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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Brad Park’s Final Bruins Goals Sink Sabres in 1983 Game 7

Brad Park saved his final two goals with the Boston Bruins for a night when neither could have mattered more. On April 24, 1983, the veteran defenceman scored the tying goal and overtime winner at Boston Garden, giving the Bruins a 3–2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of the Adams Division Final. In his last season with Boston, Park delivered a performance that kept the Bruins’ Stanley Cup hopes alive.

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Highlights

• Boston defeated Buffalo 3–2 in Game 7 on April 24, 1983.

• Ric Seiling scored twice to give the Sabres a 2–0 lead.

• Barry Pederson started Boston’s comeback in the second period.

• Brad Park tied the game at 9:21 of the second.

• Park scored the series-winning goal at 1:52 of overtime.

• He recorded eight points in the seven-game series.

• These were his final two Bruins goals and final NHL playoff goals.

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Buffalo had threatened to spoil the occasion. Ric Seiling scored twice to give the Sabres a 2–0 lead before Barry Pederson brought Boston within one at 6:32 of the second period. Park completed the comeback at 9:21, scoring with assists from Rick Middleton and Mike O’Connell. The Bruins had erased their deficit, but there was still a series to win.

Neither team scored in the third period, sending the deciding game into overtime. Just 1:52 into the extra session, Park beat Buffalo goaltender Bob Sauvé, with Pederson earning the assist. His second goal of the night broke both the 2–2 tie on the scoreboard and the 3–3 tie in the series, sending Boston into the Wales Conference Final.

At 34, Park remained a productive playoff performer. He finished the seven-game Buffalo series with three goals and five assists for eight points. The overtime winner was his third and final goal of the 1983 postseason. And, as it turned out, the last playoff goal of his NHL career.

The Gerry Cheevers coached Bruins next faced the New York Islanders, who ended Boston’s run in six games. Park contributed three assists, but the Islanders outscored the Bruins 30–21 before sweeping the Edmonton Oilers to capture their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup championship.

Park joined the Detroit Red Wings for the 1983–84 season and spent his final two NHL campaigns there. Detroit reached the playoffs both years but exited in the opening round each time. His Boston chapter had closed without a Stanley Cup, but his final two Bruins goals left a lasting memory: one to save Game 7, and another to win it.

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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