Dennis Maruk Scores Four Goals in His 21st NHL Game

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.

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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.

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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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Bob MacMillan's Shorthanded Goal Sinks The Sabres In 1976

Bob MacMillan was beginning to establish himself as an NHL regular with the St. Louis Blues during the 1975-76 season. Originally a first-round pick of the New York Rangers in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft, the Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island native spent two seasons in the WHA before splitting 1974-75 between the Rangers and the AHL's Providence Reds. A move to St. Louis gave MacMillan a fresh start, and on January 13, 1976, he played a major role in a convincing victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

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Highlights

• January 13, 1976: St. Louis defeated Buffalo 7-3

• Bob MacMillan recorded 2 goals and 1 assist

• His first goal was unassisted and shorthanded

• The shorthanded goal ultimately stood as the game-winner

• MacMillan and Garry Unger each finished with three points

• MacMillan put seven shots on Buffalo goalie Gary Bromley

• Yves Belanger stopped 31 of 34 shots

• MacMillan later won the 1978-79 Lady Byng Trophy

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Buffalo opened the scoring when Brian Spencer scored the first of his two goals on the night. The Blues quickly answered, with MacMillan and Red Berenson setting up Garry Unger at 9:46 of the opening period. From there, St. Louis took control and Buffalo would not regain the lead.

MacMillan produced one of the game's biggest moments early in the second period. With Bert Wilson serving a penalty, MacMillan scored an unassisted shorthanded goal on Buffalo goaltender Gary Bromley at 1:46. The goal gave St. Louis a 4-1 advantage and ultimately stood as the game-winner in a 7-3 Blues victory.

MacMillan wasn't finished. At 11:54 of the second period, he scored his second goal of the game, this time with assists going to Jerry Butler and Unger. MacMillan finished the night with two goals, one assist and seven shots on goal. Unger also recorded two goals and an assist, while Blues goaltender Yves Belanger stopped 31 of Buffalo's 34 shots.

MacMillan went on to enjoy a lengthy NHL career from 1974-75 through 1984-85, appearing in 753 regular-season games and another 31 in the playoffs. He played for the Rangers, Blues, Atlanta and Calgary Flames, Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks. A six-time 20-goal scorer, MacMillan reached a career-high 38 goals in 1977-78 and won the Lady Byng Trophy the following season.

Bob Plager's Tales from the Blues Bench

Insights, stories, and unforgettable moments from Bob Plager’s time with the St. Louis Blues — a must-read for Blues fans.

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Gilbert Perreault’s 7-Point Explosion Still Stands as a Buffalo Sabres Record

On February 1, 1976, Gilbert Perreault delivered one of the most electrifying performances in Buffalo Sabres history, one that still hasn’t been matched. In a high-scoring showdown against the California Golden Seals, Perreault piled up an incredible seven points, setting a franchise record that remains untouched decades later.

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Highlights

• Gilbert Perreault records 7 points in one game (Sabres franchise record)

• Performance came in a 9-5 win over the California Golden Seals

• Danny Gare scores a hat trick (10 shots on goal)

• Rene Robert contributes 5 points in the same game

• Perreault records 2 goals and 5 assists

• All Sabres goals scored against Gary Simmons

• Game featured 14 total goals between both teams

• Part of Perreault’s 113-point career season in 1975-76

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The game, played at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, ended in a wild 9-5 Sabres victory. While teammates Danny Gare (hat trick) and Rene Robert (five points) had standout nights of their own, they were ultimately overshadowed by Perreault’s dominant performance.

Buffalo got on the board early with Robert scoring the lone goal of the first period, assisted by Perreault and Jocelyn Guevremont. The second period saw the offense erupt, with the Sabres netting four goals. Perreault contributed with assists on goals by Gare and Jacques Richard, helping Buffalo seize control of the game.

The third period belonged entirely to Perreault. He assisted on two more Gare goals, including one with just four seconds left, while also scoring twice himself, bringing his season totals to 28 and 29 goals. All nine Sabres goals came against goaltender Gary Simmons, who faced relentless pressure throughout the night.

Perreault’s seven-point outing stands as the pinnacle of a remarkable career that included multiple six-point games. During the 1975-76 season, he posted a career-best 44 goals and 113 points. Surprisingly, despite such dominance, he finished tied for just seventh in Hart Trophy voting alongside Pete Mahovlich of the Montreal Canadiens.

"Then Perreault Said to Rico…": The Best Buffalo Sabres Stories Ever Told

A collection of the greatest Buffalo Sabres tales — from unforgettable moments to iconic personalities in franchise history.

