Bobby Hull’s Lone Hat Trick Highlights Blackhawks’ 1960-61 Cup Season

During the 1960-61 NHL season, the Chicago Blackhawks achieved the ultimate goal, winning the Stanley Cup. But surprisingly, offensive fireworks were not a regular occurrence.

Across the entire league, 21 hat tricks were recorded that year. The Blackhawks accounted for just one of them. Despite finishing third overall in the six-team NHL and placing fourth in goals scored, Chicago relied heavily on elite goaltending and structured defensive play rather than high-powered offense.

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Highlights

• Chicago recorded just one hat trick during the 1960–61 season
• The Blackhawks still went on to win the Stanley Cup
• Bobby Hull scored all three goals in a 3–2 win over the Rangers
• Hull fired 13 shots on goal in the game
• Two of his goals came on the power play
• The hat trick included the game-winning goal late in the third
• Hull followed it up by factoring in all goals in a 3–0 shutout win
• Chicago relied more on defense and goaltending than offense

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The Golden Jet Takes Over At Chicago Stadium

That lone hat trick came early in the season and it belonged to a rising superstar.

On October 9, 1960, at Chicago Stadium, Bobby Hull delivered a dominant performance, scoring all three goals in a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Hull was a one-man offensive engine, firing 13 of Chicago’s 38 shots on goal against Rangers netminder Gump Worsley.

Hull opened the scoring late in the first period with a power-play goal, assisted by Bill Hay and Murray Balfour. The timing was especially painful for New York, as Andy Hebenton was just seconds away from exiting the penalty box.

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Clutch Goals Seal The Comeback

The Rangers responded by taking a 2-1 lead into the third period on goals from Harry Howell and Brian Cullen. But the final frame belonged entirely to Hull.

Just 2:53 into the period, he struck again on the power play to tie the game, with assists from Ed Litzenberger and Moose Vasko. Once again, the Rangers were on the verge of killing the penalty before Hull capitalized.

Then, at 16:08, Hull completed the hat trick, scoring the game-winning goal with help from Bill “Red” Hay.

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Hull Stays Red Hot

Hull didn’t slow down after his standout performance.

In the very next game, a 3-0 shutout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, he factored into every Chicago goal. Hull assisted on Dollard St. Laurent’s game-winner, scored an insurance goal, and added another assist on Murray Balfour’s first goal of the season.

The Golden Jet: A Spectacular Career In Stunning Photographs

A visually rich tribute to Bobby Hull’s legendary career, featuring stunning photographs that capture the speed, power, and charisma of one of hockey’s greatest goal scorers.

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Bobby Orr Dominates as Bruins Crush Kings 11-2 in Boston Blowout

On November 14, 1971, the Boston Bruins delivered a ruthless performance at Boston Garden, overwhelming the Los Angeles Kings by a staggering 11-2 score. The Kings entered the matchup struggling, with just three wins in their first 16 games of the 1971-72 season and things only spiraled further once the puck dropped.

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Key Highlights

• Bobby Orr records 6 points, including a hat trick
• Bruins score 11 unanswered goals after early deficit
• Phil Esposito posts 5-point night (2G, 3A)
• Ed Westfall adds 4 points (1G, 3A)
• Boston dominates with 35 shots on goal
• Kings struggle continues with lopsided loss
• Gary Edwards faces full game in net under heavy pressure

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Los Angeles briefly held the lead after Eddie Joyal opened the scoring just over two minutes into the first period. But that early goal quickly became a footnote. Boston responded with relentless offense, turning the game into a one-sided showcase of firepower and precision.

At the center of it all was Bobby Orr, who delivered a masterclass performance with six points, two in each period. He began by assisting on Phil Esposito’s goal before scoring one of his own later in the first. Orr struck again early in the second period, then added another assist before closing out his night in style with a third-period hat trick goal.

The offensive explosion didn’t stop there. Esposito finished with five points (two goals, three assists), while Ed Westfall contributed four points with a goal and three assists. Mike Walton also found the scoresheet as Boston piled on. Orr was especially aggressive, leading all players with eight of the Bruins’ 35 shots on goal.

Despite facing a barrage all night, Kings goaltender Gary Edwards remained in net for the full 60 minutes, a tough assignment against one of the most dominant teams of the era. By the final horn, the Bruins had turned a brief early deficit into a commanding and unforgettable rout.

Bobby: My Story in Pictures

A visual celebration of Bobby Orr’s groundbreaking career — through photos and memorable moments.

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Two Goals, One Penalty Kill: Detroit’s 14-Second Shocker vs. Bruins in 1958

On December 28, 1958, at Detroit Olympia, the Detroit Red Wings pulled off one of the most stunning penalty-kill moments in NHL history against the Boston Bruins. What began as a promising night for Boston quickly turned into a nightmare, all within the span of just 14 seconds.

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🏒 Key Highlights

• December 28, 1958 matchup between Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins
• Bruins strike first, but momentum shifts after a Gordie Howe penalty
• Alex Delvecchio ties the game with a shorthanded goal
• Nick Mickoski scores another SHG just 14 seconds later
• Two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill (extremely rare)
• Delvecchio dominates with a four-point performance (1G, 3A)
• Red Wings build a 5-1 lead before a late Bruins push
• Detroit secures a 5-3 victory after the dramatic turnaround

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The Bruins struck first when former (and future) Red Wing Vic Stasiuk opened the scoring at 5:48 of the first period. Momentum appeared to stay on Boston’s side when Gordie Howe took an interference penalty shortly after. With a power play opportunity to extend their lead, the Bruins instead found themselves on the wrong end of a dramatic momentum swing.

Alex Delvecchio flipped the game on its head, scoring an unassisted shorthanded goal, his 11th of the 1958–59 season, to tie the game. Before Boston could even reset, disaster struck again. Just 14 seconds later, Nick Mickoski buried another shorthanded goal, assisted by Delvecchio and Marcel Pronovost, giving Detroit a stunning lead while still killing the same penalty.

That burst proved to be the turning point. The Red Wings took control, building a commanding 5-1 lead in the third period with additional goals from Howe, Charlie Burns, and Claude Laforge. The Bruins mounted a late push with goals from Fleming Mackell and Leo Labine, but the damage had already been done. Detroit held on for a 5-3 victory.

Delvecchio finished the night with a dominant four-point performance (one goal, three assists), showcasing his all-around brilliance. During the 1958-59 season, he recorded two shorthanded goals and would go on to total 15 in his career, including a league-leading four in 1965-66. Mickoski’s goal was his only point of the game, but it contributed to a season where he scored three shorthanded goals, half of his career total of six.

The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings: A Curated History of Hockeytown

Explore the storied history of the Detroit Red Wings — legends, moments, rivalries, and the culture that made Hockeytown iconic.

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