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

Steve Shutt Hits 60 Goals: A Montreal Canadiens Milestone

In Montreal Canadiens lore, few offensive feats shine brighter than the elusive 60-goal season and in the 1970s, it was accomplished by not one but two Habs legends. Steve Shutt and Guy Lafleur share the franchise record for most goals in a single season, each hitting the 60-goal mark. But Shutt did it first.

The milestone came during the final game of the 1976-77 season, on April 3, 1977, at the Capital Centre against the Washington Capitals. With the Canadiens already boasting 60 wins and playoff positioning locked up, it was clear the team had one priority that night: getting Shutt to 60.

Lafleur got things started early, scoring his 56th of the season at 4:21 of the first period, assisted by Shutt himself. Washington tied it midway through the frame, but the moment everyone waited for came at 18:17 of the first period, Shutt took a pass from Jacques Lemaire and Larry Robinson and fired his 60th of the season past Caps goalie Ron Low. It was one of just five shots Shutt took all night.

That would be the final goal of the game. Both teams seemingly coasted to the finish, with Montreal taking a narrow 2-1 win. The Canadiens registered just 19 shots on net, while Michel Larocque turned away 24 of 25 for Montreal.

At the time, Shutt’s 60-goal output set the NHL record for most goals in a season by a left winger, a mark later topped by Luc Robitaille in 1992-93 (63 goals) and then Alex Ovechkin in 2007-08 (65 goals).

For his efforts that season, Shutt was named a First Team All-Star, finishing well ahead of Buffalo’s Rick Martin in the voting. And though Guy Lafleur would match the 60-goal total the following season, Steve Shutt was the first Canadiens player to make it happen and he did it in style.

About Steve Shutt

Steve Shutt played 930 regular season and 99 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings. His time in L.A. was limited to 59 games in his final season.

He was the fourth overall pick by the Habs at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft behind Billy Harris, Jacques Richard and Don Lever. A junior with the Toronto Marlboros, Shutt scored 70 and 63 goals in his final two years with the club.

Along with his 60 goal campaign, Steve had 45 or more in four seasons and 30 or more in nine straight. Shutt was part of five Stanley Cup championship teams in Montreal, arriving in time for the 1973 win but playing just a single game in that post season.

Mark Howe Leads Hartford Whalers to First NHL Victory in Franchise History

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.