Oh Brother! The Hull Brothers Dominate the Minnesota North Stars in 1971

The Minnesota North Stars and rookie goalie Gilles Gilbert were in tough on February 6, 1971, when the Chicago Blackhawks came to town. On this night, it wasn’t just one superstar causing havoc, it was two. Brothers Bobby and Dennis Hull teamed up for five of Chicago’s six goals in a convincing 6-2 win.

Minnesota actually held the lead early. Bill Goldsworthy opened the scoring in the first period, giving the Stars a 1-0 edge. But the game quickly turned in the second when, in a furious three-minute span, Bobby Hull netted his 31st of the season and Dennis followed with his 26th to flip the score in Chicago’s favor.

The third period sealed Minnesota’s fate. Stan Mikita scored the eventual game-winner on a power play just 2:29 in, with Dennis Hull earning an assist. From there, the Hull brothers went back to work. Dennis scored again, his 27th of the year, while Bobby completed his hat trick with goals 32 and 33 of the season.

By night’s end, each Hull had five shots on Gilbert, combining for 36% of Chicago’s total attempts. Mikita played the perfect complement, chipping in a goal and two assists to fuel the offensive surge.

The Hulls weren’t done making headlines. Just two weeks later, on February 21, 1971, the brothers overwhelmed the Los Angeles Kings with a combined four goals and seven points in a 7-5 win. Once again, Bobby Hull recorded a hat trick, this time adding two assists, while Dennis contributed a goal and an assist.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: The Hull Brothers

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

1. Bobby Hull was nicknamed “The Golden Jet” because of his speed and...

His bright blonde hair
His powerful slapshot
His flashy gold skates
His Olympic sprinting background

2. Dennis Hull spent the majority of his NHL career with which team?

Detroit Red Wings
St. Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks
Kansas City Scouts

3. Bobby Hull became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a season twice. In which season did he set the record with 54 goals?

1959-60
1961-62
1965-66
1968-69

4. Dennis Hull represented Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union.

True
False

5. Bobby Hull shocked the hockey world in 1972 when he signed with which team in the WHA?

Houston Aeros
Winnipeg Jets
Quebec Nordiques
New England Whalers

Gary Smith’s Record 48-Loss Season Still Stands Tall In NHL History

On April 3, 1971, Gary “Suitcase” Smith set a mark in NHL history that has never been matched. Playing for the struggling California Golden Seals, Smith suffered his 48th loss of the season, cementing a record that still stands more than five decades later.

The 1970-71 Golden Seals won just 20 games and finished at the bottom of the standings, ten points behind the next-worst team. Smith, however, was the backbone of the club, appearing in 71 of 78 games. He led the league in games played, minutes played, shots faced, saves, goals against and, unfortunately, losses. Without him, the Seals may have fared even worse.

The record-setting defeat came in the season finale against the Los Angeles Kings at the Forum. California stormed out to a 3-0 lead just 6:53 into the game, and still held a 4-3 advantage entering the third period. But goals from Bob Pulford, Ralph Backstrom, and Eddie Joyal gave the Kings a 6-4 comeback win. 

Smith was bombarded with 52 shots, making 46 saves, but it wasn’t enough. His 48th loss surpassed Al Rollins’ 47 with Chicago in 1953-54. Only Peter Sidorkiewicz, with 46 losses for Ottawa in 1992-93, has come close since.

It was also Smith’s last game as a Seal. That offseason, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Kerry Bond, Gerry Desjardins, and Gerry Pinder. In Chicago, his fortunes improved dramatically. Working behind Tony Esposito, Smith posted a 2.42 GAA and five shutouts in 28 games. The tandem went on to share the Vezina Trophy for their efforts.

About Gary Smith

Between 1965-66 and 1979-80, Gary Smith appeared in 532 regular season and 20 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Oakland Seals, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Gary Smith

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

1. Gary “Suitcase” Smith set an NHL record in 1970-71 with how many losses in a single season?
   44
   46
   48
   50
2. Which team did Smith play for when he recorded his 48-loss season?
   Chicago Blackhawks
   California Golden Seals
   Toronto Maple Leafs
   Vancouver Canucks
3. Smith earned the nickname “Suitcase” because of what?
   His oversized goalie gear
   He was often traded and moved between teams
   His habit of carrying lucky charms in a suitcase
   He traveled with the team’s equipment manager
4. After leaving the Seals, Smith joined the Chicago Blackhawks and shared which trophy with Tony Esposito?
   Hart Trophy
   Vezina Trophy
   Jennings Trophy
   Calder Trophy
5. Smith later starred for the Vancouver Canucks and helped lead them to which milestone in 1975?
   Their first playoff series win
   Their first division title
   Their first 100-point season
   Their first Stanley Cup Final

Dick Redmond’s Big Night Overshadows Brother Mickey

On December 5, 1973, the Detroit Olympia hosted a special sibling showdown. Mickey Redmond, in the middle of back-to-back 50-goal seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, faced off against his younger brother Dick and the powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks.

