NHL Roundup : Gretzky Tops His Point Mark

Wayne Gretzky has broken so many records, the only ones left to break are his own.

The Edmonton Oilers center, the most dominant athlete in any sport, set a record for points in a season Friday night at Calgary, Canada.

Gretzky assisted on two Jari Kurri goals before the middle of the second period to reach 213 points for the season. He had 212 during the 1981-82 season.

But most of the game, the Flames dominated, and they skated to an easy 9-3 victory. Kurri leads the league with 67 goals.

Before the season Gretzky, who has scored 200 or more points in four of the last five seasons, set one goal for himself. He wanted to average two assists a game in the 80-game season.

He now has 161 assists to surpass his goal. His old mark for most assists in a season was 135, set last season. Before Gretzky arrived on the scene, the record for total points (goals and assists) was only 153.

With one more game remaining, at Vancouver Sunday night, Gretzky has scored at least one point in all but three games this season.

Even if he had failed to score a goal, Gretzky’s assists would have given him enough points to win his sixth consecutive scoring title. He has 51 goals this season and 480 in just 552 NHL games.

“I would rather be breaking someone else’s records,” Gretzky said. “When you break a record set by (Phil) Esposito, or (Bobby) Orr or (Gordie) Howe, there just seems to be more behind it. But, it is exciting, and I am enjoying breaking records.

“It’s just that there’s more tradition to it when you break somebody else’s.”

The record he would really enjoy, is winning five consecutive Stanley Cups. The Oilers, with Gretzky, will be favored to make it three in a row this season.

Buffalo 4, Montreal 2--Doug Smith and Dave Andreychuk scored goals 58 seconds apart in the first period at Buffalo, and the Sabres managed to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

The Sabres pulled into a tie with Hartford for the final spot in the Adams Division with 80 points. However, if the Whalers can win either of their last two games, they will be in the playoffs, even if the Sabres beat the Canadiens tonight at Montreal. The Whalers are at home against Toronto tonight and play at Boston Sunday.