Eddie Westfall Scores A Pair Of Shorthanded Game Winners For The Boston Bruins In 1968-69

Ed Westfall is known for his penalty killing abilities. With 26 of his 231 regular season goals in the NHL scored while shorthanded, he was a predecessor to what they now call the "Power Kill". In 1968-69 with the Boston Bruins, he had four shorthanded markers and four game winning goals. On two occasions, his shorties were the game winners.

On February 2, 1969, the Bruins hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Boston Garden. At 9:59 of the second period, Westfall scored on Roy Edwards, assisted by Don Awrey while teammate Derek Sanderson was in the box serving a minor penalty for high sticking. The goal made the score 3-0 for the home team. The goal would hold as the game winner in the 4-2 Boston win.

Later that month, on February 27, 1969, the Bruins were on the road for a game against the Oakland Seals at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. 2:25 into the game, Westfall scored shorthanded on Chris Worthy, assisted by Boston goalie Ed Johnston. The goal was shorthanded with Ron Murphy in the box for hooking. 

That goal was also all the Bruins needed and Westfall's shorthanded marker was the game winning goal in a 9-0 shutout. In the match, Ed also assisted on a pair of goals by Eddie Shack for a three point game. Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge also had three point games in the lopsided win.

Over that 1968-69 NHL season, Westfall also had shorthanded goals against the Minnesota North Stars and New York Rangers. His other two game winning goals were scored on the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. He continued his power kill in the playoffs with one shorty each against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. He had just three total goals in the playoffs.

  

Jim Lorentz: A Pair Of 3 Assist Games For The Home Crowd In Buffalo For The Christmas Season

In 1976-77, Jim Lorentz was enjoying what would turn out to be his last really productive season in the National Hockey League. He played much of 1977-78 but contributed just nine goals and 24 points. In 1976-77, he put in good numbers with the Buffalo Sabres with 23 goals and 33 assists.

3 Assists vs. Rangers

Six of those 33 helpers came in a pair of home games in mid-December. On December 16, 1976, Buffalo hosted the New York Rangers at the Aud. All his points came in the second period and all were assists on Rick Martin goals. Rico's three goals came within a 10:02 span but was not a natural hat trick. After the second, Gilbert popped in Buffalo's sixth of the game in a 7-2 win.

Buffalo goalie Gerry Desjardins might have been caught sleeping the odd time during the game with the Rangers putting just 14 shots on net. Gerry allowed a pair of second period goals by Pat Hickey to make the game interesting. At the other end of the rink, Buffalo put 28 shots on Gilles Gratton over two periods before Doug Soetaert came on in relief and faced 12 more.

3 Assists vs. Red Wings

The Sabres left town for a match against the New York Islanders and returned home to face the Detroit Red Wings on December 19, 1976. Again, all Jim's points came in a single period, this time the third. Again, it was a connection with Rick Martin.

This game went into the third period with Buffalo up 3-1. Detroit would not score again in this match. In a span of 7:01, Martin scored two goals and Andre Savard had one. Lorentz assisted on all three and the trio finished the game with three points each. The victim in the opponents net on this night was Jim Rutherford, turning away 28 of 34 in a 6-1 loss.

About Jim Lorentz

Between 1968-69 and 1977-78, Jim Lorentz played 659 regular season and 54 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres. He recorded four career hat tricks, all with the Sabres.

Lorentz was a Stanley Cup champion with the Bruins in 1969-70, appearing in eleven of the team's 14 playoff games. He contributed a single goal in the post season run. Prior, with Boston's CHL affiliate in Oklahoma City, Jim was rookie of the year in 1967-68 and league MVP in 1968-69.

Glenn Resch Had A Standout 1974-75 Season (And Was Still A Rookie In 1975-76)

It was just the second game of their existence. The Kansas City Scouts started play in the National Hockey League in 1974-75, along with the Washington Capitals. In their first game, they lost 6-2 to Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens with Michel Plasse facing 46 shots. In game two at Nassau County Coliseum, it was the Scouts doing the bulk of the shooting. But, Glenn Resch got in the way.

Butch Deadmarsh got the visitors on the board, scoring on Resch at 8:06 of the first period, assisted by Dave Hudson and Chris Evans. However, by the end of the frame, the Islanders had a 3-1 lead. In the end, it was another 6-2 loss but the Scouts certainly had their chances with 36 shots on Chico. Making the saves to give his team a chance for the W certainly became Resch's trademark.

Glenn had three shutouts during the 1974-75 NHL season but never faced more than 21 shots in any of those games. He finished the year with a .916 save percentage during the regular season but it was in the playoffs when he really came through.

In that 1974-75 post season, Resch played 12 games for the New York Islanders, posting a 2.17 goals against average, one shutout and an amazing .931 save percentage. Incredible numbers for a goalie on a team that was bounced in the semi-final. He led all goalies in save percentage in those playoffs.

In the team's quarter-final series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Glenn was in net for all four wins while Billy Smith took all three losses. Game seven was a 30 save 1-0 shutout with Ed Westfall scoring the game winning goal late in the third period.

Despite playing 25 regular season and 12 playoff games in 1974-75, his second year seeing NHL action, Resch was still considered a rookie in 1975-76. That year, he posted a 2.08 GAA with a league leading .928 save percentage along with seven shutouts. Glenn was runner-up to teammate Bryan Trottier for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.