NHL Record for Most Penalties in a Game

Chris Nilan holds the NHL record with 10 penalties (1990-91).

Updated Oct 20, 5:56 PM ET after records.nhl.com

Top of the list

Most Penalties, Game: the leaders
Rank	Player	Penalties	Season	Date	Opp	Goals	Assists	Points	Score
1	Chris NilanBOS	10	1990-91	Mar 31, 1991	HFD	0	0	0	HFD 3 @ BOS 7
2	Jim DoreyTOR	9	1968-69	Oct 16, 1968	PIT	0	0	0	PIT 2 @ TOR 2
2	Dave SchultzPIT	9	1977-78	Apr 6, 1978	DET	0	0	0	PIT 4 @ DET 6
2	Randy HoltLAK	9	1978-79	Mar 11, 1979	PHI	0	0	0	LAK 3 @ PHI 6
2	Russ AndersonPIT	9	1979-80	Jan 19, 1980	EDM	0	0	0	EDM 5 @ PIT 2
2	Kim ClacksonQUE	9	1980-81	Mar 8, 1981	CHI	0	0	0	CHI 3 @ QUE 2
2	Terry O'ReillyBOS	9	1984-85	Dec 19, 1984	HFD	0	1	1	BOS 5 @ HFD 6
2	Larry PlayfairLAK	9	1986-87	Dec 9, 1986	NYI	0	1	1	LAK 7 @ NYI 2
2	Marty McSorleyLAK	9	1991-92	Apr 14, 1992	VAN	0	0	0	VAN 3 @ LAK 2
2	Reed LowSTL	9	2002-03	Dec 31, 2002	DET	0	0	0	STL 1 @ DET 5
11	Jim SchoenfeldBUF	8	1972-73	Dec 13, 1972	BOS	0	1	1	BOS 3 @ BUF 7
11	Dave MaloneyNYR	8	1975-76	Feb 25, 1976	CGS	0	0	0	CGS 6 @ NYR 4
11	Phil RussellCHI	8	1976-77	Mar 26, 1977	MNS	1	0	1	MNS 2 @ CHI 7
11	Dave WilliamsVAN	8	1980-81	Jan 29, 1981	WSH	0	0	0	VAN 1 @ WSH 3
11	Dean HopkinsLAK	8	1980-81	Feb 21, 1981	PHI	0	0	0	PHI 3 @ LAK 1

The full top 33

Most Penalties, Game: NHL skater records
Rank	Player	Penalties	Season	Date	Opp	Goals	Assists	Points	Score
1	Chris NilanBOS	10	1990-91	Mar 31, 1991	HFD	0	0	0	HFD 3 @ BOS 7
2	Jim DoreyTOR	9	1968-69	Oct 16, 1968	PIT	0	0	0	PIT 2 @ TOR 2
2	Dave SchultzPIT	9	1977-78	Apr 6, 1978	DET	0	0	0	PIT 4 @ DET 6
2	Randy HoltLAK	9	1978-79	Mar 11, 1979	PHI	0	0	0	LAK 3 @ PHI 6
2	Russ AndersonPIT	9	1979-80	Jan 19, 1980	EDM	0	0	0	EDM 5 @ PIT 2
2	Kim ClacksonQUE	9	1980-81	Mar 8, 1981	CHI	0	0	0	CHI 3 @ QUE 2
2	Terry O'ReillyBOS	9	1984-85	Dec 19, 1984	HFD	0	1	1	BOS 5 @ HFD 6
2	Larry PlayfairLAK	9	1986-87	Dec 9, 1986	NYI	0	1	1	LAK 7 @ NYI 2
2	Marty McSorleyLAK	9	1991-92	Apr 14, 1992	VAN	0	0	0	VAN 3 @ LAK 2
2	Reed LowSTL	9	2002-03	Dec 31, 2002	DET	0	0	0	STL 1 @ DET 5
11	Jim SchoenfeldBUF	8	1972-73	Dec 13, 1972	BOS	0	1	1	BOS 3 @ BUF 7
11	Dave MaloneyNYR	8	1975-76	Feb 25, 1976	CGS	0	0	0	CGS 6 @ NYR 4
11	Phil RussellCHI	8	1976-77	Mar 26, 1977	MNS	1	0	1	MNS 2 @ CHI 7
11	Dave WilliamsVAN	8	1980-81	Jan 29, 1981	WSH	0	0	0	VAN 1 @ WSH 3
11	Dean HopkinsLAK	8	1980-81	Feb 21, 1981	PHI	0	0	0	PHI 3 @ LAK 1
11	Brad SmithTOR	8	1986-87	Nov 15, 1986	DET	0	0	0	DET 0 @ TOR 6
11	Bob ProbertDET	8	1987-88	Dec 23, 1987	BUF	0	0	0	BUF 5 @ DET 2
11	Joey KocurDET	8	1988-89	Dec 23, 1988	CHI	0	0	0	DET 2 @ CHI 7
11	Claude LoiselleNJD	8	1988-89	Jan 20, 1989	WSH	0	0	0	NJD 6 @ WSH 5 OT
11	Marty McSorleyLAK	8	1988-89	Apr 1, 1989	VAN	0	0	0	VAN 4 @ LAK 6
11	Joey KocurDET	8	1990-91	Jan 25, 1991	STL	0	0	0	STL 9 @ DET 4
11	Bob ProbertDET	8	1990-91	Feb 13, 1991	HFD	1	0	1	DET 2 @ HFD 6
11	Gord DonnellyWIN	8	1990-91	Mar 2, 1991	LAK	0	0	0	WIN 3 @ LAK 6
11	Link GaetzSJS	8	1991-92	Mar 6, 1992	PIT	0	1	1	PIT 7 @ SJS 3
11	Ronnie SternCGY	8	1992-93	Oct 15, 1992	LAK	0	0	0	CGY 0 @ LAK 4
11	Chris CheliosCHI	8	1993-94	Oct 14, 1993	HFD	0	1	1	HFD 6 @ CHI 2
11	Paul LausFLA	8	1994-95	Mar 16, 1995	WSH	0	1	1	WSH 1 @ FLA 5
11	Theo FleuryCGY	8	1997-98	Nov 9, 1997	DET	1	1	2	CGY 3 @ DET 6
11	Darcy TuckerTBL	8	1999-00	Dec 27, 1999	FLA	0	0	0	FLA 6 @ TBL 1
11	Peter WorrellFLA	8	2001-02	Nov 12, 2001	BUF	0	0	0	BUF 5 @ FLA 3
11	Reed LowSTL	8	2001-02	Feb 28, 2002	CGY	0	0	0	STL 2 @ CGY 3
11	Donald BrashearPHI	8	2005-06	Mar 2, 2006	NYR	0	0	0	NYR 6 @ PHI 1
11	Ryane CloweSJS	8	2012-13	Jan 27, 2013	VAN	0	0	0	VAN 1 @ SJS 4

Top 33 of 33 lines on the NHL's list, ties kept. Source: NHL Records.

About these records

Every record list comes from the NHL's official records database (records.nhl.com): 808 regular-season and playoff records for skaters, goalies and teams. We keep the top 50 of each list, with ties, and refresh lists with active players daily, so career climbs like Alex Ovechkin's goal total update the morning after a game.

Records cover the league's whole history, so eras matter: scoring was far higher in the 1980s, goalie stats like saves and save percentage start in 1955-56 or later, and time on ice, hits and blocks start in 2005-06. Each list notes its own limits.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the NHL record for most penalties in a game?

Chris Nilan holds the NHL record for most penalties in a game with 10 (1990-91).