NEWARK (UNITED STATES) - Jaromir Jagr's first hat-trick in almost nine years gave him a record he joked he wasn't sure he wanted: oldest player in NHL history to net three goals in one game.
Jaromir Jagr of the New Jersey Devils skates toward the bench as fans throw hats onto the ice after Jagr scored a hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers n January 3, 2015 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
The Czech pulled off the feat at 42 years, 322 days -- he'll be 43 on February 15 -- leading the New Jersey Devils to a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
NHL icon Gordie Howe held the prior mark with a hat-trick at the age of 41.
Jagr also crept closer to Phil Esposito (717) on the league's all-time goals list, finishing the night with 714 career tallies.
"I like to score a hat-trick but I don't like to be the oldest guy. I don't want to be the oldest," quipped Jagr, a 1998 Olympic gold medallist who announced in May he was calling time on his international career after the Czechs fell 3-0 to Sweden in the bronze medal match of the World Championships.
Jagr recorded his 15th NHL hat-trick and first since March 22, 2006, when he scored all three goals for the Rangers in a 6-3 loss to the Flyers at Madison Square Garden.
On Saturday, Scott Gomez added a goal and two assists and Patrick Elias scored the other goal for the Devils, who won for only the third time in their last 13 games.
Jagr scored twice in the first period, giving the Devils a 1-0 lead with 6:40 to play in the frame after Flyers goaltender Ray Emery misplayed the puck behind his net and Adam Henrique seized it and fed Jagr, who back-handed it home.
After Elias scored on a power play, Jagr's wrist shot with less than four seconds left in the first made it 3-0.
New Jersey were ahead 4-0 when Jagr scored his third goal of the night with 7:28 left in the second period.
Gomez passed from behind the net to Jagr, who directed the puck under Steve Mason, who had replaced Emery in the Flyers net.
Jagr has played in the NHL since joining the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990, going on to play for the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins, before signing for the New Jersey Devils last year.