While Mickey was the proven sniper, the night belonged to Dick. The Blackhawks exploded for four first-period goals, and Dick Redmond had a hand in every one of them. He assisted on two goals by Stan Mikita and one by Dennis Hull, while also scoring one of his own with help from Bill White. Incredibly, the first three came in a span of just 1:10, and they represented a shorthanded goal, a power play goal, and one at even strength.

Detroit battled back with goals from Red Berenson and Henry Boucha, but the Blackhawks dominated in an 8-2 win. Mickey, meanwhile, was limited to penalty minutes, picking up three minors in the second period and another in the third. In total, the Redmond brothers combined for the first four penalties of the second frame. Dick even outshot his sniper sibling 8-4, making it a rare night where he got the upper hand.

For the 1973-74 season as a whole, Mickey’s scoring touch was undeniable, finishing with 51 goals to Dick’s 17. But in playmaking, Dick held the edge with 42 assists compared to Mickey’s 26. Though they never played together in the NHL, both had once worn the uniform of the Peterborough Petes in 1966-67.

About Dick Redmond

Between 1969-70 and 1981-82, Dick Redmond played 771 regular season and 66 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars, California Golden Seals, Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Flames and Boston Bruins. He was orginally the fifth overall pick at the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft by the North Stars.

About Mickey Redmond

Mickey Redmond played 538 regular season and 14 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1967-68 and 1975-76 with the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings. He won two Stanley Cups with the Habs and was 50 goal scorer for the Red Wings in two consecutive seasons.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Dick and Mickey Redmond

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

1. Which team did Dick Redmond spend the majority of his NHL career with?

Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
Boston Bruins
Atlanta Flames

2. Mickey Redmond is best remembered for scoring consecutive 50-goal seasons with which team?

Montreal Canadiens
Detroit Red Wings
Los Angeles Kings
Toronto Maple Leafs

3. In the December 5, 1973 game at Detroit Olympia, how many points did Dick Redmond register?

Two
Three
Four
Five

4. Which Redmond brother became a well-known TV broadcaster after his playing career?

Mickey Redmond
Dick Redmond
Both
Neither

5. Before reaching the NHL, both Redmond brothers played junior hockey for which team?

Oshawa Generals
Peterborough Petes
Kitchener Rangers
London Knights

Steve Shutt’s Hat Trick and Fight vs. Blackhawks (1976-77)

On November 6, 1976, the Montreal Forum played host to one of the most dominant Canadiens teams in NHL history. The 1976-77 Habs crushed the Chicago Blackhawks 11-3, and Steve Shutt was at the center of the action with a memorable mix of goals and grit.

Just 1:14 into the game, Shutt opened the scoring with help from defensemen Serge Savard and Larry Robinson. Minutes later, he found himself in the penalty box after a spirited scrap with Darcy Rota. Neither player was known as a fighter, but it showed the intensity of the night.

Shutt wasn’t done. At 9:51 of the second period, he buried his 15th goal of the season, assisted by Pierre Bouchard and Guy Lafleur, giving the Habs a commanding 5-1 lead. In the third, at 16:07, Shutt completed the hat trick with his 16th of the year, set up by Lafleur and Jacques Lemaire. He was already pacing toward his career-best 60-goal campaign.

The Blackhawks’ goaltending didn’t stand a chance. Starter Tony Esposito gave up four goals on 16 shots before being replaced by Michel Dumas, who surrendered seven on 16 shots in one of his eight total NHL appearances. Meanwhile, Lafleur dazzled with two goals and two assists, while Savard finished an incredible +7.

About Steve Shutt

Steve Shutt played 930 regular season an 99 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1972-73 and 1984-85 with the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings. He was a five-time Stanley Cup champion with the Habs. Shutt was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Steve Shutt

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

1. In which season did Steve Shutt score his career-high 60 goals?

• 1974-75
• 1976-77
• 1978-79
• 1980-81

2. How many Stanley Cups did Steve Shutt win with the Montreal Canadiens?

• 3
• 5
• 6
• 4

3. Which legendary linemate was most often paired with Steve Shutt during his peak years?

• Jacques Lemaire
• Larry Robinson
• Guy Lafleur
• Ken Dryden

4. How many career NHL goals did Steve Shutt finish with?

• 312
• 424
• 389
• 441

5. In what year was Steve Shutt inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?

• 1991
• 1995
• 1993
• 1997

The Canadiens Game Where Roles Reversed: Richard the Playmaker, Olmstead the Sniper

On January 9, 1954, the Montreal Forum witnessed one of the most remarkable role reversals in NHL history. Maurice "Rocket" Richard, usually the goal-scoring machine, became the playmaker, while Bert Olmstead, best known as a setup man, lit up the scoreboard.

Olmstead, whose career-high in goals came as a rookie with 20 for the Chicago Blackhawks, was typically among the league’s leaders in assists. Richard, on the other hand, was almost exclusively a finisher, his career defined by relentless goal-scoring. But on this night against the struggling Blackhawks, the script was flipped.

Olmstead tied Richard’s franchise record by recording eight points on four goals and four assists in Montreal’s 12-1 blowout victory. Richard, though goal-less, piled up five assists in the win. Jean Béliveau added to the fireworks with a five-point performance of his own (two goals and three assists).

