NHL Records: 37 Seconds of Chaos in Edmonton
It was the sequence that makes hockey fans check if their TV is on fast-forward. On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the Pittsburgh Penguins turned Rogers Place into a historic shooting gallery, lighting up the Edmonton Oilers for three goals in 37 seconds. While the Penguins eventually cruised to a dominant 6-2 victory, that opening three-goal sequence left the crowd in shock.
A Tough Minute of Play
The storyline was pure drama: the man between the pipes for Edmonton was Tristan Jarry. Having spent a decade in the Penguins organization, Jarry had been traded to the Oilers earlier this season to provide “something different” in net. On this night, though, he was met with a historic blitz. The scoring began 2:20 into the first period when Anthony Mantha put the puck in the net; he followed up with a second goal on a breakaway only 22 seconds later. And then, to complete some re-writing of NHL records, Sidney Crosby scored the third goal just 15 seconds later. In a span of 37 seconds, Mantha had two goals and Crosby gave the “Pittsburgh fans attending the game in Oil Country” a gift.
Record-Setting Night (Part 1): The Pittsburgh Penguins scored their third-fastest three goals in franchise history.
Record-Setting Night (Part 2): The three goals in 37 seconds was the shortest span in which the Edmonton Oilers have allowed three goals in team history.
Where it Ranks in the NHL Record Books
While 37 seconds felt like an eternity for the Oilers, it sits just outside the fastest marks in NHL history. The league’s gold standard for team speed belongs to the 1971 Boston Bruins, who famously scored three times in 20 seconds. On an individual level, Bill Mosienko still holds—arguably—the "unbreakable" record for the fastest hat trick, scoring three times in 21 seconds in 1952.
A Glitch in the Matrix
For the Oilers’ fans shouting at their TVs, the stats explain the frustration. Allowing three goals in 37 seconds—seemingly—ended the contest before the five-minute mark. In an era of elite defensive structures, seeing a modern defense collapse this quickly is a statistical anomaly. Ultimately, those 37 seconds of chaos are now a permanent part of NHL lore.