Hockey History Hub: Penalty Shots

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Jacques Lemaire’s Only NHL Penalty Shot Goal Opens Four-Point Night Against Rangers

Jacques Lemaire scored 366 regular-season goals during his NHL career, but only one came on a penalty shot. That goal opened the scoring at the Montreal Forum on March 31, 1973, as Lemaire collected four points to lead the Canadiens to a 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers.

Highlights

Montreal defeated the Rangers 5-1 at the Forum on March 31, 1973.
Jacques Lemaire opened the scoring on a penalty shot at 1:33.
The goal against Ed Giacomin was his only successful NHL penalty shot in three attempts.
Lemaire added three assists for a four-point night.
Larry Robinson, Chuck Lefley, Murray Wilson and Marc Tardif also scored for Montreal.
Steve Vickers scored the lone Rangers goal.
Lemaire finished 1972-73 with career highs of 44 goals and 95 points, then added 20 playoff points during Montreal’s Stanley Cup run.

Just 1:33 into the first period, Lemaire beat Rangers goaltender Ed Giacomin on a penalty shot for his 43rd goal of the 1972-73 season. It was the second of three penalty shot attempts during his NHL career and the only one he converted.

Lemaire quickly followed that goal with a pair of assists. At 5:11, he and Marc Tardif helped set up Larry Robinson’s second goal of the season. Later in the opening period, Lemaire and Yvan Cournoyer assisted on a Chuck Lefley goal, sending Montreal into the first intermission with a 3-0 lead.

At 12:30 of the second period, Lemaire earned his third assist and fourth point on a goal by Murray Wilson. Tardif added another Montreal goal late in the period to make it 5-0. Steve Vickers supplied New York’s only answer at 11:21 of the third, completing the scoring in a convincing Canadiens win.

The performance came near the end of Lemaire’s most productive offensive season. He finished 1972-73 with career highs of 44 goals and 95 points, along with 51 assists. His goal total ranked fourth in the NHL, 11 behind league leader Phil Esposito, while his 95 points placed fifth in the Art Ross Trophy race, 35 behind Esposito. Lemaire followed that regular season with 20 points in 17 playoff games as Montreal captured the Stanley Cup.

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Friday, September 25, 2026

Denis Savard’s Only NHL Penalty Shot Goal Started a Hat Trick

Denis Savard scored just once on five penalty shots during his NHL career. That lone success came on December 15, 1985, against the Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Stadium and it launched a hat trick. With Detroit leading on an early Steve Yzerman goal, Savard beat Greg Stefan on a penalty shot at 7:57 of the first period. His 17th goal of the 1985-86 season pulled the Chicago Blackhawks even at 1-1.

Highlights

Chicago defeated Detroit 6-4 at Chicago Stadium on December 15, 1985.
Savard opened his scoring with a penalty shot at 7:57 of the first period.
It was his only successful penalty shot in five NHL career attempts.
His second goal gave Chicago a 4-3 third-period lead.
Doug Wilson scored the winner at 17:35.
Savard completed his hat trick just 12 seconds later.
He finished 1985-86 with a career-high 47 goals and 116 points.

Savard Gives Chicago a Third-Period Lead

The teams entered the third period tied 3-3 before Savard struck again. At 8:14, he scored his second goal of the night, assisted by Wayne Presley and Al Secord, to give Chicago a 4-3 advantage. John Ogrodnick later answered for Detroit, leaving the teams level once more as the clock ticked toward the final three minutes.

Two Goals in 12 Seconds Settle It

Doug Wilson broke the deadlock at 17:35, scoring what stood as the game-winning goal with assists from Troy Murray and Ed Olczyk. Just 12 seconds later, Savard completed his hat trick to make it 6-4. After a back-and-forth evening, Chicago had delivered two decisive blows before Detroit could respond.

For Savard, the opening goal remained a distinctive part of the performance. It came on the third penalty-shot opportunity of his NHL career and was the only one of his five attempts that he converted. On this night, that rare goal was the starting point for a three-goal effort against a longtime rival.

A Career-High 47 Goals

The hat trick was part of Savard’s best NHL season for goal scoring. He finished the 1985-86 regular season with a career-high 47 goals, the closest he came to reaching 50. He added four more in three playoff games, bringing his combined total to 51. His 116 regular-season points ranked seventh in the Art Ross Trophy race, although Wayne Gretzky’s extraordinary 215-point season left Savard, and the rest of the league, far behind.

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