Joel Quenneville’s Shorthanded Winner Caps Hartford’s Wild 1986–87 Opener

With 20 seconds remaining and the Hartford Whalers killing a penalty, Joel Quenneville supplied an unlikely finish to a remarkable comeback. His shorthanded goal on October 11, 1986, completed Hartford’s rally from a 5–2 third-period deficit, giving the Whalers a 6–5 victory over the Calgary Flames in their season opener at the Hartford Civic Center.

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Highlights

• Hartford opened its season against Calgary on October 11, 1986.

• The Whalers trailed 5–2 before scoring four unanswered third-period goals.

• Stew Gavin tied the game at 13:38, prompting Calgary’s goaltending change.

• Ulf Samuelsson’s slashing penalty left Hartford shorthanded late.

• Quenneville scored the winner at 19:40 on his only shot.

• Paul Lawless scored twice, and Mike Liut made 26 saves.

• Quenneville finished the season with just three goals in 37 games.

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Quenneville was hardly Hartford’s most obvious candidate for a last-minute scoring rescue. The defenceman scored just 54 goals in 803 NHL regular-season games and none in 32 playoff appearances. His career high was ten goals with the Colorado Rockies in 1980–81. During the 1986–87 season, he would appear in only 37 games for Hartford and score three times.

The first of those three goals capped a stunning reversal. Calgary still held a comfortable 5–2 advantage when Hartford began its comeback at 6:32 of the third period. The Whalers scored three times to draw even, with Stew Gavin making it 5–5 at 13:38. That tying goal ended Reggie Lemelin’s night in the Calgary net, bringing Mike Vernon into the game.

Hartford’s momentum faced a late test when Ulf Samuelsson received a slashing penalty at 18:08. Instead of settling for a tie while shorthanded, the Whalers found the winning goal. With assists from Dave Tippett and Doug Jarvis, Quenneville beat Vernon at 19:40. It was his only shot on goal all evening.

Paul Lawless led Hartford with two goals, while John Anderson, Ray Ferraro, Gavin and Quenneville added one apiece. Mike Liut stopped 26 of Calgary’s 31 shots to earn the victory. His second cousin, Ron Francis, finished without a point, but the Whalers still found enough offence to turn a three-goal deficit into a memorable opening-night win.

O-PEE-CHEE & TOPPS Hockey Card Collectors Guide 1933-1995

Explore decades of vintage hockey card history with this collectors guide covering O-Pee-Chee and Topps hockey cards from 1933 to 1995. A valuable reference for enthusiasts of classic sets, legendary players, and the golden age of hockey card collecting.

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Dennis Maruk Scores Four Goals in His 21st NHL Game

Dennis Maruk entered his 21st NHL game with three career goals. By the end of the night, he had seven. On November 18, 1975, the California Golden Seals rookie scored four times against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Civic Arena, powering a 5–3 victory with a performance that included a shorthanded hat trick goal.

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Highlights

• Maruk entered the game with three goals in his first 20 NHL appearances.

• He scored four times in California’s 5–3 win on November 18, 1975.

• His first NHL hat trick included a shorthanded goal.

• His third and fourth goals both came at 5:25 of their respective periods.

• Bob Murdoch scored California’s other goal, the eventual winner.

• Gilles Meloche stopped 43 of Pittsburgh’s 46 shots.

• Maruk finished his rookie season with 30 goals, 62 points and a third-place finish in Calder Trophy voting.

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Maruk wasted little time getting started. At 2:24 of the first period, he beat Pittsburgh goaltender Gary Inness for his fourth goal of the season, assisted by Bob Murdoch and Al MacAdam. Just over six minutes later, he struck again, this time with help from MacAdam and Mike Christie. Maruk supplied both California goals in an opening period that ended tied 2–2.

His third goal came with the Seals killing a penalty. With Gary Sabourin serving a holding minor, Maruk completed his first NHL hat trick at 5:25 of the second period. Murdoch then supplied California’s only goal that did not come from its rookie centre. His seventh of the season, scored at 13:44, gave the Seals a 4–2 lead and eventually stood as the winner.

In a neat coincidence, Maruk’s fourth goal arrived at 5:25 of the third period, the exact time of his second-period marker. Murdoch and Christie collected the assists. Maruk finished with seven of California’s 33 shots on Inness, scoring on four of them.

At the other end, Gilles Meloche made sure the rookie’s big night resulted in a win. Pittsburgh outshot California 46–33, but Meloche stopped 43 shots. Between Maruk’s finishing and Meloche’s work in goal, the Seals had enough to leave Pittsburgh with a 5–3 victory.

The performance was the first of Maruk’s 12 career NHL hat tricks and four four-goal games. He finished the 1975–76 season with 30 goals and 32 assists for 62 points, just one behind MacAdam for the team scoring lead. His rookie campaign also earned him third place in Calder Trophy voting, behind winner Bryan Trottier and runner-up Glenn Resch.

O-PEE-CHEE & TOPPS Hockey Card Collectors Guide 1933-1995

Explore decades of vintage hockey card history with this collectors guide covering O-Pee-Chee and Topps hockey cards from 1933 to 1995. A valuable reference for enthusiasts of classic sets, legendary players, and the golden age of hockey card collecting.

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Jacques Lemaire’s Only NHL Penalty Shot Goal Opens Four-Point Night Against Rangers

Jacques Lemaire scored 366 regular-season goals during his NHL career, but only one came on a penalty shot. That goal opened the scoring at the Montreal Forum on March 31, 1973, as Lemaire collected four points to lead the Canadiens to a 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers.

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Highlights

• Montreal defeated the Rangers 5-1 at the Forum on March 31, 1973.

• Jacques Lemaire opened the scoring on a penalty shot at 1:33.

• The goal against Ed Giacomin was his only successful NHL penalty shot in three attempts.

• Lemaire added three assists for a four-point night.

• Larry Robinson, Chuck Lefley, Murray Wilson and Marc Tardif also scored for Montreal.

• Steve Vickers scored the lone Rangers goal.

• Lemaire finished 1972-73 with career highs of 44 goals and 95 points, then added 20 playoff points during Montreal’s Stanley Cup run.

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Just 1:33 into the first period, Lemaire beat Rangers goaltender Ed Giacomin on a penalty shot for his 43rd goal of the 1972-73 season. It was the second of three penalty shot attempts during his NHL career and the only one he converted.

Lemaire quickly followed that goal with a pair of assists. At 5:11, he and Marc Tardif helped set up Larry Robinson’s second goal of the season. Later in the opening period, Lemaire and Yvan Cournoyer assisted on a Chuck Lefley goal, sending Montreal into the first intermission with a 3-0 lead.

At 12:30 of the second period, Lemaire earned his third assist and fourth point on a goal by Murray Wilson. Tardif added another Montreal goal late in the period to make it 5-0. Steve Vickers supplied New York’s only answer at 11:21 of the third, completing the scoring in a convincing Canadiens win.

The performance came near the end of Lemaire’s most productive offensive season. He finished 1972-73 with career highs of 44 goals and 95 points, along with 51 assists. His goal total ranked fourth in the NHL, 11 behind league leader Phil Esposito, while his 95 points placed fifth in the Art Ross Trophy race, 35 behind Esposito. Lemaire followed that regular season with 20 points in 17 playoff games as Montreal captured the Stanley Cup.

Hockey’s Best Team Ever: A Chronicle of the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens' Record-Breaking Season

Relive the legendary 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens season, when a powerhouse roster led by Guy Lafleur, Ken Dryden, and Larry Robinson set an NHL record with 60 regular season wins before capturing the Stanley Cup.

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