Rogie Vachon Records His 50th NHL Shutout Against the Surging Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers arrived at Boston Garden on November 16, 1980, riding a 13-game unbeaten streak. The Boston Bruins, meanwhile, had managed just four wins through their first 16 games. It hardly looked like the ideal matchup for a Boston breakthrough, but Rogie Vachon helped deliver one. Making his 10th appearance as a Bruin, the veteran goaltender stopped all 19 shots he faced to record his 50th career NHL shutout in a 1-0 victory.

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Highlights

• Vachon recorded his 50th NHL shutout on November 16, 1980.

• Boston defeated Philadelphia 1-0 at Boston Garden.

• The loss ended the Flyers’ 13-game unbeaten streak.

• Brad Park scored the only goal at 9:35 of the second period.

• Vachon made 19 saves; Phil Myre stopped 29 of 30 shots.

• Vachon’s first NHL shutout came with Montreal on March 5, 1967.

• He retired with 51 regular-season shutouts and entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.

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More than 13 years had passed since Vachon’s first NHL shutout. On March 5, 1967, in just his eighth NHL appearance, he made 29 saves as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers 2-0. By the time he reached number 50, his career had taken him from Montreal to the Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings before bringing him to Boston.

Neither team scored through the opening period or the first half of the second. Finally, at 9:35 of the middle frame, Brad Park beat Philadelphia goaltender Phil Myre with a slapshot from the blue line. Stan Jonathan and Peter McNab earned the assists on what proved to be the game’s only goal.

Myre gave the Flyers every chance to extend their unbeaten streak, turning aside 29 of Boston’s 30 shots. At the other end, Vachon handled a lighter workload without allowing a breakthrough. Tom Gorence was Philadelphia’s busiest shooter, accounting for five of the Flyers’ 19 shots on net.

The milestone performance was Vachon’s only shutout in 53 appearances during the 1980-81 season. He added one more in 1981-82, his final NHL campaign, to finish with 51 regular-season shutouts, the same career total as Dave Kerr, Tomas Vokoun and Curtis Joseph. In 2016, Vachon’s long wait for another milestone ended when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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Lindy Ruff’s Four-Goal Night Against the Quebec Nordiques

Lindy Ruff was hardly a regular visitor to the scoresheet’s goal column, averaging roughly one goal every six or seven games over his NHL career. But on December 15, 1985, the Buffalo Sabres veteran enjoyed a night that any superstar would have treasured. Ruff scored four times against the Quebec Nordiques at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, powering the Sabres to a 6-2 victory.

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Highlights

• Ruff scored four goals against Quebec on December 15, 1985.

• Buffalo won 6-2 at Memorial Auditorium.

• Three of Ruff’s goals came in the second period.

• His second goal stood as the game winner.

• Two of his four goals came on the power play.

• It was his second and final NHL hat trick.

• Ruff later scored a penalty-shot winner against Quebec with the Rangers on November 26, 1989.

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Nothing in the opening period hinted at the offensive outburst to come. The teams remained scoreless through 20 minutes before Mike Ramsey opened the scoring just 1:19 into the second. Ruff took over from there, beating Quebec goaltender Clint Malarchuk at 7:29 for his tenth goal of the season, assisted by Mike Foligno and Dave Andreychuk.

Just 1:58 later, Ruff struck again. With Buffalo on the power play, he scored at 9:27 with assists from John Tucker and Gilbert Perreault. That goal gave the Sabres a 3-0 lead and ultimately stood as the game winner. Quebec got on the board before Ruff completed his hat trick at 16:58, assisted by Foligno and Phil Housley, restoring Buffalo’s three-goal cushion.

Three goals would have made it a memorable evening, but Ruff had another finish waiting. At 13:33 of the third period, he scored his fourth of the game and 13th of the season, with Andreychuk and Ramsey collecting the assists. His second power-play goal of the night completed the scoring in Buffalo’s 6-2 win. It was the second and final hat trick of his NHL career.

The Nordiques would also provide the opposition for another unusual Ruff scoring milestone. On November 26, 1989, now wearing a New York Rangers uniform, he beat Mario Brunetta on a penalty shot at Madison Square Garden. The goal came at 11:20 of the second period, put New York ahead 2-0 and proved to be the winner in a 3-1 victory.

John Ogrodnick supplied the Rangers’ other two goals, including the opener just 15 seconds into the second period. Ruff’s only NHL penalty-shot goal was a fitting companion to his four-goal performance in Buffalo: two rare offensive highlights, two game-winning goals and the same unfortunate opponent.

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NHL Playoff Hat Tricks Of The 1960s

Relive the NHL playoff hat tricks of the 1960s with the stories, stars, and memorable performances behind some of the decade’s biggest postseason scoring nights.

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George Armstrong’s Double-OT Goal Gave Toronto Its Only Win in the 1961 Playoffs

George Armstrong gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a dramatic start to the 1961 Stanley Cup playoffs, scoring in double overtime to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 at Maple Leaf Gardens. It would be Toronto’s only victory of the postseason. The Leafs had finished second overall in 1960-61, 24 points ahead of fourth-place Detroit, but that regular-season advantage meant little once the semifinal series began.

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Highlights

• Toronto finished 24 points ahead of Detroit in the 1960-61 standings.

• Alex Delvecchio opened Game 1’s scoring just 14 seconds into play.

• Ron Stewart’s late third-period goal forced overtime.

• George Armstrong scored at 4:51 of double overtime for a 3-2 Toronto win.

• Dick Duff and Allan Stanley assisted on the winner.

• Cesare Maniago made 37 saves in his NHL playoff debut.

• Detroit won the next four games, outscoring Toronto 13-5.

• Both Toronto and first-place Montreal were eliminated in the semifinals.

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Toronto never led during regulation in Game 1. Alex Delvecchio beat Cesare Maniago just 14 seconds after the opening faceoff, with Gordie Howe assisting. Bob Nevin pulled the Maple Leafs even with the second period’s only goal, but Howie Young restored Detroit’s lead early in the third. Ron Stewart kept Toronto alive, making it 2-2 with just over five and a half minutes remaining.

The Red Wings survived a dangerous stretch in the first overtime after Young received a slashing minor at 12:09. Toronto couldn’t capitalize on the power play, and the teams needed a second extra period to settle things. At 4:51, Armstrong finally beat Terry Sawchuk, with Dick Duff and Allan Stanley assisting on the winner.

Making his NHL playoff debut, Maniago stopped 37 of 39 shots to earn the victory. For Armstrong, the overtime winner would stand as his only goal of the playoffs. It was a memorable opening night for both players, but Toronto would have little to celebrate over the remainder of the series.

Detroit won the next four games, outscoring Toronto 13-5 along the way. Sawchuk’s contributions included a 29-save shutout in Game 3 as the Red Wings finished off the Leafs in five. The other semifinal also produced an upset, with the third-place Chicago Blackhawks eliminating the first-place Montreal Canadiens in six games. The NHL’s top two regular-season teams were out, leaving Chicago and Detroit to contest the Stanley Cup final.

NHL Playoff Hat Tricks Of The 1960s

Relive the NHL playoff hat tricks of the 1960s with the stories, stars, and memorable performances behind some of the decade’s biggest postseason scoring nights.

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