Eddie Shack’s First Hat Trick Powers Leafs Past Blackhawks in 1963

On January 6, 1963, the Toronto Maple Leafs walked into the Chicago Stadium and skated out with two points, courtesy of a convincing 5-1 victory over the powerful Chicago Blackhawks. The night belonged to Eddie Shack and Red Kelly, who combined for eight points, with Shack recording the first hat trick of his NHL career.

Toronto opened the scoring early when Dave Keon beat Glenn Hall just 4:05 into the first period. Keon’s goal, set up by George Armstrong, gave the Leafs immediate momentum in a hostile building. Later in the opening frame, Eddie Shack struck for his ninth goal of the 1962-63 season, finishing a play started by Red Kelly and Tim Horton. That goal would stand as the game-winner.

The Leafs extended their lead late in the second period when Red Kelly scored his eighth of the season, with assists going to Shack and Frank Mahovlich. By that point, Toronto was firmly in control.

The third period turned into the Eddie Shack show. Known affectionately as “Eddie the Entertainer,” Shack scored twice more to complete his hat trick and push the Leafs ahead 5-0. Red Kelly assisted on both goals, giving him four points on the night. Pierre Pilote finally spoiled the shutout by scoring Chicago’s lone goal late in the game, capping the scoring.

What made the performance even more impressive was the efficiency. Kelly scored on his only shot of the game, while Shack scored three times on four shots. For two players who typically hovered around a 10 percent shooting rate, it was a remarkably clinical night and a memorable one in Maple Leafs history.

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Grant Fuhr’s Rare Two-Assist Period Fuels Record-Setting 1983-84 Season

During the high-flying 1983-84 NHL season, Edmonton Oilers goaltender Grant Fuhr etched his name into the record books in a way few netminders ever have. That year, Fuhr set what remains the NHL record for most points by a goaltender in a single season, finishing with 14, all assists.

One of the most memorable moments of that historic campaign came on November 6, 1983, when Fuhr recorded two assists in the same period during a wild Oilers road game against the Winnipeg Jets at Winnipeg Arena.

In true 1980s fashion, defense was optional. A total of 13 goals were scored, with Edmonton skating away with an 8-5 victory.

Despite the final score, Winnipeg actually held a 5-4 lead deep into the third period. At 12:39 of the frame, Wayne Gretzky tied the game with his 18th goal of the season, assisted by Jari Kurri and Grant Fuhr, who earned his first helper of the night.

The decisive moment came in dramatic fashion. With just eight seconds remaining in regulation, Gretzky struck again, this time with assists going to Fuhr and defenseman Randy Gregg. The goal sealed the win and gave Fuhr two assists in the same period, a rare feat for a goaltender in any era.

Fuhr’s night wasn’t limited to offense. He also stopped 28 of 33 shots and even picked up a high-sticking minor penalty in the second period. Gretzky dominated the scoresheet, finishing with four goals and three assists for a seven-point performance. Winnipeg goaltender Doug Soetaert made 28 saves in the loss.

By season’s end, Fuhr’s 14 assists shattered the previous NHL record of eight, set by Mike Palmateer with the Washington Capitals just three years earlier. Before Palmateer, the mark had belonged to Gilles Meloche, who recorded six assists with the California Golden Seals in 1974-75. Interestingly, two of those six were in a single period. More on that game here: Gilles Meloche 2 Assist Period.

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When Pierre Larouche Punished His Old Team at the Montreal Forum

On November 29, 1977, in what became known as an “all-Pete” trade, Pierre Larouche and Peter Marsh were dealt from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Pete Mahovlich and Peter Lee. The Penguins had selected Larouche eighth overall in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft, and while injuries slowed his early Montreal tenure, everything clicked once again by the 1979-80 season.

That resurgence was on full display on October 25, 1979, when the Canadiens hosted Larouche’s former team at the Montreal Forum. Larouche wasted no time making a statement, kicking off what would become his 50-goal season in emphatic fashion. He scored four goals in Montreal’s 8-5 victory, accounting for half of the Canadiens’ offense.

Larouche struck twice in the opening period, with both goals set up by Steve Shutt. After being held off the scoresheet in the second period, he erupted again in the third, adding two more goals and assisting on another Shutt marker. By night’s end, Larouche had piled up five points, firing seven shots at Pittsburgh goaltender Rob Holland.

