Bobby Clarke Powers Flyers With Rare Special-Teams Hat Trick

On March 28, 1974, at the Omni in Atlanta, Bobby Clarke delivered one of the most unusual hat tricks of his NHL career. The Philadelphia Flyers captain scored all three goals in a 3-3 tie against the Atlanta Flames but what made the performance truly memorable was that none of the goals came at even strength. For Clarke, it was all special teams: two shorthanded goals and one power-play tally.

The game began with immediate adversity for the Flyers. Just 12 seconds after puck drop, Rick MacLeish was sent to the penalty box for hooking. Instead of Atlanta taking advantage, Clarke flipped the script. At 1:06 of the opening period, he scored shorthanded, his 31st goal of the season, with assists from Barry Ashbee and Bill Barber.

By the time the third period arrived, Atlanta held a 2-1 lead thanks to goals from Jacques Richard and Bryan Hextall. Hextall made his presence felt in more ways than one, engaging in first- and second-period fights with Bob Kelly and Andre Dupont. He nearly added a third scrap in the final period when both he and Jimmy Watson received double-minor penalties.

Clarke struck again at 5:40 of the third period. With Butch Deadmarsh serving a hooking penalty, Clarke capitalized on the power play to tie the game, assisted by Barber and Tom Bladon. The tie didn’t last long. Just 17 seconds later, Keith McCreary restored Atlanta’s lead. But Clarke wasn’t finished.

At exactly nine minutes of the third period, he completed the hat trick, again while shorthanded. Ed Van Impe had been in the penalty box for only nine seconds when Clarke found the back of the net, securing the 3-3 draw and sealing one of the most unique three-goal performances of his career.

Clarke finished the 1973-74 NHL season tied with Ralph Stewart of the New York Islanders for the league lead in shorthanded goals with five. Over the course of his Hall of Fame career, Clarke recorded 32 shorthanded goals, tying him for 17th all-time alongside Peter Bondra, Dave Keon, and Joe Sakic. Of course, that total still sits well behind the NHL record of 73 shorthanded goals, held by Wayne Gretzky.

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Defenseman Carol Vadnais Scores Hat Trick For Rangers In Wild 8-6 Loss To Maple Leafs (1976)

When the Boston Bruins traded Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais to the New York Rangers on November 7, 1975, the return package included stars Brad Park and Jean Ratelle along with Joe Zanussi. It was one of the biggest deals of the decade, and Vadnais quickly made his presence felt on Broadway. In his first 22 games with New York, the defenseman recorded two four-point performances.

One of those standout games came on January 4, 1976, when the Rangers hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden. Vadnais opened his scoring at 4:50 of the second period, beating Toronto goalie Wayne Thomas for his seventh goal of the 1975-76 season. The tally, assisted by Pete Stemkowski and Walt Tkaczuk, briefly gave New York a 2-1 lead.

Toronto quickly seized control, however, scoring four straight goals to take a commanding 5-2 lead into the third period.

Any thoughts of a quiet finish vanished almost immediately. Vadnais struck again just 23 seconds into the final frame, with assists from Rod Gilbert and Esposito. Later in the period, Lanny McDonald scored shorthanded for Toronto at 11:46, igniting a remarkable stretch of offense. Over the next 2:33, the teams combined for five goals, at the time the ninth-fastest sequence of five goals in NHL history and still among the fastest ever recorded.

Vadnais assisted on the fourth goal of that flurry, Gilbert’s 13th of the season, before completing his hat trick at 19:09 with helpers from Gilbert and Esposito. The late surge wasn’t enough to overcome Toronto’s earlier outburst, and the Rangers fell 8-6 in one of the season’s wildest games.

Despite the loss, Vadnais finished with three goals and an assist, while Gilbert added a four-point night of his own with two goals and two assists. Vadnais also led all shooters in the game with seven shots on goal.

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Detroit’s Only Hat Trick Of 1962-63 Belonged To Norm Ullman

The 1962-63 Detroit Red Wings were a powerhouse. They reached the Stanley Cup Final, featured three top-ten goal scorers, and were led offensively by the NHL’s top sniper, Gordie Howe. Yet remarkably, across 70 regular season games and 11 playoff contests, Detroit recorded just one hat trick all year. That lone three-goal performance belonged to Norm Ullman.

On March 14, 1963, at historic Detroit Olympia, the Red Wings hosted the New York Rangers in what would become a wide-open offensive showcase. Ullman opened his account at 12:23 of the first period, beating goaltender Gump Worsley to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. The goal was set up by Bill Gadsby and Floyd Smith.

The second period exploded for six combined goals, and by the time the horn sounded, Detroit held a 5-3 advantage.

