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.

Stories From The Epic History Of NHL Hockey (Volume IV)

Dive into unforgettable tales from NHL history — the biggest moments, legendary players, and classic rivalries.

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Blair MacDonald Delivers First NHL Hat Trick in Edmonton Oilers History

When the Edmonton Oilers skated into their fourth-ever NHL game on October 19, 1979, they walked out of Northlands Coliseum with not just a victory but a milestone. Blair MacDonald recorded the first hat trick in the franchise’s NHL history, powering the Oilers to a 6-3 win over the Quebec Nordiques. The performance also marked the Oilers’ first NHL win, cementing MacDonald’s place in the team’s earliest big moments.

The Oilers carried a 2-1 lead after the opening period, and MacDonald wasted no time widening the gap. Early in the second, he struck twice, his 3rd and 4th goals of the 1979-80 season. Doug Hicks and a teenage Wayne Gretzky set up the first, while Al Hamilton and Brett Callighen assisted on the second, which would stand as the game-winner. Both goals beat Quebec goaltender Michel Dion.

MacDonald capped the night with his third goal in the final minute of play, again assisted by Gretzky. He also added an assist of his own on a Callighen tally, finishing with four points and a team-leading six shots. On the Nordiques' side, Marc Tardif paced all skaters with seven shots, scoring twice on Eddie Mio and helping set up a Serge Bernier goal.

The 1979–80 season would be MacDonald’s finest NHL campaign. His four hat tricks tied him with Marcel Dionne for the league lead, and his 46 goals ranked second on the Oilers behind Gretzky’s 51. But his time in Edmonton was short-lived, MacDonald was traded to Vancouver midway through the 1980–81 season in a deal involving Lars-Gunnar Pettersson, Ken Berry, and Garry Lariviere.

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About Blair MacDonald

Blair MacDonald carved out a reputation as a natural goal scorer long before he made his NHL mark. Born in Cornwall, Ontario, he became a prolific junior forward with the Cornwall Royals of the QMJHL, posting standout offensive totals that propelled him into the professional spotlight. His scoring touch earned him early attention from the World Hockey Association, where he would take his first major step as a pro.

MacDonald joined the Edmonton Oilers during their WHA days and quickly proved he could generate offense at the major-league level. His best WHA season came in 1977-78, when he recorded 34 goals and 64 points in just 60 games, a performance that solidified him as one of the team’s most reliable finishers. Skating alongside young talents like Wayne Gretzky during the Oilers’ final WHA season, MacDonald was part of the transition core that bridged the franchise’s move into the NHL.

After leaving Edmonton, MacDonald spent time with the Vancouver Canucks, contributing secondary scoring and veteran presence through the early 1980s. Although his NHL role diminished compared to his peak years, he remained an intelligent shooter with strong positional instincts. His pro career later included stops in the minor leagues, where he continued to produce offense and mentor developing players.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Blair MacDonald

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

1. Blair MacDonald recorded the first NHL hat trick in Edmonton Oilers history during which season?

1980–81
1979–80
1978–79
1981–82

2. How many hat tricks did Blair MacDonald score in the NHL during his career?

2
4
6
1

3. Before joining the NHL Oilers, Blair MacDonald was a standout scorer in which league?

AHL
WHA
CHL
IHL

4. Blair MacDonald scored 46 goals in 1979–80, finishing second on the Oilers behind which teammate?

Mark Messier
Wayne Gretzky
Brett Callighen
Stan Weir

5. MacDonald was traded by the Oilers during the 1980–81 season. Which team acquired him?

Vancouver Canucks
Winnipeg Jets
Quebec Nordiques
Hartford Whalers

Grit and Goals: Stan Jonathan’s Big Night vs. Don Cherry

In the 1979-80 NHL season, Don Cherry made the jump from Boston to Colorado, taking over as head coach of the struggling Rockies. But when his new team met his old one, Cherry got a dose of “sour grapes” from one of his all-time favourites, Stan Jonathan.

On January 13, 1980, at Boston Garden, the Bruins hosted the Rockies for their third meeting of the season. Colorado got on the board first, with Lanny McDonald scoring at 5:31 of the opening period. But it didn’t take long for Boston’s grinders to respond.

Just 22 seconds later, John Wensink tied the game with help from Terry O’Reilly and Peter McNab. Then, Stan Jonathan took over. The rugged winger, known for his heart, grit, and fierce loyalty to Cherry during their Bruins days, scored twice before the first period was over, putting Boston ahead 3-1.

Jonathan completed his hat trick in the third period, netting his 12th of the season and sealing a 6-2 Bruins win. Despite racking up 208 penalty minutes that year, Jonathan managed to stay out of the box on this night, letting his stick do the talking instead.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a classic Bruins game without a few fights. Early in the second, Lanny McDonald and Terry O’Reilly dropped the gloves in a spirited battle that must have brought a nostalgic grin to Cherry’s face. Not long after, Al Secord and Rob Ramage tangled to keep the energy high.

