December 31, 1968 at Detroit Olympia: The Detroit Red Wings celebrated New Year’s Eve with a dominant 6-3 victory over the Minnesota North Stars, led by a powerhouse performance from Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe, and Frank Mahovlich. The trio combined for an impressive 12 points in one of the Red Wings’ standout games of the 1968-69 NHL season.
Offensive Explosion by Detroit’s Top Line
Alex Delvecchio delivered a five-point performance, opening the scoring at 10:27 of the first period with his 15th goal of the season. The goal came off a setup from Gordie Howe and Kent Douglas, and it was just the beginning. Delvecchio assisted on all three of Mahovlich’s goals, as well as one of Howe’s, making his impact felt throughout the night.
Gordie Howe, also known as "Mr. Hockey," added a goal and three assists to his season totals. His lone goal was the only score of the second period, marking his 17th of the season, and came with assists from Delvecchio and defenseman Bob Baun.
Frank Mahovlich completed the offensive trifecta with a hat trick, scoring his 17th, 18th, and 19th goals of the season. His second goal of the game, at 6:14 of the third period, proved to be the game-winner as Detroit pulled away from Minnesota.
North Stars Struggle to Contain Red Wings' Stars
The North Stars managed three goals from Bill Collins, Bill Goldsworthy, and Danny O’Shea, but couldn’t keep pace with Detroit’s relentless offense. Goaltender Roy Edwards secured the win for the Red Wings, turning aside 22 of 25 shots.
The game saw minimal penalty activity, with the only infraction being a two-minute tripping call against Danny Lawson of Detroit at 12:12 of the first period.
A Memorable New Year’s Eve Victory
This New Year’s Eve matchup was a memorable one for Red Wings fans, as three of the team's most iconic players showcased their elite talent. The victory not only added two points to Detroit’s standings but also highlighted the chemistry and scoring power of Delvecchio, Howe, and Mahovlich.
Detroit vs. Minnesota In 1968-69
This game on December 31, 1968 was the fourth of six regular season meetings between the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota North Stars. In all, the Wings won four of the six, including all three at Detroit Olympia and one at the Met Center.
The second game was played on November 9, 1968 in Minnesota and was the highest scoring. Ten total goals were scored with the North Stars winning 6-4. The stars were powered by a hat trick from Danny Grant and a five point night (1G, 4A) from Ray Cullen.
In the end, neither the Red Wings or North Stars would qualify for the post season in 1968-69. Detroit finished fifth in the six team Eastern Division, seven points behind Toronto for the final playoff spot. Minnesota managed just 51 points and tied for last overall with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Because of the misalignment of the league post 1967 Expansion, depsite how dismal those two teams were, they were just seven points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final spot in the West.
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