Maple Leafs legend Darryl Sittler reflects on the 10-point game as 50th anniversary approaches

“My late wife Wendy had saved her tickets for that match so I have some that are quite special and a program from that night,” he said.

Sittler’s 10-point performance came on February 7, 1976 against the Boston Bruins, where he scored six goals and four assists. Considering the amount of offensive talent the league has seen since then, it’s incredible how long the record has stood, especially for Sittler, who thought he would have been defeated long ago.

“I think when it first happened I never realized how big it was and how long it would last,” Sittler said. “I often felt like in the late ’70s, early ’80s, when Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux were having their careers and hitting 200 points a year, I thought they were the guys who were going to break it. They both had eight a few times.”

Besides Gretzky and Lemieux, who both had two eight-point games, nine players have reached that marker, but that’s the closest Sittler has come to double-digit totals. With that game’s big anniversary approaching, Sittler shared what it means to still be recognized for the achievement, and teased some of the upcoming festivities.

“Here we are, 50 years in the making. I was proud to do it in a Leafs uniform against an original six-team in the Boston Bruins,” he said. “It’s fun, a lot of people obviously weren’t there more than 50 years ago, but it’s nice to put a spotlight on it. A lot of cool things have happened between now and then, and it’s important to continue to celebrate and be recognized. The Leafs are doing a nice gesture by bringing the guys who played with me in that game in late January in for a game. It’ll be fun to catch up with them all.”

The Maple Leafs will honor Sittler and the 50th anniversary of his record-setting game on Jan. 27, when Toronto faces the Buffalo Sabers for their final home game before February’s Olympic break.