The game was over early, as Chicago entered with just eight wins in 40 games and went on to win only 12 all season, finishing a distant last, 37 points behind the next team. Olmstead’s game-winning tally came at 10:20 of the first period, assisted by Richard and Béliveau. He followed with two second-period powerplay goals and capped off his night with a fourth in the third, plus a final assist on Ken Mosdell’s hat trick marker.

About Bert Olmstead

Bert Olmstead played 848 regular season and 115 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1948-49 and 1961-62 with the Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. His time in Chicago was limited to one full season, 1949-50. That year, he scored 20 goals and added 29 assists for 49 points while finishing third in voting for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.

In December 1950, Olmstead was part of a trade with the Detroit Red Wings that sent Vic Stasiuk to the Wings in exchange for Lee Fogolin and Steve Black. Without playing a game for Detroit, Bert was then traded to the Canadiens for Leo Gravelle. With Montreal, he was an important part of four Stanley Cup championships. He won a fifth with the Maple Leafs in 1961-62.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Bert Olmstead

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

1. Which team did Bert Olmstead begin his NHL career with?

Montreal Canadiens
Chicago Blackhawks
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings

2. In the 1950s, Olmstead led the NHL in assists. What was his single-season career-high total?

42
50
56
61

3. How many Stanley Cups did Bert Olmstead win during his career?

3
4
5
6

4. Which superstar center was often paired with Olmstead in Montreal, forming one of hockey’s most effective lines?

Jean Béliveau
Henri Richard
Doug Harvey
Elmer Lach

5. In what year was Bert Olmstead inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?

1972
1975
1985
1988

Esposito, Hull, Howe: The Race to the NHL’s First 100-Point Season

Before 1968-69, no NHL player had ever scored 100 points in a single season. The closest came in the mid-60s: Bobby Hull with 97 points in 1965-66, and Stan Mikita matching the feat the next year. Mikita even won the 1967-68 Art Ross Trophy with just 87 points. But the next season would change NHL history forever.

In 1968-69, not one, but three hockey legends shattered the 100-point barrier for the first time: Phil Esposito, Bobby Hull, and Gordie Howe.

Phil Esposito: The First to 100

On March 2, 1969, Boston Bruins centre Phil Esposito reached the milestone in style. Facing the Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Garden, Esposito scored his 39th goal of the season just 17 seconds into the third period, assisted by Ken Hodge and Ted Green. That goal marked point number 100.

He wasn’t done, adding a shorthanded goal later in the period, assisted by Hodge and Bobby Orr, on the way to a 4-0 win. Esposito ended the year with 126 points, earning his first of five Art Ross Trophies.

Bobby Hull: The Golden Jet Follows

On March 20, 1969, in the same Boston Garden, Bobby Hull of the Chicago Blackhawks became the second man to hit 100 points. Needing two points going into the game, Hull scored his 54th goal with less than three minutes left, then struck again just 13 seconds later for the magic number.

Hull closed the season with 107 points, finishing second to Esposito in the scoring race.

Gordie Howe: Mr. Hockey Joins the Club

Finally, on March 30, 1969, Gordie Howe entered the Detroit Red Wings last game of the season with 99 points. Against Hull’s Blackhawks, Howe scored his 43rd goal just 33 seconds into the second period for point number 100.

He added another goal and two assists for a four-point night, finishing the season with 103 points, good for third in the Art Ross race.

Quiz: NHL’s First Triple 100-Point Season (1968-69)

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our Hockey Trivia website!

1. Who was the first player in NHL history to reach 100 points in a single season?
   Bobby Hull
   Phil Esposito
   Gordie Howe
   
2. In which month of 1969 did Phil Esposito hit the 100-point milestone?
   January
   March
   February
   
3. How many points did Bobby Hull finish with in the 1968-69 season?
   100
   107
   126
   
4. Gordie Howe reached his 100th point against which team?
   Boston Bruins
   Chicago Blackhawks
   New York Rangers
   
5. How many points did Phil Esposito total in 1968-69?
   107
   103
   126
   

Reg Leach and Dennis Hull Trade Hat Tricks in a 1974 Blackhawks Blowout

In the early 1970s, matchups with the California Golden Seals often meant big nights for opposing scorers and January 6, 1974 was no exception. Dennis Hull made the most of the opportunity, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 9-4 win at Chicago Stadium. But California’s Reggie Leach wasn’t about to let Hull have the spotlight to himself.

Leach got on the board first, beating Blackhawks goalie Mike Veisor just 2:15 into the opening period. Walt McKechnie and Brent Meeke assisted on the early goal. Hull answered back five minutes later with his 17th of the season, set up by Pit Martin and Bill White.

Before the first period ended, Hull had already added his second of the night, and the Hawks took a 3-2 lead into the intermission. He completed the hat trick just 1:17 into the second period.

Reggie Leach wasn’t done either. He tallied his second goal of the game at 12:07 of the second period, then notched his third at 11:11 of the third. Despite the lopsided final score, Leach’s hat trick earned him some well-deserved respect.

