The Night Rick Martin Mixed Goals and Grit Against Toronto

Rick Martin was closing in on his second straight 50-goal season for the Buffalo Sabres when they faced the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens on March 16, 1975. Known for his world-class shot and smooth skating, Martin put on a show, scoring his 45th, 46th, and 47th goals of the 1974-75 campaign. He also added an assist on a Fred Stanfield goal for a four-point night.

But Martin didn’t stop at scoring. In the third period, he dropped the gloves with Lanny McDonald, completing a rare Gordie Howe Hat Trick, goal, assist, and fight. McDonald, frustrated after Toronto’s long night, had already tangled with Jim Schoenfeld earlier in the game.

The Sabres dominated from start to finish, jumping out to a 5-2 lead in the first and cruising to an 11-3 victory. Toronto’s Gord McRae was pulled early in the second after allowing six goals on 15 shots, replaced by Doug Favell, who faced another 31 shots and gave up five more.

While Martin’s performance was stellar, linemate Gilbert Perreault stole some of the spotlight with a six-point night, three goals and three assists on eight shots. Stanfield also shone with a goal and four helpers, while Rick Dudley and Peter McNab each chipped in four points.

For Toronto, Dave Keon, Jim McKenny, and Blaine Stoughton managed to score, but Buffalo’s Gerry Desjardins stood tall, stopping 29 of 32 shots for the win.

About Rick Martin

A fifth overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres at the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, Rick Martin played 685 regular season and 63 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1971-72 and 1981-82 with the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings. He was the first in Buffalo franchise history to record a 50 goal season.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Rick Martin

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

1. Rick Martin was part of one of the NHL’s most famous lines with the Buffalo Sabres. What was the trio called?

• The French Connection
• The Production Line
• The Triple Crown Line
• The Legion of Doom

2. How many times did Rick Martin score 50 or more goals in a single NHL season?

• Once
• Twice
• Three times
• Four times

3. Martin was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft. What overall pick was he?

• 3rd overall
• 4th overall
• 5th overall
• 6th overall

4. In which season did Rick Martin post career highs of 52 goals and 95 points?

• 1973-74
• 1974-75
• 1975-76
• 1976-77

5. Rick Martin’s NHL career was cut short due to injury while playing with which team?

• Buffalo Sabres
• Los Angeles Kings
• Montreal Canadiens
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Al Hill’s Unforgettable NHL Debut With the Philadelphia Flyers

When it comes to unforgettable NHL debuts, none shine brighter than Al Hill’s first game with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Undrafted, Hill came from the Victoria Cougars of the WCHL and spent most of 1976-77 with the Springfield Indians in the AHL. Called up for a February 14, 1977 home game against the St. Louis Blues, he made sure his first NHL appearance would be one for the record books.

Just 36 seconds into the first period, Hill scored on Ed Johnston with assists from Bob Kelly and Terry Murray. Eleven minutes later, he struck again, his second career goal assisted by Rick MacLeish and Gary Dornhoefer. Before the period ended, he added an assist on Reggie Leach’s 23rd of the season.

Three points in one period would be memorable enough, but Hill wasn’t done. In the second period, he assisted on a Mel Bridgman goal, and in the third, he set up Bobby Clarke’s 21st of the campaign. That gave him five points on debut, an NHL record that still stands.

And there was toughness to go with the skill. In the second period, Hill dropped the gloves with Bob MacMillan, earning five for fighting. That gave him a rare distinction: likely the only Gordie Howe Hat Trick in a player’s first NHL game.

The Flyers capped the night with a 6-4 victory, but the night truly belonged to Al Hill, a debut the NHL has never seen before or since.

About Al Hill

Al Hill played 221 regular season and 51 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1976-77 and 1987-88, all with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was undrafted, joining the Flyers after playing major junior hockey with the Victoria Cougars. Twice, he helped the Maine Mariners to Calder Trophy championships in the AHL. In 1977-78, he was third in the league in scoring with 91 points, seven behind co-leaders Rick Adduono and Gord Brooks. 

