On January 15, 1979, at Madison Square Garden, Tim Young delivered a performance that still stands alone in franchise history. Skating for the Minnesota North Stars, Young scored five goals in an 8-1 demolition of the New York Rangers. Decades later, even after the club’s relocation and rebrand as the Dallas Stars, no player in franchise history has matched the feat.
Young entered the night with 24 goals on the season, but no one could have predicted what would unfold on Broadway. He first made his presence felt as a playmaker, assisting on a goal by Jim Roberts just 2:06 into the game. Forty-nine seconds later, Young scored his first of the night, his 11th of the season, which would stand as the game-winning goal in the lopsided victory.
The second period turned historic. Young struck twice more to complete his hat trick, beating Rangers netminder Doug Soetaert each time. Soetaert surrendered five goals on just 13 shots through two periods and was replaced by Wayne Thomas for the third. The change made little difference. Young added his fourth and fifth goals against Thomas, sealing a stunning five-goal masterpiece.
What made the performance even more remarkable was its efficiency: five goals on five shots. A perfect shooting night. The six-point outing remains the only five-goal game ever recorded by a Minnesota/Dallas player and is one of just 48 instances in National Hockey League history where a player has scored five or more in a single game.
Behind the offensive explosion stood goaltender Gilles Meloche, who quietly stopped 33 of 34 shots. It was a typically strong effort from one of the era’s most underrated netminders, ensuring Young’s historic night would be remembered for all the right reasons.
Nearly half a century later, the franchise still waits for another player to replicate what Tim Young accomplished on that winter night in New York, a perfect five-for-five performance that remains unmatched.
Mirage of Destiny: The Story of the 1990-91 Minnesota North Stars
A deep dive into the remarkable season of the Minnesota North Stars — their playoff run, key moments, and legacy.
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