Hull rounded out his stellar night with two third-period assists, giving him five points overall. Both he and Leach led their respective teams with six shots on goal.

In net for the Golden Seals was Bob Champoux, who played 17 games that season. After a single NHL playoff appearance with Detroit back in 1964, the 1973-74 campaign with California marked his only regular-season action in the league. He finished the year with a 5.21 goals-against average and a .848 save percentage.

Dennis Hull vs. Reg Leach in 1973-74

1973-74 was the final year with the California Golden Seals for Reg Leach. His 22 goals were one off his previous best of 23, put up the year before. His 46 points were a career best but these highs would change fast. On May 24, 1974, Leach was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Al MacAdam and Larry Wright. With the Flyers, Reg would see his potential and have career highs of 61 goals and 91 points.

For Dennis Hull, 1973-74 was a decent year with 29 goals and 68 points. However, his goal scoring had been declining since he put up 40 in 1970-71. He would remain in the NHL until the end of the 1977-78 campaign but he would not really have the same scoring success he'd enjoyed.

Quiz: Reg Leach and Dennis Hull Hat Trick Showdown (1974)

For more hockey trivia, come on over and check out our hockey trivia website!

1. Who scored the first goal of the game on January 6, 1974?

Dennis Hull
Reggie Leach
Pit Martin
Brent Meeke

2. How many points did Dennis Hull score in the game?

3
4
5
6

3. Who was the California Golden Seals’ starting goalie that day?

Bob Champoux
Terry Sawchuk
Mike Veisor
Rogie Vachon

4. How many goals did Reggie Leach score in the game?

2
3
4
1

5. How many games did Bob Champoux play in the NHL that season?

10
17
3
1

Bobby Orr Begins His Chicago Blackhawks Career With a Three-Point Statement Game

It never felt quite right seeing Bobby Orr in anything but black and gold. Yet on October 7, 1976, Orr officially began the final chapter of his NHL career, this time wearing a Chicago Blackhawks sweater. After a frustrating 1975-76 season marred by recurring knee injuries, fans in the Windy City were hopeful they'd see flashes of the legendary Orr in action. And on opening night, that’s exactly what they got.

Facing the St. Louis Blues at the Checkerdome, Orr made his presence known just 1:32 into the game, assisting on Pit Martin’s opening goal past Blues goalie Ed Staniowski. Then, just 1:27 into the second period, he found the back of the net himself, scoring his first goal as a Blackhawk with help from Cliff Koroll and Dick Redmond.

Later in the same frame, Orr added a second assist on a powerplay goal by Ivan Boldirev, giving him a three-point night in his return to NHL action. The Blackhawks ultimately won the game 6-4, with Pit Martin’s second of the night holding up as the game-winner.

While Orr showed early promise in his new colors, his knee troubles never fully subsided. He would post 23 points in 20 games that season before sitting out the entire 1977-78 campaign. A brief six-game return in 1978-79 marked the final days of his brilliant career.

About Bobby Orr

Bobby Orr played 657 regular season and 74 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1966-67 and 1978-79 with the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks. The two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Bruins won the Norris Trophy eight consecutive times as the NHL's top defenseman.

Along with winning the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1966-67, Orr was also a three-time recipient of the Hart Trophy while winning both the Art Ross Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy twice. Bobby was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.

Quick Hockey Trivia Quiz

Just some fun hockey trivia focused on the content above. You can find much more at our hockey trivia website.

Bobby Orr's Chicago Blackhawks Debut Quiz

1. What team did the Blackhawks face in Bobby Orr’s debut?

Detroit Red Wings
St. Louis Blues
Boston Bruins

2. How many points did Orr score in the game?

Two
Three
Four

3. Who scored the first goal of the game assisted by Orr?

Ivan Boldirev
Cliff Koroll
Pit Martin

4. How many games did Orr play in 1976–77?

20
6
82

5. What arena did Orr’s debut take place in?

The Forum
Checkerdome
Boston Garden

Broadway Hero: Pete Stemkowski’s 3OT Goal vs. Blackhawks

In one of the most dramatic moments of the 1971 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Pete Stemkowski etched his name into New York Rangers history with a triple overtime goal that kept their season alive.

The Rangers had already endured three overtime games in the 1970-71 postseason. In their semi-final series against the Chicago Blackhawks, they had just suffered an overtime defeat in Game 5, courtesy of Bobby Hull, putting them on the brink of elimination. Game 6 on April 29, 1971, at Madison Square Garden was a must-win.

Chicago carried a 2-1 lead into the third period before Jean Ratelle tied it up at 4:21 with help from Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert. Regulation solved nothing, nor did the first two overtime periods. Finally, at 1:29 of the third overtime, Pete Stemkowski beat Tony Esposito with the 49th shot of the night for New York. Assists went to Ted Irvine and Tim Horton, and the Rangers had life.

Ed Giacomin faced just 26 shots in net for the Rangers, turning aside all but two. Stemkowski’s goal forced a Game 7, giving fans hope for a miraculous comeback. Unfortunately for New York, the magic ran out in Chicago. The Blackhawks closed the series with a 4-2 win at Chicago Stadium, behind Esposito’s 36-save performance and Bobby Hull’s game-winning goal early in the third.