Steve Shutt matched Larouche’s five-point performance with a goal and four assists, while Guy Lafleur delivered the decisive blow. Lafleur’s goal stood as the game-winner and was one of two he scored on the night.

Those four tallies represented Larouche’s third through sixth goals of the young 1979-80 season. He would go on to finish with 50 goals, marking the second time in his career he reached the milestone. Larouche nearly did it again in 1983-84, falling just short with 48 goals as a member of the New York Rangers.

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Tony Esposito and the Only Road Shutout of the 1974 Playoffs

The 1973-74 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs featured five shutouts in total, split among some of the era’s elite goaltenders. Bernie Parent recorded two, Tony Esposito posted two of his own, and Gilles Gilbert added one more. Yet among those five clean sheets, only one came on the road.

That lone road shutout occurred during the quarterfinal series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings, a matchup defined by elite goaltending on both sides. Chicago’s Tony Esposito and Los Angeles netminder Rogie Vachon turned the series into a battle of patience, positioning, and shot suppression.

Game 3 was played at the Forum in Los Angeles on April 13, 1974, and it required only one goal to decide the outcome.

Just 40 seconds into the contest, Germain Gagnon stunned the home crowd by beating Vachon for what would stand as the game’s only goal. Stan Mikita and Cliff Koroll earned assists on the play, and from that moment on, scoring chances became scarce. Vachon allowed no further damage, stopping the final nine shots he faced.

At the opposite end of the ice, Tony Esposito was far busier. The Kings fired 32 shots on goal, but none found their way past the Chicago netminder. Esposito’s flawless performance sealed the 1-0 victory and marked the only shutout by a visiting team during the entire 1974 postseason.

The win pushed the Blackhawks to a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Los Angeles avoided the sweep by winning Game 4, but Esposito closed the door again in Game 5 at Chicago Stadium with another 1-0 shutout. Over the five-game series, Chicago outscored the Kings by just a 10-7 margin, advancing despite averaging only two goals per game.

That defensive formula would not carry into the next round. Facing the Boston Bruins in the semifinals, the Blackhawks surrendered 28 goals over six games and were eliminated. Adding to the sting was the performance of Phil Esposito, Tony’s brother, who torched Chicago for six goals and two assists while firing 32 shots on net.

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Eight Seconds of History: Lafontaine’s Record-Breaking Night for the Islanders

Pat Lafontaine wasted little time making history during his first full NHL season with the New York Islanders.

The 1984-85 campaign marked Lafontaine’s first complete year in the league after joining the Islanders late in 1983-84, fresh off representing the United States at the Winter Olympics. Limited to just 67 of New York’s 80 games, Lafontaine still managed 19 goals, including a blistering two-goal burst that rewrote the Islanders’ record book.

On February 16, 1985, the Islanders hosted the Hartford Whalers at Nassau Coliseum. Despite sitting at -opposite ends of the standings, Hartford proved stubborn, and the game ultimately ended in a 4-4 tie.

With the Islanders trailing 3-1, Lafontaine struck at 8:53 of the second period, beating goaltender Greg Millen with assists from Tomas Jonsson and Dave Langevin. Just eight seconds later, at 9:01, Lafontaine struck again, this time assisted by Pat Flatley and Greg Gilbert, tying the game and setting a new franchise record for the fastest two goals by a single player.

The previous Islanders record of 10 seconds had been set by Clark Gillies during the 1974-75 season. Lafontaine’s eight-second burst erased it.

Both teams traded goals in the third period, and the game finished deadlocked at four, but the night belonged to the young Islanders center.

Lafontaine went on to compile an extraordinary NHL career, scoring 468 regular-season goals in just 865 games between 1983-84 and 1997-98 with the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. He recorded six consecutive seasons with at least 41 goals, including two 50-goal campaigns, 54 goals with the Islanders in 1989-90 and 53 with the Sabres in 1992-93, cementing his legacy as one of the era’s most dangerous scorers.

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Toronto Maple Leafs Set NHL Playoff Record With Lightning-Fast Start vs. Atlanta (1979)

The Toronto Maple Leafs made NHL playoff history during the 1978-79 postseason, exploding out of the gate in Game 2 of their preliminary round series against the Atlanta Flames.

