Gilles Meloche built his NHL reputation the hard way, by standing tall while facing a relentless barrage of shots night after night for struggling teams. But on January 17, 1975, at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, the California Golden Seals goalie found himself in an unfamiliar position: with time, space, and opportunity to make history offensively.
The visiting New York Rangers managed just 25 shots on Meloche that night, a rarity during his career. That lighter workload allowed the veteran netminder to make his mark in a completely different way.
Despite the Rangers entering the game as a far superior club, New York had lost only 12 of its first 42 games in 1974-75, while the Seals had won just 11 of 46. The contest remained close. The Rangers carried a 3-2 lead into the third period, but California refused to fade quietly.
At 10:15 of the third, Ron Huston netted his 10th goal of the season on Rangers goalie Gilles Villemure, with assists credited to Dave Hrechkosy and Meloche. Just 91 seconds later, Steve Vickers restored New York’s lead with his 20th of the year, but the Seals weren’t done.
At 14:22, Al MacAdam tied the game 4-4, assisted by Len Frig and, once again, Gilles Meloche.
Two assists by a goaltender in a single game is rare enough. Recording both helpers in a span of just 4:07 within the same period makes the feat even more remarkable and possibly record-setting. That season, Meloche posted a career-high six points. Over 788 NHL regular-season games, he finished with 22 assists, a decent total.
Stories From The Epic History Of NHL Hockey (Volume IV)
Dive into unforgettable tales from NHL history — the biggest moments, legendary players, and classic rivalries.
Buy on Amazon
No comments:
Post a Comment