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Al Hill

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

1. Al Hill is best remembered for setting an NHL record in his first game with the Flyers in 1977. How many points did he score that night?

3 points
4 points
5 points
6 points

2. Al Hill spent his entire NHL career with which team?

Philadelphia Flyers
Vancouver Canucks
New York Rangers
Calgary Flames

3. Approximately how many NHL games did Al Hill play over his career?

Just under 100
About 220
Around 400
Over 600

4. Aside from his scoring record, what rare feat did Hill also achieve in his very first NHL game?

A penalty shot goal
A Gordie Howe Hat Trick
A short-handed goal
A game-winning overtime goal

5. After retiring as a player, Al Hill stayed involved in hockey. Which role did he take on with the Flyers organization?

Head coach of the Flyers
Goaltending coach
Pro scout
TV broadcaster

Brian Sutter’s Supercharged Gordie Howe Hat Trick Knocks Out Winnipeg Jets in 1982 Playoffs

When the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets squared off in the opening round of the 1981-82 Stanley Cup playoffs, few expected the Blues to dominate. Winnipeg had finished eight points ahead in the regular season, but St. Louis entered Game 4 at the Checkerdome with a 2-1 series lead on April 11, 1982.

Enter Brian Sutter, a player who could score just as well as he could scrap. In a career-defining performance, Sutter delivered an enhanced Gordie Howe Hat Trick that propelled the Blues to an emphatic series win.

Before the first period ended, Sutter scored twice. His first came at 7:18, assisted by Bernie Federko and Joe Mullen, and just 29 seconds later he dropped the gloves with Winnipeg’s Dave Babych, earning five for fighting and two for elbowing. Back out of the box, he struck again at 16:01, once again set up by Federko and Mullen. The second marker would stand as the game-winner in what turned into an 8-2 blowout.

Sutter wasn’t finished. Late in the second period, he assisted on Federko’s first goal of the postseason, stretching the lead to 7-1. In the third, he added another helper on Joe Mullen’s tally at 8:17, the final goal of both the game and the series.

Traditionally, a Gordie Howe Hat Trick consists of one goal, one assist, and one fight. Sutter went above and beyond, recording two goals, two assists, a fight, and even a minor penalty for good measure.

About Brian Sutter

Brian Sutter played 779 regular season and 65 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1976-77 and 1987-88, all with the St. Louis Blues. He scored at least 23 goals in seven consecutive seasons and 40 or more in two campaigns. His career high 46 was scored in 1982-83.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Brian Sutter

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

1. Which NHL team did Brian Sutter play his entire career with?

Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
Calgary Flames
New York Rangers

2. In which year did Brian Sutter first captain the St. Louis Blues?

1978
1980
1982
1984

3. What was Brian Sutter especially known for as a player?

Stickhandling wizardry
Two-way grit and leadership
Goaltending skills
Speed skating records

4. How many career NHL goals did Brian Sutter score?

175
247
303
356

5. Which year was Brian Sutter forced to retire due to back injuries?

1984
1986
1988
1990

Bob Bourne Delivers Clutch Goals and Grit vs. the Jets

The New York Islanders dynasty wasn’t built solely on superstars like Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Denis Potvin. Players like Bob Bourne quietly carved out reputations as game-changers in crucial moments. On March 11, 1981, he delivered one of his finest performances.

That season, Bourne scored 35 goals, including nine on the power play, seven shorthanded, and five game-winners. He was the very definition of a special teams specialist, thriving when it mattered most.

When the Islanders visited the Winnipeg Jets at Winnipeg Arena, the matchup looked lopsided. New York had 39 wins, while the Jets had only eight. Yet after the first period, the game was knotted 2-2. Bourne picked up an assist on Mike Bossy’s 62nd goal of the year to help even the score late in the frame.

