Glenn Anderson Bookends Record 12-Goal Period Between Oilers and Blackhawks

The Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks produced one of the wildest periods in NHL history on December 11, 1985. Playing at Chicago Stadium, the two high-powered clubs combined for a record 12 goals in the second period of a game that eventually ended with Edmonton winning 12-9.

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Highlights

• Edmonton defeated Chicago 12-9 on December 11, 1985.

• The Oilers led 4-0 after the first period.

• Edmonton and Chicago combined for 12 goals in the second period.

• Glenn Anderson scored both the first and last goals of the second period.

• Anderson finished with a hat trick and six points.

• Jari Kurri scored three goals, with Anderson assisting on all three.

• Wayne Gretzky recorded seven assists without scoring a goal.

• The teams combined for 21 goals in the game.

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The Oilers had already built a commanding 4-0 lead during the opening period. Glenn Anderson scored his 21st goal of the 1985-86 season as part of that early Edmonton outburst. However, the four goals in the first were merely a warm-up for what followed.

Anderson opened the incredible second-period scoring just 1:20 into the frame, netting his 22nd of the season with assists from Wayne Gretzky and Don Jackson. Over the next 18½ minutes, ten different players found the net as Chicago scored six times and Edmonton added four more. Remarkably, Anderson then finished what he had started. With just ten seconds remaining in the period, he completed his hat trick with assists from Gretzky and Paul Coffey. Edmonton headed to the dressing room leading 10-6 after the teams had combined for 12 goals in 20 minutes.

By comparison, the third period was relatively quiet, although the teams still combined for another five goals. Chicago scored three and Edmonton added two to give the Oilers a remarkable 12-9 victory. Anderson also assisted on three Jari Kurri goals, giving him three goals and three assists for a six-point night. Gretzky didn't score a goal but still finished with an incredible seven assists.

The goaltending statistics reflected the offensive chaos. Edmonton used both Andy Moog and Grant Fuhr, who combined to face 46 Chicago shots. Murray Bannerman surrendered ten goals on 36 shots over the first two periods for the Blackhawks. Bob Sauvé took over for the third and stopped six of eight. By night's end, the teams had combined for 21 goals, but it was that extraordinary 12-goal second period, opened and closed by Glenn Anderson, that earned the game its place in NHL history.

The Battle of Alberta: The Historic Rivalry Between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames

A deep dive into one of hockey’s most intense rivalries — the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Calgary Flames, featuring unforgettable games, personalities, and playoff clashes.

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Jerry Toppazzini’s Shorthanded Magic Begins Against Terry Sawchuk

Jerry Toppazzini developed into one of the NHL’s most dangerous penalty killers during his years with the Boston Bruins. Of his 163 career NHL goals, 22 came while his team was shorthanded. His finest season in that department came in 1957-58, when Toppazzini led the NHL with eight shorthanded goals, a league record at the time. Add two shorthanded assists, and 10 of his 48 points that season came while Boston was killing a penalty.

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Highlights

• Jerry Toppazzini scored 22 shorthanded goals during his NHL career.

• He led the NHL with a then-record eight SHG in 1957-58.

• His first came against Terry Sawchuk and Detroit on November 10, 1957.

• Toppazzini scored just 15 seconds after Boston went shorthanded.

• He finished that 4-2 Bruins victory with one goal and two assists.

• Toppazzini struck shorthanded against Sawchuk again on Christmas Day.

• His eight SHG broke Cecil Dillon’s previous NHL record of six.

• The Bruins record lasted until Brian Rolston scored nine in 2001-02.

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The first of those eight goals came on November 10, 1957, when the Bruins hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Boston Garden. Early in the second period, Boston defenseman Fern Flaman was sent off for tripping at 1:45. Detroit’s power play lasted only 15 seconds before Toppazzini turned the tables, beating legendary Red Wings goaltender Terry Sawchuk for a shorthanded goal. Fleming Mackell picked up the assist.

