Dennis Maruk entered his 21st NHL game with three career goals. By the end of the night, he had seven. On November 18, 1975, the California Golden Seals rookie scored four times against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Civic Arena, powering a 5–3 victory with a performance that included a shorthanded hat trick goal.
Highlights
Maruk entered the game with three goals in his first 20 NHL appearances.
He scored four times in California’s 5–3 win on November 18, 1975.
His first NHL hat trick included a shorthanded goal.
His third and fourth goals both came at 5:25 of their respective periods.
Bob Murdoch scored California’s other goal, the eventual winner.
Gilles Meloche stopped 43 of Pittsburgh’s 46 shots.
Maruk finished his rookie season with 30 goals, 62 points and a third-place finish in Calder Trophy voting.
Maruk wasted little time getting started. At 2:24 of the first period, he beat Pittsburgh goaltender Gary Inness for his fourth goal of the season, assisted by Bob Murdoch and Al MacAdam. Just over six minutes later, he struck again, this time with help from MacAdam and Mike Christie. Maruk supplied both California goals in an opening period that ended tied 2–2.
His third goal came with the Seals killing a penalty. With Gary Sabourin serving a holding minor, Maruk completed his first NHL hat trick at 5:25 of the second period. Murdoch then supplied California’s only goal that did not come from its rookie centre. His seventh of the season, scored at 13:44, gave the Seals a 4–2 lead and eventually stood as the winner.
In a neat coincidence, Maruk’s fourth goal arrived at 5:25 of the third period, the exact time of his second-period marker. Murdoch and Christie collected the assists. Maruk finished with seven of California’s 33 shots on Inness, scoring on four of them.
At the other end, Gilles Meloche made sure the rookie’s big night resulted in a win. Pittsburgh outshot California 46–33, but Meloche stopped 43 shots. Between Maruk’s finishing and Meloche’s work in goal, the Seals had enough to leave Pittsburgh with a 5–3 victory.
The performance was the first of Maruk’s 12 career NHL hat tricks and four four-goal games. He finished the 1975–76 season with 30 goals and 32 assists for 62 points, just one behind MacAdam for the team scoring lead. His rookie campaign also earned him third place in Calder Trophy voting, behind winner Bryan Trottier and runner-up Glenn Resch.
O-PEE-CHEE & TOPPS Hockey Card Collectors Guide 1933-1995
Explore decades of vintage hockey card history with this collectors guide covering O-Pee-Chee and Topps hockey cards from 1933 to 1995. A valuable reference for enthusiasts of classic sets, legendary players, and the golden age of hockey card collecting.
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