Today in Hockey History: Oct. 26

October 26 marks a significant date in NHL history highlighted by several milestones achieved by Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky. In 1990, Gretzky reached 2,000 career points with the Los Angeles Kings in a 6-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, becoming the only player in league history to do so. In 1997, he recorded two assists for the New York Rangers to surpass Gordie Howe's career total of 1,850 points in assists alone.

The date also features historic achievements across multiple franchises and eras. Mario Lemieux scored his 500th NHL goal in 1995 during a 7-5 win against the New York Islanders, while Steve Yzerman set the record for the longest tenure as team captain in 1997. Additionally, the Buffalo Sabres tied a league record on October 26, 2006, by earning their 10th consecutive victory to start a season.