Throwback Thursday: This week in 1980, Wayne Gretzky records first NHL hat trick

This week in 1980 (Feb. 1), Wayne Gretzky scored his first hat trick in the NHL as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Winnipeg Jets 9-2.

He scored the first goal on the game 5:42 in which was assisted by Risto Siltanen, before Siltanen found him again 10 seconds into the second period for goal two. His third goal came at the 13:59 mark of the third period, assisted by Doug Hicks and Brett Callighen.

It was the first of 50 3+ goal games for Gretzky, one of many records that will likely stand the test of time. In four of those games he scored five goals, and he tallied four goals in a game 11 times.

Gretzky went on a tear during that 1979-80 season scoring 51 goals and 137 points in 79 games as he won his first Hart trophy. Gretzky scored 40 hat tricks with the Oilers over his career with his last coming on Dec. 6th, 1987.