About Stan Jonathan 

Stan Jonathan played 411 regular season and 63 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1975-76 and 1982-83 with the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins. His time in Pittsburgh was limited ot 19 games at the end of his career. Originally, he was a fifth round pick by the Bruins at the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft out of the Peterborough Petes.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Stan Jonathan

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

1. Which NHL team did Stan Jonathan play the majority of his career with?
   Colorado Rockies
   Boston Bruins
   Toronto Maple Leafs
   Detroit Red Wings


2. What was Stan Jonathan best known for besides his offensive contributions?
   His toughness and fighting ability
   His speed and playmaking
   His defensive positioning
   His leadership as a captain


3. In the 1977 Stanley Cup Final against Montreal, Stan Jonathan famously fought which Canadiens player?
   Larry Robinson
   Mario Tremblay
   Pierre Bouchard
   Yvon Lambert


4. What was Stan Jonathan’s career-high goal total in a single NHL season?
   15
   18
   27
   31


5. After his NHL days, what sport did Stan Jonathan later participate in at the local level in Ontario?
   Curling
   Lacrosse
   Baseball
   Softball

Real Cloutier Nets 3 In 1st NHL Game For The Quebec Nordiques Franchise

In the final season of the WHA, 1978-79, Real Cloutier led the league with 75 goals and 129 points. It's fitting that Cloutier provided the offense in the first game in the NHL for the Quebec Nordiques.

On October 10, 1979, Quebec hosted the Atlanta Flames in their National Hockey League debut. The home team fell 5-3 but the crowd was treated to a third period comeback attempt, fueled by Cloutier and Marc Tardif.

Over the first two periods, Atlanta jumped to a 4-0 lead on goals by Phil Russell, Kent Nilsson, Ivan Boldirev and Willi Plett. At 9:51 of the third period, Cloutier scored the first NHL goal for both him and the Nordiques on future Nordique goalie Dan Bouchard. Just over a minute later, he scored again to make the score 4-2. Eric Vail made it 5-2 Flames before Real scored his hat trick goal at 19:13. All three Cloutier goals were assisted by Marc Tardif.

He would not again see the scoring success he had in the WHA but Cloutier had a decent year in 1979-80 with 42 goals in just 67 games. He would top 20 goals three more times, twice with Quebec and once with the Buffalo Sabres. The 1979-80 Nordiques finished fifth in the Adams Division with the third worst record in the NHL.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Real Cloutier

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

1. In his final WHA season (1978-79), how many goals did Real Cloutier score to lead the league?

• 65
• 70
• 75
• 80

2. Who assisted on all three of Cloutier’s goals in the Quebec Nordiques’ first NHL game in 1979?

• Michel Goulet
• Marc Tardif
• Jacques Richard
• Peter Stastny

3. Which NHL team did Real Cloutier finish his career with after leaving the Nordiques?

• Buffalo Sabres
• Hartford Whalers
• Toronto Maple Leafs
• Calgary Flames

4. How many 50+ goal seasons did Real Cloutier record during his WHA career?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

5. In his first NHL season (1979-80), how many goals did Cloutier score for Quebec in just 67 games?

• 28
• 34
• 42
• 50

Wayne Gretzky’s 7-Assist Game: The Start of an Unmatched NHL Legacy

On February 15, 1980, a young Wayne Gretzky announced his arrival as a force in the NHL with a jaw-dropping seven-assist performance against the Washington Capitals. The game, played at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, marked just the fifth month of Gretzky’s NHL career, but it was a clear sign of things to come.

The Edmonton Oilers dominated after allowing the first and final goals of the game, scoring eight unanswered in between to secure an 8-2 victory. Gretzky was instrumental, assisting on seven of those goals, tying a record first set in 1947 by Bill Taylor of the Detroit Red Wings.

While Gretzky would later be surrounded by Hall of Fame teammates like Mark Messier and Jari Kurri, this early standout night featured goals from Blair MacDonald (3), Bobby Schmautz (2), Brett Callighen, and Dave Semenko. MacDonald had a four-point game, and Semenko contributed a goal, two assists, and avoided the penalty box. This was unusual for the enforcer, who stayed clear of the only fight of the game between Colin Campbell and Mike Gartner.

Gretzky would tie this assist record two more times in his career, but no NHL player has ever recorded more than seven assists in a single game. This performance was an early chapter in a career that would fill the NHL record books and solidify “The Great One” as a hockey legend.

Most Assists In An NHL Game (Runner-Ups)

Gretzky and Billy Taylor remain the only players to record seven assists in a single game. However, there have six assist games recorded 27 times. Wayne is included in that group, as well, with a six assist game against the Los Angeles Kings in 1985. Mario Lemieux had three six assist games, one with an additional two goals and two with a single goal added.

