This day in NY sports history

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Sunday, May 18, 1997

Gretzky gets record second hat trick

With three goals in the Rangers' 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Wayne Gretzky became the first player in the franchise's history to record two hat tricks in one postseason. Gretzky scored twice in the first period to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead. Rod Brind'Amour scored at 5:46 in the second period to tie the score at 3, but Gretzky beat goalie Garth Snow with a 40-foot slap shot at 9:30 of the third period to notch the hat trick and give the Rangers back the lead. It was the Great One's ninth goal of that postseason and his NHL-record 10th career postseason hat trick. Mark Messier scored at 13:45 to make it 5-3. Mike Richter made 25 saves in the win, which tied the series at 1-1. Gretzky had also scored three goals in the Rangers' 3-2 overtime win over the Panthers in Game 4 of the quarterfinals. The 36-year-old, in his first season with the Rangers, had 25 goals (97 points).

Rangers3 2 0 - 5

Philadelphia1 3 0 - 4

SCORING

First period: Flyers - LeClair (Desjardins, Niinimaa), 4:11; Rangers - Lidster (Eastwood), 5:09; Rangers - Gretzky (Tikkanen, Leetch), 7:35; Rangers - Gretzky (Robitaille, Messier), 9:34.

Second period: Flyers - Coffey (Brind'Amour, Renberg), 6:45; Flyers - Brind'Amour (unassisted), 7:34; Rangers - Gretzky (Messier, Driver), 9:30; Rangers - Messier (Beukeboom), 13:45; Flyers - Rodein (Otto), 15:11.

Third period: No scoring.

Goalies: Rangers, Richter, 29 shots-25 saves; Flyers, Snow: 15 shots-10 saves (46:15), Hextall, 12 shots-12 saves (13:45).