TOT	1P/GP
1	1985	Wayne Gretzky	18	17	25	42	2.33
2	1992	Mario Lemieux	15	16	15	31	2.07
3	1983	Wayne Gretzky	16	12	17	29	1.81
4	2022	Connor McDavid	16	10	17	27	1.69
5	1983	Barry Pederson	17	14	14	28	1.65
6	1988	Wayne Gretzky	19	12	19	31	1.63
7	1983	Rick Middleton	17	11	16	27	1.59
8	1970	Phil Esposito	14	13	9	22	1.57
9	1981	Mike Bossy	18	17	11	28	1.56
10	1985	Denis Savard	15	9	14	23	1.53
11	1991	Mario Lemieux	23	16	18	34	1.48
12	1987	Wayne Gretzky	21	5	25	30	1.43
13	1984	Wayne Gretzky	19	13	14	27	1.42
14	1985	Jari Kurri	18	19	6	25	1.39
15	1976	Reggie Leach	16	19	3	22	1.38
16	1988	Jari Kurri	19	14	12	26	1.37
17	1996	Joe Sakic	22	18	12	30	1.36
18	1973	Yvan Cournoyer	17	15	8	23	1.35
19	1993	Wayne Gretzky	24	15	17	32	1.33
19	1993	Doug Gilmour	21	10	18	28	1.33
19	1985	Glenn Anderson	18	10	14	24	1.33
22	1981	Steve Payne	19	17	8	25	1.32
22	1988	Mark Messier	19	11	14	25	1.32
24	2009	Evgeni Malkin	24	14	17	31	1.29
25	1981	Bryan Trottier	18	11	12	23	1.28
26	1990	Mark Messier	22	9	18	27	1.23
27	1985	Mark Messier	18	12	10	22	1.22
27	1996	Mario Lemieux	18	11	11	22	1.22
29	1988	Esa Tikkanen	19	10	13	23	1.21
30	1990	Cam Neely	21	12	13	25	1.19
31	1991	Mark Recchi	24	10	18	28	1.17
32	1984	Jari Kurri	19	14	8	22	1.16
33	2001	Joe Sakic	21	13	10	23	1.10
33	1980	Bryan Trottier	21	12	11	23	1.10
33	1987	Mark Messier	21	12	11	23	1.10
36	2020	Brayden Point	23	14	11	25	1.09
36	1994	Mark Messier	23	12	13	25	1.09
38	1987	Glenn Anderson	21	14	8	22	1.05
39	1990	Craig Simpson	22	16	7	23	1.05
39	2008	Henrik Zetterberg	22	13	10	23	1.05
41	1991	Kevin Stevens	24	17	8	25	1.04
41	2009	Sidney Crosby	24	15	10	25	1.04
43	1991	Dave Gagner	23	12	11	23	1.00
43	2010	Daniel Briere	23	12	11	23	1.00
43	2021	Nikita Kucherov	23	8	15	23	1.00
46	1987	Brian Propp	26	12	13	25	0.96
47	1994	Trevor Linden	24	12	11	23	0.96
47	2018	Evgeny Kuznetsov	24	12	11	23	0.96
49	2004	Brad Richards	23	12	10	22	0.96
49	1988	Ken Linseman	23	11	11	22	0.96
49	1994	Brian Leetch	23	11	11	22	0.96
52	1994	Pavel Bure	24	16	6	22	0.92
52	2016	Logan Couture	24	10	12	22	0.92
54	2015	Tyler Johnson	26	13	9	22	0.85

VanIslander · Sep 9, 2022

Gretzky never held anyone's beer.

authentic · Sep 13, 2022

Black Gold Extractor said:
Including only players with at least 22 primary points in a single post-season, McDavid's 1.69 primary points/game is 4th.