Game 1 of the best-of-three series had been a tight, physical affair. A brawl-heavy contest with limited offense saw Toronto skate away with a 2-1 win, thanks to two goals from Walt McKechnie. Game 2, however, was an entirely different story.

Toronto wasted no time rewriting the playoff record book.

Darryl Sittler opened the scoring just 4:04 into the first period, beating Atlanta goaltender Dan Bouchard with Pat Boutette picking up the lone assist. Only 12 seconds later, Sittler struck again, this time with help from Lanny McDonald.

Before the crowd could even settle, Ron Ellis made it 3-0 just 23 seconds after Sittler’s first goal, with Dan Maloney and Joel Quenneville earning assists.

Those three goals in 23 seconds established a new NHL playoff record for fastest three goals by one team. The previous mark had stood for 60 years, set by the Montreal Canadiens when they scored three times in 40 seconds against the Ottawa Senators. The closest any team has come since was the Anaheim Ducks in 2014-15, who managed three goals in 37 seconds.

The Maple Leafs went on to win the game 7-4 and sweep the series 2–0.

Toronto’s postseason run ended in the quarter-finals against Montreal, where the Canadiens swept the series. Despite the lopsided result, the matchup was far tighter than it appeared. Game 3 wasn’t decided until 5:25 into the second overtime, while Game 4 also required an extra period before Montreal finally closed the door.

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Terry O’Reilly’s Lone Hat Trick Comes During Career Year in 1977

Terry O’Reilly’s reputation was built on toughness, leadership and intimidation, not hat tricks. But during the finest offensive season of his NHL career, even Boston’s feared enforcer had a night that defied expectations.

The 1977-78 season saw O’Reilly post career highs with 29 goals, 61 assists, and 90 points, production that earned him an eighth-place finish in Hart Trophy voting. It also produced the only three-goal game of his NHL career. That memorable performance came on November 10, 1977, when the Boston Bruins hosted the Los Angeles Kings at Boston Garden.

The evening didn’t start smoothly for Boston. Los Angeles jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the nine-minute mark of the first period on goals by Bert Wilson and Hartland Monahan. From there, however, the Bruins completely shut the door.

Stan Jonathan began the comeback at 16:47 of the opening frame, beating Rogie Vachon for his third goal of the season, with assists from O’Reilly and Jean Ratelle. The Kings would not score again.

O’Reilly took over in the second period, scoring the lone goal of the frame, his third of the season, set up by Ratelle and Brad Park. Just 32 seconds into the third period, he struck again, finishing a play created by Jonathan and Park to give Boston the lead.

After Ratelle extended the advantage to 4-2, O’Reilly completed the hat trick in dramatic fashion, scoring with just 24 seconds remaining. Jonathan and Peter McNab provided the assists on the milestone goal, sealing a 5-2 Bruins victory.

O’Reilly finished the night with four points, while Jonathan matched him with a goal and three assists. Ratelle added three points of his own, recording a goal and two helpers. O’Reilly also led all skaters with seven shots among Boston’s 24 attempts against Vachon.

Considering the Bruins lineup featured the likes of O’Reilly, Mike Milbury, and John Wensink, it’s remarkable that the game produced only three minor penalties, a relatively calm night by Boston Garden standards. Still, the lasting memory remains Terry O’Reilly’s lone career hat trick, achieved during the most productive season of his storied NHL career.

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Pat Lafontaine Finds His NHL Groove in Just His Second Game with the Islanders

Pat Lafontaine wasted little time proving he belonged in the NHL. Less than two weeks after representing the United States at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Yugoslavia, the highly touted rookie was already making his presence felt with the New York Islanders.

Selected third overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, behind Brian Lawton and Sylvain Turgeon, Lafontaine joined a veteran Islanders lineup late in the 1983-84 season. Despite appearing in just 15 regular-season games, he produced an impressive 13 goals and 19 points, an early sign of the elite scoring touch that would define his career.

Lafontaine’s second NHL game, played on March 3, 1984, came at Maple Leaf Gardens against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In classic high-scoring 1980s fashion, the Islanders erupted for an 11-6 road victory and Lafontaine stole the spotlight.

At 11:31 of the first period, he scored his first NHL goal, beating Allan Bester with assists from Bob Bourne and Denis Potvin. Before the opening frame ended, Lafontaine added his first NHL assist, setting up John Tonelli as New York piled on four first-period goals.

