The Toronto Maple Leafs had an early power play. Steve Kasper turned it into a two-goal lead for the Boston Bruins. On January 9, 1985, at Maple Leaf Gardens, Kasper scored two unassisted shorthanded goals just 50 seconds apart, with both coming before the game was three minutes old.
Highlights
Boston defeated Toronto 5–3 at Maple Leaf Gardens on January 9, 1985.
Steve Kasper scored shorthanded at 1:57 and 2:47 of the first period.
Both goals were unassisted and came during Frank Simonetti’s interference minor.
Rick St. Croix was replaced after allowing two goals on two shots.
Tim Bernhardt stopped 37 of 40 shots in relief.
The game’s first three goals were scored shorthanded.
Russ and Geoff Courtnall both scored in their first NHL meeting.
Butch Goring scored the eventual winning goal.
Boston defenceman Frank Simonetti went to the penalty box for interference at 0:55 of the first period. Kasper opened the scoring at 1:57, beating Toronto goaltender Rick St. Croix. With Simonetti still serving the same minor, Kasper struck again at 2:47. St. Croix had faced only two shots, and both had found the net. Toronto replaced him with Tim Bernhardt.
Kasper had already established his defensive credentials by winning the Selke Trophy in 1981–82. This time, his penalty killing provided Boston’s early offence. Bernhardt gave the Maple Leafs a chance to recover, stopping 37 of the 40 shots he faced over the remaining 57:13.
Remarkably, the game’s third goal was also scored shorthanded. With Toronto’s Bob McGill off for holding, Russ Courtnall beat Pete Peeters at 18:34, assisted by Dan Daoust. Al Iafrate then tied the game with just 14 seconds remaining in the opening period. After Kasper’s stunning start, the teams went to the dressing rooms even at 2–2.
Toronto briefly moved ahead when Rick Vaive scored 49 seconds into the second period. Boston answered through Ken Linseman at 3:09, before Butch Goring put the Bruins back in front at 10:29. Goring’s goal proved to be the winner in Boston’s 5–3 victory.
The night also marked the first NHL meeting between brothers Russ and Geoff Courtnall, and both scored. After Russ helped launch Toronto’s comeback, Geoff supplied Boston’s final goal at 10:25 of the third period, assisted by Mike O’Connell and Tom Fergus. The brothers added a memorable subplot, but Kasper’s two goals on one penalty kill gave the game its defining moment.
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