EDMONTON - At first, Sam Gagner was dubious that Wayne Gretzky had sent him a text after he had put away an astounding eight points in the Edmonton Oilers’ 8-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.

He read the congratulatory message, saw that it was signed ’99’, but it wasn’t until he verified the number that he realized Gretzky really was among his hundreds of well-wishers.

Gagner, who tied the franchise record for points in a game, held by both Gretzky and Paul Coffey, said that he had 60 texts after the game, and another 50 the next day. Before he headed out for Friday’s practice, he even intercepted a phone call from Coffey.

“I’m just trying to stay as even-keeled as I can,” said Gagner. “It’s hard, but we have games coming up and I have to find a way to relax and get some sleep and get ready for the next one.”

After practice, the 22-year-old was interviewed by both TSN and Sportsnet’s national television shows. His stick has been pulled out his stash in case the Hockey Hall of Fame wants a piece of history. His jersey is already in demand, and the Oilers have a pile of the game pucks that they will dress up for the centre.

“To get a text like that from the best player of all time is really special for me,” Gagner said when he was relaying details of his text from Gretzky. “He didn’t have to do that.”

The phone call from Coffey ranked right up there, too.

There were was just so much going on that Gagner admitted he wasn’t sure if it had completely sunk in.

“My mom usually falls asleep by the third period, but she stayed up and watched the whole game,” he continued. “It was a pretty special night for her and my dad (former NHL Dave Gagner) as well.

“He always reminds me that he scored four points in a playoff period once and that he holds that record with Wayne and a couple of other guys. I share that with my dad now and that’s a pretty special feeling to be in that class — even if it’s just for one day.

Gagner’s moment in the spotlight is highlighted only by the fact that he has battled through a wrist surgery and a knee injury, and that he has had to step out of the top six with the addition of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins the last two seasons. Trade rumours have even heated up this year, a first for the 2007 draft pick, who was selected sixth overall in the first round.

“Those trade rumours are tough to deal with. I haven’t really dealt with that in my career, so it weighs on you,” said Gagner. “Hopefully, this will allow me to just go out and play and not worry about it.

“For the most part, I just wanted to work hard and fight my way back. I still believe there’s a long way to go, there’s a lot left to prove. That has to be mindset.”

So staggering was his performance that more records keep getting unearthed. Gretzky had two eight-point nights in his career, Coffey had one. The likes of Gordie Howe, Brett Hull, Bobby Orr never did.

The last player to rack up eight points in the NHL was Mario Lemieux, who did it in an April 25, 1989, playoff game. The Pittsburgh Penguins star also had an eight-point night in a regular-season game on Dec. 31, 1988, against the New Jersey Devils.

That was also the last time a player put away eight points and factored in on every one of the goals. It is a milestone now shared only by Gagner, who also skyrocketed past 90 players in the scoring race on Thursday, moving up from the 200th spot to 110th.

“It was pretty cool to see something like that,” said Nugent-Hopkins, who watched it all unfold from the press box. “I had six in junior. So when he scored six, I was like, ‘Holy crap.’ Of course, he gets two more.

“It was a night all of us will remember. It was a great accomplishment ... More incredible that he got them all in two periods.”

“Every time the puck went in, 89 was the first thing I saw from my end,” said Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk. “Just to take over a game like that was crazy — when it was important. It was 3-3 going into the third.”

“What can you say about a game like that? said Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp, who had a two-goal night for Chicago. “That guy had the magic touch.”

Gagner, who was bumped up to play with Eberle and Hall in the final 40 minutes of Thursday’s game, sparking his eight-point night, will get a chance to start Saturday’s game on the same line — despite the return of Nugent-Hopkins.

“Obviously, it helps your confidence knowing you can produce at a high level,” Gagner said. “Eight points is not something you can hit every night, but I still think consistency is the biggest issue for me. I’ve had games where I’ve played really well and games where I haven’t.

“I still have to look at it that it was one game — and it was a great game — but if it can help me have some confidence and continue to move forward and play a more consistent game every night and help the team by producing, that would be great.”

jireland@edmontonjournal.com

Twitter.com/jirelandEJ