Showing posts with label Chicago Stadium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicago Stadium. Show all posts

Friday, September 4, 2026

Al Secord Torches Maple Leafs for Four Goals at Chicago Stadium

The 1981-82 season was Al Secord’s first full campaign with the Chicago Blackhawks after he was acquired from the Boston Bruins on December 18, 1980, in exchange for Mike O’Connell. It would become a remarkable season for the rugged winger. Secord finished with 44 goals and 303 penalty minutes, becoming just the second player in NHL history to record at least 30 goals and 300 penalty minutes in the same season. Tiger Williams had accomplished the feat a year earlier with 35 goals and 343 penalty minutes.


Highlights

  • November 1, 1981: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

  • Secord scored the first NHL hat trick of his career

  • He finished with four goals

  • His second and third goals came just 11 seconds apart

  • Chicago defeated Toronto 9-4

  • Denis Savard recorded five points with a goal and four assists

  • Secord finished 1981-82 with 44 goals and 303 penalty minutes

  • He became the second NHL player with 30+ goals and 300+ PIM in one season


Secord began building toward that 44-goal total early. On November 1, 1981, in Chicago’s 12th game of the season, the Blackhawks hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Chicago Stadium. Secord opened his account for the night at 13:14 of the first period, beating Toronto goaltender Michel Larocque with Denis Savard picking up the assist. The goal gave Chicago a 2-0 lead.

Secord was held off the scoresheet during the second period, while Toronto battled back. The Maple Leafs eventually pulled even at 3-3 before the Blackhawks took control in the third. At 3:46, Secord scored his second of the night and eighth of the season on the power play. The goal put Chicago ahead 5-3 and would stand as the game-winner in an eventual 9-4 victory.

Just 11 seconds later, Secord struck again. Assisted by Savard and Greg Fox, the goal completed the first hat trick of Secord’s NHL career. Three goals apparently weren’t enough. Later in the third, he scored again for his fourth of the game and 10th of the season, with Savard and Tim Higgins earning the assists.

Secord finished the night with four goals, while Savard enjoyed a huge game of his own with a goal and four assists for five points. For Secord, the performance was an early sign of what was to come during a season that combined elite goal scoring with the physical edge that became a defining feature of his career.

The Big 50: Chicago Blackhawks cover

The Big 50: Chicago Blackhawks (The Men and Moments that Made the Chicago Blackhawks)

Relive the greatest players, personalities, and turning points in Blackhawks history in this countdown of the 50 most influential figures and moments that shaped the franchise.

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Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Glenn Anderson Bookends Record 12-Goal Period Between Oilers and Blackhawks

The Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks produced one of the wildest periods in NHL history on December 11, 1985. Playing at Chicago Stadium, the two high-powered clubs combined for a record 12 goals in the second period of a game that eventually ended with Edmonton winning 12-9.


Highlights

  • Edmonton defeated Chicago 12-9 on December 11, 1985.

  • The Oilers led 4-0 after the first period.

  • Edmonton and Chicago combined for 12 goals in the second period.

  • Glenn Anderson scored both the first and last goals of the second period.

  • Anderson finished with a hat trick and six points.

  • Jari Kurri scored three goals, with Anderson assisting on all three.

  • Wayne Gretzky recorded seven assists without scoring a goal.

  • The teams combined for 21 goals in the game.


The Oilers had already built a commanding 4-0 lead during the opening period. Glenn Anderson scored his 21st goal of the 1985-86 season as part of that early Edmonton outburst. However, the four goals in the first were merely a warm-up for what followed.

Anderson opened the incredible second-period scoring just 1:20 into the frame, netting his 22nd of the season with assists from Wayne Gretzky and Don Jackson. Over the next 18½ minutes, ten different players found the net as Chicago scored six times and Edmonton added four more. Remarkably, Anderson then finished what he had started. With just ten seconds remaining in the period, he completed his hat trick with assists from Gretzky and Paul Coffey. Edmonton headed to the dressing room leading 10-6 after the teams had combined for 12 goals in 20 minutes.

By comparison, the third period was relatively quiet, although the teams still combined for another five goals. Chicago scored three and Edmonton added two to give the Oilers a remarkable 12-9 victory. Anderson also assisted on three Jari Kurri goals, giving him three goals and three assists for a six-point night. Gretzky didn't score a goal but still finished with an incredible seven assists.

The goaltending statistics reflected the offensive chaos. Edmonton used both Andy Moog and Grant Fuhr, who combined to face 46 Chicago shots. Murray Bannerman surrendered ten goals on 36 shots over the first two periods for the Blackhawks. Bob Sauvé took over for the third and stopped six of eight. By night's end, the teams had combined for 21 goals, but it was that extraordinary 12-goal second period, opened and closed by Glenn Anderson, that earned the game its place in NHL history.

The Battle of Alberta: The Historic Rivalry Between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames cover

The Battle of Alberta: The Historic Rivalry Between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames

A deep dive into one of hockey’s most intense rivalries — the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Calgary Flames, featuring unforgettable games, personalities, and playoff clashes.

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Sunday, August 30, 2026

Doug Jarrett’s Rare Goal Becomes a Shorthanded Game-Winner

Image of the 1967-68 Topps 112 NHL hockey card featuring Doug Jarrett of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Doug Jarrett was never known for putting up big offensive numbers from the blue line. The steady Chicago Blackhawks defenseman scored just 38 goals over 775 NHL regular season games. But on March 17, 1968, Jarrett made one of his rare goals count, scoring the game-winner in a victory over the Oakland Seals at Chicago Stadium.