Ullman wasted no time adding to his total. Just 28 seconds into the third period, he buried his 22nd goal of the season, assisted by Vic Stasiuk and Floyd Smith. After Andre Pronovost stretched the lead to 7-3, Ullman completed his hat trick at 11:59 of the frame, finishing off a setup from Stasiuk and Pete Goegan.

The teams traded goals down the stretch, but the final score settled at 9-4 for the Red Wings and Detroit’s only hat trick of the entire 1962-63 campaign was in the books.

Ullman finished the regular season with 26 goals and 30 assists for 56 points, good for 10th in NHL goal scoring, just one behind Johnny Bucyk and 12 back of Howe. When the playoffs arrived, Ullman elevated his game further. Though Detroit ultimately fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Final, Ullman and Howe shared the postseason scoring lead with 16 points apiece over 11 games.

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Murray Oliver’s Hat Trick Sparks Bruins Past Maple Leafs in 1961

Murray Oliver’s early days in Boston were anything but smooth. Acquired from the Detroit Red Wings late in the 1960-61 season, Oliver arrived with promise after scoring 20 goals in just 54 games as an NHL rookie. But his production dipped the following year, and by the start of the 1961-62 campaign, confidence was clearly being tested.

Through his first 32 games with the Bruins that season, Oliver had managed only three goals. Enter December 23, 1961, a road date against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens and a night that would change the narrative.

Oliver opened the scoring at 8:31 of the first period, beating Johnny Bower with help from Johnny Bucyk and Leo Boivin. It was an early spark that set the tone for Boston. Late in the second period, he struck again, scoring his fifth goal of the season at 18:47 with rookie Ed Westfall earning the assist. The tally sent the Bruins into the intermission holding a commanding 5-1 lead.

Toronto pushed back hard in the third period. Goals from Dick Duff, Frank Mahovlich, and George Armstrong cut the Bruins’ advantage to 6-4 and briefly brought the Gardens crowd to life. But Oliver wasn’t finished.

With just 1:16 remaining, he completed his hat trick with an unassisted goal at 18:44, sealing a 7-4 Bruins victory. Earlier, Oliver had also set up Bucyk for a goal, giving him a four-point night. Bucyk and Don McKenney followed closely with three points apiece.

In goal, Don Head delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, stopping 38 of 42 shots and repeatedly frustrating Toronto shooters. Bower, meanwhile, endured a rough outing, surrendering seven goals on just 28 shots.

Special teams played a quiet but decisive role. Only five minor penalties were called, yet Boston capitalized twice on three power-play chances, both opportunities coming while Bob Pulford served time in the penalty box.

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Pat Hickey’s Five-Point Night Sinks Tony Esposito At MSG

On November 15, 1978, the Chicago Blackhawks rolled into Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers, and left with very little to show for it. While another famous kid from Brantford was still lighting up the WHA at the time, it was Pat Hickey, also born in Brantford, Ontario, who stole the spotlight in New York.

Hickey wasted no time making his presence felt. Just 1:03 into the opening period, he beat Tony Esposito for his first of the night, with assists from Ulf Nilsson and Carol Vadnais. Less than five-and-a-half minutes later, Vadnais added a shorthanded goal of his own. Then, only 41 seconds after that, Hickey set up Anders Hedberg to give the Rangers a commanding 3-0 lead.

The Rangers kept pouring it on. Hickey struck again at 16:56 of the second period, once more assisted by Nilsson, along with Ron Greshner, to make it 5-0. In a rare brother-versus-brother moment, Phil Esposito scored on his older brother Tony at 6:24 of the third period, pushing the lead to 6-0.

Before the night was done, Hickey completed his hat trick, scoring his third goal of the game and seventh of the 1978-79 NHL season. He also added another assist on a goal by Nilsson, finishing the night with a five-point performance.

The Rangers’ top line was unstoppable. Hickey, Nilsson, and Hedberg combined for 13 points in the blowout win. Nilsson recorded one goal and four assists, while Hedberg chipped in with a goal and two helpers. Hickey led all skaters with six shots on goal, while Tony Esposito faced 39 shots overall. At the other end of the ice, John Davidson turned aside 32 of 33 shots to seal the victory for New York.

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Cowboy Rides Into L.A. and Burns His Old Team in 1972 Return

When Bill “Cowboy” Flett stepped onto the ice at the Forum on March 9, 1972, it wasn’t just another regular-season game. Less than six weeks earlier, Flett had been part of a blockbuster January 28 trade that sent him from the Los Angeles Kings to the Philadelphia Flyers alongside Eddie Joyal, Ross Lonsberry, and Jean Potvin. Heading west in return were Serge Bernier, Larry Brown, Bill Lesuk, and Jim Johnson.

