After four winless games to start their inaugural NHL season, the Hartford Whalers finally broke through with a landmark victory on October 19, 1979. Hosting the Los Angeles Kings at the Springfield Civic Center in their first official “home” game, the Whalers delivered a 6-3 win and rising star Mark Howe stole the spotlight.
Just 1:31 into the game, Howe opened the scoring with help from veterans Dave Keon and Rick Ley. Then, early in the second period, Howe struck again, this time scoring the game-winner at 4:50, assisted by Keon and Jim Warner. That goal made it 4-3 for Hartford, and they never looked back.
Howe capped his performance with a third point, an assist on a goal by Bill Bennett. That goal was also assisted by none other than his legendary father, Gordie Howe, marking Gordie’s lone point of the night in a historic family moment.
The win came after a rough road start to the season, with losses to the Minnesota North Stars and Buffalo Sabres, and ties against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks. The team wouldn’t win again until October 31, when they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs to go 2-4-4.
Despite early growing pains, the Whalers made the postseason in their first NHL campaign, finishing fourth in the Norris Division. Their playoff run was brief, however, as they were swept by the powerhouse Montreal Canadiens in the opening round. But on that October night in Springfield, Mark Howe helped etch the Whalers’ first NHL win into hockey history.
About Mark Howe
Between 1979-80 and 1994-95, Mark Howe played 929 regular season and 101 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. He topped out offensively in 1985-86, scoring 24 and assisting on 58 for 82 points iwth the Flyers.
Prior to starting in the NHL, Howe had six years of major league experience in the WHA from 1973-74 to 1978-79, playing for the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers. He scored no less than 23 goals in a season and had 107 points in his final campaign with New England. In his first two years, he helped the Aeros to consecutive Avco World Trophy championships.
