Jacques Lemaire’s Only NHL Penalty Shot Goal Opens Four-Point Night Against Rangers

Jacques Lemaire scored 366 regular-season goals during his NHL career, but only one came on a penalty shot. That goal opened the scoring at the Montreal Forum on March 31, 1973, as Lemaire collected four points to lead the Canadiens to a 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers.

---

Highlights

• Montreal defeated the Rangers 5-1 at the Forum on March 31, 1973.

• Jacques Lemaire opened the scoring on a penalty shot at 1:33.

• The goal against Ed Giacomin was his only successful NHL penalty shot in three attempts.

• Lemaire added three assists for a four-point night.

• Larry Robinson, Chuck Lefley, Murray Wilson and Marc Tardif also scored for Montreal.

• Steve Vickers scored the lone Rangers goal.

• Lemaire finished 1972-73 with career highs of 44 goals and 95 points, then added 20 playoff points during Montreal’s Stanley Cup run.

---

Just 1:33 into the first period, Lemaire beat Rangers goaltender Ed Giacomin on a penalty shot for his 43rd goal of the 1972-73 season. It was the second of three penalty shot attempts during his NHL career and the only one he converted.

Lemaire quickly followed that goal with a pair of assists. At 5:11, he and Marc Tardif helped set up Larry Robinson’s second goal of the season. Later in the opening period, Lemaire and Yvan Cournoyer assisted on a Chuck Lefley goal, sending Montreal into the first intermission with a 3-0 lead.

At 12:30 of the second period, Lemaire earned his third assist and fourth point on a goal by Murray Wilson. Tardif added another Montreal goal late in the period to make it 5-0. Steve Vickers supplied New York’s only answer at 11:21 of the third, completing the scoring in a convincing Canadiens win.

The performance came near the end of Lemaire’s most productive offensive season. He finished 1972-73 with career highs of 44 goals and 95 points, along with 51 assists. His goal total ranked fourth in the NHL, 11 behind league leader Phil Esposito, while his 95 points placed fifth in the Art Ross Trophy race, 35 behind Esposito. Lemaire followed that regular season with 20 points in 17 playoff games as Montreal captured the Stanley Cup.

Hockey’s Best Team Ever: A Chronicle of the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens' Record-Breaking Season

Relive the legendary 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens season, when a powerhouse roster led by Guy Lafleur, Ken Dryden, and Larry Robinson set an NHL record with 60 regular season wins before capturing the Stanley Cup.

Buy on Amazon

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

Mark Messier Scores Four as Oilers Beat Canadiens in 1982

Wayne Gretzky finished with one assist and Jari Kurri was held off the scoresheet, but the Montreal Canadiens still couldn’t contain Edmonton’s offence on December 19, 1982. Mark Messier scored four times to lead the Oilers to a 5-2 victory at Northlands Coliseum. It was his fourth regular-season NHL hat trick and his first four-goal game.

---

Highlights

• Messier scored four goals in Edmonton’s 5-2 win on December 19, 1982.

• It was his first NHL four-goal game.

• He opened the scoring on a second-period power play.

• Two of his goals were unassisted, including the winner.

• His hat trick goal came at 7:30 of the third period.

• Gretzky and Anderson finished with one assist each.

• Lumley contributed two assists; Fuhr made 29 saves.

• Boschman scored Edmonton’s only other goal.

---

Montreal entered the matchup with the better record, and neither team scored through the opening half of the game. Messier finally broke through at 11:59 of the second period, just 19 seconds after Steve Shutt received a tripping penalty. The unassisted power-play goal beat Richard Sévigny and opened what would become a memorable night for the Edmonton forward.

Less than two minutes later, Messier struck again. His 19th goal of the 1982-83 season gave the Oilers a 2-0 lead, with Gretzky and Glenn Anderson collecting the assists. That would be the only point of the game for either player. Montreal responded with goals from Ryan Walter and Gilbert Delorme, erasing Edmonton’s advantage and setting up a third-period battle.

Messier supplied the deciding goal at 7:30 of the third. Once again, he scored without an assist, completing his hat trick and putting Edmonton ahead for good. Laurie Boschman supplied the Oilers’ only goal that didn’t belong to Messier, while Moose finished his four-goal performance by hitting the empty net with 33 seconds remaining. Dave Lumley and Charlie Huddy assisted on the final goal.

Lumley finished with two assists, making him the only Oiler besides Messier to record more than one point. Walter figured in both Montreal goals, scoring once and assisting on Delorme’s marker. Grant Fuhr stopped 29 of 31 shots for Edmonton, while Sévigny made 47 saves on 51 shots before Messier’s empty-net finish. On a team loaded with scoring talent, this night belonged to Moose.

The Battle of Alberta: The Historic Rivalry Between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames

A deep dive into one of hockey’s most intense rivalries — the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Calgary Flames, featuring unforgettable games, personalities, and playoff clashes.

Buy on Amazon

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

Bobby Orr’s Historic Playoff Hat Trick Lifts Bruins Over Canadiens in 1971

Bobby Orr found another way to make hockey history on April 11, 1971. Playing at the Montreal Forum in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup quarter-finals, the Boston Bruins defenseman scored three goals in a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. It was the first playoff hat trick by a defenseman in nearly half a century, and it pulled Boston even at two games apiece in a series that would bring its remarkable season to an unexpectedly early end.

---

Highlights

• Orr scored three goals at the Montreal Forum on April 11, 1971.

• Boston defeated Montreal 5-2 in Game 4 of their quarter-final series.

• The victory tied the series at two games apiece.

• Mike Walton’s power-play goal gave Boston a 2-1 second-period lead.

• Orr’s second goal, 37 seconds into the third period, was the winner.

• His shorthanded empty-net goal completed the hat trick with three seconds remaining.

• Esposito and Hodge each had three assists; Cheevers made 26 saves.

• Montreal ultimately won the series in seven games and captured the Stanley Cup.

---

The Canadiens entered the game holding a 2-1 series lead, and Frank Mahovlich gave them another advantage by scoring the only goal of the first period. Montreal remained ahead beyond the halfway point of the game before Orr finally beat Ken Dryden at 11:01 of the second period. Wayne Cashman and Ken Hodge assisted on the tying goal, Orr’s third of the series. Mike Walton then scored on the power play at 18:26, sending Boston into the second intermission with a 2-1 lead.

Orr wasted little time extending that advantage. Just 37 seconds into the third period, he scored again, with Hodge and Phil Esposito drawing the assists. That goal gave Boston a 3-1 lead and ultimately stood as the winner. Yvan Cournoyer brought Montreal within one at 6:13, but Fred Stanfield restored the Bruins’ two-goal cushion at 17:21.

The Canadiens received a late opportunity when Boston defenseman Don Awrey took a hooking penalty at 18:25. Montreal pulled Dryden for an extra attacker, creating a six-on-four advantage, but Orr supplied the final blow. With just three seconds remaining, he scored into the empty net to complete his hat trick and seal the 5-2 victory. The shorthanded goal was his fifth of the series.

Orr led all players with seven shots on goal, while Esposito and Hodge each contributed three assists. Gerry Cheevers stopped 26 shots to help Boston reclaim some momentum. The Bruins would push the series to seven games, but Montreal prevailed and went on to win the Stanley Cup. For Boston, a brilliant regular season ended in the opening round. For Orr, Game 4 remained another memorable entry in a career filled with extraordinary achievements.

Bobby: My Story in Pictures

A visual celebration of Bobby Orr’s groundbreaking career — through photos and memorable moments.

Buy on Amazon

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