DENVER—Ryan Smyth and Milan Hejduk chatted about how cool it would be to score their 300th goals in the same game, never really believing it would happen.
It did.
Smyth and Hejduk pulled off the milestone exacta Sunday night in a 6-2 victory over the Calgary Flames, becoming just the second set of NHL players to reach 300 goals in the same game.
“Me and Smitty were talking about it, saying, ‘Let’s get it over with,'” Hejduk said, laughing. “It definitely was a special night.”
Smyth felt the same way.
“It’s an honor to share it with Milan,” Smyth said. “I have to give it all to my teammates over the years who I’ve played with and obviously this team here.”
Move over Danny Gare and Ivan Boldirev, you have company.
The former Detroit players were the only ones to reach the milestone in the same game—until Smyth and Hejduk scored 4:44 apart in the second period Sunday night.
Gare and Boldirev scored their 300th goals in the second period, too, against the New York Islanders on Feb. 26, 1983. Their goals came 51 seconds apart.
In other NHL games Sunday, Pittsburgh beat the New York Rangers 3-0, Edmonton topped Phoenix 6-3 and Columbus beat Vancouver 6-5 in a shootout.
The milestones by Smyth and Hejduk impressed Flames forward Michael Cammalleri.
“Anytime guys score 300 goals in this league, hats off to them,” said Cammalleri, whose second-period goal gave him 20 for the season. “I just wish it wasn’t against us.”
Hejduk became only the fourth player in franchise history to reach 300, joining Joe Sakic (625), Michel Goulet (456) and Peter Stastny (380). Hejduk has spent his entire career with Colorado.
Hejduk’s first career goal came on Oct. 10, 1998, against Ottawa.
His 300th was equally grand.
“Same feeling,” he said.
Smyth has scored 30 of his goals with Colorado. He had 265 with Edmonton and five with the New York Islanders and, coincidentally, his first career goal also came against Calgary, on Nov. 24, 1995.
“It’s obviously special to not only play in this game, but to score that many goals is a great feeling,” Smyth said.
After the game, the two players shook hands with teammates and signed sticks to mark the occasion.
“It’s great for me to be part of this big milestone for them,” said Peter Budaj, who stopped 39 shots to snap a personal four-game skid. “It’s unbelievable.”
Marek Svatos, Chris Stewart, Ruslan Salei and Cody McLeod also scored to help the Avalanche beat Northwest-leading Calgary for the first time in five games this season.
Rene Bourque had the other goal for the fatigued Flames, who were coming off a Saturday night home loss to Phoenix.
“It’s disappointing to lose two in a row,” Cammalleri said.
The Avalanche bottled up Jarome Iginla, limiting the lethal scorer to just an assist, his 33rd of the season. Iginla has 61 points in 70 career games against Colorado, the most of any NHL player versus the Avalanche since they moved from Quebec.
But the night belonged to Smyth and Hejduk.
“It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Hejduk said. “It doesn’t happen that often.”
Penguins 3, Rangers 0
At Pittsburgh, Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 33 shots for his second shutout of the season, Petr Sykora had a goal and an assist and Sidney Crosby returned to the lineup to help Pittsburgh win for the third time in four games.
Crosby was back after sitting out Friday night because of an apparent knee injury. He missed a penalty shot in the second period.
Chris Minard and Tyler Kennedy also scored for Pittsburgh.
Oilers 6, Coyotes 3
At Edmonton, Alberta, Ethan Moreau scored three goals for Edmonton on a festive night that featured the retirement of Hall of Famer Glenn Anderson’s No. 9 jersey.
Moreau completed his first career NHL hat trick with an empty-net goal in the final second. Ales Hemsky added two goals, Dustin Penner also scored and Dwayne Roloson made 25 saves. The Oilers moved past Minnesota for eighth place in the Western Conference.
Keith Yandle, Daniel Carcillo and Peter Mueller scored for Phoenix.
Blue Jackets 6, Canucks 5, SO
At Vancouver, British Columbia, Columbus captain Rick Nash had a goal and two assists in regulation and scored the winning shootout goal in his first game after a four-game absence because of a knee injury.
Jason Williams also scored in regulation and the shootout, and Mike Commodore, Raffi Torres and Manny Malhotra added goals in Columbus’ fourth victory in five games.
Mats Sundin, Taylor Pyatt, Steve Bernier, Henrik Sedin and Kevin Bieksa scored for Vancouver.