Now back in Los Angeles wearing orange and black, Flett made sure Kings fans knew exactly what they had given up.

Through two periods and halfway into the third, the Kings held a 2-1 lead and Flett was still off the scoresheet. That changed quickly, and dramatically, beginning at 10:58 of the third period. On the power play, Flett buried his 13th goal of the season past Gary Edwards, assisted by Jean Potvin and Bobby Clarke.

Thirty seconds later, he turned playmaker, setting up Clarke for the Flyers’ go-ahead goal. Just ten seconds after that, Flett struck again, scoring his second of the night and 14th of the season off another Clarke assist. In under a minute, the Cowboy had completely flipped the game, putting Philadelphia ahead 4-2 with what would stand as the game-winning goal in a 5-3 Flyers victory.

He wasn’t finished.

After Backstrom pulled the Kings within one, Flett completed the story at 14:29 of the third period, netting his hat trick goal with helpers from Rick Foley and Clarke. The goal capped a four-point night in his return to Los Angeles and marked the fourth hat trick of Flett’s NHL career. Interestingly, his first three hat tricks had all come against the Detroit Red Wings.

Flett and Clarke each finished the night with seven shots on goal, while Gary Edwards faced 32 shots in the Kings’ net. Flett closed out the 1971-72 season with 11 goals in 31 games for the Flyers, added to the seven he scored in 45 games with Los Angeles, good for 18 total on the year.

The following season, the Cowboy truly broke out, erupting for a career-high 43 goals and proving just how costly that January trade turned out to be for the Kings.

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Don Luce’s Only NHL Hat Trick Gives the French Connection the Night Off

When the Buffalo Sabres visited the Capital Centre on December 22, 1974, all eyes were on the famed French Connection. Washington’s expansion Capitals keyed in on slowing Gilbert Perreault, René Robert, and Rick Martin. For the most part, they succeeded. What they didn’t account for was the damage done by Buffalo’s secondary line.

With Washington desperate for just its fourth win in the first 35 games of its inaugural season, and the Sabres rolling with only six losses in their first 33 contests of 1974-75, holding Buffalo to four goals was an achievement in itself. But one Sabre made those four count. Don Luce.

Luce, skating alongside Craig Ramsay and Bill Hajt, recorded the only hat trick of his NHL career in a dominant two-period stretch. He first contributed with an assist on the game-winning goal, a shorthanded marker by Ramsay at 19:53 of the opening period. Then came the second.

At 9:59, Luce opened the scoring himself, netting his 17th goal of the season at even strength, the only even-strength tally of the game. With Gilbert Perreault in the penalty box later in the period, Luce struck again, this time shorthanded at 13:25, beating Ron Low with help from Ramsay.

Just 23 seconds later, with Perreault still serving his minor, Luce completed the hat trick. This time, Bill Hajt picked up the assist as Luce capped off a rare offensive outburst. That would be all the scoring on the night. Gary Bromley stopped all 27 shots he faced to earn the shutout, while Low made 37 saves in a losing effort for Washington.

The performance came during a career season for Luce, who finished 1974-75 with 33 goals and 43 assists for 76 points. He added 13 more points in 16 playoff games as the Sabres marched to the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Philadelphia Flyers.

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About Don Luce

Don Luce played 894 regular season and 71 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1969-70 and 1981-82 with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Luce had 20+ goals in six seasons, putting up a career best 33 in 1974-75 with Buffalo.

Don Luce NHL Career Stats

Regular Season

Playoffs

Captain Comes Through With 3 Goals In 1959 Blackhawks Win Over Rangers

Before Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita became household names, Ed Litzenberger was the offensive engine of the Chicago Blackhawks.

From 1956-57 through 1958-59, Litzenberger recorded three straight 30-goal seasons (32, 32, and 33 goals), finishing among the NHL’s top four goal scorers in each campaign. When he replaced Gus Mortson as team captain at the start of the 1958-59 season, Litzenberger responded with the best year of his career.

One of the defining moments came on February 7, 1959, at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.

Litzenberger recorded the second of his two career NHL hat tricks, adding an assist for a four-point night as Chicago earned a 6-3 victory. After setting up Tod Sloan for the game’s opening goal, the Blackhawks captain took over offensively.

He scored his 25th and 26th goals of the season during the second period, both assisted by Ted Lindsay. The second of those goals, scored at 9:53 of the period on Gump Worsley, stood up as the game-winning goal. Litzenberger completed the hat trick at 18:34 of the third, once again finishing a Lindsay setup.

