Bobby Clarke Powers Flyers With Rare Special-Teams Hat Trick

On March 28, 1974, at the Omni in Atlanta, Bobby Clarke delivered one of the most unusual hat tricks of his NHL career. The Philadelphia Flyers captain scored all three goals in a 3-3 tie against the Atlanta Flames but what made the performance truly memorable was that none of the goals came at even strength. For Clarke, it was all special teams: two shorthanded goals and one power-play tally.

The game began with immediate adversity for the Flyers. Just 12 seconds after puck drop, Rick MacLeish was sent to the penalty box for hooking. Instead of Atlanta taking advantage, Clarke flipped the script. At 1:06 of the opening period, he scored shorthanded, his 31st goal of the season, with assists from Barry Ashbee and Bill Barber.

By the time the third period arrived, Atlanta held a 2-1 lead thanks to goals from Jacques Richard and Bryan Hextall. Hextall made his presence felt in more ways than one, engaging in first- and second-period fights with Bob Kelly and Andre Dupont. He nearly added a third scrap in the final period when both he and Jimmy Watson received double-minor penalties.

Clarke struck again at 5:40 of the third period. With Butch Deadmarsh serving a hooking penalty, Clarke capitalized on the power play to tie the game, assisted by Barber and Tom Bladon. The tie didn’t last long. Just 17 seconds later, Keith McCreary restored Atlanta’s lead. But Clarke wasn’t finished.

At exactly nine minutes of the third period, he completed the hat trick, again while shorthanded. Ed Van Impe had been in the penalty box for only nine seconds when Clarke found the back of the net, securing the 3-3 draw and sealing one of the most unique three-goal performances of his career.

Clarke finished the 1973-74 NHL season tied with Ralph Stewart of the New York Islanders for the league lead in shorthanded goals with five. Over the course of his Hall of Fame career, Clarke recorded 32 shorthanded goals, tying him for 17th all-time alongside Peter Bondra, Dave Keon, and Joe Sakic. Of course, that total still sits well behind the NHL record of 73 shorthanded goals, held by Wayne Gretzky.

So You Think You're a Philadelphia Flyers Fan?: Stars, Stats, Records, and Memories for True Diehards

A deep dive into Flyers history filled with stars, records, stats, and unforgettable memories from the ice — perfect for true diehards and history buffs.

Buy on Amazon

The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

From Enforcer to Record Holder: Tiger Williams and his 7-Second Strike

By the 1986-87 NHL season, the career of rugged forward Dave “Tiger” Williams was beginning to wind down. Known far more for his toughness than his scoring touch, Williams still managed to produce one of the most memorable moments in Los Angeles Kings history during that campaign.

Williams finished that season with 16 goals and a staggering 358 penalty minutes, a career high that reflected the gritty style that made him one of hockey’s most famous enforcers. Yet it was one of those goals, not the penalty minutes, that secured him a place in the Kings record book.

On February 14, 1987, the Kings hosted the Hartford Whalers at the Forum in Inglewood. Valentine’s Day offered little love for Hartford goaltender Mike Liut. Just seven seconds after the opening faceoff, Williams surprised everyone by beating Liut to give Los Angeles an instant lead. The goal, assisted by Bernie Nicholls and Dean Kennedy, was Williams’ 12th of the season.

That quick strike still stands as the fastest goal to start a game in Los Angeles Kings franchise history. After that lightning start, Williams stayed off the scoresheet and unusually, out of the penalty box for the remainder of the night.

The Kings went on to defeat the Whalers 5-2, fueled by three-point performances from offensive stars Marcel Dionne and Luc Robitaille.

Interestingly, Williams’ 358 penalty minutes during the 1986-87 season also stood as a Kings franchise record for several years. That mark was eventually surpassed by Marty McSorley, who recorded 399 penalty minutes during the 1992-93 campaign.

Williams finished the 1986-87 season with Los Angeles and returned briefly the following year, appearing in just two games for the Kings before closing out his NHL career with the Hartford Whalers, playing the final 26 games of his long and colorful run in the league.

Tiger: A Hockey Story (Autobiography of Tiger Williams)

The colorful and candid autobiography of Dave “Tiger” Williams, the NHL’s all-time penalty minute leader, filled with unforgettable stories from one of hockey’s toughest and most entertaining personalities.

Buy on Amazon

The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

Errol Thompson’s Five-Point Night Fuels 18-Goal Leafs vs. Blackhawks Shootout in 1977

When the Toronto Maple Leafs visited the Chicago Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium on February 20, 1977, fans expecting a tight defensive contest were quickly proven wrong. The two clubs combined for an astonishing 18 goals in one of the highest-scoring games of the modern NHL era.

Leading the offensive parade was Summerside, Prince Edward Island native Errol Thompson, who delivered a spectacular performance for Toronto. Thompson recorded a hat trick and added two assists, factoring into five Maple Leafs goals. He set up tallies by Lanny McDonald and Darryl Sittler, helping power Toronto through a wild back-and-forth contest.

One of the most explosive stretches came early in the third period. Chicago’s Pit Martin opened the scoring surge at 1:04. Just 25 seconds later, Sittler buried his 25th goal of the season. Thompson followed with his 14th of the 1976-77 campaign at 2:07 before Grant Mulvey answered for Chicago at 2:40. The four goals in just 1 minute and 36 seconds rank among the fastest scoring bursts in NHL history, though they did not quite set the record.

At the time, the game’s 18 combined goals stood as the highest total in the “modern era” of the NHL. Only a pair of games during the offense-heavy 1943-44 season had surpassed it with 19 goals. The all-time NHL record remains the 21 goals scored in a 1920 matchup between the Toronto St. Pats and the Montreal Canadiens, a very different era of hockey.

Despite the offensive fireworks, the goaltenders faced a heavy workload. Toronto’s Wayne Thomas stopped 38 of 46 shots, while Chicago’s Gilles Villemure surrendered nine goals on 37 shots, with the final tally coming into an empty net.

The night also featured another standout performance from Toronto’s Ian Turnbull, who recorded a goal and four assists for a five-point effort of his own. McDonald added two goals, including the game winner, and two assists for a four-point game.

Stories From The Epic History Of NHL Hockey (Volume IV)

Dive into unforgettable tales from NHL history — the biggest moments, legendary players, and classic rivalries.

Buy on Amazon

The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!