''Never in my wildest imagination did I expect to score five goals against a tough team like the Flyers,'' said Gretzky, ''but it was one of those games where everything went my way.

''However, I probably disappointed my parents. They were planning to fly to Vancouver for tomorrow's game against the Canucks in the hopes of seeing me break the record. But if you're going to break a record the best place to do it is at home.'' Power Play Ties Score

With the Oilers on a power play in the first period, Gretzky got position at the edge of the Flyers' crease and flicked Paul Coffey's rebound past Pete Peeters, the Flyer goalie, at 7 minutes 47 seconds to tie the score at 1-1.

Gretzky picked up his 47th goal of the season at 10:12, beating Peeters with a partially screened 20-foot slapshot just under the crossbar. Gretzky later set up the Oilers' second power-play goal of the period on a screened slapshot by Coffey, at 13:49.

In the second period Reggie Leach scored on his rebound to cut the margin to 3-2. But 10 seconds later, at 3:54, Gretzky got his third goal with a 25-foot slapshot over Peeters's right shoulder.