Mike Krushelnyski’s Surprise Heroics: The Forgotten Star of the Oilers’ First Playoff Battle with Vancouver

On April 9, 1986, history was made at Northlands Coliseum as the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks faced off for the first time ever in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Most fans expected Wayne Gretzky to lead the charge, but on this night, it was Mike Krushelnyski, the unheralded forward known as Krusher, who turned out to be the difference-maker in Edmonton’s 7-3 win.

Coming off a tough, injury-shortened 1985-86 season, Krushelnyski had seen his numbers drop from the 43-goal career high he posted the year before. With just 16 goals and 24 assists in 54 games, few were predicting playoff heroics from him. But playoff hockey always has its surprises.

Krushelnyski scored the game-winning goal just 4:27 into the third period on the power play, assisted by Paul Coffey and Mark Messier. He wasn’t done yet. Just five minutes later, he struck again, this time with helpers from Messier and Mark Napier. Messier himself had a strong night, recording three assists, while Gretzky was limited to a single goal.

The Oilers went on to sweep the best-of-five Smythe Division semifinal, marking a short but memorable chapter in their dynasty years. It was also the final series that saw Cam Neely in a Vancouver uniform, he’d be traded to the Boston Bruins that summer, where he’d become a legend of his own.

About Mike Krushelnyski 

Betwen 1981-82 and 1994-95, Mike Krushelnyski played 897 regular season and 139 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. He reached the 20 goal plateau five times, topping out with a career best 43 in 1984-85 with the Oilers.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Mike Krushelnyski

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

1. Before joining the Edmonton Oilers, which NHL team did Mike Krushelnyski play for?

Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Los Angeles Kings

2. Krushelnyski was part of the blockbuster trade that sent which superstar to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988?

Mark Messier
Jari Kurri
Wayne Gretzky
Paul Coffey

3. How many Stanley Cups did Mike Krushelnyski win during his time with the Edmonton Oilers?

One
Two
Three
Four

4. Krushelnyski once scored one of the strangest goals in playoff history — while falling to the ice — to eliminate which team in overtime?

Calgary Flames
Los Angeles Kings
Chicago Blackhawks
Winnipeg Jets

5. After retiring as a player, Krushelnyski briefly served as a coach in the NHL. Which team did he work for as an assistant coach?

Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
Edmonton Oilers
Toronto Maple Leafs

80 Years Later: The Montreal Canadiens Record That Still Belongs to The Rocket

Over 80 years later, one record still stands tall in Montreal Canadiens history: the night Maurice “Rocket” Richard racked up eight points in a single game. It happened on December 28, 1944, during a dominant 9-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings at the Montreal Forum, and no Canadiens player has surpassed it since.

That 1944–45 season was already legendary for the Rocket, he became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in one season. But on that December night, he set a different kind of milestone. Richard scored five goals and added three assists, becoming the first player in NHL history to record eight points in a single game.

All nine Montreal goals came against Detroit goalie Harry Lumley, and Richard even took a minor penalty in the second period, just to make sure his name appeared everywhere on the scoresheet. His five goals were numbers 20 through 24 of the season, one of four hat tricks he recorded that year.

Richard’s linemates Elmer Lach and Toe Blake also had monster nights. Lach posted two goals and three assists, while Blake had one goal and three helpers. Together, they formed the iconic “Punch Line,” one of the most dominant trios in NHL history. Lach went on to lead the league in scoring with 80 points, followed by Richard (73) and Blake (67).

Although the Canadiens were eliminated by Toronto in the playoffs, Richard’s explosive scoring continued with six goals in six games, including four in one night during a 10-3 win over the Maple Leafs.