In the second period, with Bob Nystrom serving a penalty, Bourne struck shorthanded. At 10:04, he snapped home his 28th goal of the season past Michel Dion, assisted by Denis Potvin. It stood up as the game-winning goal in a 6-3 Islanders victory.

Just 45 seconds later, Bourne showed he could mix it up, too. Dropping the gloves with Danny Geoffrion, he earned a five-minute major for fighting, giving him a Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

Bourne capped his night by scoring into the empty net with three seconds left, finishing with a three-point performance. His 35 goals and 76 points that season were both career highs, and he remained a vital cog in the Islanders’ machine during their run of four straight Stanley Cups.

About Bob Bourne

Bob Bourne played 964 regular season and 139 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1974-75 and 1987-88 with the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Kings. Bourne was originally a draft pick of the Kansas City Scouts. He was selected in the third round of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft after a junior career with the Saskatoon Blades. He was traded to the Islanders just prior to the start of the 1974-75 NHL season.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Bob Bourne

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

1. Bob Bourne spent the majority of his NHL career with which team?

Winnipeg Jets
New York Islanders
Calgary Flames
Minnesota North Stars

2. Bourne’s best NHL season came in 1980-81. How many goals did he score that year?

29
35
41
25

3. Bourne was part of how many consecutive Stanley Cup championships with the Islanders?

4
2
3
5

4. After leaving the Islanders, Bourne played for which NHL team?

New Jersey Devils
Toronto Maple Leafs
Los Angeles Kings
Buffalo Sabres

5. Which honor did Bob Bourne receive in 1988 recognizing his contributions beyond the game itself?

Induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Conn Smythe Trophy
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Lester Patrick Trophy

John McKenzie Fires Up Boston Garden With Hat Trick And Fight (1970)

On December 20, 1970, the Boston Garden crowd was treated to a classic Johnny McKenzie performance. Known for his grit and scoring touch, McKenzie delivered a Gordie Howe Hat Trick Plus in a 7-2 Boston Bruins win over the Minnesota North Stars.

The night before in St. Louis, McKenzie had two goals and an assist in a 7-1 victory over the Blues. He carried that momentum home, scoring his 12th, 13th, and 14th goals of the 1970-71 season against Minnesota. He also set up a goal by Phil Esposito, capping a four-point night.

True to form, McKenzie also dropped the gloves, scrapping with ex-Bruin Barry Gibbs just 25 seconds into the second period. Gilles Gilbert, who later went on to play for Boston, faced 47 shots and stopped 40, including four off McKenzie’s stick. Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito led the barrage with eight shots each.

The 1970-71 campaign proved to be McKenzie’s best NHL season, as he finished with 31 goals and 77 points. The hat trick against Minnesota was the third of his career and the only one not scored against the Detroit Red Wings.

About John McKenzie

John McKenzie played 691 regular season and 69 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1958-59 and 1971-72 with the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Boston Bruins. He won two Stanley Cup championships with the Bruins.

In the WHA, McKenzie played an additional 477 regular season and 33 playoff games between 1972-73 and 1978-79 with the Philadelphia Blazers, Vancouver Blazers, Minnesota Fighting Saints, Cincinnati Stingers and New England Whalers.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Johnny McKenzie

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

1. In which NHL season did Johnny McKenzie score his career-high 31 goals?

• 1968-69
• 1969-70
• 1970-71
• 1971-72

2. Which team did Johnny McKenzie score his famous hat trick and fight performance against on December 20, 1970?

• St. Louis Blues
• Detroit Red Wings
• Minnesota North Stars
• Chicago Blackhawks

3. How many career NHL hat tricks did Johnny McKenzie record?

• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

4. Johnny McKenzie was part of the Boston Bruins’ Stanley Cup–winning team in which year?

• 1968
• 1970
• 1972
• Both 1970 and 1972

5. Before joining the Bruins, McKenzie played for which NHL team?

• New York Rangers
• Detroit Red Wings
• Chicago Blackhawks
• Philadelphia Flyers