Highlights

  • Doug Jarrett scored just four goals during the 1967-68 season.

  • His fourth and final goal came on March 17, 1968 against the Oakland Seals.

  • Jarrett scored the goal shorthanded with Gilles Marotte serving a penalty.

  • Chico Maki assisted on Jarrett’s game-winning goal.

  • Jarrett also assisted on Bobby Hull’s opening goal at 1:39 of the first period.

  • He finished with a goal, an assist and a team-leading +3 rating.

  • Jarrett recorded three of Chicago’s 32 shots on Gary Smith.

  • He finished his NHL career with 38 goals in 775 regular season games.


Jarrett was involved in the offense almost immediately. Just 1:39 into the opening period, Bobby Hull beat Oakland goaltender Gary Smith to give Chicago an early lead, with Jarrett picking up an assist. Later in the period, Gilles Marotte was sent to the penalty box for high sticking, putting the Blackhawks a man down.

Instead of Oakland taking advantage, Jarrett struck shorthanded. At 15:41 of the first period, he scored his fourth goal of the 1967-68 season with Chico Maki assisting. The goal ultimately stood as the game-winner and was also Jarrett’s final goal of the season.

Jarrett finished the night with three of Chicago’s 32 shots on Smith and led the Blackhawks with a +3 rating. Jarrett, Hull and Maki each contributed a goal and an assist. At the other end, Dave Dryden turned aside 22 of Oakland’s 23 shots to secure the victory.

The goal was a memorable offensive moment in an NHL career built much more around dependable defense. Jarrett played 775 regular season games and another 99 playoff contests between 1964-65 and 1976-77 with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers. His association with Chicago stretched back even further, beginning in the organization as a junior with the St. Catharines Teepees in 1960-61.

The Big 50: Chicago Blackhawks cover

The Big 50: Chicago Blackhawks (The Men and Moments that Made the Chicago Blackhawks)

Relive the greatest players, personalities, and turning points in Blackhawks history in this countdown of the 50 most influential figures and moments that shaped the franchise.

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Sunday, March 15, 2026

Normand Léveillé Breaks Out With Two Goals In His 4th NHL Game

The Boston Bruins selected Normand Léveillé 19th overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft after a dominant junior career with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the QMJHL. In his final season of junior hockey, Léveillé scored an impressive 55 goals, raising expectations that he could bring similar offensive production to the NHL.

His professional start, however, was quiet. Through his first three NHL games of the 1981-82 season, the rookie winger was held off the scoresheet. That changed dramatically in his fourth game when the Bruins traveled to Chicago Stadium on October 14, 1981 to face the Chicago Blackhawks.

Léveillé wasted no time making an impact. Just 36 seconds into the game, he scored his first NHL goal by beating Blackhawks goaltender Murray Bannerman. The historic tally was assisted by Bruins captain Terry O'Reilly and forward Tom Fergus.

The rookie struck again late in the second period. At 18:45, Léveillé scored his second goal of the night, this time assisted by veteran defenseman Brad Park. The goal gave Boston a 6-5 lead and ultimately stood as the game-winner in an entertaining 8-5 Bruins victory. Léveillé finished the game with five shots on Bannerman.

Léveillé completed his rookie season with 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points in 66 games. He appeared poised for an even bigger role the following year, starting the 1982-83 season at nearly a point-per-game pace. Tragically, his promising career was cut short when he suffered a career-ending brain aneurysm during a game at Pacific Coliseum against the Vancouver Canucks in just the ninth game of the season.

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Boston Bruins: Greatest Moments and Players

A celebration of the iconic history of the Boston Bruins — from legendary players to unforgettable moments.

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Friday, January 30, 2026

Eddie Shack’s First Hat Trick Powers Leafs Past Blackhawks in 1963

On January 6, 1963, the Toronto Maple Leafs walked into the Chicago Stadium and skated out with two points, courtesy of a convincing 5-1 victory over the powerful Chicago Blackhawks. The night belonged to Eddie Shack and Red Kelly, who combined for eight points, with Shack recording the first hat trick of his NHL career.

Toronto opened the scoring early when Dave Keon beat Glenn Hall just 4:05 into the first period. Keon’s goal, set up by George Armstrong, gave the Leafs immediate momentum in a hostile building. Later in the opening frame, Eddie Shack struck for his ninth goal of the 1962-63 season, finishing a play started by Red Kelly and Tim Horton. That goal would stand as the game-winner.

The Leafs extended their lead late in the second period when Red Kelly scored his eighth of the season, with assists going to Shack and Frank Mahovlich. By that point, Toronto was firmly in control.

The third period turned into the Eddie Shack show. Known affectionately as “Eddie the Entertainer,” Shack scored twice more to complete his hat trick and push the Leafs ahead 5-0. Red Kelly assisted on both goals, giving him four points on the night. Pierre Pilote finally spoiled the shutout by scoring Chicago’s lone goal late in the game, capping the scoring.

What made the performance even more impressive was the efficiency. Kelly scored on his only shot of the game, while Shack scored three times on four shots. For two players who typically hovered around a 10 percent shooting rate, it was a remarkably clinical night and a memorable one in Maple Leafs history.

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

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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