The rookie wasn’t finished. In the third period, Lafontaine recorded three more points in a span of just over eight minutes. He scored his second goal at 4:05 against Rick St. Croix, picked up another assist on a Tonelli goal at 11:22, and completed his first NHL hat trick at 12:14. When the dust settled, Lafontaine had five points in just his second NHL appearance.

That explosive night was an early glimpse of what would become a remarkable NHL career. Between 1983-84 and 1997-98, Lafontaine scored 468 regular-season goals while starring for the Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Rangers. He reached the 50-goal mark twice, highlighted by a career-best 54-goal season in 1989-90. In recognition of his achievements, Pat Lafontaine was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.

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Golden Seals Goalie Gilles Meloche Records Rare 2-Point Period Against The Rangers

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.

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Don Luce’s Only NHL Hat Trick Gives the French Connection the Night Off

When the Buffalo Sabres visited the Capital Centre on December 22, 1974, all eyes were on the famed French Connection. Washington’s expansion Capitals keyed in on slowing Gilbert Perreault, René Robert, and Rick Martin. For the most part, they succeeded. What they didn’t account for was the damage done by Buffalo’s secondary line.

With Washington desperate for just its fourth win in the first 35 games of its inaugural season, and the Sabres rolling with only six losses in their first 33 contests of 1974-75, holding Buffalo to four goals was an achievement in itself. But one Sabre made those four count. Don Luce.

Luce, skating alongside Craig Ramsay and Bill Hajt, recorded the only hat trick of his NHL career in a dominant two-period stretch. He first contributed with an assist on the game-winning goal, a shorthanded marker by Ramsay at 19:53 of the opening period. Then came the second.

At 9:59, Luce opened the scoring himself, netting his 17th goal of the season at even strength, the only even-strength tally of the game. With Gilbert Perreault in the penalty box later in the period, Luce struck again, this time shorthanded at 13:25, beating Ron Low with help from Ramsay.

Just 23 seconds later, with Perreault still serving his minor, Luce completed the hat trick. This time, Bill Hajt picked up the assist as Luce capped off a rare offensive outburst. That would be all the scoring on the night. Gary Bromley stopped all 27 shots he faced to earn the shutout, while Low made 37 saves in a losing effort for Washington.

The performance came during a career season for Luce, who finished 1974-75 with 33 goals and 43 assists for 76 points. He added 13 more points in 16 playoff games as the Sabres marched to the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Philadelphia Flyers.

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About Don Luce

Don Luce played 894 regular season and 71 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1969-70 and 1981-82 with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Luce had 20+ goals in six seasons, putting up a career best 33 in 1974-75 with Buffalo.

Don Luce NHL Career Stats

Regular Season

Playoffs

Captain Comes Through With 3 Goals In 1959 Blackhawks Win Over Rangers

Before Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita became household names, Ed Litzenberger was the offensive engine of the Chicago Blackhawks.

From 1956-57 through 1958-59, Litzenberger recorded three straight 30-goal seasons (32, 32, and 33 goals), finishing among the NHL’s top four goal scorers in each campaign. When he replaced Gus Mortson as team captain at the start of the 1958-59 season, Litzenberger responded with the best year of his career.

One of the defining moments came on February 7, 1959, at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.

Litzenberger recorded the second of his two career NHL hat tricks, adding an assist for a four-point night as Chicago earned a 6-3 victory. After setting up Tod Sloan for the game’s opening goal, the Blackhawks captain took over offensively.

He scored his 25th and 26th goals of the season during the second period, both assisted by Ted Lindsay. The second of those goals, scored at 9:53 of the period on Gump Worsley, stood up as the game-winning goal. Litzenberger completed the hat trick at 18:34 of the third, once again finishing a Lindsay setup.

Lindsay matched Litzenberger’s point total with four assists, while Glenn Hall stopped 23 of 26 shots to earn the win in goal.

The game also featured a memorable third-period melee that resulted in five players penalized, including three Blackhawks and two Rangers. The highlight of the scrum was a fight between two rising young players, Bobby Hull and Eddie Shack.

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Gregg Sheppard Scores a Hat Trick in Just His Second NHL Game

Gregg Sheppard waited more than three years in the minor leagues for his chance to crack an NHL lineup. When that opportunity finally arrived with the Boston Bruins in October 1972, he wasted no time proving he belonged.

