Denis Potvin Sparks Islanders’ First-Ever Win Over Rangers in 1973

The New York Islanders didn’t find much early success against their New York City rivals after joining the NHL for the 1972-73 season. Facing the Rangers six times that inaugural year, the Islanders were shut out twice and swept in the season series. But everything changed on October 27, 1973.

In the first meeting of the 1973-74 season, the Islanders finally broke through thanks in large part to a rookie defenseman destined for greatness. On that night at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Denis Potvin opened the scoring just 4:54 into the game, marking not only the Islanders’ first goal of the night but also the first goal of Potvin’s NHL career.

Potvin struck again late in the second period with a powerplay goal at 18:46, giving the Islanders a 3-1 lead. That goal stood as the game-winner, even after Rangers star Jean Ratelle cut the lead to one in the third. The Islanders held on for a 3-2 win, their first-ever victory over the Rangers.

Goaltender Billy Smith stood tall in net, stopping 30 of 32 shots, while Ed Giacomin faced 27 shots for the Rangers. Giacomin also played a direct role in Potvin’s second goal, taking a slashing penalty that led to the powerplay tally.

The game wasn’t without its share of fireworks. A pair of second-period fights kept tensions high, beginning with Brad Park and Andre St. Laurent, followed by a heavyweight clash between Vic Hadfield and Bob Nystrom.

Despite the historic win, the Islanders would finish the season 1-5 against the Rangers. Still, the breakthrough set the tone for a more competitive rivalry in years to come. By the next season, the Islanders had earned two wins and a tie against the Blueshirts, early signs of the power they would soon become in the NHL.

Islanders vs. Rangers 1974-75

The third year for the new New York team saw some dramatic change. The Islanders reached the semi-final and nearly upset the eventual Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers. In their regular season series with the Rangers, the Isles were 2-3-1. 

The Islanders showed improvement all year and the two wins against their cross-town rivals were the last two, within a week of each other. The wins on March 29, 1975 and April 6, 1975 were both by the score of 6-4. Glenn Resch was a standout in goal for both and rookie Clark Gillies led with two points in each match.

As luck would have it, the two teams met in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the first time in the post season for the Islanders. In the best of 3 preliminary round set, the away team won each game. The Islanders won game 1 3-2 at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers put up 8 in a game 2 8-3 win. The series clincher was decided in overtime with J.P. Parise scoring just eleven seconds into the extra frame.

Penalty Kill Perfection: Dave Keon Nets a Hat Trick (Including 2 SHG) in 1970

On December 2, 1970, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dave Keon put on a penalty-killing clinic at Maple Leaf Gardens and turned it into a hat trick showcase.

Facing the Los Angeles Kings, Keon scored two shorthanded goals and added a third at even strength, powering the Leafs to a dominant 7-0 victory. His first shorty came in the second period while Jim Harrison was in the box for elbowing. George Armstrong, "The Chief", in his final NHL season, provided the assist as Keon beat Jack Norris at 9:36.

Then, early in the third, Keon struck again on the penalty kill, this time assisted by Billy MacMillan while Paul Henderson was off for tripping. He finished off the hat trick midway through the final frame with a five-on-five tally from Mike Pelyk and Garry Monahan.

Veteran goalie Jacques Plante turned aside 35 shots for the shutout, and Ron Ellis chipped in with two goals and an assist. Even Armstrong, nearing the end of his storied career, notched a pair of helpers.

This game marked just the seventh win in the Leafs' first 23 games of the 1970–71 season. But Keon’s inspired play was a bright spot in a rough start.

Over his Hall of Fame career, Keon scored 32 shorthanded goals, placing him in a four-way tie for 17th all-time alongside Peter Bondra, Bobby Clarke, and Joe Sakic. His eight SHG in 1970–71 tied him for the league lead with Boston’s Ed Westfall and Don Marcotte.

About Dave Keon  

Dave Keon played 1,296 regular season and 92 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1960-61 and 1981-82 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Hartford Whalers. He also played 301 regular season and 36 playoff games in the WHA between 1975-7 and 1978-79 with the Minnesota Fighting Saints, Indianapolis Racers and New England Whalers.

A four time Stanley Cup champion with the Maple Leafs, Keon won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1960-61. In the following two seasons, he was the recipient of the Lady Byng Trophy. Dave was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in Toronto's 1966-67 run to the Stanley Cup championship. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986 and his jersey number 14 has been retired by the Maple Leafs.

NHL Hockey Card Legends: Dave Keon [Video]

Orland Kurtenbach Records First Hat Trick in Vancouver Canucks History

On December 12, 1970, in just their inaugural NHL season, the Vancouver Canucks made a bit of franchise history and it was their captain who led the charge. Orland Kurtenbach, the gritty veteran and first-ever Canucks captain, notched the first hat trick in team history in a 5-2 win at home over the California Golden Seals.

Kurtenbach, selected from the New York Rangers in the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft, was a steadying presence both on the ice and in the locker room. That night against the Seals, he was simply dominant. He scored three of Vancouver’s five goals and assisted on another, a second-period marker by Wayne Maki. Goalie Charlie Hodge earned the win, while California's Gary Smith did his best under fire, stopping 31 of 36 shots.

For Kurtenbach, it was a career milestone. These were his 10th, 11th, and 12th goals of the season and the only three-goal game of his NHL career. He’d go on to finish the 1970-71 campaign with 21 goals and 32 assists for 53 points in just 52 games, setting new personal bests. He'd top those numbers the very next year with 24 goals and 61 points across a full 78-game schedule.

The Canucks, despite being newcomers to the league, saw four hat tricks in that first season. Rosaire Paiement recorded two, including the club's first-ever four-goal game on February 9, 1971, in a 6-3 win over Buffalo. Wayne Maki added the other.

About Orland Kurtenbach

Orland Kurtenbach played 639 regular season and 19 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1960-61 and 1973-74 with the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks. He would go on to serve as head coach of the Canucks after retiring as a player.

Never a Stanley Cup champion, Kurtenbach helped the WHL Canucks to two titles prior to his NHL career. He also played a major role in the San Francisco Seals WHL championship in 1962-63. He was WHL rookie of the year in 1957-58, totaling 54 points over 52 games with the Canucks. Orland was the recipient of the Jake Milford Trophy as CHL coach of the year in 1975-76, leading the Tulsa Oilers to a title in his second year of coaching.