Barry Beck's Only NHL Hat Trick Came in Just His 26th Game

On December 17, 1977, Barry Beck recorded the only hat trick of his NHL career, and it came remarkably early in his rookie season. Playing just his 26th NHL game, the Colorado Rockies defenseman scored three goals and added an assist in a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota North Stars at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver.

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Highlights

• December 17, 1977 at McNichols Sports Arena

• Colorado defeated Minnesota 5-1

• Beck scored 3 goals and 1 assist

• It was just his 26th NHL game

• His first goal proved to be the game-winner

• Beck led all players with 7 shots

• Doug Favell stopped 34 of 35 shots

• It remained the only hat trick of Beck's NHL career

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The Rockies had selected Beck second overall at the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft, behind only Dale McCourt. He quickly established himself as one of the league's top rookies and would eventually finish second to New York Islanders star Mike Bossy in voting for the 1977-78 Calder Trophy. On this December night against Minnesota, Beck showed exactly why he was generating so much attention.

Colorado struck just 1:18 into the game when Beck assisted on a goal by Paul Gardner. At 11:26 of the opening period, Beck scored his 12th goal of the season, beating Minnesota goaltender Pete LoPresti. The goal, assisted by John Van Boxmeer and Chuck Arnason, would stand as the game-winner. Beck struck again at 14:37 of the second period, once more with Van Boxmeer and Arnason providing the assists, to give Colorado a commanding 4-0 lead.

Beck completed his hat trick at 3:11 of the third period, giving him four points on the night and extending the Rockies' lead to 5-0. He also led all skaters with seven shots on goal. Colorado goaltender Doug Favell nearly completed the evening with a shutout, stopping 34 of 35 shots. However, Brad Maxwell spoiled the bid with an unassisted goal with just seven seconds remaining.

LoPresti stopped 23 of 28 shots for Minnesota in the loss. The performance would remain unique throughout Beck's NHL career: despite eventually playing 615 regular-season games with the Colorado Rockies, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings, December 17, 1977 remained Barry Beck's only NHL hat trick.

Mucking in the Corners: Unearthing the 1970s' Quirkiest Hockey Tales

Dig into the wonderfully strange side of 1970s hockey with a collection of quirky stories, forgotten characters, unusual moments, and offbeat tales from one of the game’s most colorful decades.

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Philadelphia Outscores Pittsburgh 19-2 In Two 1977-78 Early-Season Meetings

The Pittsburgh Penguins faced their cross-state rival Philadelphia Flyers twice over their first five games of the 1977-78 NHL season. Neither meeting went remotely according to plan for Pittsburgh. The Penguins were beaten 8-2 at home in the first matchup before suffering an even more lopsided 11-0 loss at the Spectrum. Through it all, goaltender Dunc Wilson remained in the Pittsburgh net, facing an incredible 90 shots over the two games.

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Highlights

• Pittsburgh faced Philadelphia twice over its first five games of 1977-78.

• The Flyers won the two games by scores of 8-2 and 11-0.

• Dunc Wilson played every minute in net for Pittsburgh.

• Wilson faced a combined 90 shots over the two losses.

• Bobby Clarke recorded five points in the first game and four in the second.

• Philadelphia outscored Pittsburgh 19-2 across the two meetings.

• Bernie Parent made 20 saves for the shutout in the 11-0 victory.

• Wilson played 287 NHL games but never appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

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It was a dramatic change of fortune for Wilson after a strong 1976-77 season. He had posted a 2.95 goals-against average and recorded five shutouts, tying Philadelphia's Bernie Parent for third in the NHL. A year later, Wilson appeared in just 21 games for Pittsburgh, finishing with a 4.84 GAA and no shutouts. Over his NHL career, he played 287 regular-season games between 1969-70 and 1978-79 with the Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Penguins, but never appeared in a playoff game.

In the first meeting with Philadelphia, Wilson stopped 28 of the 36 shots he faced in an 8-2 defeat. Bobby Clarke powered the Flyers with a goal and four assists for a five-point night, while Bob Kelly contributed two goals and an assist. Tom Bladon added a shorthanded goal and Ross Lonsberry was credited with the game winner as Philadelphia overwhelmed the Penguins.

Things became even more difficult in the rematch at the Spectrum. Philadelphia fired 54 shots at Wilson and rolled to an 11-0 victory. Clarke once again led the attack, recording a goal and three assists. Bob Kelly, Orest Kindrachuk, Rick Lapointe, Reg Leach and Jimmy Watson each finished with three points as the Flyers spread the offense throughout the lineup.

Only Bob Dailey, Gary Dornhoefer, Paul Holmgren and Joe Watson failed to record a point among Philadelphia's skaters in the 11-goal outburst. At the other end, Bernie Parent needed to make just 20 saves to earn the shutout. Over the two games, Philadelphia outscored Pittsburgh 19-2 and fired 90 shots at Wilson, a brutal early-season introduction to the Flyers for the Penguins and their goaltender.

The Pittsburgh Penguins: The First 25 Years

A nostalgic look back at the first quarter-century of Penguins history, highlighting the players, milestones, and moments that shaped the franchise from its early beginnings.

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