Sheppard made his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a quiet outing that didn’t show up on the scoresheet in a 3-2 Boston victory. One night later, however, everything changed. On October 29, 1972, facing the expansion New York Islanders at the Boston Garden, Sheppard delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career.

The Islanders, still in just their eighth game as an NHL franchise, struck first on an early goal by Brian Spencer. But at 16:01 of the opening period, Sheppard answered with his first NHL goal, tying the game and setting the tone for what would become a runaway Bruins victory.

By the time Sheppard scored his second goal at 5:53 of the third period, Boston had already built a commanding 6-1 lead. He completed his hat trick at 14:22 of the third, beating Islanders goaltender Billy Smith to make it 8-1. Johnny Bucyk added another just 38 seconds later, sealing a dominant 9-1 Bruins win.

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Boston’s goaltending tandem of Ross Brooks and Ed Johnston faced only 16 shots on the night, while Smith endured a long evening, stopping 30 of 39 shots at the other end.

Sheppard’s breakout performance wasn’t a fluke. Throughout November 1972, he recorded three additional three-point games against the California Golden Seals, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Philadelphia Flyers, further cementing his place in the Bruins’ lineup.

By season’s end, Sheppard had tallied 24 goals and 50 points in 64 games during his rookie campaign. His impressive debut season earned him Calder Trophy consideration, finishing sixth in voting for NHL Rookie of the Year and marking the beginning of a solid NHL career.

Hextall and Goldsworthy Power North Stars to First 10-Goal Game in Franchise History

On March 7, 1973, the Minnesota North Stars reached a historic offensive milestone at the Met Center, scoring ten goals in a single game for the first time in franchise history. Facing the Pittsburgh Penguins, the North Stars delivered a dominant performance that would stand as a benchmark moment in team history.

To date, the Minnesota North Stars / Dallas Stars franchise has scored ten goals in a game nine times, surpassing that total only once. The franchise record of 15 goals was set in 1981 against the Winnipeg Jets, but this 1973 outburst marked the beginning of Minnesota’s most explosive nights offensively.

Dennis Hextall and Bill Goldsworthy led the charge with four-point performances. Hextall recorded the first of his two NHL career hat tricks, scoring his 24th, 25th, and 26th goals of the 1972-73 season. He also added an assist on one of Goldsworthy’s second-period goals, capping off a standout night.

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Goldsworthy matched Hextall’s impact, scoring his 24th and 25th goals of the season while assisting on two of Hextall’s tallies. All ten Minnesota goals came against Penguins goaltender Andy Brown, who was left in net for the entire game and stopped 32 of 42 shots despite the lopsided score.

Minnesota received strong secondary scoring as well, with Jude Drouin, Buster Harvey, and J.P. Parise each contributing three-point nights. For Pittsburgh, Eddie Shack scored twice and Syl Apps Jr. recorded three assists. North Stars goaltender Cesare Maniago turned aside 30 shots to secure the convincing victory.

Hextall finished the 1972-73 season with career highs in goals (30) and points (82), leading the North Stars in scoring while also topping the team with 140 penalty minutes. Goldsworthy ended the year with 27 goals and 60 points, finishing fifth on the team in scoring during one of the most productive seasons in franchise history.

Tim Horton Sets Defensive Milestone With Record-Breaking Game-Winner In 1964

The Toronto Maple Leafs arrived at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 1964, for a key matchup against the New York Rangers, and Tim Horton made sure the night would be remembered. Early in the third period, Horton fired a shot past Rangers goaltender Jacques Plante, with Dave Keon and Allan Stanley picking up the assists.

The timing of the goal made it even more dramatic. Just seven seconds earlier, Jim Neilson had tied the game at 1-1. While it wasn’t a record for the fastest pair of goals, Horton’s marker at 1:34 of the third period proved to be the decisive one, standing up as the game-winner.

That goal was Horton’s seventh game-winning goal of the 1963-64 season, setting a new NHL record for most game-winning goals by a defenseman. The previous mark had belonged to Baldy Northcott of the Montreal Maroons, who recorded six game-winners during the 1932-33 season, more than three decades earlier.