Lindsay matched Litzenberger’s point total with four assists, while Glenn Hall stopped 23 of 26 shots to earn the win in goal.

The game also featured a memorable third-period melee that resulted in five players penalized, including three Blackhawks and two Rangers. The highlight of the scrum was a fight between two rising young players, Bobby Hull and Eddie Shack.

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Gregg Sheppard Scores a Hat Trick in Just His Second NHL Game

Gregg Sheppard waited more than three years in the minor leagues for his chance to crack an NHL lineup. When that opportunity finally arrived with the Boston Bruins in October 1972, he wasted no time proving he belonged.

Sheppard made his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a quiet outing that didn’t show up on the scoresheet in a 3-2 Boston victory. One night later, however, everything changed. On October 29, 1972, facing the expansion New York Islanders at the Boston Garden, Sheppard delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career.

The Islanders, still in just their eighth game as an NHL franchise, struck first on an early goal by Brian Spencer. But at 16:01 of the opening period, Sheppard answered with his first NHL goal, tying the game and setting the tone for what would become a runaway Bruins victory.

By the time Sheppard scored his second goal at 5:53 of the third period, Boston had already built a commanding 6-1 lead. He completed his hat trick at 14:22 of the third, beating Islanders goaltender Billy Smith to make it 8-1. Johnny Bucyk added another just 38 seconds later, sealing a dominant 9-1 Bruins win.

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Boston’s goaltending tandem of Ross Brooks and Ed Johnston faced only 16 shots on the night, while Smith endured a long evening, stopping 30 of 39 shots at the other end.

Sheppard’s breakout performance wasn’t a fluke. Throughout November 1972, he recorded three additional three-point games against the California Golden Seals, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Philadelphia Flyers, further cementing his place in the Bruins’ lineup.

By season’s end, Sheppard had tallied 24 goals and 50 points in 64 games during his rookie campaign. His impressive debut season earned him Calder Trophy consideration, finishing sixth in voting for NHL Rookie of the Year and marking the beginning of a solid NHL career.

Ted Irvine Takes Control In The Third To Beat His Former Team In 1971

Some NHL performances seem to follow a script, and for Ted Irvine, hat tricks often arrived in a very specific way. Across his career, Irvine recorded three of them, and each felt like its own self-contained takeover: three consecutive goals, all natural hat tricks, all including the game winner. It became a pattern fans could almost sense coming once he got rolling.

His first came during the 1968-69 season, when Irvine scored three straight to give the Los Angeles Kings an early 3-0 cushion in a 3-2 win over the Oakland Seals. His third would come later with the St. Louis Blues, again featuring three unanswered goals in the third period to flip a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The second, though, may have been the most poetic, doing it against the team he once called home.

That moment arrived on March 7, 1971, when the New York Rangers hosted the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden. The opening period was scoreless, but Jean Ratelle broke through at 2:40 of the second to put New York ahead. The Kings responded late in the frame, however, as Eddie Joyal and Gilles Marotte struck to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead heading into the third.

That’s when Irvine took over. At 3:57 of the final period, he beat Denis DeJordy for his 16th goal of the season, tying the game and shifting the momentum. Just over nine minutes later, with help from Pete Stemkowski, Irvine buried what would stand as the game winner, giving the Rangers their first lead since early in the night. With DeJordy pulled for an extra attacker in the final minute, Irvine completed the familiar pattern. He scored his third straight goal, unassisted, with 43 seconds remaining to seal a 4-2 Rangers victory. 

About Ted Irvine

Between 1963-64 and 1976-77, Ted Irvine played 724 regular season and 83 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues. He was a 20 goal scorer twice during his NHL career, topping out with 26 in 1973-74 with the New York Rangers.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Ted Irvine

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

1. Ted Irvine made his NHL debut with which team during the 1963–64 season?

Boston Bruins
New York Rangers
Los Angeles Kings
St. Louis Blues

2. Ted Irvine recorded his most productive NHL season while playing for which team?

Boston Bruins
New York Rangers
Los Angeles Kings
St. Louis Blues

3. What was Ted Irvine’s career-high in goals during a single NHL season?

22
26
30
35

4. Ted Irvine recorded multiple hat tricks during his NHL career, most shared which distinction?

They were natural hat tricks
They occurred in playoff games
They came in overtime games
They were all short-handed goals

5. Ted Irvine is the father of which future professional wrestler?

Chris Jericho
Bret Hart
Edge
Roddy Piper

Dean Prentice’s Six-Point Explosion Leads Bruins to Stunning 11–0 Rout at Maple Leaf Gardens

When the Boston Bruins hammered the Toronto Maple Leafs 11-0 on January 18, 1964, it wasn’t just another lopsided scoreline, it was a full-blown shocker. Boston entered the game buried in the basement of the six-team NHL, while Toronto was powering toward what would become its third straight Stanley Cup championship. Yet on this night at Maple Leaf Gardens, the underdog Bruins delivered one of the most astonishing road victories of the Original Six era.