Stemkowski had joined the Rangers earlier that season in a one-for-one trade with the Detroit Red Wings for Larry Brown. In an odd twist, Brown returned to New York later that same season in a multi-player deal that also involved Bruce MacGregor, Arnie Brown, Tom Miller, and Mike Robitaille.

About Pete Stemkowski

Between 1963-64 and 1977-78, Pete Stemkowski played 967 regular season and 83 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings. He was a Stanley Cup champion with the Maple Leafs in 1966-67, playing a prominent role with 12 points in 12 playoff games.

Five times during his NHL career, Stemkowski reached the 20 goal plateau. His career best came in both 1969-70 with the Red Wings an 1973-74 with the Rangers, scoring 25 in each of the those seasons. His career high for points was 70 with the Rangers in that 1973-74 campaign.

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.

Tony Esposito’s First Shutout with Chicago Comes Against Canadiens

When the Chicago Blackhawks acquired Tony Esposito from the Montreal Canadiens in the 1969 off-season, few could’ve predicted just how quickly he’d begin carving out a legendary career. But on October 25, 1969, the hockey world got its first real glimpse of “Tony-O” in top form and it happened in poetic fashion.

After a rough start to the season, Chicago had gone 0-5-1 in its first six games, Esposito had already suffered losses to St. Louis and Detroit. But the tides shifted in Montreal, where Esposito had once made his NHL debut. Playing against the team that let him go, he shut the door, literally.

Esposito turned aside all 30 shots he faced at the Montreal Forum to earn his first NHL shutout as a member of the Blackhawks. It marked his second career NHL shutout overall, but his first in Chicago colors. At the other end, Canadiens netminder Rogie Vachon gave up five goals on just 20 shots in a 5-0 Chicago victory.

Lou Angotti got things rolling early, scoring the game-winner just over four minutes into the first period with help from Eric Nesterenko and Pat Stapleton. Nesterenko and Dennis Hull also tallied goals and assists in the statement win.

Adding to the historical flavor of the night, rookies Keith Magnuson and Marc Tardif dropped the gloves in the third period. The bout marked the first NHL fight for both players.

Esposito’s shutout was the first of 15 that season, a staggering total that helped earn him the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. It also marked the beginning of one of the greatest goaltending careers in league history.

Tony Esposito's 15 Shutouts In 1969-70

Being that it was just the third season of the post Original 6 era, you might think that this is a watered down record due to weak expansion teams. However, eight of the 15 shutouts for Esposito in 1969-70 came against Original 6 teams. Two were against the Boston Bruins, powered offensively by his brother Phil Esposito. He also had a pair of blanks each against the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The highest scoring was a 9-0 drubbing of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tony made 23 saves in that one while also assisting on the game winning goal by Lou Angotti. The most saves in a one of his shutouts was 36 in a 1-0 win over the Bruins. His other blank against the Bruins was a 0-0 tie with Ed Johnston also not allowing a goal. 

Stan Mikita Nets 4 in Chicago’s First-Ever Home Game vs. Penguins

On December 6, 1967, Stan Mikita recorded the first four-goal game of his Hall of Fame career as the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the expansion Pittsburgh Penguins for the very first time at Chicago Stadium.

Despite Pittsburgh being in its inaugural NHL season, both teams entered the contest with nine wins apiece. Mikita wasted no time setting the tone, scoring just 3:58 into the game on Les Binkley with help from Pierre Pilote and Ken Wharram. Though the Penguins answered quickly, Mikita struck again unassisted at 7:36. By the end of the first, it was tied 2-2 but that would be the last time Pittsburgh would find the back of the net.

Mikita completed his hat trick at 11:32 of the second, once again with help from Pilote and Wharram. This marker ultimately stood as the game-winner. In the third period, he added a fourth goal at 8:49, capping off a dominant performance. By then, Pittsburgh had swapped goaltenders, with Hank Bassen replacing Binkley following a Pierre Pilote goal late in the second.

Mikita wasn’t done, he also assisted on Bobby Hull’s second goal of the night, giving him a five-point evening. Hull had a two-goal, one-assist effort while racking up ten shots. Pilote finished with a goal and three helpers in a 7-2 Chicago victory.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Chicago Blackhawks in 1967-68

The Pittsburgh Penguins played the Chicago Blackhawks four times in their inaugural 1967-68 NHL season, two at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena and two at Chicago Stadium. In just their sixth game as a team, the Penguins knocked off the Hawks 4-2 at home on October 21, 1967. After Eric Nesterenko opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal for Chicago, Pittsburgh, powered by a Ken Schinkel hat trick, won their second game of the year and left the Blackhawks with an 0-5 record.

After the above mentioned 7-2 loss, the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw at the Civic Arena in mid-December. Ken Wharram scored for the visitors and Art Stratton scored for the Pens. Their final head-to-head on March 13, 1968 in Chicago was a close one. Chicago went up 3-0 by the midway point of the game but the Penguins made it close with the score ending 4-3 for the Blackhawks. 

