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

Derek Sanderson’s 6-Point Explosion vs Toronto Previews 1969 Playoffs

On March 16, 1969, the Boston Bruins sent a loud and clear message to their upcoming playoff opponents, the Toronto Maple Leafs. After falling 7-4 in Toronto the night before, the Bruins turned the tables at Boston Garden, hammering the Leafs 11-3 in their final regular-season meeting.

At the center of the offensive onslaught was Derek Sanderson. The flashy forward piled up six points, including a natural hat trick in the second period. He also added three assists, two on goals by Garnet “Ace” Bailey and one on Wayne Cashman’s tally. All of Sanderson’s goals came against starter Bruce Gamble, who was pulled after 40 minutes in favor of Al Smith.

The Bruins dominated in every facet, firing 51 shots on goal. Sanderson and Bobby Orr led the team with eight shots each, though Orr was surprisingly kept off the scoresheet. Ace Bailey and Phil Esposito matched the production with five-point nights, while Ken Hodge and Cashman each added four. Gerry Cheevers faced 30 shots and gave up three goals, with Norm Ullman scoring twice for Toronto.

This rout foreshadowed the playoff beatdown to come. Boston outscored Toronto 17-0 in the first two games of their quarter-final series and swept the Leafs in four straight. Sanderson carried his hot hand into the postseason, scoring eight goals in just nine playoff games before the Bruins fell to the Montreal Canadiens in the semi-finals.

About Derek Sanderson

Derek Sanderson played 598 regular season and 56 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1965-66 and 1977-78 with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins. The 1967-68 Calder Trophy winner won two Stanley Cup championships with Boston.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Derek Sanderson

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

1. Which NHL team did Derek Sanderson debut with in 1965-66?

New York Rangers
Boston Bruins
Philadelphia Flyers
Chicago Black Hawks

2. In which season did Sanderson win the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year?

1966-67
1967-68
1968-69
1969-70

3. Derek Sanderson is perhaps best known for his role centering which legendary Bruins line?

The French Connection
The Big Bad Bruins' "Orr-Esposito-Sanderson" unit
The Kraut Line
The Legion of Doom

4. Sanderson made headlines in 1972 when he signed with which WHA franchise for a record contract?

Winnipeg Jets
Philadelphia Blazers
Houston Aeros
Quebec Nordiques

5. How many Stanley Cups did Derek Sanderson win with the Boston Bruins?

One
Two
Three
Four

Jari Kurri’s Historic 5-Point Game in the 1990 Stanley Cup Final

On May 18, 1990, Jari Kurri of the Edmonton Oilers delivered one of the most dominant individual performances in Stanley Cup Final history. In Game 2 against the Boston Bruins at the old Boston Garden, Kurri recorded 5 points, becoming the last NHL player to hit that mark in a final series game.

Kurri’s night included a hat trick and two assists in Edmonton’s 7-2 win. He scored the Oilers’ second, third, and final goals while setting up Craig Simpson and Esa Tikkanen in the second period.

Edmonton made the most of their opportunities early, scoring three times on just four shots against Boston starter Andy Moog. Backup Rejean Lemelin fared little better, surrendering four more goals on 18 shots.

The Oilers went on to defeat the Bruins 4-1 in the series, securing their only Stanley Cup championship without Wayne Gretzky. That spring also marked Kurri’s final playoff run with Edmonton before reuniting with Gretzky in Los Angeles two years later.

During the 1989-90 postseason, Kurri tallied 25 points in 22 games, finishing just behind Mark Messier and Craig Simpson (31 points each). Goaltender Bill Ranford earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, backstopping all 22 games with a 2.53 GAA and one shutout.

About Jari Kurri

Jari Kurri Played 1,251 regular season and 200 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1980-81 and 1997-98 with the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Anaheim Might Ducks and Colorado Avalanche. Over the time, he scored 601 goals with a career high 71 in 1984-85. Kurri was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

NHL Hockey Trivia Jari Kurri

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

1. Jari Kurri was the first Finnish player to reach which major NHL milestone?

500 career goals 1,000 career points 1,500 career points 700 career goals

2. Which NHL team drafted Jari Kurri in 1980?

Los Angeles Kings Edmonton Oilers Colorado Rockies Winnipeg Jets

3. In the 1984–85 season, Kurri scored a career-high how many goals?

68 71 73 78

4. After leaving the Oilers, Kurri later reunited with Wayne Gretzky on which team?

New York Rangers Los Angeles Kings Colorado Avalanche Anaheim Mighty Ducks

5. In what year was Jari Kurri inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?

1999 2000 2001 2003

The Mahovlich Brothers Turn the Tide in 1971 Cup Final

On January 13, 1971, the Montreal Canadiens made a bold move, sending Guy Charron, Bill Collins, and Mickey Redmond to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Frank Mahovlich. It proved to be a game-changing trade in their chase for the Stanley Cup.

By the time Montreal reached the 1971 Stanley Cup Final, the payoff was clear. Facing the Chicago Blackhawks, the Habs found themselves in a tough spot, down two games to none, then trailing 3-2 in the series heading into Game 6 at the Montreal Forum on May 16. That’s when the Mahovlich brothers took over.

Despite falling behind again in Game 6, the Canadiens battled back. At 5:10 of the third period, Frank “The Big M” Mahovlich tied the game 3-3 with his 14th goal of the playoffs, assisted by the legendary Jean Béliveau. Just minutes later, Pete “The Little M” Mahovlich scored the go-ahead, shorthanded goal, on a slick pass from his big brother.

Frank finished the night with a goal and two assists, while Pete added two goals. All of it came at the expense of Blackhawks goalie Tony Esposito, who gave up four goals on just 16 shots, six of which came from Mahovlich sticks.

The win forced a decisive Game 7, where the Canadiens traveled to Chicago Stadium and completed the comeback with a 3-2 victory to claim the Stanley Cup. Over the course of the 1970-71 playoffs, the Mahovlich brothers were an offensive force, combining for 43 points in 20 games, Frank with 27, Pete with 16. Despite their heroic efforts, neither won the Conn Smythe Trophy. That honor went to a rookie sensation named Ken Dryden.

The Mahovlich Brothers

From Timmins, Ontario, Frank Mahovlich is six years older than brother Pete. Frank got his NHL start in 1956-57, playing three games for the Toronto Maple Leafs while still a junior with Toronto St. Michael's. Peter was a prospect of the Detroit Red Wings and played his first NHL games in similar fashion, appearing in three games with the Wings in 1965-66 while still a junior with the Hamilton Red Wings.

The two were teammates with Detroit after Frank was traded from Toronto on March 3, 1968 with Carl Brewer, Pete Stemkowski and Garry Unger for Doug Barrie, Paul Henderson, Floyd Smith and Norm Ullman. Peter came to Montreal first, arriving on June 6, 1969 in a trade with Bart Crashley for Garry Monahan and Doug Piper. Frank was traded to the Habs on January 13, 1971 for Guy Charron, Bill Collins and Mickey Redmond.

Between 1956-57 and 1973-74, Frank Mahovlich played 1,181 regular season and 137 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Maple Leafs, Red Wings and Canadiens. He also played 237 regular season and nine playoff games in the WHA between 1974-75 and 1977-78 with the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls.

Pete Mahovlich played 884 regular season and 88 playoff games in the NHL between 1965-66 and 1980-81 with the Red Wings, Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins. He was a four time Stanley Cup champion with the Habs and topped the 100 point plateau twice during his career.