Rick MacLeish’s Game 7 Hat Trick Ends Islanders’ 1975 Comeback Bid

The New York Islanders had pushed the defending Stanley Cup champions to the brink of an embarrassing collapse. After Philadelphia won the first three games of their 1975 semifinal series, New York answered with three straight victories. That left everything riding on Game 7 at the Spectrum on May 13, 1975. Rick MacLeish made sure the Flyers’ title defence would continue.

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Highlights

• Played May 13, 1975, at the Spectrum.

• New York forced Game 7 after trailing the series 3–0.

• Gary Dornhoefer opened the scoring just 19 seconds in.

• MacLeish scored twice on the power play in the first period.

• His empty-net goal completed the hat trick in a 4–1 win.

• Bernie Parent stopped 14 of 15 shots.

• Philadelphia advanced to face Buffalo and won its second straight Stanley Cup.

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Gary Dornhoefer gave Philadelphia an immediate lift, opening the scoring just 19 seconds after the opening faceoff. MacLeish followed with a power-play goal at 2:27, assisted by Bill Barber and Bobby Clarke. That early marker would stand as the game winner, although the Islanders briefly cut the lead to 2–1 on a Jude Drouin power-play goal at 5:02.

MacLeish restored Philadelphia’s two-goal cushion at 7:11 of the first period, beating Glenn Resch for his second power-play goal of the night. Larry Goodenough supplied the lone assist on the goal, MacLeish’s ninth of the playoffs. The Flyers carried that 3–1 advantage through a scoreless second period and deep into the third.

With Resch pulled for an extra attacker, MacLeish completed his hat trick at 18:52, scoring into the empty net with an assist from Don Saleski. Philadelphia’s 4–1 victory ended New York’s comeback bid and secured a second consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final. MacLeish led all players with eight shots, followed by Reggie Leach with seven, while Bernie Parent stopped 14 of the Islanders’ 15 shots.

It was MacLeish’s second hat trick of the 1975 postseason. He had opened Philadelphia’s quarterfinal series against Toronto with three goals and an assist in a 6–3 victory on April 13. Against Buffalo in the Stanley Cup Final, he scored once in six games as the Flyers captured their second straight championship. His Game 7 performance against the Islanders helped ensure they had the opportunity.

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The Only Goalie to Shut Out the 1976-77 Canadiens? Mike Palmateer

The Montreal Canadiens were a daunting opponent in 1976-77, but a Toronto rookie managed something no other NHL goaltender accomplished against them that regular season. On November 17, 1976, Mike Palmateer stopped all 39 shots he faced at Maple Leaf Gardens, giving the Maple Leafs a 1-0 victory. The goalie known as the “Popcorn Kid” was playing just his ninth NHL game.

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Highlights

• Montreal’s only shutout loss of the 1976-77 regular season.

• Palmateer was playing just his ninth NHL game.

• Toronto won 1-0 at Maple Leaf Gardens on November 17, 1976.

• Lanny McDonald scored at 8:26 of the first period.

• Palmateer stopped 39 shots; Ken Dryden made 29 saves.

• Steve Shutt and Brian Glennie fought in the second period.

• Palmateer had also shut out Vancouver in his previous appearance.

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Lanny McDonald supplied all the offence Toronto needed at 8:26 of the first period. His 14th goal of the season, assisted by Darryl Sittler and Ian Turnbull, beat Ken Dryden and stood as the game winner. Dryden was nearly unbeatable himself, stopping 29 of Toronto’s 30 shots.

Montreal kept Palmateer busy throughout the night, including a 16-shot third period as the Canadiens searched for the equalizer. Guy Lapointe led the visitors with six shots, while Steve Shutt and Réjean Houle contributed five apiece. At the other end, defenceman Börje Salming paced the Maple Leafs with six shots on Dryden.

There was also a second-period confrontation between two former Toronto Marlboros. Shutt and Toronto defenceman Brian Glennie dropped the gloves, receiving fighting majors at 3:41. With the only goal already on the scoreboard, the rest of the evening belonged to the goaltenders.

Remarkably, Palmateer’s performance against Montreal was his second consecutive shutout. Four nights earlier, on November 13, he had stopped all 30 shots in a 3-0 road victory over the Vancouver Canucks at the Pacific Coliseum. Bob Neely, Pat Boutette and Inge Hammarström each scored against Cesare Maniago. Just nine games into his NHL career, Palmateer already had back-to-back shutouts and one came against a Canadiens team nobody else would blank during the regular season.

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Three Goals, One Scorer: Pronovost Beats Washington in 1975

The Washington Capitals were still searching for their seventh win of their inaugural NHL season when they visited the Pittsburgh Civic Arena on February 26, 1975. Goaltender Michel Belhumeur gave them a fighting chance, stopping 42 of Pittsburgh’s 45 shots. Jean Pronovost, however, supplied all the offence the Penguins needed, scoring three times in a 3-1 victory that handed Washington its 53rd loss of the season.

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Highlights

• Pittsburgh defeated Washington 3-1 on February 26, 1975.

• Jean Pronovost scored all three Penguins goals.

• The performance was his first NHL regular-season hat trick.

• Two of his goals came on the power play.

• Pete Laframboise assisted on all three goals.

• Michel Belhumeur made 42 saves as Pittsburgh outshot Washington 45-23.

• Pronovost completed the hat trick with just two seconds remaining.

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The teams remained scoreless until 8:13 of the second period, when Pronovost put his 34th goal of the season past Belhumeur. Pete Laframboise and Bob Paradise picked up the assists on what proved to be the only goal through the first two periods. Despite Pittsburgh’s pressure, Washington entered the final frame trailing by just one.

Pronovost wasted little time doubling that lead. With Capitals defenceman Yvon Labre serving a penalty, he scored on the power play just 17 seconds into the third period. Laframboise earned another assist, with Lowell MacDonald also helping set up the goal. Washington later cut the deficit to 2-1 when Ron Anderson spoiled Gary Inness’s shutout bid.

The Capitals remained within striking distance until the closing seconds. With Mike Bloom serving a double minor, Pronovost completed his hat trick on another power-play goal at 19:58. Laframboise collected his third assist of the night, while MacDonald added his second. Inness finished with 22 saves as Pittsburgh outshot Washington 45-23.

The three-goal performance was the first of five regular-season hat tricks in Pronovost’s NHL career. His first two came against the Capitals, making Washington a familiar opponent in his scoring milestones. In a fitting twist, his fifth and final NHL hat trick came while he was wearing a Capitals uniform.

NHL Playoff Hat Tricks Of The 1960s

Relive the NHL playoff hat tricks of the 1960s with the stories, stars, and memorable performances behind some of the decade’s biggest postseason scoring nights.

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