Danny Grant Nets Two Against Capitals to Become Detroit’s Second 50-Goal Man

On April 2, 1975, at the historic Detroit Olympia, Danny Grant etched his name into Red Wings history. With two goals against the expansion Washington Capitals, Grant became just the second player in franchise history to score 50 goals in a season.

The only Red Wing to reach the milestone before him was Mickey Redmond, who hit the 50-goal mark in both 1972-73 and 1973-74. Grant’s 50-goal campaign in 1974-75 didn’t surpass Redmond’s team record of 52, but it firmly secured his place among Detroit’s elite scorers.

The game marked the second half of a home-and-home series with Washington. Grant had already tormented the Caps earlier, posting a goal and two assists. In six games against the new franchise that season, he piled up five goals and seven assists for 12 points, clearly relishing the matchup.

Detroit trailed 2-0 after the opening period in the April 2 contest, but the tide turned quickly. By the 9:30 mark of the second period, Grant buried his 49th goal of the season to give Detroit a 4-2 lead. The tally came against goaltender John Adams, with assists from linemates Marcel Dionne and Phil Roberto. That goal would stand as the game-winner in an eventual 8-3 Red Wings victory.

Grant’s milestone 50th goal came at 6:16 of the third period, once again assisted by Dionne and Roberto. Dionne enjoyed a standout night himself, recording a goal and three assists for four points. Grant, meanwhile, would finish the season right at 50, going scoreless in Detroit’s final two games.

Redmond’s franchise record of 52 goals remained intact until 1984-85, when John Ogrodnick raised the bar to 55.

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The Roadrunner Runs Wild: Three Power Play Goals vs. Toronto

During the 1966-67 NHL season, Yvan Cournoyer established himself as the league’s most dangerous weapon on the power play. The speedy Montreal Canadiens winger scored 20 of his 25 goals with the man advantage and finished tied for the NHL lead with seven game-winning goals.

On December 21, 1966, at the historic Montreal Forum, Cournoyer delivered one of his finest performances against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored three power play goals, his 8th, 9th, and 10th of the season, in a 6-2 Montreal victory. His second tally, assisted by Dick Duff and Henri Richard, stood as the game winner.

The Canadiens received strong support throughout the lineup. Bobby Rousseau added three assists, while Ralph Backstrom contributed two goals of his own. Toronto goals came from Larry Jeffrey and Kent Douglas.

Cournoyer enjoyed tremendous regular season success against Toronto, scoring 11 goals in 14 games versus the Leafs that year. However, the storyline shifted in the 1967 Stanley Cup Finals, where Toronto limited him to two goals and two assists in six games on their way to capturing the Stanley Cup.

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Detroit’s Only Hat Trick Of 1962-63 Belonged To Norm Ullman

The 1962-63 Detroit Red Wings were a powerhouse. They reached the Stanley Cup Final, featured three top-ten goal scorers, and were led offensively by the NHL’s top sniper, Gordie Howe. Yet remarkably, across 70 regular season games and 11 playoff contests, Detroit recorded just one hat trick all year. That lone three-goal performance belonged to Norm Ullman.

On March 14, 1963, at historic Detroit Olympia, the Red Wings hosted the New York Rangers in what would become a wide-open offensive showcase. Ullman opened his account at 12:23 of the first period, beating goaltender Gump Worsley to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. The goal was set up by Bill Gadsby and Floyd Smith.

The second period exploded for six combined goals, and by the time the horn sounded, Detroit held a 5-3 advantage.

Ullman wasted no time adding to his total. Just 28 seconds into the third period, he buried his 22nd goal of the season, assisted by Vic Stasiuk and Floyd Smith. After Andre Pronovost stretched the lead to 7-3, Ullman completed his hat trick at 11:59 of the frame, finishing off a setup from Stasiuk and Pete Goegan.

The teams traded goals down the stretch, but the final score settled at 9-4 for the Red Wings and Detroit’s only hat trick of the entire 1962-63 campaign was in the books.

Ullman finished the regular season with 26 goals and 30 assists for 56 points, good for 10th in NHL goal scoring, just one behind Johnny Bucyk and 12 back of Howe. When the playoffs arrived, Ullman elevated his game further. Though Detroit ultimately fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Final, Ullman and Howe shared the postseason scoring lead with 16 points apiece over 11 games.

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