Dino Ciccarelli Becomes First 50-Goal Scorer in North Stars History

On March 8, 1982, Dino Ciccarelli etched his name into Minnesota North Stars history by becoming the franchise’s first-ever 50-goal scorer. It was the 68th game of the 1981-82 NHL season, and the North Stars were hosting the St. Louis Blues at the Met Center. The crowd was treated to a historic offensive performance as Ciccarelli netted both his 49th and 50th goals of the year, powering Minnesota to an 8-1 victory.

Goal number 49 came just 8:18 into the opening period, with Craig Hartsburg and Neal Broten collecting assists. That goal made it 3-0 early, setting the tone for the night. At 12:04 of the second period, Ciccarelli struck again, this time off a setup from Tom McCarthy and Broten, clinching the milestone 50th goal that had eluded North Stars players since the team’s inception in 1967.

To top it off, Ciccarelli added an assist on Hartsburg’s third-period goal, capping a three-point night and a blowout win. St. Louis goaltender Mike Liut allowed both of Dino’s goals before being relieved by Rick Heinz for the final frame.

Ciccarelli finished the 1981-82 season with 55 goals, a total that still stands as a Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise record, tied only by Brian Bellows in 1989-90. Ciccarelli reached the 50-goal mark twice with Minnesota, while Bellows and Mike Modano remain the only other players in team history to do so.

About Dino Ciccarelli  

Dino Ciccarelli played  1,232 regular season and 141 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1980-81 and 1998-99 with the Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. Over that time, he scored 608 goals, placing him 20th all-time just two behind Bobby Hull.

Undrafted to the NHL, Ciccarelli came to the North Stars after a stellar junior career with the London Knights that was marred by broken leg. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010.

Ken Hodge’s 6 Assist Game Still a Boston Bruins Record

On February 9, 1971, Ken Hodge turned playmaker and carved his name into Boston Bruins history with a record-setting performance that still stands today. Known more for lighting the lamp than setting up goals, Hodge dished out six assists in a 6-3 win over the visiting New York Rangers.

That night, Hodge played provider on two goals by Bobby Orr, two by Wayne Cashman, one by Phil Esposito, and one by Johnny Bucyk. Though he fired four shots of his own at Rangers goalie Gilles Villemure, he couldn’t find the back of the net. But it was his incredible setup work that stole the spotlight.

Just weeks earlier, Bucyk had tied the club’s previous record with five assists in a single game. Hodge surpassed it with his six-helper night, becoming the sole record-holder, though not for long. On January 1, 1973, Bobby Orr matched the feat with six assists of his own against the Vancouver Canucks. As of today, Hodge and Orr remain co-holders of the Bruins' single-game assist record.

Interestingly, Hodge joined the list of Bruins players with five-assist nights just over a year later, doing it again on November 9, 1972, in a game versus Detroit.

The 1970-71 season would prove to be Hodge’s best. He tallied 62 assists and 43 goals for 105 points, ranking fourth in the NHL in all three categories. Still, he remained somewhat in the shadows with teammates Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr were busy shattering league records of their own.

About Ken Hodge

Ken Hodge played 880 regular season and 97 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1964-65 and 1977-78 with the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. Prior to his NHL start, he earned the Eddie Powers Trophy as the OHA Junior A (OHL) top scorer in 1964-65, putting up 63 goals and 123 points with the St. Catharines Black Hawks.

Involved in two major trades over his NHL career, Hodge was shipped from Chicago to Boston on May 15, 1967 with Phil Esposito and Fred Stanfield for Gilles Marotte, Pit Martin and Jack Norris. On May 26, 1976, he was traded from the Bruins to the Rangers for Rick Middleton. Middleton went on to a great career with Boston while Hodge soon fizzled out and played just one full season with the Blue Shirts.

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Ken Hodge [Video]

Gilles Meloche Faces 58 Shots in Madison Square Garden Showdown

On January 31, 1973, at Madison Square Garden, Gilles Meloche of the California Golden Seals delivered a spectacular goaltending performance, stopping 55 of 58 shots against the powerhouse New York Rangers. Despite the Golden Seals falling 3-1, Meloche’s effort was nothing short of heroic.

It was one of three games that season in which Meloche faced 50 or more shots, and one of 14 games with 40+ shots against. On this particular night, goals from Brad Park, Bobby Rousseau, and Steve Vickers, who also tallied two assists, were the only pucks to beat Meloche. The Seals’ lone goal came off the stick of Walt McKechnie. Meanwhile, Rangers goalie Gilles Villemure had a relatively easy night, needing to stop just 20 of 21 shots.

During the 1972-73 season, Meloche led the NHL in multiple workload categories:

• Games Played: 59
• Minutes Played: 3,467
• Shots Against: 2,041
• Saves: 1,806
• Goals Against: 235

Despite these grueling numbers, Meloche didn’t receive Hart Trophy consideration. That kind of recognition had previously been given to Al Rollins in 1953-54, another goalie who carried a poor team, the Chicago Blackhawks, to modest results.

Gilles Meloche went on to have a lengthy NHL career, playing 788 regular season games (20th all-time among goalies), but just 45 playoff appearances. He suited up for the Chicago Blackhawks, California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars, and Pittsburgh Penguins between 1970-71 and 1987-88.

While he never played for a true Stanley Cup contender, Meloche remains a symbol of resilience and determination in net, especially during seasons like 1972-73 when the odds were stacked against him nearly every night.

Gilles Meloche And His One 1972-73 Shutout

It wasn't always a firing range with the California Golden Seals in that 1972-73 NHL season. On March 18, 1973, the Seals hosted the Minnesota North Stars at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. Meloche had to face just 20 shots in the match, turning them all away in a 2-0 shutout.

Joey Johnston scored what would be the game winner just 50 seconds into the game, assisted by Craig Patrick. Stan Weir sealed the deal with an insurance marker late in the third, assisted by Reg Leach and Pete Laframboise. For Meloche, it was his only blank of the season. Gilles Gilbert made a valiant effort in net for the North Stars, stopping 35 of 37 shots.