# May 10 in Hockey History
May 10 has produced several notable performances and career milestones across NHL history, ranging from individual scoring outbursts to significant career achievements. The date reflects the league's playoff intensity while also documenting the steady progression of professional hockey careers across multiple decades.
Historic Hat Tricks Across the Eras
May 10 has been witness to multiple three-goal performances, demonstrating the date's connection to high-pressure playoff hockey. The earliest documented instance occurred in 1973, when Pit Martin of the Chicago Blackhawks scored three goals against the Montréal Canadiens in what would have been a critical playoff contest between two Original Six franchises.
The trend continued into the modern era. On May 10, 1987, Pelle Eklund of the Philadelphia Flyers matched Martin's feat with three goals in a matchup against the Montréal Canadiens. More than a decade later, Matthew Barnaby of the Buffalo Sabres recorded a three-goal, one-assist performance (4 points) on May 10, 1998, in a game against Montréal.
Most recently, Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues scored three goals against the Minnesota Wild on May 10, 2022. Tarasenko's performance marked the fourth documented hat trick on this date in NHL history, further cementing May 10's significance as a date for individual offensive excellence during playoff competition.
Milestone Achievements in 2021
May 10, 2021, proved to be a particularly significant date for career milestones, with multiple players reaching notable benchmarks on the same evening. This clustering of achievements reflects the intensive playoff schedule typical of modern NHL seasons.
At the elite level, two players reached the 600-career-point plateau. Matt Duchene achieved his 600th career point, while Adam Larsson reached his 600th career game—a distinction that speaks to Larsson's consistency and durability across his professional tenure. These represent the most prestigious milestones recorded on this date.
The milestone theme extended throughout the evening. Justin Faulk reached 200 career assists, while Alex Chiasson achieved both his 200th career point and 100th career assist on the same date. Warren Foegele recorded his 200th career game, Andre Burakovsky reached his 100th career goal, and Scott Wedgewood appeared in his 100th career game.
The Significance of May 10
The concentration of events on May 10 reflects the calendar mechanics of NHL playoff schedules, which typically intensify in early May. The date's historical record demonstrates that significant individual performances and career milestones often cluster during compressed playoff periods when teams are playing consecutive nights.
The variety of achievements—from hat tricks spanning five decades to career milestones marking different levels of professional accomplishment—illustrates how May 10 captures the full spectrum of NHL achievement, from elite performance to the steady accumulation of games played.
By the Numbers
**Four hat tricks recorded**: 1973 (Martin), 1987 (Eklund), 1998 (Barnaby), 2022 (Tarasenko)**Matthew Barnaby's 1998 performance**: 3 goals, 1 assist = 4 points**Career milestone cluster in 2021**: 6 players reached significant career benchmarks**Two players reaching 600-point/game milestones**: Duchene (600 points) and Larsson (600 games)