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The French Connection’s Incredible Run of Multi-Point Explosions in 1975-76

Few lines in NHL history ever blended skill, creativity, and firepower like the Buffalo Sabres’ legendary French Connection: Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, and Rene Robert. During the 1975-76 season, this trio didn’t just lead the Sabres’ offense, they drove it, combining for nine or more points in six separate games.

Buffalo finished tied for second in league scoring with Pittsburgh, trailing only the powerhouse Philadelphia Flyers. Nearly 40% of all Sabres goals came from their top unit, and on some nights, they took over completely.

A 13-Point Night Against the Blackhawks

One of their most impressive explosions came on March 4, 1976, at the Aud in Buffalo. In a 6-3 win over Chicago:

• Rene Robert: 1 goal, 4 assists

• Rick Martin: Hat trick + 1 assist (4 points), 8 shots on Tony Esposito

• Gilbert Perreault: 4 assists

Together, the trio piled up 13 total points, more than enough to overwhelm Chicago.

A Strange Twist in a 14-2 Blowout

Surprisingly, in one of Buffalo’s most lopsided wins ever, a 14-2 demolition of the Washington Capitals on December 21, 1975, the French Connection only combined for nine points.

The reason?
Rene Robert didn’t dress for the game.

Even without him:

• Rick Martin: 4 goals, 1 assist

• Gilbert Perreault: 2 goals, 2 assists

The Sabres didn’t exactly struggle for offense that night.

Ten Points vs. Toronto in a Tight Game

Their next-best outing came in a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, where the French Connection accounted for every single Buffalo goal:

• Rick Martin: Hat trick (3 goals) + 1 assist

• Gilbert Perreault: 1 goal + 3 assists

• Rene Robert: 2 assists

Only Jocelyn Guevremont and Jim Schoenfeld joined them on the scoresheet, each picking up a lone assist.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: The French Connection Line

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

1. Which three players formed the Buffalo Sabres’ iconic French Connection line?

Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, Rene Robert
Gilbert Perreault, Don Luce, Danny Gare
Rick Martin, Rene Robert, Craig Ramsay
Gilbert Perreault, Rick Dudley, Jim Lorentz

2. In which NHL season did the French Connection produce six games with nine or more combined points?

1975-76
1973-74
1977-78
1979-80

3. Which member of the French Connection was drafted first overall in 1970?

Gilbert Perreault
Rick Martin
Rene Robert
None of them

4. Which player was known for his booming shot and became one of the NHL’s elite pure goal scorers of the 1970s?

Rick Martin
Gilbert Perreault
Rene Robert
Danny Gare

5. The French Connection’s chemistry helped lead the Sabres to which major achievement in 1975?

Their first Stanley Cup Final appearance
Their first Presidents’ Trophy
Their first division title
Their first 50-win season

It Was No April Fool's Joke: Reg Leach Hits 60 Goals in Historic Flyers Blowout

April 1, 1976, was no laughing matter for the Washington Capitals. Visiting the Philadelphia Flyers at the Spectrum, the Caps were pummeled 11-2 in a game that secured the Flyers’ 50th win of the 1975-76 season. But more memorably, it was the night Reg Leach cemented his place in franchise history.

Leach not only scored twice and assisted on three others for a five-point evening, but his second goal, coming at 10:06 of the second period, was his 60th of the season. Assisted by Bill Barber and Jimmy Watson, the milestone marker made Leach the first and still the only player in Flyers history to reach the 60-goal plateau. He added one more two nights later in Buffalo to finish with 61.

Philadelphia was relentless that night, peppering Capitals goalie Ron Low with 62 shots. Bill Barber led the barrage with 11 shots and recorded a hat trick (goals 47, 48, and 49). He’d hit the 50-goal milestone himself just two nights later. Leach fired 8 shots, while Bobby Clarke dished out five assists. Gary Inness made 21 saves on 23 shots for the Flyers.

Though Tim Kerr would come close, scoring 54 goals twice and 58 twice between 1983-84 and 1986-87, no other Flyer has matched Leach’s 60-goal feat. Leach would crack the 50-goal mark one more time in 1979-80, finishing with exactly 50.

About Reg Leach

Reggie Leach played 934 regular season and 94 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1970-71 and 1982-83 with the Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. He was the third overall pick by the Bruins at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, behind Gilbert Perreault and Dale Tallon.

He helped the Flyers to a Stanley Cup championship in 1974-75 and was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner the following year, despite the Flyers losing to the Montreal Canadiens in the final. That year, he scored 19 goals in 16 playoff games, four more than he scored over his first 96 regular season games in the NHL.

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Reggie Leach [Video]