Dean Prentice’s Six-Point Explosion Leads Bruins to Stunning 11–0 Rout at Maple Leaf Gardens

When the Boston Bruins hammered the Toronto Maple Leafs 11-0 on January 18, 1964, it wasn’t just another lopsided scoreline, it was a full-blown shocker. Boston entered the game buried in the basement of the six-team NHL, while Toronto was powering toward what would become its third straight Stanley Cup championship. Yet on this night at Maple Leaf Gardens, the underdog Bruins delivered one of the most astonishing road victories of the Original Six era.

Dean Prentice was at the heart of the upset, turning in one of the finest performances of his career. The veteran winger notched the fifth of his six NHL hat tricks and added three assists, giving him a six-point night. Remarkably, four of those points came in the opening period as Boston stormed out to a 6-0 lead. Prentice scored his three goals on just three shots, while linemate Andy Hebenton completed a hat trick of his own on six attempts at Don Simmons.

Murray Oliver led all skaters with nine shots, contributing two goals and two assists in the offensive explosion. John Bucyk also chipped in a four-point night with a goal and three helpers, adding even more punch to a Bruins attack that seemed unstoppable. At the other end, goaltender Ed Johnston stopped all 26 Toronto shots, including six from the always-entertaining Eddie Shack, to secure the shutout.

The victory extended Boston’s modest winning streak to three games, including a 6-3 triumph over Toronto just two games earlier. Although the Bruins managed only a tie against Montreal the following day before sliding back into their struggles, this run briefly lifted them out of an 0-10-1 slump. In fact, five of Boston’s 18 wins in the 1963-64 season came against the Maple Leafs, making Toronto their most generous opponent in an otherwise tough campaign.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Dean Prentice

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Dean Prentice began his NHL career with which team?
New York Rangers
Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings

2. Which team was Dean Prentice playing for during the mid-1960s, when he came closest to reaching the Stanley Cup Final?
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Chicago Black Hawks
Minnesota North Stars

3. Which major milestone did Dean Prentice surpass during his NHL career?
300 career NHL goals
1,000 career NHL assists
600 penalty minutes
100 power-play goals

4. Dean Prentice was selected to the NHL All-Star Game how many times?
Three
Five
Six
Seven

5. Dean Prentice scored a memorable shorthanded penalty shot goal in 1964 while injured. Which team was he playing for at the time?
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins

Guy Lapointe’s Lone NHL Hat Trick Comes in Wild 8–6 Loss to Buffalo

Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lapointe had plenty of monster nights during his Hall of Fame career, but none quite like November 13, 1974. That evening at the Montreal Forum, the smooth-skating defenseman piled up five points, recorded the only hat trick of his NHL career, and still watched his Canadiens fall 8-6 to the high-flying Buffalo Sabres.

Lapointe was in the middle of a career year in 1974-75, finishing with 28 goals and a third-place finish in the Norris Trophy race behind Bobby Orr and Denis Potvin. Against Buffalo, he did everything in his power to drag Montreal back into the game while still finishing with a +2 rating despite the loss.

The Sabres stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the first before Lapointe setup Yvon Lambert at 13:47 to put Montreal on the board. After Rene Robert restored Buffalo’s three-goal cushion, Lapointe ripped home his sixth of the season at 18:56, with assists from Guy Lafleur and Jacques Lemaire.

Buffalo opened the second period with another three-goal burst, stretching the lead to 6-1 and then 7-2. Lapointe responded at 14:52, scoring his second of the night to cut the deficit to 7-3. A few minutes later, with Glen Sather in the penalty box, Pete Mahovlich buried a shorthanded marker, set up beautifully by Lapointe and fellow blueliner Serge Savard.

Montreal kept pushing in the third, and Lapointe completed his hat trick at 10:25, trimming Buffalo’s lead to 7-5 and capping off his remarkable five-point showing. But the Sabres answered back as Robert completed his own hat trick, and Bob Gainey closed the scoring shortly after. Savard also had a standout game with three assists and a +5 rating.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Guy Lapointe

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Which trio was Guy Lapointe part of during the Canadiens’ 1970s dynasty?