Grant Mulvey's Historic 5-Goal Game: A Chicago Blackhawks Record That Still Stands

When fans think of iconic goal-scorers in Chicago Blackhawks history, names like Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Jeremy Roenick, and Patrick Kane quickly come to mind. But the franchise’s most prolific single-game performance came from an often-overlooked forward. Grant Mulvey.

On February 3, 1982, Mulvey made NHL history by scoring five goals in a single game against the St. Louis Blues at the old Chicago Stadium. It remains the only 5-goal game in Blackhawks history, setting a franchise record that still stands more than four decades later.

Mulvey’s offensive explosion didn’t stop with just goals, he added two assists, bringing his total to seven points, a mark that ties the Blackhawks' single-game record held by Max Bentley since 1943. Even more impressively, Mulvey netted four of his goals in the first period, tying an NHL record for most goals in a single period, a feat matched by only 17 other players in league history.

The final score of the game was 9-5 in favor of Chicago, with Mulvey directly contributing to nearly 80% of the team’s goals. Despite a game riddled with penalties, over 100 minutes were handed out, only one of his five goals came on the power play. He also recorded a natural hat trick, scoring three consecutive goals to close out the first period.

Mulvey's historic night was part of a standout performance by the entire team. TerryRuskowski tallied five assists, AlSecord added two goals and two assists, and DaveHutchison completed a Gordie Howe Hat Trick with a goal, assist, and a third-period fight with Jim Nill.

The 1981-82 NHL season would be Mulvey’s last full campaign. He scored 30 goals over 73 games, one of five Blackhawks to reach the 30-goal milestone that year. Mulvey played only 15 more NHL games, three more with Chicago the following season, and 12 with the New Jersey Devils in 1983-84 before retiring from the league.

While Mulvey may not be a household name, his unforgettable night in 1982 secured his place in Chicago Blackhawks history as the lone player to ever score five goals in a game, a record still unmatched by even the greatest names to wear the Blackhawks sweater.

About Grant Mulvey

Grant Mulvey was a first round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft after just a single year of major junior with the Calgary Centennials. He jumped straight to the Hawks for the 1974-75 NHL season and didn't see time in the minors until the tail end of his playing career.

Mulvey played 586 regular season and 42 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1974-75 and 1983-84. All but 12 of those games were played with the Chicago Blackhawks, finishing up his NHL career with a short stint with the New Jersey Devils in 1983-84.

By far his career season was 1979-80 when Grant scored 39 goals for Chicago and totaled 65 points. He capped off his pro career with a Calder Cup win in the AHL with the Maine Mariners in 1983-84. He would later coach the Chicago Wolves in the IHL for a short time in the 1990's.

Bobby Hull vs Bronco Horvath: 1960 Art Ross Trophy Showdown in Season Finale

In a thrilling conclusion to the 1959-60 NHL regular season, Chicago Blackhawks legend Bobby Hull narrowly captured the Art Ross Trophy, edging out Boston Bruins forward Bronco Horvath by a single point. The two scoring leaders went head-to-head on March 20, 1960, at the historic Boston Garden in what became a memorable offensive showdown.

Heading into the final game, Horvath led the league with 80 points and topped the NHL goal-scoring list with 39. Hull trailed closely behind with 79 points and 38 goals. With the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top point scorer, hanging in the balance, all eyes were on these two stars.

Midway through the second period, Hull tied Horvath in both points and goals, scoring his 39th goal of the season on a powerplay against Bruins goaltender Don Simmons. The goal was assisted by Pierre Pilote and Elmer Vasko. Then, with just under seven minutes remaining in the third period, Hull notched a critical assist on an Eric Nesterenko goal, bringing his point total to 81.

Despite the Bruins scoring five goals in the 5-5 tie, Horvath was held off the scoresheet. He registered three shots on Blackhawks netminder Glenn Hall but failed to tally a point. Teammates DougMohns and Don McKenney led the way for Boston with three points each.

Hull’s late-game heroics earned him his first career Art Ross Trophy, the first of three he would go on to win. While Horvath shared the league lead in goals, he fell just short in the overall points race. The 1959-60 season marked the pinnacle of Horvath’s NHL career, which declined shortly thereafter. In a twist of fate, he later joined Hull on the Blackhawks roster during the 1961-62 season.

About Bobby Hull

For Bobby Hull, his narrow Art Ross Trophy win in 1959-60 was the first of three over his NHL career, all with the Chicago Blackhawks. He would also win the Hart Trophy twice to go with his one Stanley Cup championship with the Hawks in 1960-61.

Between 1957-58 and 1979-80, Hull played 1,063 regular season and 119 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets and Hartford Whalers. He alos appeared in 411 regular season and 60 playoff games in the WHA between 1972-73 and 1978-79, all with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Golden Jet was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. That same year, the Blackhawks retired his jersey number 9. It was the second number to be retired by the club following Stan Mikita in 1980.