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Horton’s achievement was even more impressive considering his offensive role. Seven of his nine goals that season turned out to be game-winners, a remarkable ratio for a defenseman in the Original Six era. The record would later be tied several times before finally being surpassed by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who scored eight game-winning goals for the Arizona Coyotes in 2015-16.

The 1963–64 season also marked one of Horton’s finest individual campaigns. He finished second in Norris Trophy voting behind Pierre Pilote of the Chicago Blackhawks, the first of two times Horton would place runner-up for the award. While his seven game-winning goals were a defensive record, they also tied him for third overall in the NHL that season, trailing only Bernie Geoffrion of the Montreal Canadiens and Ken Wharram of the Chicago Blackhawks.

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About Tim Horton

Tim Horton played 1,445 regular season and 126 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1949-50 and 1973-74 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. The four-time Stanley Cup champion was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977.

Tim Horton NHL Stats

Regular Season

Playoffs

Ted Irvine Takes Control In The Third To Beat His Former Team In 1971

Some NHL performances seem to follow a script, and for Ted Irvine, hat tricks often arrived in a very specific way. Across his career, Irvine recorded three of them, and each felt like its own self-contained takeover: three consecutive goals, all natural hat tricks, all including the game winner. It became a pattern fans could almost sense coming once he got rolling.

His first came during the 1968-69 season, when Irvine scored three straight to give the Los Angeles Kings an early 3-0 cushion in a 3-2 win over the Oakland Seals. His third would come later with the St. Louis Blues, again featuring three unanswered goals in the third period to flip a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The second, though, may have been the most poetic, doing it against the team he once called home.

That moment arrived on March 7, 1971, when the New York Rangers hosted the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden. The opening period was scoreless, but Jean Ratelle broke through at 2:40 of the second to put New York ahead. The Kings responded late in the frame, however, as Eddie Joyal and Gilles Marotte struck to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead heading into the third.

That’s when Irvine took over. At 3:57 of the final period, he beat Denis DeJordy for his 16th goal of the season, tying the game and shifting the momentum. Just over nine minutes later, with help from Pete Stemkowski, Irvine buried what would stand as the game winner, giving the Rangers their first lead since early in the night. With DeJordy pulled for an extra attacker in the final minute, Irvine completed the familiar pattern. He scored his third straight goal, unassisted, with 43 seconds remaining to seal a 4-2 Rangers victory. 

About Ted Irvine

Between 1963-64 and 1976-77, Ted Irvine played 724 regular season and 83 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues. He was a 20 goal scorer twice during his NHL career, topping out with 26 in 1973-74 with the New York Rangers.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Ted Irvine

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Ted Irvine made his NHL debut with which team during the 1963–64 season?

Boston Bruins
New York Rangers
Los Angeles Kings
St. Louis Blues

2. Ted Irvine recorded his most productive NHL season while playing for which team?

Boston Bruins
New York Rangers
Los Angeles Kings
St. Louis Blues

3. What was Ted Irvine’s career-high in goals during a single NHL season?

22
26
30
35

4. Ted Irvine recorded multiple hat tricks during his NHL career, most shared which distinction?

They were natural hat tricks
They occurred in playoff games
They came in overtime games
They were all short-handed goals

5. Ted Irvine is the father of which future professional wrestler?

Chris Jericho
Bret Hart
Edge
Roddy Piper

Frank Mahovlich and Lou Nanne Trade Hat Tricks at the Forum

When fans looked at a January 27, 1972 matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota North Stars, few would have predicted a personal scoring duel between Frank Mahovlich and Lou Nanne. Mahovlich was in the midst of a dominant 43-goal campaign for Montreal, while Nanne was enjoying the best offensive season of his NHL career, scoring 21 goals, the only time he ever reached the 20-goal mark.

That night at the Montreal Forum, both players delivered rare performances. Mahovlich, known as The Big M, recorded the 13th of his 14 career NHL hat tricks. Across the ice, Nanne produced the only three-goal game of his NHL career, making the contest an unexpected showcase of individual offense.

The game itself was evenly matched from the opening faceoff, and the scoreboard reflected it. The first period exploded for seven goals, with Minnesota holding a slim 4-3 lead after 20 minutes. After J.P. Parise gave the North Stars a 2-1 advantage at 5:32, the remainder of the period belonged entirely to Mahovlich and Nanne, who traded goals in rapid succession.

