10 Points, 6 Goals: Blues Duo Quietly Take Over Against Quebec

On January 6, 1981, the St. Louis Blues delivered a strong but somewhat understated 6-3 victory over the Quebec Nordiques, despite a rare offensive explosion from two of their top players. Blake Dunlop and Jorgen Pettersson each recorded five-point performances, combining for 10 points in a game that, surprisingly, never turned into a complete rout.

Highlights

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• Blake Dunlop and Jorgen Pettersson each recorded 5 points

• Combined for 10 points in a 6-3 Blues win

• Involved in 5 of the team’s 6 goals

• Pettersson scored twice and added three assists

• Dunlop had one goal and four assists

• Game played January 6, 1981 vs Quebec Nordiques

• Pettersson finished rookie season with 73 points in 62 games

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Even more remarkable, the duo factored in on all but one of St. Louis’ six goals. It was the kind of statistical dominance that usually results in a lopsided scoreline, but the Nordiques managed to keep things relatively respectable on the scoreboard.

Dunlop’s night included a goal and four assists. His eighth goal of the 1980-81 season came early in the third period, with assists from Pettersson and Wayne Babych. Beyond that, Dunlop played a key setup role, assisting on two of Pettersson’s goals, as well as markers by Babych and Craig Norwich.

Pettersson matched Dunlop point-for-point with two goals and three assists. His 12th goal of the season came midway through the second period to give the Blues a 3-0 lead. He later capped off the scoring late in the third period, once again with Dunlop contributing on the play. Pettersson also added assists on goals by Babych, Norwich, and Dunlop himself.

The performance was part of a standout rookie season for Pettersson, who finished with 37 goals and 73 points in just 62 games. Having already established himself professionally in Sweden, the 24-year-old transitioned seamlessly to the NHL, ultimately finishing sixth in Calder Trophy voting.

Dunlop, meanwhile, was enjoying the best season of his career. He totaled 67 assists and 87 points, placing him among the league’s top playmakers and tying for seventh in assists league-wide. Though this particular game may not be widely remembered, it remains a perfect snapshot of how dominant the Dunlop–Pettersson combination could be on any given night.

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Dick Cherry’s Rare Offensive Explosion: Shorthanded Game-Winner Lifts Flyers in 1969

When fans think of Dick Cherry, offensive heroics aren’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. A dependable, stay-at-home defenseman, Cherry made his mark with steady play, not scoring bursts. But on January 26, 1969, at the The Spectrum, he delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career.

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Highlights

• Dick Cherry scored a rare two-goal game for the Flyers

• Game took place January 26, 1969, at the Spectrum

• Penguins jumped out to an early 3-0 lead

• Flyers rallied with goals by Kennedy, Gendron, and Lacroix

• Cherry netted the game-winning goal while shorthanded

• Added an empty-net goal with 14 seconds remaining

• Dick Sarrazin recorded an impressive four assists

• One of Cherry’s most memorable NHL performances

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The visiting Pittsburgh Penguins came out flying, building a 3-0 lead in the first half of the game thanks to goals from Wally Boyer, Billy Dea, and Ken Schinkel. It looked like a comfortable night for Pittsburgh early on.

But the Philadelphia Flyers weren’t done.

Midway through the second period, Forbes Kennedy got Philadelphia on the board. Later in the frame, Jean-Guy Gendron cut the deficit to one, setting the stage for a dramatic third period.

Just over eight minutes into the final frame, Andre Lacroix tied the game, and momentum had clearly shifted. With the score even, overtime seemed inevitable.

Then came the turning point.

With teammate Myron Stankiewicz in the penalty box, Cherry seized his moment. Scoring just his second goal of the season, he beat Penguins goaltender Les Binkley with a shorthanded effort, assisted by Dick Sarrazin. It stood up as the game-winner.

Cherry wasn’t finished. With just 14 seconds remaining, he added an empty-net goal to seal a 5-3 Flyers victory, an extraordinary two-goal night for a player who scored just 12 times in his entire NHL regular-season career.

For Cherry, whose NHL journey included a brief debut with the Boston Bruins in 1956-57 before returning over a decade later with Philadelphia, this game stands as a shining offensive highlight.

And while Cherry earned the spotlight, it’s worth noting the incredible performance of Sarrazin, who recorded four assists in the game. Despite limited NHL time, he enjoyed a strong 1968-69 season, posting 16 goals and 46 points in just 54 games.

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Gordie Howe Dominates: Involved in All 5 Red Wings Goals in 1953 Win

Few players in NHL history have ever controlled a game quite like Gordie Howe did during the 1952-53 season. While his career would stretch into four decades, it was that remarkable year when “Mr. Hockey” reached his offensive peak, finishing with 49 goals, just one shy of joining Maurice Richard and Bernie Geoffrion as the only 50-goal scorers in NHL history at the time. Howe still led the league and captured both the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Trophy.

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Highlights

• Gordie Howe recorded 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists)

• Involved in all 5 Detroit Red Wings goals

• Multiple points on a single power play

• Game played February 1, 1953

• Red Wings defeated Maple Leafs 5–1

• Part of Howe’s 49-goal MVP season   

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One unforgettable performance came on February 1, 1953, at Detroit Olympia, when the Detroit Red Wings faced the Toronto Maple Leafs. Detroit cruised to a 5-1 victory, but the real story was Howe’s complete dominance. He played a role in every single Red Wings goal.

Howe opened the scoring at 5:24 of the first period, netting his 36th goal of the season against goaltender Harry Lumley, with assists from Red Kelly and Jim Hay. Just 45 seconds later, Howe turned playmaker, setting up Alex Delvecchio for what would stand as the game-winning goal.

Remarkably, both goals came on the same power play, with Tim Horton serving a penalty. In that era, penalties were served in full regardless of goals scored, allowing Howe and the Red Wings to fully capitalize. Before the advantage expired, Howe assisted again, this time on a goal by Marcel Pronovost, giving Detroit a commanding 3-0 lead.

The second period brought more of the same brilliance. Howe scored another power-play goal, assisted by Kelly and Ted Lindsay, extending the lead to 4-1. Less than a minute later, he added his third assist of the night, helping Delvecchio notch his second goal and seal the 5-1 final.

When the dust settled, Howe had recorded five points, two goals and three assists, while factoring into every Detroit tally. It was a performance that perfectly captured why he remains one of hockey’s greatest icons: skill, vision, and complete control of the game in every situation.

Mr. Hockey: The Autobiography of Gordie Howe

The definitive autobiography of Gordie Howe, one of hockey’s greatest players and a true legend of the game.

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