Dean Prentice was at the heart of the upset, turning in one of the finest performances of his career. The veteran winger notched the fifth of his six NHL hat tricks and added three assists, giving him a six-point night. Remarkably, four of those points came in the opening period as Boston stormed out to a 6-0 lead. Prentice scored his three goals on just three shots, while linemate Andy Hebenton completed a hat trick of his own on six attempts at Don Simmons.

Murray Oliver led all skaters with nine shots, contributing two goals and two assists in the offensive explosion. John Bucyk also chipped in a four-point night with a goal and three helpers, adding even more punch to a Bruins attack that seemed unstoppable. At the other end, goaltender Ed Johnston stopped all 26 Toronto shots, including six from the always-entertaining Eddie Shack, to secure the shutout.

The victory extended Boston’s modest winning streak to three games, including a 6-3 triumph over Toronto just two games earlier. Although the Bruins managed only a tie against Montreal the following day before sliding back into their struggles, this run briefly lifted them out of an 0-10-1 slump. In fact, five of Boston’s 18 wins in the 1963-64 season came against the Maple Leafs, making Toronto their most generous opponent in an otherwise tough campaign.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Dean Prentice

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

1. Dean Prentice began his NHL career with which team?
New York Rangers
Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings

2. Which team was Dean Prentice playing for during the mid-1960s, when he came closest to reaching the Stanley Cup Final?
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Chicago Black Hawks
Minnesota North Stars

3. Which major milestone did Dean Prentice surpass during his NHL career?
300 career NHL goals
1,000 career NHL assists
600 penalty minutes
100 power-play goals

4. Dean Prentice was selected to the NHL All-Star Game how many times?
Three
Five
Six
Seven

5. Dean Prentice scored a memorable shorthanded penalty shot goal in 1964 while injured. Which team was he playing for at the time?
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins

Alex Delvecchio’s Rare 1958 Hat Trick Powers Red Wings Past Chicago

On an October night in 1958 at the old Chicago Stadium, Alex “Fats” Delvecchio delivered one of the most efficient offensive performances of his Hall of Fame career. Despite playing 1,550 NHL games and scoring 456 career goals, Delvecchio recorded only three hat tricks and the first arrived on October 18, 1958, in a 3-1 Detroit Red Wings victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Delvecchio wasted no time getting Detroit on the board. Just 1:48 into the first period, he slipped the puck past Chicago star goaltender Glenn Hall, with an assist from Gordie Howe. Chicago answered later in the frame with a goal from Ed Litzenberger, but that would be the only puck to elude Red Wings netminder Terry Sawchuk all night.

Early in the second period, Delvecchio struck again. At 1:25, with Chicago’s Al Arbour serving a penalty, Delvecchio buried a power-play marker that held up as the game-winning goal. Howe and Norm Ullman picked up the helpers as Detroit regained control.

The natural storybook ending arrived midway through the third. At 5:47, Delvecchio completed his hat trick, once again set up by Howe, securing all of Detroit’s scoring on the night and sealing one of the most memorable games of his storied career.

Delvecchio finished the 1958-59 season with 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points, taking just three minor penalties in 70 games. His sportsmanship and steady excellence earned him his first of three Lady Byng Trophies, and in 1977 he took his rightful place in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

About Alex Delvecchio 

Alex “Fats” Delvecchio stands as one of the most consistent, durable, and respected players in NHL history. Spending his entire 24-season career (1950-1974) with the Detroit Red Wings, Delvecchio became a cornerstone of the franchise through three different eras of hockey. Known for his smooth playmaking, calm on-ice presence, and gentlemanly style, he was a key contributor alongside legends such as Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, and Terry Sawchuk.

Delvecchio played 1,550 regular-season games, the second-most in league history at the time of his retirement and still among the highest totals today for a player who spent his entire career with one team. He scored 456 goals and 825 assists for 1,281 points, making him one of the most productive centers of his generation. His skill set leaned toward playmaking excellence, and his reliability earned him the trust of coaches in all situations: power play, even strength, and key defensive shifts.

Known for exceptional sportsmanship, Delvecchio won the Lady Byng Trophy three times (1959, 1966, 1969), reflecting his ability to excel offensively without taking penalties. Despite his longevity, he accumulated remarkably few penalty minutes, just 383 over more than two decades. His poise and consistency made him a model of professionalism.