Toppazzini wasn’t finished. He added two assists in the game, including a helper on Don McKenney’s game-winning goal as Boston defeated Detroit 4-2. It was an early glimpse of just how dangerous the Bruins could be with Toppazzini on the ice, even when they were supposed to be at a disadvantage.

Detroit and Sawchuk got another look at Toppazzini’s penalty-killing ability when the Red Wings returned to Boston Garden on Christmas Day. With the Bruins facing a five-on-three disadvantage, they survived the first penalty before Allan Stanley scored just three seconds after it expired, with Toppazzini earning an assist. Fleming Mackell was still in the penalty box, leaving Boston shorthanded, when Toppazzini struck again just 59 seconds later. This time he scored unassisted on Sawchuk, giving him two points during the same penalty-killing sequence. Boston went on to win 4-1.

Toppazzini finished 1957-58 with eight shorthanded goals, surpassing the previous NHL record of six set by Cecil Dillon of the New York Rangers in 1934-35. His eight also remained the Boston Bruins single-season record for more than four decades. It finally fell in 2001-02 when Brian Rolston scored nine shorthanded goals, although Rolston had the benefit of an 82-game schedule compared with Toppazzini’s 64-game NHL season.

For Toppazzini, the November 10 goal against Sawchuk was simply the beginning of a remarkable season. By year’s end, few players in hockey were more dangerous when their own team was a man short.

Mucking in the Corners: Unearthing the 1970s' Quirkiest Hockey Tales

Dig into the wonderfully strange side of 1970s hockey with a collection of quirky stories, forgotten characters, unusual moments, and offbeat tales from one of the game’s most colorful decades.

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Doug Jarrett’s Rare Goal Becomes a Shorthanded Game-Winner

Doug Jarrett was never known for putting up big offensive numbers from the blue line. The steady Chicago Blackhawks defenseman scored just 38 goals over 775 NHL regular season games. But on March 17, 1968, Jarrett made one of his rare goals count, scoring the game-winner in a victory over the Oakland Seals at Chicago Stadium.

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Highlights

• Doug Jarrett scored just four goals during the 1967-68 season.

• His fourth and final goal came on March 17, 1968 against the Oakland Seals.

• Jarrett scored the goal shorthanded with Gilles Marotte serving a penalty.

• Chico Maki assisted on Jarrett’s game-winning goal.

• Jarrett also assisted on Bobby Hull’s opening goal at 1:39 of the first period.

• He finished with a goal, an assist and a team-leading +3 rating.

• Jarrett recorded three of Chicago’s 32 shots on Gary Smith.

• He finished his NHL career with 38 goals in 775 regular season games.

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Jarrett was involved in the offense almost immediately. Just 1:39 into the opening period, Bobby Hull beat Oakland goaltender Gary Smith to give Chicago an early lead, with Jarrett picking up an assist. Later in the period, Gilles Marotte was sent to the penalty box for high sticking, putting the Blackhawks a man down.

Instead of Oakland taking advantage, Jarrett struck shorthanded. At 15:41 of the first period, he scored his fourth goal of the 1967-68 season with Chico Maki assisting. The goal ultimately stood as the game-winner and was also Jarrett’s final goal of the season.

Jarrett finished the night with three of Chicago’s 32 shots on Smith and led the Blackhawks with a +3 rating. Jarrett, Hull and Maki each contributed a goal and an assist. At the other end, Dave Dryden turned aside 22 of Oakland’s 23 shots to secure the victory.

The goal was a memorable offensive moment in an NHL career built much more around dependable defense. Jarrett played 775 regular season games and another 99 playoff contests between 1964-65 and 1976-77 with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers. His association with Chicago stretched back even further, beginning in the organization as a junior with the St. Catharines Teepees in 1960-61.

The Big 50: Chicago Blackhawks (The Men and Moments that Made the Chicago Blackhawks)

Relive the greatest players, personalities, and turning points in Blackhawks history in this countdown of the 50 most influential figures and moments that shaped the franchise.

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