Finding His Footing in New York: Bruce MacGregor’s Five-Point Breakout

Bruce MacGregor needed a little time to find his footing with the New York Rangers. On February 1, 1971, the Detroit Red Wings traded the veteran forward and Larry Brown to New York for Arnie Brown, Tom Miller and Mike Robitaille. After 673 regular-season games with Detroit, MacGregor was adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings. Through his first 12 games as a Ranger, he had two goals and five assists, with three of those assists coming against his former club.

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Highlights

• Detroit traded Bruce MacGregor to the Rangers on February 1, 1971.

• He recorded seven points through his first 12 games with New York.

• On March 3, he scored three goals and added two assists against California.

• His first goal was the game-winner; his third came shorthanded.

• Pete Stemkowski also finished with five points: two goals and three assists.

• New York outshot California 46-20 in the 8-1 victory.

• Ed Giacomin stopped 19 shots, allowing only a Norm Ferguson power-play goal.

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On March 3, 1971, everything clicked. With the California Golden Seals visiting Madison Square Garden, MacGregor delivered a hat trick and two assists in an 8-1 Rangers victory. His five-point performance more than doubled his goal total with New York and gave the home crowd a memorable introduction to what their recent acquisition could contribute.

Walt Tkaczuk opened the scoring at 4:50 of the first period before MacGregor made it 2-0 at 14:19. Larry Brown and Pete Stemkowski assisted on the goal, MacGregor’s ninth of the season, against California goaltender Gary Smith. It ultimately stood as the game-winner. MacGregor struck again at 14:01 of the second period, with Stemkowski supplying another assist, to send the Rangers into the intermission ahead 4-1.

MacGregor completed his hat trick at 5:37 of the third period, this time while the Rangers were shorthanded. With Jim Neilson serving a tripping penalty, MacGregor beat Smith with help from Stemkowski and Andre Dupont. He then returned the favour to Stemkowski, assisting on two of his teammate’s goals to finish with three goals and two assists. Stemkowski also recorded five points, combining two goals with three assists and leading the Rangers with seven shots.

The Rangers kept Smith under pressure throughout the evening, firing 46 shots and forcing the California goalie to make 38 saves. At the other end, Ed Giacomin stopped 19 of 20 shots, beaten only by a Norm Ferguson power-play goal in the second period. Just over a month after leaving Detroit, MacGregor had delivered his biggest offensive night yet as a Ranger.

Deal With It: The Trades That Shook Hockey & How They Changed The Game

A fascinating look at the blockbuster trades that reshaped NHL history, revealing the stories, strategies, and consequences behind the deals that changed teams — and the game itself.

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Bryan Trottier Wins It With One Second Left Against the Flyers

With just one second remaining in regulation, Bryan Trottier completed an improbable New York Islanders comeback against the Philadelphia Flyers.

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Highlights

• January 17, 1986, at the Philadelphia Spectrum

• Flyers led 3-1 after two periods

• Mark Hamway started the Islanders’ comeback

• Brent Sutter tied the game at 3-3

• Bryan Trottier scored with one second remaining

• Mike Bossy and Greg Gilbert assisted on the winning goal

• Billy Smith made 21 saves in the 4-3 victory

• Trottier’s winner was his 21st goal of the season

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On January 17, 1986, the Flyers hosted the Islanders at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. The home team carried a comfortable 3-1 lead into the second intermission after goals from Brian Propp, Dave Poulin and Ilkka Sinisalo. Poulin’s goal came while Philadelphia was shorthanded.

The Islanders Rally in the Third Period

New York began its comeback just 2:20 into the third period. Mark Hamway scored his fourth goal of the 1985-86 season, assisted by Gord Dineen and Duane Sutter, to reduce the Flyers’ lead to one.

Just over ten minutes later, Duane’s brother Brent Sutter tied the game at 3-3. His ninth goal of the season beat Philadelphia goaltender Bob Froese, with Mikko Makela and Denis Potvin earning the assists.

Bryan Trottier Beats the Clock

With overtime appearing inevitable, Bryan Trottier delivered the winning goal at the last possible moment. Trottier scored his 21st of the season with only one second remaining, giving the Islanders a dramatic 4-3 victory. Mike Bossy and Greg Gilbert assisted on the goal, which came on Trottier’s third shot of the night.

Froese and Islanders goaltender Billy Smith each faced 24 shots, with “Battlin’ Billy” making one additional save. Bossy, Gilbert and Potvin recorded two points apiece for New York, while Mark Howe and Brian Propp did the same for Philadelphia. Tim Kerr led all players with six shots on goal but was kept off the scoresheet.

One second was all Bryan Trottier needed to turn a likely overtime game into an unforgettable Islanders victory.

All Roads Home: A Life On and Off the Ice

The autobiography of Bryan Trottier — his journey through hockey greatness and life beyond the rink.

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Carl Brewer Sets Up Wild Seven-Goal Third Period Against Detroit

For more than two periods, it looked as though the Detroit Red Wings might escape Maple Leaf Gardens with a low-scoring victory on February 13, 1960. Gary Aldcorn opened the scoring just 1:42 into the game, and Detroit protected that 1-0 lead until the early minutes of the third period.

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Highlights

• Detroit led 1-0 after Gary Aldcorn scored 1:42 into the game.

• The score remained unchanged until 2:41 of the third period.

• Frank Mahovlich began a run of seven unanswered Toronto goals.

• Carl Brewer assisted on Ron Stewart’s game-winning goal.

• Brewer also helped set up both of Dick Duff’s goals.

• All three of Brewer’s assists came in the third period.

• Johnny Bower stopped 29 of 30 shots in Toronto’s 7-1 victory.

• Dennis Riggin was making only his fifth NHL appearance.   

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Frank Mahovlich finally broke through at 2:41 of the third, beginning an incredible run of seven unanswered Toronto goals. Less than four minutes later, defenseman Carl Brewer set up Ron Stewart for the game-winning goal at 6:10.

Brewer collected his second assist of the period when Dick Duff scored at 13:14. It was Duff’s 15th goal of the 1959-60 NHL season and extended Toronto’s advantage to 4-1.

The Toronto defenseman completed his three-assist performance at 18:28, helping Duff score his second goal of the night. That goal finished the scoring in a remarkable 7-1 victory for the Maple Leafs.

Johnny Bower stopped 29 of Detroit’s 30 shots. The Red Wings’ potent trio of Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio and Norm Ullman was held completely off the scoresheet.

Detroit did not have Terry Sawchuk in goal that night. Instead, Dennis Riggin allowed seven goals on 31 shots while making just the fifth of his 18 career NHL appearances. Riggin would later become better known to many hockey fans as the father of NHL goaltender Pat Riggin.

Top Shelf Trivia: The Toronto Maple Leafs

Test your knowledge of one of hockey’s most storied franchises with this collection of challenging and fun Toronto Maple Leafs trivia covering players, games, and unforgettable moments.

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