Delvecchio was also a three-time Stanley Cup champion, helping Detroit win titles in 1952, 1954, and 1955. Though overshadowed at times by Howe’s superstar presence, Delvecchio was a vital engine of Detroit’s offense and the steady center on some of the most iconic lines in NHL history, including the later iterations of the Production Line.

After retiring as a player, Delvecchio continued contributing to hockey as a coach and executive with the Red Wings. His lifelong dedication to the team capped a career defined by loyalty, leadership, and elite performance.

In 1977, Alex Delvecchio was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest and most respected players the Detroit Red Wings have ever produced.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Alex Delvecchio

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

1. How many regular-season games did Alex Delvecchio play in his NHL career?
   1,200
   1,420
   1,550
   1,612
2. Delvecchio spent his entire NHL playing career with which team?
   Detroit Red Wings
   Chicago Blackhawks
   Toronto Maple Leafs
   Boston Bruins
3. How many Lady Byng Trophies did Delvecchio win?
   One
   Three
   Four
   Two
4. Which number did Alex Delvecchio famously wear for most of his career?
   7
   10
   12
   19
5. In what year was Alex Delvecchio inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?
   1977
   1981
   1973
   1984

NHL Hockey Card Legends: Alex Delvecchio

Gary Sabourin Scores Four Goals For The California Golden Seals Against His Former Team

On November 7, 1975, the California Golden Seals pulled off a wild 7-5 win over the New York Rangers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena and the unlikely star of the night was Gary Sabourin.

Not Bobby Orr, but the other guy from Parry Sound, Ontario. Sabourin, once a Rangers prospect, lit up John Davidson and the Blueshirts for four goals, recording his second NHL hat trick (and then some).

Just a year earlier, Sabourin had scored only five goals in 55 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. By his 15th game as a Seal, he had already surpassed that mark. He opened the scoring at just 1:01 of the first period with his fifth of the season, set up by Bob Girard and Ralph Klassen. A few minutes later, he struck again, once again thanks to Girard, this time with Rick Hampton adding an assist.

In the second period, after Al MacAdam and Rick Middleton traded goals, Sabourin completed his hat trick at 11:02 with Klassen picking up another helper. Early in the third, at 1:03, Sabourin buried the eventual game-winner, assisted by Klassen and former Ranger Jim Neilson. Sabourin, MacAdam, and Dennis Maruk paced the Seals with six shots each, while Phil Esposito and Rod Gilbert each had three-point nights for New York.

Goaltender Gilles Meloche backstopped the Seals with his usual heavy workload, stopping 31 of 36 shots, including six from Esposito.

That four-goal performance helped Sabourin finish the season with 21 goals, the fifth and final time he would hit the 20-goal mark in his career. Twice, with the St. Louis Blues, he topped out at a career-high 28 goals. Sadly, his NHL journey wrapped up shortly after, with just 33 games for the Cleveland Barons in 1976-77 before calling it a career.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Gary Sabourin

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

1. Gary Sabourin scored four goals in one game for the California Golden Seals in 1975. Which team was the opponent?

2. Sabourin twice reached his career-high in goals during a season. How many goals did he score in each of those peak years?

3. Which team did Gary Sabourin spend the majority of his NHL career with?

4. Sabourin’s final NHL season came in 1976-77, when he played 33 games for which franchise?

5. Gary Sabourin was born in Parry Sound, Ontario — the same hometown as which Hockey Hall of Famer?

Mike Gartner Nets His First Career Hat Trick Against the Nordiques in 1979

On December 1, 1979, Mike Gartner gave Washington Capitals fans a glimpse of the legendary career that was about to unfold.

It had been a sluggish start for both Gartner and the Capitals during the 1979-80 NHL season. Through 24 games, Gartner had only three goals, while Washington’s record sat at a dismal 4-16-4. But that night at the Capital Centre against the Quebec Nordiques, everything changed.

After two periods, the game was locked at 2-2. Then came a third-period eruption. Washington buried five goals past Quebec netminder Goran Hogosta to secure a 7-2 victory. Gartner was the star, netting three of those goals, his 4th, 5th, and 6th of the season, on just four shots. Wes Jarvis assisted on all three and chipped in a goal of his own for a four-point night.

Though the Caps’ season struggles continued, Gartner found his scoring touch. He finished his rookie year with 36 goals, eventually hitting the 50-goal mark with Washington in 1984-85. Over his Hall of Fame career, he scored 708 goals in 1,432 games, ranking him 8th all-time, sandwiched between Phil Esposito and Mark Messier.