Lemieux's eight point game came on October 15, 1988, just the fourth game of the 1988-89 season for Mario and the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the 9-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, the only goal had didn't figure on for the Pens was scored by Steve Dykstra in the first period. Lemieux assisted on all three Rob Brown hat trick goals, along with singles by Zarley Zalapski, Bob Errey and John Cullen.

The most recent player to record six assists in a game was Connor McDavid on February 13, 2024 against the Detroit Red Wings. In the 21^st century, just McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Kris Letang have accomplished the feat. Prior to Draisaitl in 2021, there was a 24 year gap since the last time, in 1997 by Eric Lindros.

1979-80 NHL Goal Scoring Log Jam

Who led the NHL in goals in 1979-80? Charlie Simmer of the Los Angeles Kings, Danny Gare of the Buffalo Sabres and Blaine Stoughton of the Hartford Whalers tied for the league lead with 56 goals each.

It remains a remarkable piece of NHL history. Three players finished a season tied for the goal-scoring lead, with Simmer reaching 56 goals despite playing just 64 games.

The 1979-80 season was also the NHL's first following the collapse of the World Hockey Association. Four former WHA franchises: the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques, joined the NHL for the season.

1979-80 NHL Goal Scoring Leaders

Player	Team	Goals	Games
Charlie Simmer	Los Angeles Kings	56	64
Danny Gare	Buffalo Sabres	56	76
Blaine Stoughton	Hartford Whalers	56	80

Charlie Simmer – Los Angeles Kings

If today's Rocket Richard Trophy rules were applied to the 1979-80 season, Charlie Simmer would have shared the award with Gare and Stoughton. The trophy did not yet exist; it was first awarded following the 1998-99 NHL season.

What makes Simmer's performance particularly impressive is that he scored his 56 goals in only 64 games. That works out to 0.875 goals per game.

Simmer played on the famous Triple Crown Line with Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor. He scored another 56 goals the following season, giving him consecutive 50-goal campaigns.

Those were the only two 50-goal seasons of Simmer's injury-plagued NHL career. Originally drafted by the California Golden Seals, Simmer played for the Seals, Cleveland Barons, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins. He finished his NHL career with 342 goals in 712 regular-season games.

Danny Gare – Buffalo Sabres

Danny Gare scored his 56 goals in 76 games for the Buffalo Sabres. It was the second 50-goal season of his NHL career after he scored exactly 50 for Buffalo in 1975-76.

A second-round pick of the Sabres in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft, Gare developed into one of Buffalo's most dangerous goal scorers. He spent the majority of his career with the Sabres before also playing for the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers.

Gare finished his 13-year NHL career with 354 goals in 827 regular-season games.

Blaine Stoughton – Hartford Whalers

Blaine Stoughton completed the full 80-game schedule for the Hartford Whalers in 1979-80 and scored 56 goals. It was Hartford's first season in the NHL after the franchise moved over from the WHA.

The season marked Stoughton's first NHL 50-goal campaign. He reached the milestone again in 1981-82 when he scored 52 goals for the Whalers.

Originally selected seventh overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, Stoughton played in both the NHL and WHA during his professional career.

His NHL teams included the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers. In the WHA, Stoughton played for the Cincinnati Stingers, Indianapolis Racers and New England Whalers. He also scored 52 goals for Cincinnati in 1976-77.

Why Was the 1979-80 Goal-Scoring Race Unusual?

The three-way tie between Simmer, Gare and Stoughton makes the 1979-80 scoring race one of the more unusual in NHL history. All three finished with exactly 56 goals despite playing significantly different numbers of games.

Simmer needed just 64 games to reach 56. Gare played 76 games, while Stoughton appeared in all 80. Simmer therefore had easily the highest goals-per-game rate of the three.

The season also came during an important transition in professional hockey. Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec and Hartford had entered the NHL following the end of the WHA, increasing the league to 21 teams.

1979-80 NHL Goal Scoring FAQ

Who scored the most goals in the NHL in 1979-80?

Charlie Simmer, Danny Gare and Blaine Stoughton tied for the NHL lead with 56 goals each.

How many games did Charlie Simmer play in 1979-80?

Simmer played 64 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Kings and scored 56 goals.

Who scored 56 goals for the Buffalo Sabres in 1979-80?

Danny Gare scored 56 goals in 76 games for Buffalo.

How many goals did Blaine Stoughton score for Hartford in 1979-80?

Stoughton scored 56 goals while playing all 80 games for the Hartford Whalers.

Did the Rocket Richard Trophy exist in 1979-80?

No. The Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy was introduced for the 1998-99 NHL season. It is awarded annually to the NHL's leading regular-season goal scorer.