About Bronco Horvath

Bronco Horvath played 434 regular season and 36 playoff games in the NHL between 1955-56 and 1967-68 with the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Minnesota North Stars. He spent six years in the minors before making his NHL debut with the Rangers.

His 39 goal and 80 points season in 1959-60 was the pinnacle of Horvath's NHL career. His 30 goals in 1957-58 was the only other time he surpassed the 20 goal plateau. In the minors, he won a scoring title in the WHL with the Edmonton Flyers in 1954-55. He won a championship with the Flyers that year and was part of three Calder Cup championship teams with the Rochester Americans of the AHL.

Vintage Hockey Card Video Series

As I write this, I'm fighting with some sort of glitch that is freezing up the upload for the final of six videos featuring vintage hockey cards from the NHL's Original 6 teams. This is just a shout out to anyone reading 'Hockey History Hub' that these videos are nearly 100% online at YouTube. If you're reading something here and enjoying this site, then chances are you'll want to kill some time looking at some of the greatest in the game's history on some classic cardboard.

Each of the Original 6 team videos has at least 100 different vintage hockey cards and each video lasts between three and five minutes. Each is produced with what I think is some pretty great background music. So, if you're at work, yes - there is audio so turn it down...

Mostly, the cards are from the 1951-52 to 1979-80 range and come from sets produced by Parkhurst, Topps and O-Pee-Chee. There are cards from before and after the range in some of the videos but not a whole lot. Because it just didn't look right to have 'landscape' card fronts mixed with the usual 'portrait' fronts, some years have been left out. These would be your 1963-64 Topps, 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee and sets like that. Also, we didn't put in any of the 1964-65 Topps tallboys because they just wouldn't fit the format (yep, I'm a little anal about that stuff...).

All the cards are included in the Virtual Hockey Card Collection at Vintage Hockey Cards Report. This is what is becoming a fairly complete online collection of hockey cards (front and back). This is a project that I hope will expand beyond the NHL and the range of years given above. I plan to move into minor league, junior and even European sets in the relatively near future. It's pretty time consuming, though. The images have to be collected, straightened, cropped then added to a template and uploaded. I'm not the most technical so my method is pretty labour intensive (aka slow).

I've embedded one of the videos below to give you a taste. Hopefully you'll head over to the YouTube channel to check out the others. Links to each video are found in the index of the Virtual Collection. I've also grouped them into a clean and tidy YouTube playlist so they can be watched consecutively without having to keep hitting play...

The video below features the Chicago Blackhawks. Of course, there's a fair share of Bobby Hull, Glenn Hall and Stan Mikita cards but there's a lot more there, as well. Be sure to hit the Thumb's Up if you like it!

Top 5 NHL Goal Scorers In 1968-69

In 1968-69, Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks set a National Hockey League record that would last for just two seasons. Hull scored 58 goals, a record that would remain a NHL best until Phil Esposito shattered the mark with 76 goals two years later in 1970-71. Of course, there was no award for this feat back in 1968-69. The Rocket Richard Trophy honouring the NHL’s top goal scorer was not introduced until 1998-99.

Bobby Hull – Chicago Blackhawks

Bobby Hull led the league with what was his fourth of five times during his National Hockey League career that he scored 50 or more goals in a single season. Despite his offensive efforts, the Black Hawks finished sixth and last in the East Division and did not qualify for the post season. Chicago had 77 points in 76 games, a point total that would have placed them second in the West Division.

Phil Esposito – Boston Bruins

Phil Esposito finished tied for second with 49 goals. Esposito shattered the NHL record for points in a season with 126, earning the Art Ross Trophy. Phil helped his team to a 100 point finish during the regular season, behind only the Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins lost in the semi-finals but would be redeemed the following season by winning the Stanley Cup.

Frank Mahovlich – Detroit Red Wings

Frank Mahovlich of the Detroit Red Wings also finished with 49 goals. Despite Mahovlich and Gordie Howe finishing among the top five goal scorers, Detroit finished fifth in the East and did not qualify for the post season. The 49 goals was a high for Frank in a career that spanned from 1956-57 to 1973-74 and saw him score a total of 533 goals while playing for the Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ken Hodge – Boston Bruins

Ken Hodge of the Bruins nearly doubled his goal production from the previous season, finishing fourth in the NHL with 45 goals. Hodge would achieve the 50 goal plateau for the only time in his career five years later with exactly 50 in 1973-74.

Gordie Howe – Detroit Red Wings

At 41 years old, Gordie Howe finished fifth with 44 goals. His career high of 49 goals came back in 1952-53. Despite his 801 career regular season NHL goals, Gordie never topped the 50 goal plateau in a single season. After never having a player top the 100 point plateau before 1968-69, Howe was one of three to top 100 points, along with Esposito and Hull, with 103.

In the end, the two teams that met in the Stanley Cup final did not have a representative in the top five goal scorers. The Montreal Canadiens faced off against the St. Louis Blues and came out with a sweep. It was the second consecutive year that the two came together in the final series with St. Louis not winning a single game.

