6,338 Days Later: Dionne Sets Up Lafleur in a Full-Circle NHL Moment

A Draft Day Connection Years in the Making

At the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, two future legends began their journeys just one pick apart. Guy Lafleur was selected first overall by the Montreal Canadiens, while Marcel Dionne went second to the Detroit Red Wings.

Both players went on to have incredible individual careers. Lafleur became synonymous with dynastic success in Montreal, winning five Stanley Cups, while Dionne established himself as one of the most prolific scorers in NHL history, despite limited playoff opportunities.

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A Rare Reunion on Broadway

Their careers unexpectedly converged years later in New York. Dionne arrived first, traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the New York Rangers on March 10, 1987.

Lafleur followed ahead of the 1988-89 season, ending a three-year retirement to join the Rangers. It didn’t take long for the former draft rivals to connect.

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6,338 Days Later… A Goal

On October 16, 1988, at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers hosted the Vancouver Canucks.

At 7:22 of the first period, Lafleur scored his first goal as a Ranger and his first since returning to the NHL. The goal came on the power play against goaltender Steve Weeks, with assists from Dionne and Brian Mullen.

A full 6,338 days after being drafted one-two, Dionne was helping Lafleur find the back of the net.

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Flashes of the Old Magic

Lafleur wasn’t done. Just 3:37 later, he picked up an assist on a power-play goal by Brian Leetch, showing glimpses of the brilliance that made him a legend.

But despite the early spark, the Rangers couldn’t hold the lead. Vancouver responded with goals from Normand Rochefort and two from Petri Skriko to secure a 3-2 comeback win.

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History Repeats Against Montreal

Less than a month later, on November 11, 1988, Lafleur faced his former team for the first time at MSG. In a fitting twist, he once again scored the Rangers’ opening goal, again assisted by Dionne.

However, just like their earlier game, the result didn’t go New York’s way, as the Canadiens claimed a 4-2 victory.

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A Unique NHL Full-Circle Moment

Hockey history is full of remarkable connections, but few are as poetic as this one. Two players drafted back-to-back in 1971, each taking vastly different career paths, reunited nearly two decades later to combine on a goal.

For Lafleur and Dionne, it was more than just a point on the scoresheet. It was a full-circle moment that tied together the beginning and twilight of two Hall of Fame careers.

Guy Lafleur: Autobiography

The story of the legendary Canadiens superstar — speed, scoring, and stardom in Montreal.

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Marcel Dionne's NHL Milestone Goals

A tribute to one of hockey’s greatest scorers, this book highlights Marcel Dionne’s most memorable milestone goals and the moments that defined his remarkable NHL career.

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The Night Butch Goring Dominated His Future Stanley Cup Team

Long before becoming a key piece of the New York Islanders dynasty, Butch Goring gave them a firsthand look at his brilliance.

Game Highlights

• Butch Goring recorded a 4-point night (2 goals, 2 assists), factoring in all four Kings goals
• Los Angeles Kings defeated the New York Islanders 4-1 on March 28, 1974
• Goring assisted on Mike Corrigan’s opening goal in the first period
• Denis Potvin tied the game shortly after to make it 1-1
• Goring scored the game-winning goal late in the second period (25th of the season)
• Added a second goal early in the third period (26th of the season)
• Picked up another assist on a goal by Bob Nevin
• Corrigan recorded a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight)
• Goring took a minor penalty: his only penalty of the entire 1973-74 season
• Performance came years before Goring joined the Islanders and helped win four straight Stanley Cups

On March 28, 1974, at the The Forum in Los Angeles, Goring dominated the Islanders in a 4-1 victory for the Los Angeles Kings, factoring in every single goal.

At the time, this was still pre-Marcel Dionne in Los Angeles, and Goring was the offensive engine of the Kings. He proved it early in this one. Midway through the opening period, he picked up an assist on Mike Corrigan’s 16th goal of the season, with Bob Nevin also drawing a helper.

The Islanders answered quickly, as Denis Potvin tied the game less than two minutes later, sending the teams into the intermission deadlocked at one.

From there, it became the Goring show.

Late in the second period, Goring scored his 25th goal of the season, set up by Tom Williams and Sheldon Kannegiesser, a goal that would stand as the game-winner. He struck again early in the third for his second of the night, then added an assist on another Nevin goal to complete a dominant four-point performance.

While Goring controlled the scoresheet, Corrigan added a different kind of flair. His goal and assist were complemented by a third-period fight with Garry Howatt, giving him the rare Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

Goring’s night, however, had its own unique footnote. He took a minor penalty for hooking in the first period, remarkably, the only penalty he recorded during the entire 1973–74 season.

Years later, Goring would join the Islanders and help deliver four straight Stanley Cups. But on this night in 1974, he was the one doing the damage against them and perhaps planting the first seeds of what was to come.

Tales from the Los Angeles Kings Locker Room

A collection of the greatest Kings stories ever told — from the locker room to unforgettable moments on the ice.

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John Bucyk Scores Four, But Bruins Stunned by Expansion Islanders

On January 18, 1973, what looked like a mismatch on paper turned into one of the most surprising high-scoring games of the season. The powerhouse Boston Bruins, dominant throughout 1972-73, hosted the struggling expansion New York Islanders at Boston Garden and few could have predicted what followed.

The Islanders entered the game with just four wins in their first 45 games in the NHL. Boston, meanwhile, had lost only eleven times in 43 games. But the visitors flipped expectations on their head early, racing out to a stunning 5-0 lead and silencing the home crowd.

John Bucyk finally got the Bruins on the board late in the first period, scoring his 21st of the season against Billy Smith, with assists from Bobby Orr and Wayne Cashman. Bucyk stayed hot, adding two more goals in the second period to pull Boston back within striking distance.

He completed his four-goal performance at 12:37 of the third period, bringing the Bruins within one at 8-7. However, Billy Harris responded with his second of the night just minutes later, sealing a wild 9-7 victory for the Islanders.

The scoring depth for New York was remarkable. Former Bruin Ed Westfall, Don Blackburn, and Harris each scored twice, and nearly every Islanders skater recorded a point. Even in defeat, Boston’s stars produced: Wayne Cashman had a four-point night (two goals, two assists), while Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr each chipped in three assists.

Boston’s struggles didn’t end there. Two nights later, they were shut out 3-0 by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, with Jim Rutherford earning the win and former Bruin Eddie Shack assisting on the game-winner.

As for the Islanders, they couldn’t sustain the momentum immediately, dropping their next game to the St. Louis Blues. However, they quickly bounced back in emphatic fashion, routing the California Golden Seals 8-1 in their following outing.

Boston Bruins: Greatest Moments and Players

A celebration of the iconic history of the Boston Bruins — from legendary players to unforgettable moments.

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