Evgeni Malkin’s three goals alone Sunday would have been enough to grab the Penguins the win over the Red Wings.
But Pittsburgh wasn’t satisfied with single digits. No, the Penguins made history by exploding for 11 goals against Detroit.
The Penguins took home an impressive 11-2 win over their Original Six opponent. In addition to Malkin’s hat trick, eight other Penguins scored goals as the team improved to 40-17-10.
The @penguins amazingly put up 11 goals tonight (yes, you read that right). 😱
The last time an NHL team did this was over 19 years ago! pic.twitter.com/J8qdYVZqMe
— NHL (@NHL) March 28, 2022
The club became the first team in the salary cap era (since the 2005-06 season) to score 11 goals in a single game and the first team since the Capitals in 2003 accomplished that feat. But believe it or not, it wasn’t even the franchise’s highest total in a single game.
The impressive offensive output raises this question: What team does have the most goals in a game in NHL history?
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What is the most goals scored by the Penguins in one game?
The Penguins franchise record for goals in a game is 12.
On Dec. 26, 1991, the Pens put a beatdown on the Maple Leafs in securing a 12-1 victory. Mario Lemieux led the way with seven points (two goals, five assists). Joe Mullen had four goals in a six-point effort, and Kevin Stevens also had six points.
What is the most goals scored in a single NHL game?
There have been a multitude of double-digit goal efforts, but only one team has hit 16 in a game.
The Canadiens were the team that did that. On March 3, 1920, Montreal smacked the Quebec Bulldogs 16-3. Harry Cameron and Newsy Lalonde each had four goals in the record-setting performance.
Two teams have reached 15 goals twice in NHL history, and on five different occasions a team has found the back of the net 14 times in a game.
Here is a look at the most goals scored in a single game:
| TEAM | DATE | SCORE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | March 3, 1920 | 16-3 | Quebec Bulldogs |
| Minnesota North Stars | Nov. 11, 1981 | 15-2 | Winnipeg Jets |
| Detroit Red Wings | Jan. 23, 1944 | 15-0 | New York Rangers |
| Buffalo Sabres | March 19, 1981 | 14-4 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Buffalo Sabres | Dec. 21, 1975 | 14-2 | Washington Capitals |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | March 16, 1957 | 14-1 | New York Rangers |
| Boston Bruins | Jan. 21, 1945 | 14-3 | New York Rangers |
| Montreal Canadiens | Jan. 10, 1920 | 14-7 | Toronto St. Patrick’s |