Rookie Joe Mullen Sets Blues Record with Rapid-Fire Goals in 1982

Joe Mullen began the 1981-82 season bouncing between the St. Louis Blues and their CHL affiliate in Salt Lake City, but one explosive performance made it clear he belonged in the NHL full-time. On January 5, 1982, the Blues hosted the Minnesota North Stars and Mullen delivered a breakout moment that still stands in franchise history.

With the game tied 1-1 late in the second period, Mullen struck for his first NHL goal at 18:22, beating Minnesota’s Gilles Meloche off a setup from Ed Kea. Eight seconds later, he buried his second, assisted by Brian Sutter and Larry Patey. That lightning-quick pair not only gave St. Louis the lead in an eventual 4-1 win, it also set a Blues record for the fastest two goals by a single player, a mark that still holds today.

The night was filled with rapid scoring overall. Tim Young had tallied for Minnesota at 18:11, meaning the trio of goals happened in just 19 seconds. It wasn’t an NHL record, but it was good enough to rank as the fifth-fastest set of three goals in league history. The all-time mark, also involving Minnesota, came a year later in February 1983, when the Rangers and North Stars combined for three goals in only 15 seconds.

Despite playing just 45 regular-season games in 1981-82, Mullen finished with an impressive 25 goals and 34 assists for 59 points, then added 18 more in ten playoff games. His production was strong enough for an 11th-place finish in Calder Trophy voting, a reminder that with a full season, he may have been a serious contender for Rookie of the Year.

About Joe Mullen

Between 1979-80 and 1996-97, Joe Mullen played 1,062 regular season and 143 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins. Undrafted, the Blues signed Mullen out of Boston College.

The two-time Lady Byng Trophy winner scored 20 or more goals in eleven seasons, topping six times. His career best came in 1988-89 with the Flames when he scored 51 and totaled 110 points. He tied for fifth in goal scoring with teammate Joe Nieuwendyk, 34 behind leader Mario Lemieux. He was seventh in the race for the Art Ross Trophy.

Mullen was a three time Stanley Cup champion. His first was with Calgary in 1988-89 before winning back-to-back with the Penguins in 1990-91 and 1991-92. A long time assistant coach in the NHL after retiring, Joe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Joe Mullen

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

1. Which NHL team did Joe Mullen debut with?

Calgary Flames
St. Louis Blues
Pittsburgh Penguins
Boston Bruins

2. Joe Mullen was one of the NHL’s greatest undrafted success stories. What league did he play in before reaching the NHL?

Central Hockey League (CHL)
World Hockey Association (WHA)
American Hockey League (AHL)
International Hockey League (IHL)

3. How many Stanley Cups did Joe Mullen win during his career?

One
Two
Three
Four

4. Joe Mullen became the first American-born player to reach which major NHL milestone?

500 career goals
1,500 games played
700 assists
1,200 penalty minutes

5. With which team did Joe Mullen win his first Stanley Cup?

St. Louis Blues
Calgary Flames
Pittsburgh Penguins
St. John’s Flames

A Rare Gordie Howe Hat Trick from Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky’s legacy is filled with scoring records, championships, and unmatched vision on the ice but on one rare night in 1982, he paid homage to his idol, Gordie Howe, in the most unexpected way. Despite winning the Lady Byng Trophy five times and never topping 59 penalty minutes in any season, it was that very 59-PIM year, 1982-83, when Gretzky recorded his only Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

The date was December 22, 1982. The Edmonton Oilers hosted the Minnesota North Stars at Northlands Coliseum in a matchup of two of the NHL’s top teams. Despite Minnesota holding a slight edge in the standings, the Oilers erupted for an 8-2 victory and Gretzky was in the middle of everything.

In the first period, “The Great One” dropped the gloves with Neal Broten, drawing an extra roughing minor. Minutes later, Gretzky set up Glenn Anderson for Edmonton’s third goal of the game. The scoring touch continued early in the second period as Gretzky buried his 27th goal of the season past Don Beaupre, officially completing the Gordie Howe Hat Trick just 2:27 into the frame. He later added another assist on Mark Messier’s 22nd of the year, finishing the night with a three-point performance.

Across his brilliant career, Gretzky totaled only 577 penalty minutes in 1,487 regular-season games, astonishing for a player logging that much ice time and attention. His five Lady Byng Trophy wins rank second all-time, behind only Frank Boucher. But on that December night in 1982, Gretzky showed he could honour Howe’s toughness and spirit while still being the NHL’s most dazzling playmaker.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: History of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick

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

1. What three elements make up a Gordie Howe Hat Trick?

Two goals, one assist, and a fight
One goal, one assist, and a fight
Three assists and a penalty
Goal, fight, and game-winning goal

2. Despite the name, how many career Gordie Howe Hat Tricks is Gordie Howe widely credited with?

15
25
2
7

3. Which player is often cited as having the most Gordie Howe Hat Tricks in NHL history?

Rick Tocchet
Cam Neely
Jarome Iginla
Brendan Shanahan

4. Which era saw the Gordie Howe Hat Trick become especially common due to the mix of scoring and physical play?

1950s
1980s–1990s
Early 2000s
Post-2010 era

5. The Gordie Howe Hat Trick is often viewed as a symbol of what traditional hockey quality?

Toughness and all-around play
Defensive responsibility
Goaltending excellence
Special-teams dominance