Saturday, July 11, 2026

Richard Brothers Combine for 10 Points as Canadiens Rout Maple Leafs 9-3

The Montreal Canadiens wasted little time reminding the NHL why they were the league's powerhouse during the 1950s. On October 17, 1957, they welcomed the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Montreal Forum and handed their Original Six rivals a decisive 9-3 defeat. The night's biggest story belonged to brothers Maurice "Rocket" Richard and Henri "Pocket Rocket" Richard, who combined for an incredible 10 points while accounting for five of Montreal's nine goals.


Highlights

  • Maurice and Henri Richard combined for 10 points against Toronto.

  • Henri Richard recorded a hat trick and three assists for a six-point game.

  • Maurice Richard finished with two goals and two assists.

  • The Richard brothers scored five of Montreal's nine goals.

  • Dickie Moore and Doug Harvey each added three-point performances.

  • Claude Provost scored the game-winning goal in the second period.

  • Toronto fell to 0-3 before rebounding with a 7-0 win over Boston two nights later.


Henri Richard led the offensive explosion with one of the finest games of his career. The Pocket Rocket scored a hat trick and added three assists for a remarkable six-point performance. Two of those assists came on goals by his older brother Maurice, while another set up Jean-Guy Talbot. Maurice answered with two goals and two assists, helping set up Henri's first goal and a tally by Dickie Moore to finish with four points. After just five games of the 1957-58 season, both Richard brothers had already scored six goals.

The Canadiens received plenty of support throughout the lineup. Dickie Moore and Hall of Fame defenseman Doug Harvey each chipped in three-point nights, while Claude Provost scored what proved to be the game-winning goal midway through the second period. Provost beat Toronto goaltender Ed Chadwick at 10:25 of the middle frame, with assists from Phil Goyette and Harvey, giving Montreal a 4-3 lead before the Canadiens pulled away with five unanswered goals.

For Toronto, the loss dropped the club to 0-3 to begin the 1957-58 campaign. Fortunately for the Maple Leafs, the rough start didn't last much longer. Just two nights later, they welcomed the unbeaten Boston Bruins to Maple Leaf Gardens and responded in emphatic fashion with a stunning 7-0 victory. Ed Chadwick earned the shutout, while Brian Cullen and Billy Harris each recorded hat tricks to give Toronto its first win of the season in memorable style.

The October 17 showdown remains one of the greatest family performances in Montreal Canadiens history. Few sibling duos have ever dominated an NHL game the way Maurice and Henri Richard did, combining skill, scoring touch and playmaking brilliance to overwhelm one of hockey's fiercest rivals.

Henri Richard: La légende aux 11 Coupes Stanley cover

Henri Richard: La légende aux 11 Coupes Stanley

L’histoire autorisée du légendaire numéro 16 du Canadien de Montréal, racontée par son fils Denis Richard, retraçant sa carrière, ses 11 Coupes Stanley et les moments marquants de la vie du « Pocket Rocket ». :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

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Friday, July 3, 2026

Mike Bossy Makes NHL History as the First Rookie (and Islander) to Reach 50 Goals

1978-79 o-pee-chee 115 nhl hockey card mike bossy new york islanders


When the New York Islanders welcomed the Washington Capitals to Nassau Coliseum on April 1, 1978, everyone in the building knew what was at stake. Rookie sensation Mike Bossy entered the game sitting on 49 goals, just one away from becoming the first player in Islanders history, and the first rookie in NHL history, to reach the coveted 50-goal milestone.


Highlights

  • Mike Bossy entered the game with 49 goals.

  • Scored his historic 50th goal on April 1, 1978.

  • Became the first Islanders player to reach 50 goals.

  • First NHL rookie ever to score 50 goals.

  • Added his 51st goal with five seconds remaining.

  • Islanders rallied for a 3-2 victory over Washington.

  • Finished his rookie season with 53 goals.

  • Began a streak of nine consecutive 50-goal seasons.


