On December 28, 1958, at Detroit Olympia, the Detroit Red Wings pulled off one of the most stunning penalty-kill moments in NHL history against the Boston Bruins. What began as a promising night for Boston quickly turned into a nightmare, all within the span of just 14 seconds.
đ Key Highlights
- December 28, 1958 matchup between Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins
- Bruins strike first, but momentum shifts after a Gordie Howe penalty
- Alex Delvecchio ties the game with a shorthanded goal
- Nick Mickoski scores another SHG just 14 seconds later
- Two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill (extremely rare)
- Delvecchio dominates with a four-point performance (1G, 3A)
- Red Wings build a 5-1 lead before a late Bruins push
- Detroit secures a 5-3 victory after the dramatic turnaround
The Bruins struck first when former (and future) Red Wing Vic Stasiuk opened the scoring at 5:48 of the first period. Momentum appeared to stay on Boston’s side when Gordie Howe took an interference penalty shortly after. With a power play opportunity to extend their lead, the Bruins instead found themselves on the wrong end of a dramatic momentum swing.
Alex Delvecchio flipped the game on its head, scoring an unassisted shorthanded goal, his 11th of the 1958–59 season, to tie the game. Before Boston could even reset, disaster struck again. Just 14 seconds later, Nick Mickoski buried another shorthanded goal, assisted by Delvecchio and Marcel Pronovost, giving Detroit a stunning lead while still killing the same penalty.
That burst proved to be the turning point. The Red Wings took control, building a commanding 5-1 lead in the third period with additional goals from Howe, Charlie Burns, and Claude Laforge. The Bruins mounted a late push with goals from Fleming Mackell and Leo Labine, but the damage had already been done. Detroit held on for a 5-3 victory.
Delvecchio finished the night with a dominant four-point performance (one goal, three assists), showcasing his all-around brilliance. During the 1958-59 season, he recorded two shorthanded goals and would go on to total 15 in his career, including a league-leading four in 1965-66. Mickoski’s goal was his only point of the game, but it contributed to a season where he scored three shorthanded goals, half of his career total of six.
The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings: A Curated History of Hockeytown
Explore the storied history of the Detroit Red Wings — legends, moments, rivalries, and the culture that made Hockeytown iconic.
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