Carl Brewer Sets Up Wild Seven-Goal Third Period Against Detroit

For more than two periods, it looked as though the Detroit Red Wings might escape Maple Leaf Gardens with a low-scoring victory on February 13, 1960. Gary Aldcorn opened the scoring just 1:42 into the game, and Detroit protected that 1-0 lead until the early minutes of the third period.

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Highlights

• Detroit led 1-0 after Gary Aldcorn scored 1:42 into the game.

• The score remained unchanged until 2:41 of the third period.

• Frank Mahovlich began a run of seven unanswered Toronto goals.

• Carl Brewer assisted on Ron Stewart’s game-winning goal.

• Brewer also helped set up both of Dick Duff’s goals.

• All three of Brewer’s assists came in the third period.

• Johnny Bower stopped 29 of 30 shots in Toronto’s 7-1 victory.

• Dennis Riggin was making only his fifth NHL appearance.   

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Frank Mahovlich finally broke through at 2:41 of the third, beginning an incredible run of seven unanswered Toronto goals. Less than four minutes later, defenseman Carl Brewer set up Ron Stewart for the game-winning goal at 6:10.

Brewer collected his second assist of the period when Dick Duff scored at 13:14. It was Duff’s 15th goal of the 1959-60 NHL season and extended Toronto’s advantage to 4-1.

The Toronto defenseman completed his three-assist performance at 18:28, helping Duff score his second goal of the night. That goal finished the scoring in a remarkable 7-1 victory for the Maple Leafs.

Johnny Bower stopped 29 of Detroit’s 30 shots. The Red Wings’ potent trio of Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio and Norm Ullman was held completely off the scoresheet.

Detroit did not have Terry Sawchuk in goal that night. Instead, Dennis Riggin allowed seven goals on 31 shots while making just the fifth of his 18 career NHL appearances. Riggin would later become better known to many hockey fans as the father of NHL goaltender Pat Riggin.

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Ron Stewart’s Only NHL Hat Trick Comes In A Perfect Night For Toronto

Ron Stewart built a long and reliable 21-year career in the National Hockey League, suiting up for over 1,300 regular season games and adding another 119 in the playoffs. While he was certainly capable offensively, finishing with 276 goals and 529 points, he was never known as a prolific goal scorer. That made one night in December of 1954 stand out above the rest.

Quick Facts

• Ron Stewart recorded the only hat trick of his 21-year NHL career on December 8, 1954
• He scored all three goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens
• Ed Litzenberger scored Montreal’s lone goal—his final goal with the Canadiens before being traded two days later
• Stewart’s goals came in all three periods, including the game-winner in the second
• He finished the night with 3 goals on just one of his rare multi-goal performances
• Stewart went on to play 21 NHL seasons, totaling 276 goals and 529 points
• He won three consecutive Stanley Cups with Toronto from 1962 to 1964

On December 8, 1954, skating for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Stewart delivered the only hat trick of his NHL career and he did it in dramatic fashion. In front of the home crowd, he scored all three goals in a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, accounting for the entirety of Toronto’s offense.

The Canadiens struck first when Ed Litzenberger opened the scoring early, beating Leafs goaltender Harry Lumley for his seventh goal of the season. It would be Montreal’s only goal of the game and, notably, the last Litzenberger would score for the franchise before being traded just two days later.

Stewart took over from there. Late in the first period, he netted his 10th of the season to tie the game, finishing a play set up by Tim Horton and Rudy Migay. He struck again early in the second period, scoring what would stand as the game-winning goal with assists from Jim Morrison and Joe Klukay. Stewart completed the hat trick in the third period, adding an insurance marker with Klukay and Migay once again contributing on the play.

Although it would be his only three-goal game, Stewart’s career was anything but quiet. From 1952-53 through 1972-73, he played for six NHL teams, including the Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, and New York Islanders. His most successful years came in Toronto, where he was part of a dynasty that captured three straight Stanley Cups from 1962 through 1964.

Top Shelf Trivia: The Toronto Maple Leafs

Test your knowledge of one of hockey’s most storied franchises with this collection of challenging and fun Toronto Maple Leafs trivia covering players, games, and unforgettable moments.

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The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!