Rank
Playoff Year
Player
GP
G
1AST
TOT
1P/GP
1
1985
Wayne Gretzky
18
17
25
42
2.33
2
1992
Mario Lemieux
15
16
15
31
2.07
3
1983
Wayne Gretzky
16
12
17
29
1.81
4
2022
Connor McDavid
16
10
17
27
1.69
5
1983
Barry Pederson
17
14
14
28
1.65
6
1988
Wayne Gretzky
19
12
19
31
1.63
7
1983
Rick Middleton
17
11
16
27
1.59
8
1970
Phil Esposito
14
13
9
22
1.57
9
1981
Mike Bossy
18
17
11
28
1.56
10
1985
Denis Savard
15
9
14
23
1.53
11
1991
Mario Lemieux
23
16
18
34
1.48
12
1987
Wayne Gretzky
21
5
25
30
1.43
13
1984
Wayne Gretzky
19
13
14
27
1.42
14
1985
Jari Kurri
18
19
6
25
1.39
15
1976
Reggie Leach
16
19
3
22
1.38
16
1988
Jari Kurri
19
14
12
26
1.37
17
1996
Joe Sakic
22
18
12
30
1.36
18
1973
Yvan Cournoyer
17
15
8
23
1.35
19
1993
Wayne Gretzky
24
15
17
32
1.33
19
1993
Doug Gilmour
21
10
18
28
1.33
19
1985
Glenn Anderson
18
10
14
24
1.33
22
1981
Steve Payne
19
17
8
25
1.32
22
1988
Mark Messier
19
11
14
25
1.32
24
2009
Evgeni Malkin
24
14
17
31
1.29
25
1981
Bryan Trottier
18
11
12
23
1.28
26
1990
Mark Messier
22
9
18
27
1.23
27
1985
Mark Messier
18
12
10
22
1.22
27
1996
Mario Lemieux
18
11
11
22
1.22
29
1988
Esa Tikkanen
19
10
13
23
1.21
30
1990
Cam Neely
21
12
13
25
1.19
31
1991
Mark Recchi
24
10
18
28
1.17
32
1984
Jari Kurri
19
14
8
22
1.16
33
2001
Joe Sakic
21
13
10
23
1.10
33
1980
Bryan Trottier
21
12
11
23
1.10
33
1987
Mark Messier
21
12
11
23
1.10
36
2020
Brayden Point
23
14
11
25
1.09
36
1994
Mark Messier
23
12
13
25
1.09
38
1987
Glenn Anderson
21
14
8
22
1.05
39
1990
Craig Simpson
22
16
7
23
1.05
39
2008
Henrik Zetterberg
22
13
10
23
1.05
41
1991
Kevin Stevens
24
17
8
25
1.04
41
2009
Sidney Crosby
24
15
10
25
1.04
43
1991
Dave Gagner
23
12
11
23
1.00
43
2010
Daniel Briere
23
12
11
23
1.00
43
2021
Nikita Kucherov
23
8
15
23
1.00
46
1987
Brian Propp
26
12
13
25
0.96
47
1994
Trevor Linden
24
12
11
23
0.96
47
2018
Evgeny Kuznetsov
24
12
11
23
0.96
49
2004
Brad Richards
23
12
10
22
0.96
49
1988
Ken Linseman
23
11
11
22
0.96
49
1994
Brian Leetch
23
11
11
22
0.96
52
1994
Pavel Bure
24
16
6
22
0.92
52
2016
Logan Couture
24
10
12
22
0.92
54
2015
Tyler Johnson
26
13
9
22
0.85

That's insane.

The Panther · Jul 12, 2024

Anyone know if McDavid factored into the above playoff lists (re: Primary points) this past season?

jigglysquishy · Jul 12, 2024

The Panther said:
Anyone know if McDavid factored into the above playoff lists (re: Primary points) this past season?

He had 24 primary assists and 8 goals for 32 primary points.

Good for second most all time

pnep · Jul 12, 2024

Most PO Primary PTS, Season (1918-2024)

Most PO Primary PTS, Season (1918-2024)

Most PO Primary PTS, Season (1918-2024) Player,POS,Team,Seasons,PO_Games,PO_G,PO_1A,PO_PRIM_PTS,PO_PRIM_PTS_PER Gretzky Wayne,C,EDM,1984-85,18,17,25,42,2.33 Lemieux Mario,C,PIT,1990-91,23,16,18,34,1.48 Gretzky Wayne,C,LAK,1992-93,24,15,17,32,1.33 McDavid Connor,C,EDM,2023-24,25,8,24,32,1.28 Lemi...

tinyurl.com

Most PO Primary PTS per Game, Season (1918-2024)

Most PO Primary PTS per Game, Season (1918-2024)

Most PO Primary PTS per Game, Season (1918-2024) Player,POS,Team,Seasons,PO_Games (min. 9),PO_G,PO_1A,PO_PRIM_PTS,PO_PRIM_PTS_PER Gretzky Wayne,C,EDM,1984-85,18,17,25,42,2.33 Lemieux Mario,C,PIT,1991-92,15,16,15,31,2.07 Gretzky Wayne,C,EDM,1980-81,9,7,11,18,2.00 Lalonde Newsy,C,MTL,1918-19,10,17...

tinyurl.com

Most PO Primary PTS, TOT (1918-2024)

Most PO Primary PTS, TOT (1918-2024)

Most PO Primary PTS, TOT (1918-2024) Player,POS,Team,Seasons,PO_Games,PO_G,PO_1A,PO_PRIM_PTS,PO_PRIM_PTS_PER Gretzky Wayne,C,TOT,1979-97,208,122,183,305,1.47 Messier Mark,C,TOT,1979-97,236,109,120,229,0.97 Kurri Jari,RW,TOT,1980-97,196,106,75,181,0.92 Anderson Glenn,RW,TOT,1980-96,225,93,80,173,...

tinyurl.com

Most PO Primary PTS per Game, TOT (1918-2024)

Most PO Primary PTS per Game, TOT (1918-2024)

Most PO Primary PTS per Game, TOT (1918-2024) Player,POS,Team,Seasons,PO_Games (min. 15),PO_G,PO_1A,PO_PRIM_PTS,PO_PRIM_PTS_PER Gretzky Wayne,C,TOT,1979-97,208,122,183,305,1.47 Pederson Barry,C,TOT,1981-86,31,22,22,44,1.42 Lemieux Mario,C,TOT,1988-01,107,76,66,142,1.33 McDavid Connor,C,TOT,2016-...

tinyurl.com

VanIslander · Jul 12, 2024

So, can we finally agree there should be a PASSING trophy?

I think the top-3 assist getters should be locked & loaded as voter poll options (public, journos? pundits/podcasters? A combo?)...

That way it ain't just a stat, but statistical production qualifies you for the WAYNE GRETZKY PASSING TROPHY!

He has had more assists than anyone else points, despite also having more goals than anyone. That is insane!

And he has said his greatest game was... hint: zero goals, all assists.

Give a GRETZKY TROPHY!!!

Honor the pass.

Most "Primary" Points by a Player in a Game?

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