The Lucky Seven
The Big Three
The Flying Frenchmen
The Blue Line Battalion

2. In which NHL season did Lapointe score his career-high 28 goals?

1972–73
1974–75
1976–77
1978–79

3. Which NHL team did Guy Lapointe finish his career with?

St. Louis Blues
Boston Bruins
Minnesota North Stars
Quebec Nordiques

4. In 1979, Lapointe helped the Canadiens win their fourth straight Stanley Cup. How many Cups did he win in total?

Four
Five
Six
Seven

5. Before becoming director of player personnel in Minnesota, Lapointe worked in which role?

Assistant coach
Goaltending consultant
Salary arbitrator
Team broadcaster

Alex Delvecchio’s Rare 1958 Hat Trick Powers Red Wings Past Chicago

On an October night in 1958 at the old Chicago Stadium, Alex “Fats” Delvecchio delivered one of the most efficient offensive performances of his Hall of Fame career. Despite playing 1,550 NHL games and scoring 456 career goals, Delvecchio recorded only three hat tricks and the first arrived on October 18, 1958, in a 3-1 Detroit Red Wings victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Delvecchio wasted no time getting Detroit on the board. Just 1:48 into the first period, he slipped the puck past Chicago star goaltender Glenn Hall, with an assist from Gordie Howe. Chicago answered later in the frame with a goal from Ed Litzenberger, but that would be the only puck to elude Red Wings netminder Terry Sawchuk all night.

Early in the second period, Delvecchio struck again. At 1:25, with Chicago’s Al Arbour serving a penalty, Delvecchio buried a power-play marker that held up as the game-winning goal. Howe and Norm Ullman picked up the helpers as Detroit regained control.

The natural storybook ending arrived midway through the third. At 5:47, Delvecchio completed his hat trick, once again set up by Howe, securing all of Detroit’s scoring on the night and sealing one of the most memorable games of his storied career.

Delvecchio finished the 1958-59 season with 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points, taking just three minor penalties in 70 games. His sportsmanship and steady excellence earned him his first of three Lady Byng Trophies, and in 1977 he took his rightful place in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

About Alex Delvecchio 

Alex “Fats” Delvecchio stands as one of the most consistent, durable, and respected players in NHL history. Spending his entire 24-season career (1950-1974) with the Detroit Red Wings, Delvecchio became a cornerstone of the franchise through three different eras of hockey. Known for his smooth playmaking, calm on-ice presence, and gentlemanly style, he was a key contributor alongside legends such as Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, and Terry Sawchuk.

Delvecchio played 1,550 regular-season games, the second-most in league history at the time of his retirement and still among the highest totals today for a player who spent his entire career with one team. He scored 456 goals and 825 assists for 1,281 points, making him one of the most productive centers of his generation. His skill set leaned toward playmaking excellence, and his reliability earned him the trust of coaches in all situations: power play, even strength, and key defensive shifts.

Known for exceptional sportsmanship, Delvecchio won the Lady Byng Trophy three times (1959, 1966, 1969), reflecting his ability to excel offensively without taking penalties. Despite his longevity, he accumulated remarkably few penalty minutes, just 383 over more than two decades. His poise and consistency made him a model of professionalism.

Delvecchio was also a three-time Stanley Cup champion, helping Detroit win titles in 1952, 1954, and 1955. Though overshadowed at times by Howe’s superstar presence, Delvecchio was a vital engine of Detroit’s offense and the steady center on some of the most iconic lines in NHL history, including the later iterations of the Production Line.

After retiring as a player, Delvecchio continued contributing to hockey as a coach and executive with the Red Wings. His lifelong dedication to the team capped a career defined by loyalty, leadership, and elite performance.

In 1977, Alex Delvecchio was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest and most respected players the Detroit Red Wings have ever produced.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Alex Delvecchio

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. How many regular-season games did Alex Delvecchio play in his NHL career?
   1,200
   1,420
   1,550
   1,612
2. Delvecchio spent his entire NHL playing career with which team?
   Detroit Red Wings
   Chicago Blackhawks
   Toronto Maple Leafs
   Boston Bruins
3. How many Lady Byng Trophies did Delvecchio win?
   One
   Three
   Four
   Two
4. Which number did Alex Delvecchio famously wear for most of his career?
   7
   10
   12
   19
5. In what year was Alex Delvecchio inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?
   1977
   1981
   1973
   1984

NHL Hockey Card Legends: Alex Delvecchio