Gordie Howe’s Natural Hat Trick Powers Red Wings Toward 1955 Stanley Cup

On April 10, 1955, Detroit’s Olympia Stadium witnessed one of Gordie Howe’s finest playoff performances. Facing the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, “Mr. Hockey” delivered a natural hat trick that carried the Red Wings within one win of the championship.

Howe’s trio of goals showcased his all-around greatness: one even strength, one on the power play, and one shorthanded. His first, scored at 18:59 of the opening period against Montreal’s Jacques Plante, stood as the game-winner in a 5-1 Detroit victory.

The second period belonged to Howe. At 12:29, he struck on the power play with help from Alex Delvecchio and Ted Lindsay. Just four minutes later, with Montreal down a man for hooking, Howe struck shorthanded, assisted by Lindsay and Red Kelly, to complete the rare natural hat trick.

Montreal bounced back to win Game 6 at the Forum, 6-3, with Bernie Geoffrion notching the winner. Howe was shut out that night, but in Game 7 he responded the way legends do, scoring his ninth goal of the postseason late in the second period. Detroit clinched the Stanley Cup with a 3-1 win, capturing the series 4-3.

Over 11 playoff games that spring, Howe racked up 9 goals and 11 assists for 20 points, numbers that would have easily earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy, had it been awarded at the time. It was the fourth and final Stanley Cup of his extraordinary career.

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Bonus Quiz: Gordie Howe’s Legendary Career

1. Gordie Howe played the majority of his NHL career with which team?

Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
Montreal Canadiens

2. Howe was nicknamed “Mr. Hockey.” Which of these is a unique record he held at the time of his retirement in 1980?

Most career goals, assists, and points in NHL history
Most consecutive games without a penalty
Most penalty minutes in a single season
Most playoff shutouts

3. In addition to the NHL, Gordie Howe also played in another professional league during the 1970s. Which league was it?

AHL (American Hockey League)
WHA (World Hockey Association)
IHL (International Hockey League)
KHL (Kontinental Hockey League)

4. Howe famously played professional hockey alongside his sons. What were their names?

Marty and Mark
Brett and Bobby
Wayne and Keith
Dave and Dean

5. Which of the following best describes Howe’s final professional game?

NHL game at age 48 with the Hartford Whalers
WHA game at age 52 with the Houston Aeros
AHL game at age 56 with the Rochester Americans
IHL game at age 69 with the Detroit Vipers

Henry Boucha Scores His First NHL Goal in His First NHL Game

On February 22, 1972, just ten days after skating for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, Henry Boucha made his long-awaited NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings.

Boucha had helped the Americans capture a silver medal at the Olympics, and his transition to the NHL couldn’t have started in more dramatic fashion. Facing the Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Olympia, the Red Wings quickly fell behind 4-0. But midway through the second period, Boucha sparked a comeback with his very first NHL goal at 9:47, beating legendary goalie Jacques Plante. Assists went to Mickey Redmond and Bob Wall.

Detroit rallied with four more unanswered goals to complete a thrilling 5-4 win. Although Boucha’s first season saw him record just that lone point in 16 games, he returned in 1972-73 to score 14 goals over 73 games, earning enough attention to place ninth in Calder Trophy voting for rookie of the year.

Boucha’s professional career spanned 247 NHL games from 1971-72 to 1976-77 with the Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars, Kansas City Scouts, and Colorado Rockies. Though injuries prevented him from ever reaching the playoffs, he also spent part of 1975–76 in the WHA with the Minnesota Fighting Saints.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Henry Boucha

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

1. In which year did Henry Boucha make his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings?

1971
1972
1973
1974

2. Which legendary goaltender did Boucha score his first NHL goal against?

Tony Esposito
Jacques Plante
Bernie Parent
Rogie Vachon

3. Boucha was part of Team USA that won a Silver Medal at which Winter Olympics?

Grenoble 1968
Sapporo 1972
Innsbruck 1976
Lake Placid 1980

4. Which of the following teams did Henry Boucha NOT play for in the NHL?

Minnesota North Stars
Kansas City Scouts
New York Rangers
Colorado Rockies

5. In 1975-76, Boucha also played 36 games in the WHA. Which team did he suit up for?

Edmonton Oilers
Winnipeg Jets
Minnesota Fighting Saints
New England Whalers

Red Kelly’s Hat Trick vs Canadiens Includes His Only NHL Penalty Shot

On January 31, 1963, the Toronto Maple Leafs stormed into the Montreal Forum and took down the Canadiens 6-3. The spotlight belonged to Red Kelly, who recorded a hat trick, highlighted by the only penalty shot goal of his entire 20-year NHL career.

The Canadiens jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Gilles Tremblay and Dickie Moore. But at 14:59 of the opening frame, Kelly sparked the comeback with a powerplay goal assisted by Billy Harris.

Red struck again midway through the second, tying the game 2-2 with his 13th of the season, set up by Bob Nevin and Frank Mahovlich. The Leafs then took over in the third:

• George Armstrong scored at 1:34 (assisted by Kelly),

• Dick Duff notched the game-winner at 6:17,

• and at 13:51, Red Kelly was awarded a penalty shot.

In a rare moment for the veteran center, he buried the puck behind Jacques Plante for his third goal of the game and 14th of the season. It marked the third hat trick of Kelly’s career, the only penalty shot goal he ever scored in his 1,316-game NHL tenure.

Kelly finished the night with four points and five shots on goal. That season, he would tally 20 goals and 40 assists in 66 games, with only four minor penalties, a model of sportsmanship. Despite that, he placed just fourth in Lady Byng Trophy voting, behind teammate Dave Keon.

About Red Kelly

Between 1947-48 and 1966-67, Red Kelly played 1,316 regular season and 164 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. The eight time Stanley Cup champion (four times each with the Red Wings and Maple Leafs) won the Lady Byng Trophy four times and was the Norris Trophy winner in 1953-54 as the NHL's top defenseman.

Immediately after retiring, Kelly became the first ever head coach of the Los Angeles Kings. He went on to stints as bench boss for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. Red was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.

Red Kelly’s Hat Trick vs Canadiens – Trivia Quiz

You can find much more hockey trivia at our hockey trivia website!

1. How many goals did Red Kelly score in the January 31, 1963 game vs the Canadiens?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

2. Who was the goaltender Red Kelly scored his penalty shot goal against?

A) Charlie Hodge
B) Jacques Plante
C) Gump Worsley
D) Terry Sawchuk

3. How many penalty shots did Red Kelly score in his NHL career?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 1
D) 0

4. How many points did Red Kelly record in that game?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 3
D) 5

5. Who scored the game-winning goal for the Leafs in that 6–3 victory?

A) George Armstrong
B) Dick Duff
C) Bob Nevin
D) Frank Mahovlich

6. What trophy is associated with sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct in the NHL?

A) Hart Trophy
B) Lady Byng Trophy
C) Norris Trophy
D) Selke Trophy

7. How many hat tricks did Red Kelly have in his NHL career?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 3
D) 5