A decade later, on January 9, 1954, Bert Olmstead tied Richard’s single-game record with four goals and four assists in a 12-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Fittingly, the Rocket was part of the action again, this time setting up five of Olmstead’s points.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Maurice “Rocket” Richard

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

1. In which season did Maurice “Rocket” Richard become the first NHL player to score 50 goals in 50 games?

1943–44
1944–45
1945–46
1946–47

2. How many times did Maurice Richard lead the NHL in goal scoring during his career?

5
8
9
10

3. Which famous linemates formed the “Punch Line” with Maurice Richard on the Montreal Canadiens?

Jean Béliveau and Bernie Geoffrion
Elmer Lach and Toe Blake
Henri Richard and Dickie Moore
Doug Harvey and Bert Olmstead

4. How many Stanley Cups did Maurice Richard win during his career with the Montreal Canadiens?

5
6
7
8

5. What major NHL trophy was introduced in 1999 to honour Maurice Richard’s legacy?

The Art Ross Trophy
The Rocket Richard Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy

Jean Ratelle: 5 Key Points from a Gentleman’s Hall of Fame Career

Few players embodied grace and skill on the ice like Jean Ratelle. Over an incredible 21-season career split between the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins, Ratelle quietly built a Hall of Fame résumé defined by consistency, sportsmanship, and class. Here are five key moments that highlight his remarkable journey.

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1. First NHL Goal (March 4, 1961)

Ratelle’s NHL debut came while he was still a junior with the Guelph Royals. In just his third game with the Rangers, he netted his first NHL goal on March 4, 1961, against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens.

His goal came at 9:32 of the third period on Cesare Maniago, assisted by Ted Hampson and Bill Gadsby. Though the Rangers fell 5-4, Ratelle also added an assist on Hampson’s first-period tally, a strong two-point night for the young forward.

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2. Last NHL Goal (February 26, 1981)

Twenty years later, Ratelle found the net one last time in his final NHL season with the Boston Bruins. On February 26, 1981, he scored a power-play goal against the Minnesota North Stars’ Gilles Meloche, assisted by Ray Bourque and Rick Middleton.

The goal turned out to be the game-winner in a 5-1 Boston victory, a fitting way to close a brilliant scoring career that totaled 491 regular-season goals.

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3. First NHL Hat Trick (January 7, 1968)

After a slow start to the 1967-68 season, Ratelle broke out with his first career hat trick against the Maple Leafs on January 7, 1968, at Madison Square Garden.

He recorded a natural hat trick, scoring three straight goals in just 4 minutes and 45 seconds, all in the second period. Teammate Rod Gilbert assisted on two of them, and Ratelle’s explosion powered the Rangers to a 6-2 win.

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4. Two-Time Lady Byng Winner

Known as one of hockey’s true gentlemen, Ratelle was twice awarded the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and performance, in 1971-72 and 1975-76.

Across 1,281 games, he logged only 276 penalty minutes, averaging barely a minor per season. His 1971-72 campaign was especially impressive: just two minors in 63 games while finishing fourth in Hart Trophy voting.

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5. Two 100-Point Seasons

Ratelle surpassed the 100-point mark twice, in 1971-72 (109 points in 63 games) and 1975-76 (105 points). Both seasons coincided with his Lady Byng wins, showcasing a rare balance of dominance and discipline.

In 1975-76, Ratelle’s midseason trade from the Rangers to the Bruins didn’t slow him down. He racked up 90 points in 67 games with Boston, finishing tied for sixth in NHL scoring.

The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

NHL Hockey Trivia: Jean Ratelle

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

1. Jean Ratelle began his NHL career with which team?

Boston Bruins
New York Rangers
Montreal Canadiens
Quebec Nordiques

2. In which season did Ratelle record an incredible 109 points in just 63 games?

1970–71
1971–72
1972–73
1975–76

3. Jean Ratelle was part of a blockbuster 1975 trade that sent him to Boston along with which other key player?

Ken Hodge
Brad Park
Wayne Cashman
Rick Middleton

4. How many times did Jean Ratelle win the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and skill?

Once
Twice
Three times
Never

5. Jean Ratelle was part of one of the Rangers’ most famous lines during the late 1960s and early 1970s. What was it called?

The GAG Line (Goal-A-Game)
The French Connection
The Kraut Line
The Production Line

NHL Hockey Card Legends: Jean Ratelle [Video]