Showing posts with label Stanley Cup champions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stanley Cup champions. Show all posts

Saturday, October 25, 2025

Patrick Roy’s First NHL Shutout: The Quiet Start to a Legendary Career

Patrick Roy is remembered as one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history, a fiery competitor who backstopped his teams to four Stanley Cups and redefined the position. Over his career, he piled up 66 regular season shutouts and 23 more in the playoffs, but the very first one came quietly on a cold night in Montreal.

On January 15, 1986, the Montreal Canadiens hosted the struggling Winnipeg Jets at the old Montreal Forum. The Habs entered the game with a solid 23-15 record, while Winnipeg sat well below .500 at 14-26. Few could have guessed that this would become a milestone night for the rookie goalie from Quebec City.

Roy stopped all 19 shots he faced as the Canadiens cruised to a 4-0 victory. Guy Carbonneau opened the scoring just 1:05 into the game, and Stéphane Richer added two more, while Mats Näslund rounded out the offense. At the other end, Winnipeg’s Dan Bouchard faced 23 shots and gave up all four goals, as Scott Arniel led the Jets with five shots on net.

That lone regular season shutout in 1985-86 would be joined by another during the playoffs and it came in an even bigger moment. In Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Calgary Flames, Roy turned aside 15 shots in a 1-0 victory, helping the Canadiens take a 3-1 series lead. Montreal went on to win the Cup in five games, giving Roy his first of four championships and setting the tone for an incredible career.
The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

NHL Hockey Trivia: Patrick Roy

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

1. In what year did Patrick Roy make his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens?





2. Patrick Roy won his first Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy during which NHL season?





3. Which team did Patrick Roy join after his famous trade from the Montreal Canadiens in 1995?





4. How many Stanley Cups did Patrick Roy win as a player in his NHL career?





5. After retiring, Patrick Roy later became head coach and vice president of hockey operations for which NHL team?






Wednesday, October 22, 2025

8 Days In 1974 When The Hammer Was One Of The NHL's Top Goal Scorers

Dave “The Hammer” Schultz is best remembered for his time in the penalty box and for good reason. But during one unforgettable stretch in January 1974, the Philadelphia Flyers enforcer proved he could light the lamp as well as throw punches.

In just eight days, Schultz scored six goals in two Thursday night games, briefly finding himself among the NHL’s hottest scorers.

Hat Trick #1: January 3, 1974

The new year began with fireworks at the Spectrum. Facing the New York Rangers, Schultz scored three of Philadelphia’s four goals in a 4-2 victory.

He opened the scoring just 1:43 into the first period, assisted by Rick MacLeish and Don Saleski. His second came midway through the second, proving to be the game winner. He capped it off with an insurance goal in the third, all without a single penalty minute.

Hat Trick #2: January 10, 1974

One week later, the Flyers hosted the Minnesota North Stars and skated to a 7-4 win. Once again, Schultz stayed out of the box and recorded another hat trick.

Two came in the first period, while his third, on the power play, was assisted by Bobby Clarke and goaltender Bernie Parent, sealing the victory.

In Between

Between those two offensive explosions, Schultz returned briefly to his usual role. On January 5, in a tie against the North Stars, he dropped the gloves with Tom Reid. Two nights later, at the Montreal Forum, the Flyers fell 2–1 to the Canadiens, with Schultz registering just one shot on goal.

The Hammer’s Season

By season’s end, Schultz had 20 goals and 348 penalty minutes over 73 games, a rare combination of scoring touch and toughness. In the playoffs, as Philadelphia stormed to their first Stanley Cup, he added 139 penalty minutes in 17 games.

The next season, Schultz would set an NHL record that still stands today: 472 penalty minutes in a single campaign. But for those eight days in January 1974, The Hammer wasn’t just the league’s most feared fighter, he was one of its top goal scorers.

About Dave Schultz

A 5th round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft, Dave Schultz played 535 regular season and 73 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1971-72 and 1979-80 with the Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. 

The two-time Stanley Cup champion was a penalty minute leader in the EHL with the Salem Rebels in 1969-70. The following year, he led the AHL with 382 PIM while playing for the Quebec Aces, nearly double the total of the runner-up. He would again lead the AHL the next year, this time playing for the Richmond Robins. Of course, his exploits in the NHL are well known.

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

NHL Hockey Trivia: Dave "The Hammer" Schultz

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia
  1. During which NHL season did Dave “The Hammer” Schultz set the all-time record for penalty minutes?
    1972-73
    1973-74
    1974-75
    1975-76

  2. How many penalty minutes did Schultz accumulate in that record-setting season?
    438
    472
    489
    501

  3. Schultz played a key role with which Flyers team that won the Stanley Cup?
    The 1973-74 Philadelphia Flyers
    The 1972-73 Philadelphia Flyers
    The 1977-78 Philadelphia Flyers
    The 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers

  4. After leaving the Flyers, Schultz also played for which of the following teams?
    Detroit Red Wings
    Vancouver Canucks
    Los Angeles Kings
    New York Rangers

  5. What was Dave Schultz’s nickname during his playing days?
    The Hammer
    The Animal
    The Enforcer
    The Sheriff

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Bob Bourne Delivers Clutch Goals and Grit vs. the Jets

The New York Islanders dynasty wasn’t built solely on superstars like Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Denis Potvin. Players like Bob Bourne quietly carved out reputations as game-changers in crucial moments. On March 11, 1981, he delivered one of his finest performances.

That season, Bourne scored 35 goals, including nine on the power play, seven shorthanded, and five game-winners. He was the very definition of a special teams specialist, thriving when it mattered most.

When the Islanders visited the Winnipeg Jets at Winnipeg Arena, the matchup looked lopsided. New York had 39 wins, while the Jets had only eight. Yet after the first period, the game was knotted 2-2. Bourne picked up an assist on Mike Bossy’s 62nd goal of the year to help even the score late in the frame.

In the second period, with Bob Nystrom serving a penalty, Bourne struck shorthanded. At 10:04, he snapped home his 28th goal of the season past Michel Dion, assisted by Denis Potvin. It stood up as the game-winning goal in a 6-3 Islanders victory.

Just 45 seconds later, Bourne showed he could mix it up, too. Dropping the gloves with Danny Geoffrion, he earned a five-minute major for fighting, giving him a Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

Bourne capped his night by scoring into the empty net with three seconds left, finishing with a three-point performance. His 35 goals and 76 points that season were both career highs, and he remained a vital cog in the Islanders’ machine during their run of four straight Stanley Cups.

About Bob Bourne

Bob Bourne played 964 regular season and 139 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1974-75 and 1987-88 with the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Kings. Bourne was originally a draft pick of the Kansas City Scouts. He was selected in the third round of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft after a junior career with the Saskatoon Blades. He was traded to the Islanders just prior to the start of the 1974-75 NHL season.

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

NHL Hockey Trivia: Bob Bourne

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

1. Bob Bourne spent the majority of his NHL career with which team?




2. Bourne’s best NHL season came in 1980-81. How many goals did he score that year?




3. Bourne was part of how many consecutive Stanley Cup championships with the Islanders?




4. After leaving the Islanders, Bourne played for which NHL team?




5. Which honor did Bob Bourne receive in 1988 recognizing his contributions beyond the game itself?