Gordie Howe 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Card [YouTube Shorts]

1960-61 NHL Top 5 Goal Scorers

The hockey gods looked down with irony on the National Hockey League in 1960-61. Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard became the first 50 goal scorer in the NHL with 50 goals in 50 games in 1944-45. The next 50 goal scorer didn’t come until 1960-61, the first year that Richard was absent from the league after retiring. Let’s take a look at the top five goal scorers in that 1960-61 NHL season.

Bernie Geoffrion – Montreal Canadiens

Bernie ‘Boom Boom’ Geoffrion of the Montreal Canadiens led the NHL with 50 goals while playing in 64 of the team’s 70 regular season games. He also led the league with 95 points, earning the Art Ross Trophy. To top things off, Geoffrion was named the recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s MVP. It was a career season for Bernie, who played in the NHL from 1950-51 to 1967-68.

Frank Mahovlich – Toronto Maple Leafs

Frank Mahovlich of the Toronto Maple Leafs came a close second with 48 goals. In a National Hockey League career that lasted from 1957-58 to 1973-74, Mahovlich would have just one season with more goals, 1968-69, scoring 49 with the Detroit Red Wings.

Dickie Moore – Montreal Canadiens

Dickie Moore was a two time winner of the Art Ross Trophy in 1957-58 and 1958-59. 1960-61 was Moore’s swan song, finishing third in the NHL with 35 goals. His numbers would drop drastically over the next two years before retiring. Dickie would make two comeback attempts in 1964-65 with Toronto and 1967-68 with the St. Louis Blues but neither were lengthy or successful.

Jean Beliveau – Montreal Canadiens

Jean Beliveau was the third member of the Canadiens among the top five goal scorers. Beliveau finished with 32 goals, a far cry from his career best of 47 in 1955-56. Beliveau played his entire NHL career with the Canadiens from 1953-54 to 1970-71.

Bobby Hull – Chicago Blackhawks

Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks had a lull in his NHL career in 1960-61 but still finished fifth in the league with 31 goals. The season before, he scored 39. The following season, he would become just the third NHLer to score 50. Hull would score 50 or more five times during his career with the Black Hawks, including a career high 58 in 1968-69.

With all that goal scoring power, the Canadiens finished first overall in the six team league during the regular season. Montreal finished just two points ahead of second place Toronto but scored 20 more goals. Despite finishing in third, fifteen points behind the Canadiens, the Chicago Black Hawks eliminated Montreal in the opening round of the playoffs. Chicago met the Detroit Red Wings in the finals and won the Stanley Cup in six games.

 

NHL Hockey Trivia: Chicago Blackhawks Retired Numbers

The Chicago Blackhawks have been a fixture in the National Hockey League since the 1926-27 season. Many great hockey players have worn the red, black and white of the Blackhawks. Only a select group of these hockey legends have had their numbers taken out of circulation by the team and raised to the rafters for eternity.

Test and expand your hockey trivia knowledge of the Chicago Blackhawks retired numbers with these four hockey trivia questions.

Q. Two goaltenders have had their numbers retired by the Chicago Blackhawks. What goalie is the number 35 retired for?

A. Tony Esposito played for Chicago from 1969-70 until 1983-84. With exception of 13 games played with the Montreal Canadiens in 1968-69, Esposito played his whole career in Chicago. Tony finished his career with 76 shutouts and a 2.92 goals against average in 886 regular season games. Esposito was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, four years after his brother Phil Esposito.

The other number retired by Chicago for a goaltender is number 1 in honour of Glenn Hall. Glenn played for Chicago from 1957-58 to 1966-67. He came to the Blackhawks from the Detroit Red Wing and ended his career with the St. Louis Blues. The three time Vezina Trophy winner was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.

Both Tony Esposito and Glenn Hall had their numbers retired by the Blackhawks on the same day, November 20, 1988.

Q. What number is retired by the Chicago Blackhawks for two different players?

A. The number 3 is retired in honour of two defensemen, Pierre Pilote and Keith Magnuson. Both were long time blue liners in Chicago. Pilote was a three time winner of the Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s top defenseman.

Pilote played for Chicago from 1955-56 to 1967-68, spending one last year in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1968-69. Magnuson played his entire NHL career with Chicago from 1969-70 to 1979-80. Both Pilote and Magnuson had their number retired by the Blackhawks on the same night, November 12, 2008. For Magnuson, it was posthumously, having died in 2003.

Q. The number 21 is retired by the Chicago Blackhawks in honour of what long-time great?

A. Stan Mikita holds the all-time Blackhawks career records for points and assists. He is the only NHL player to win the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy and the Lady Byng Trophy in the same year. He accomplished this in two consecutive seasons during the 1960’s.

Mikita played his entire NHL career with Chicago from 1958-59 to 1979-80. His number was retired on October 19, 1980 and he entered the Hockey Hall of Fame three years later in 1983.

Q. The Blackhawks retired number 9 for what Hockey Hall of Fame player?

A. Easy question. Bobby Hull wore number 9 for the Blackhawks from 1957 to 1972 before becoming the face of the fledgling World Hockey Association. In 1983, Bobby entered the HHOF along with long time line mate Stan Mikita. On December 18, 1983, his number was retired by Chicago.