Gartner played for the Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Phoenix Coyotes, where he notched the franchise’s first-ever hat trick after their move from Winnipeg. His induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame came in 2001, cementing his place among the game’s all-time greats.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Mike Gartner

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

1. In what season did Mike Gartner score his first NHL hat trick?

1978-79
1979-80
1980-81
1981-82

2. How many career goals did Mike Gartner score in the NHL?

612
650
708
742

3. Which team did Gartner score the first hat trick in franchise history for, after relocation?

Washington Capitals
New York Rangers
Toronto Maple Leafs
Phoenix Coyotes

4. Mike Gartner was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in which year?

1999
2000
2001
2003

5. Which of these teams did Gartner NOT play for in his NHL career?

Minnesota North Stars
New York Rangers
St. Louis Blues
Toronto Maple Leafs

Syl Apps Explodes For Six Points As Islanders Suffer Rough Start

When the New York Islanders entered the NHL for the 1972-73 season, few imagined that just eight years later they would become a dynasty with four straight Stanley Cup championships. Their early years, however, were filled with growing pains and one December night in Pittsburgh highlighted just how far they had to go.

On December 13, 1972, the expansion Islanders came into the Civic Arena with a dismal 3-21-3 record, having already allowed nine or more goals three times. Against the Penguins, things quickly spiraled out of control. Pittsburgh fired nine unanswered goals past beleaguered New York goaltender Gerry Desjardins, who faced a staggering 55 shots on the night. The Islanders only avoided being shut out when they scored with six seconds left, barely spoiling Denis Herron’s quiet evening in the other crease.

The star of the night was Syl Apps Jr., who delivered the finest offensive performance of his 1972-73 season. Apps recorded a hat trick, his first of three career NHL hat tricks, while also setting up three more goals for a six-point masterpiece. His linemate Lowell MacDonald added two goals and two assists, while Al McDonough chipped in with a goal and three helpers.

For Apps, this game was one of the highlights of a productive campaign. Along with this six-point night, he notched a five-point game against Toronto and three four-point outings. His offensive flair reached another peak in December 1977, when he tallied his only career four-goal game against the Los Angeles Kings.

About Syl Apps

Syl Apps played 727 regular season and 23 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1970-71 and 1979-80 with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings. He was a playoff champion with both the Omaha Knights in the CHL and the Buffalo Bisons in the AHL in 1969-70.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Syl Apps Jr.

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

1. Which NHL team did Syl Apps Jr. spend the majority of his career with?

New York Islanders
Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings
Toronto Maple Leafs

2. How many career NHL hat tricks did Syl Apps Jr. record?

1
3
5
7

3. In which season did Apps record his only four-goal game?

1972-73
1974-75
1977-78
1979-80

4. What was Syl Apps Jr.’s highest single-season point total in the NHL?

70
85
99
110

5. Which NHL franchise originally drafted Syl Apps Jr. in 1964?

Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins

Two Goals in Six Seconds: Turgeon’s Historic Whalers Moment

On March 28, 1987, Sylvain Turgeon snapped out of a scoring slump in dramatic fashion for the Hartford Whalers. Facing Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Hartford Civic Center, Turgeon delivered one of the most memorable performances in franchise history.

After scoring just one goal in his previous eight games, Turgeon opened the scoring late in the first period, beating Pat Riggin unassisted. The second period turned into a wild offensive showcase, with six goals scored in just over five minutes.

Lemieux tied the game at 13:39 with his 53rd goal of the season, but Turgeon responded instantly. Just 20 seconds later, he notched his second of the night. Six seconds after that, he completed the hat trick. The two lightning-quick tallies remain a Whalers franchise record for the fastest two goals by a single player. Even after the team relocated and became the Carolina Hurricanes, the closest anyone has come was Ray Whitney’s two goals in 31 seconds back in 2007.

The Whalers went on to win 5-4, thanks to a clutch goal from captain Ron Francis. Turgeon himself fired 10 of Hartford’s 22 total shots, while goaltender Mike Liut made 19 saves for the victory.

Turgeon went on to play 669 regular season and 36 playoff games in the NHL with the Whalers, New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators. Twice he hit the 40-goal plateau in Hartford, peaking with a career-best 45 in 1985-86.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Sylvain Turgeon

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

1. Which NHL team drafted Sylvain Turgeon second overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft?

Montreal Canadiens
Hartford Whalers
Ottawa Senators
New Jersey Devils

2. Turgeon’s career-best season came in 1985-86 with how many goals scored for Hartford?

35
40
45
50

3. Which of the following teams did Sylvain Turgeon NOT play for during his NHL career?

Hartford Whalers
Montreal Canadiens
New Jersey Devils
Toronto Maple Leafs

4. In March 1987, Turgeon set a Hartford Whalers record by scoring two goals just six seconds apart. Who were the opponents that night?

Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
Buffalo Sabres
New York Rangers

5. Across his NHL career, how many regular season games did Sylvain Turgeon play?

450
669
710
820

Guy Charron’s Hat Trick Sparks Red Wings To 5-4 Victory Over Leafs

On November 11, 1973, Guy Charron delivered one of the best performances of his NHL career, scoring three goals to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Olympia Stadium.

Charron, known for playing 734 regular season games without a playoff appearance, was often underrated but had plenty of offensive talent. The 1973-74 campaign marked his breakout year, finishing with 25 goals. Three of those came in this memorable game, his second of five career hat tricks.

He opened the scoring with a first-period powerplay goal, assisted by Mickey Redmond and Ted Harris. Just minutes later, Charron struck again, this time with help from Ace Bailey and Brent Hughes. He completed the hat trick early in the second period, his ninth goal of the season, again assisted by Redmond, giving Detroit a commanding 3-0 lead.

Nick Libett scored Detroit’s other two goals, while Toronto battled back with Norm Ullman (two goals, one assist) and Paul Henderson (three assists) keeping it close. Still, Charron’s scoring touch proved the difference in Detroit’s 5-4 victory.

Charron’s time in Detroit ended early in the 1974-75 season when he was traded to the Kansas City Scouts. He found his stride there, stringing together four straight 27+ goal seasons, including a career-best 38 with the Washington Capitals in 1977-78.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Guy Charron

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

1. How many regular season NHL games did Guy Charron play in his career?

• 534
• 734
• 834
• 934

2. How many playoff games did Charron appear in?

• 0
• 12
• 22
• 34

3. Which team did Guy Charron score his second career hat trick against on November 11, 1973?

• Montreal Canadiens
• Toronto Maple Leafs
• Chicago Blackhawks
• New York Rangers

4. What was Charron’s single-season career high in goals scored?

• 27
• 30
• 35
• 38

5. Which of the following teams did Guy Charron play for during his NHL career?

• Detroit Red Wings, Kansas City Scouts, Washington Capitals
• Detroit Red Wings, Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals
• Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals
• Detroit Red Wings, Kansas City Scouts, Buffalo Sabres

Bruce Boudreau’s Lone NHL Hat Trick Comes Against the Minnesota North Stars

When most hockey fans think of Bruce Boudreau, it’s for his work behind the bench rather than on the ice. But on December 16, 1977, “Gabby” had the best game of his NHL playing career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Boudreau had proven his scoring touch in junior with the Toronto Marlboros (68 goals) and in the AHL with the St. Catharines Saints (50 goals). In the NHL, his best season came in 1977-78 when he tallied 11. Three of those came on one memorable night in Minnesota.

The Leafs were flying high early that season while the North Stars were struggling badly. Toronto rolled to an 8-5 win, and Boudreau was the star.

• His first goal came at 12:00 of the second period, assisted by Börje Salming and Tiger Williams, putting Toronto ahead 3-1.

• Just minutes later, Ron Ellis and Salming set up his second to make it 4-2.

• Early in the third, with Minnesota’s Tom Younghans in the box for hooking, Boudreau buried his hat trick goal on the power play for what proved to be the game-winner.

Salming finished with five assists, three of them on Boudreau’s goals, while Toronto peppered Pete LoPresti with 37 shots.

Boudreau would go on to play 141 regular season and nine playoff games in the NHL with Toronto and Chicago. His legacy, however, would be built as a coach, where he won championships in the ECHL and AHL and became one of the most colorful personalities behind an NHL bench, even if a Stanley Cup title still eludes him.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Bruce Boudreau

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

1. In which season did Bruce Boudreau score his only NHL hat trick?
   1976-77
   1977-78
   1978-79
   1979-80
   
2. Which Hall of Fame defenseman assisted on all three of Boudreau’s goals in that hat trick game?
   Börje Salming
   Brad Park
   Denis Potvin
   Larry Robinson
   
3. How many regular season NHL games did Bruce Boudreau play in his career?
   99
   141
   184
   201
   
4. As an NHL head coach, which team gave Bruce Boudreau his first coaching job?
   Anaheim Ducks
   Minnesota Wild
   Washington Capitals
   Vancouver Canucks
   
5. Which nickname has followed Bruce Boudreau throughout his career?
   Gabby
   Boom Boom
   Chopper
   Moose