Paul Gardner Scores Colorado Rockies’ First Hat Trick in Loss to Toronto

Paul Gardner gave the Colorado Rockies a milestone to celebrate on January 5, 1977, even if the final score spoiled the occasion. The rookie centre scored the first hat trick in the team’s Colorado history, but the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from a two-goal third-period deficit to win 6–4 at Maple Leaf Gardens. For Gardner, it was the first of four NHL hat tricks: two with the Rockies and two with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Highlights

• Gardner scored the first hat trick in Colorado Rockies history on January 5, 1977.

• Toronto won the game 6–4 at Maple Leaf Gardens.

• Gardner’s third goal gave Colorado a 4–2 third-period lead.

• The Maple Leafs finished with four unanswered goals.

• Gardner recorded 10 shots; Doug Favell made 40 saves.

• Gardner scored 30 goals in each of his first two NHL seasons.

• His four career NHL hat tricks were split between Colorado and Pittsburgh.

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Playing their first season in Denver after relocating from Kansas City, the Rockies fell behind on the only goal of the opening period, scored by Toronto defenceman Bob Neely. Colorado took control in the second. Gary Croteau tied the game at 1:53, and Gardner followed with two goals to give the visitors a 3–1 lead. Jack Valiquette answered with a shorthanded goal against Doug Favell, bringing the Maple Leafs within one heading into the third.

Gardner completed his hat trick with an unassisted goal against Wayne Thomas in the final period. His 15th goal of the season restored Colorado’s two-goal cushion at 4–2, but the Rockies would not score again. Toronto responded with four unanswered goals to turn Gardner’s milestone night into a frustrating defeat.

The goaltending totals reflected a busy evening for Favell, who stopped 40 of the 45 shots he faced. Toronto added an empty-net goal to complete the scoring. Gardner, meanwhile, generated 10 shots himself, giving the Rockies both their biggest offensive threat and a memorable individual performance.

Selected 11th overall by the Kansas City Scouts at the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft, Gardner never played for the club in Missouri. The franchise moved before his rookie season, and he made an immediate impression in Colorado with 30 goals in 60 games in 1976–77. He scored another 30 in just 46 games the following season, a pace that would have topped 50 over a full 80-game schedule.

Gardner went on to play 447 regular-season games and 16 playoff games in the NHL between 1976–77 and 1985–86. His career included stops with the Rockies, Maple Leafs, Penguins, Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres. On this particular night, though, his place in Colorado hockey history was secured, even as Toronto walked away with the victory.

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Denis Potvin’s 1981 Playoff Hat Trick Put Him Alongside Bobby Orr

A playoff hat trick was rare enough for a defenseman. Denis Potvin made his even more remarkable by scoring all three goals on the power play. On April 17, 1981, the New York Islanders captain added two assists to his three goals in a 6–3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

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Highlights

• Potvin scored a hat trick against Edmonton on April 17, 1981.

• All three goals came on the power play.

• His third goal broke a 3–3 tie and stood as the winner.

• Two assists gave him five points in the Islanders’ 6–3 victory.

• He joined Georges Boucher and Bobby Orr as the first three NHL defensemen with playoff hat tricks.

• Potvin scored six goals in the six-game Edmonton series.

• He finished the 1981 playoffs with 25 points in 18 games.

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The five-point performance came in Game 2 of the quarterfinals and made Potvin just the third defenseman in NHL history to score a playoff hat trick. Georges “Buck” Boucher had accomplished the feat with the Ottawa Senators in 1921. Bobby Orr followed with the Boston Bruins in 1971. Ten years after Orr’s performance, Potvin joined the club.

Edmonton held a 1–0 lead when Potvin scored his first goal at 2:26 of the second period, beating Andy Moog with assists from Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier. He struck again at 9:44, this time with Mike McEwen and Butch Goring collecting the assists. Those were Potvin’s third and fourth goals of the postseason, but his most important contribution was still ahead.

With the teams tied 3–3 entering the third period, Potvin completed his hat trick at 3:47. Bossy and Clark Gillies assisted on the goal, which put New York ahead to stay. Potvin also helped set up goals by Goring and Bossy, giving him a hand in five of the Islanders’ six goals.

Special teams shaped almost the entire evening. New York scored four power-play goals, while Edmonton scored twice with the man advantage. Bryan Trottier added a shorthanded empty-net goal, meaning seven of the game’s nine goals came on special teams. Potvin supplied three of them himself.

The Islanders eliminated Edmonton in six games, with Potvin scoring six goals in the series. His only other goals that postseason came in another 6–3 victory, this time against the Minnesota North Stars in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. He finished the championship run with eight goals and 17 assists in 18 games. His 25 points ranked third on the Islanders behind Bossy’s 35 and Trottier’s 29, a productive spring highlighted by one extraordinary night against Edmonton.

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Steve Kasper Scores Twice on the Same Penalty Kill Against Toronto

The Toronto Maple Leafs had an early power play. Steve Kasper turned it into a two-goal lead for the Boston Bruins. On January 9, 1985, at Maple Leaf Gardens, Kasper scored two unassisted shorthanded goals just 50 seconds apart, with both coming before the game was three minutes old.

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Highlights

• Boston defeated Toronto 5–3 at Maple Leaf Gardens on January 9, 1985.

• Steve Kasper scored shorthanded at 1:57 and 2:47 of the first period.

• Both goals were unassisted and came during Frank Simonetti’s interference minor.

• Rick St. Croix was replaced after allowing two goals on two shots.

• Tim Bernhardt stopped 37 of 40 shots in relief.

• The game’s first three goals were scored shorthanded.

• Russ and Geoff Courtnall both scored in their first NHL meeting.

• Butch Goring scored the eventual winning goal.

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Boston defenceman Frank Simonetti went to the penalty box for interference at 0:55 of the first period. Kasper opened the scoring at 1:57, beating Toronto goaltender Rick St. Croix. With Simonetti still serving the same minor, Kasper struck again at 2:47. St. Croix had faced only two shots, and both had found the net. Toronto replaced him with Tim Bernhardt.

Kasper had already established his defensive credentials by winning the Selke Trophy in 1981–82. This time, his penalty killing provided Boston’s early offence. Bernhardt gave the Maple Leafs a chance to recover, stopping 37 of the 40 shots he faced over the remaining 57:13.

Remarkably, the game’s third goal was also scored shorthanded. With Toronto’s Bob McGill off for holding, Russ Courtnall beat Pete Peeters at 18:34, assisted by Dan Daoust. Al Iafrate then tied the game with just 14 seconds remaining in the opening period. After Kasper’s stunning start, the teams went to the dressing rooms even at 2–2.

Toronto briefly moved ahead when Rick Vaive scored 49 seconds into the second period. Boston answered through Ken Linseman at 3:09, before Butch Goring put the Bruins back in front at 10:29. Goring’s goal proved to be the winner in Boston’s 5–3 victory.

The night also marked the first NHL meeting between brothers Russ and Geoff Courtnall, and both scored. After Russ helped launch Toronto’s comeback, Geoff supplied Boston’s final goal at 10:25 of the third period, assisted by Mike O’Connell and Tom Fergus. The brothers added a memorable subplot, but Kasper’s two goals on one penalty kill gave the game its defining moment.

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