For more than two periods, Washington goaltender Bernie Wolfe kept Bossy off the scoresheet. The rookie finally broke through at 11:52 of the third period, firing a power-play goal past Wolfe while Bill Riley served a tripping penalty. Bryan Trottier and Denis Potvin picked up the assists as the Nassau Coliseum crowd erupted in celebration.

Bossy wasn't finished. With just five seconds remaining, he struck again on another power play, scoring his 51st goal of the season with Bryan Watson in the penalty box for holding. Clark Gillies and Potvin assisted on the game-winning goal, completing a dramatic comeback as New York erased a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Capitals 3-2.

Despite the loss, Bernie Wolfe turned in an outstanding performance for Washington, stopping 41 shots, including 11 from the stick of Denis Potvin. At the other end, Glenn Resch faced only 18 shots, surrendering goals to Guy Charron and Tom Rowe.

Bossy finished his remarkable rookie campaign with 53 goals, shattering Rick Martin's rookie record of 44 set during the 1971-72 season. The achievement launched one of the greatest goal-scoring careers in NHL history, as Bossy recorded nine consecutive 50-goal seasons. More than four decades later, only four NHL rookies have ever scored 50 goals in their first season. Teemu Selanne set the all-time rookie record with 76 goals in 1992-93, while Joe Nieuwendyk and Alex Ovechkin are the only others to join Bossy in the exclusive club.

Rangers vs. Islanders: Denis Potvin, Mark Messier, and Everything Else You Wanted to Know about New York's Greatest Hockey Rivalry cover

Rangers vs. Islanders: Denis Potvin, Mark Messier, and Everything Else You Wanted to Know about New York's Greatest Hockey Rivalry

Explore the fierce rivalry between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, featuring legendary figures, unforgettable clashes, and the moments that defined one of hockey’s most intense matchups.

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Thursday, July 2, 2026

Doug Keans Recorded Back-to-Back Shutouts in His First NHL Season with the Bruins

For most goaltenders, recording a first career NHL shutout is a milestone they'll never forget. For Boston Bruins netminder Doug Keans, the memory became even sweeter when he followed it up with another shutout in his very next start during the 1983-84 season.


Highlights

  • Doug Keans recorded the first two shutouts of his NHL career in consecutive starts.

  • Blanked the New York Islanders 2-0 on January 16, 1984.

  • Followed with a 32-save shutout over the Hartford Whalers on January 21.

  • Both victories came by identical 2-0 scores.

  • The wins were part of Keans' eight-game personal winning streak.

  • 1983-84 was Keans' first season with the Boston Bruins.

  • Keans finished his NHL career with four shutouts, half of them coming in these back-to-back starts.


Keans earned his first career NHL shutout on January 16, 1984, turning aside all 27 shots he faced in a 2-0 victory over the New York Islanders at Boston Garden. Defenseman Gord Kluzak scored the game-winning goal on the power play early in the opening period, beating Billy Smith at 6:10 with Rick Middleton picking up the assist.

Although Bruins starter Pete Peeters handled the next two games, Keans returned to the crease on January 21 and picked up right where he left off. Facing the Hartford Whalers at the Hartford Civic Center, he was even busier, stopping all 32 shots in another 2-0 Boston victory. Mike O'Connell opened the scoring in the first period before Rick Middleton added an insurance goal later in the game.

The consecutive shutouts also marked Keans' sixth and seventh victories during an impressive eight-game personal winning streak. It was a remarkable run for a goaltender who had seen limited NHL action with the Los Angeles Kings over the previous four seasons before arriving in Boston.

The 1983-84 campaign was Keans' first with the Bruins, and he would spend five seasons with the club as a dependable backup. During that span, he provided valuable depth behind a succession of Boston starters, including Pete Peeters, Pat Riggin, Bill Ranford and Reggie Lemelin, while producing four career NHL shutouts, two of which came in memorable back-to-back starts.

Boston Bruins: Greatest Moments and Players book cover

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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