Nanne opened the exchange by scoring his 14th goal of the season at 7:40. Mahovlich answered just over a minute later with his 23rd, then struck again only 51 seconds after that. Not to be outdone, Nanne responded 32 seconds later with his second goal of the night. In the second period, Mahovlich completed his hat trick to make it 5-4 Minnesota, with all three goals set up by his brother, Pete Mahovlich. Frank also assisted on a Guy Lafleur goal, giving him a four-point night.

Lafleur tied the game 5-5 early in the third period with an unassisted goal on Cesare Maniago. But the final word belonged to Nanne, who scored his third of the night and the game-winner at 16:24, beating Phil Myre with help from Murray Oliver and Ted Harris. Nanne also finished with four points, having assisted earlier on a Dean Prentice goal. Between them, Mahovlich and Nanne fired 18 shots, with Mahovlich taking 10 and Nanne eight.

Lou Nanne: Hockey, Community, and Leadership

The story of Lou Nanne — NHL player, executive, and a central figure in Minnesota hockey.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Frank Mahovlich

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Frank Mahovlich spent the largest portion of his NHL career with which team?

Toronto Maple Leafs
Montreal Canadiens
Detroit Red Wings
Pittsburgh Penguins

2. Which nickname was Frank Mahovlich commonly known by during his NHL career?

The Big M
Mr. Hockey
The Golden Jet
Captain Courageous

3. Frank Mahovlich won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in which season?

1958–59
1957–58
1959–60
1960–61

4. Including his time with Montreal, how many Stanley Cups did Frank Mahovlich win during his NHL career?

3
5
6
4

5. Frank Mahovlich was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in which category?

Player
Builder
Contributor
International

Yvan Cournoyer Erupts for Five Goals as Canadiens Torch Blackhawks in 1975

More than six years passed after Red Berenson’s six-goal night in 1968 before another NHL player reached the five-goal mark in a game. On February 15, 1975, Yvan Cournoyer finally ended that drought in unforgettable fashion at the Montreal Forum.

The Canadiens overwhelmed the Chicago Blackhawks 12-3, with Cournoyer delivering one of the finest offensive performances of his career. His first goal didn’t come until 8:17 of the second period, when he scored Montreal’s fourth goal of the night unassisted on Mike Veisor. From there, the floodgates opened.

Cournoyer piled up seven points in total, scoring five goals and adding two assists. Three of his five goals came on the power play during the third period, as Montreal completely dismantled Chicago’s penalty kill. His assists came on goals by Jacques Lemaire and Doug Risebrough, rounding out a dominant all-around effort.

The 12-goal explosion marked the first time since 1954 that the Canadiens scored a dozen goals against Chicago. Montreal’s franchise and NHL record of 16 goals in a game still dated back to a 1920 victory over the Quebec Bulldogs.

Adding to the night’s rarity, two Canadiens recorded Gordie Howe Hat Tricks. Larry Robinson finished with a goal and two assists while dropping the gloves with Grant Mulvey in the second period. Doug Risebrough also recorded a goal, an assist, and a fight, squaring off with Darcy Rota.

Despite his five-goal outburst, Cournoyer’s 1974-75 season actually saw a dip in goal production. He finished with 29 goals, eleven fewer than the previous year despite playing nine additional games. Even so, he maintained a remarkable streak of scoring at least 24 goals in 12 consecutive seasons from 1966-67 through 1977-78.

Cournoyer’s career-best season came in 1971-72, when he scored 47 goals, finishing fourth in the NHL. Nights like this one in 1975 served as a reminder of just how explosive the speedy right winger could be when everything clicked.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Yvan Cournoyer

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Which NHL team did Yvan Cournoyer spend his entire career with?

Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs
Chicago Blackhawks
New York Rangers

2. What nickname was Yvan Cournoyer best known by during his career?

The Rocket
The Pocket Rocket
The Roadrunner
Le Magnifique

3. In which NHL season did Cournoyer score a career-high 47 goals?

1969–70
1971–72
1973–74
1975–76

4. How many Stanley Cups did Yvan Cournoyer win with the Canadiens?

10
6
8
5

5. What honor did Cournoyer receive shortly after retiring from the NHL?

Canadiens captaincy
NHL scoring title
Induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Olympic gold medal