Dave “The Hammer” Schultz: First NHL Goal or First Fight - Which Came First?

When you think of Dave Schultz, one thing immediately comes to mind: fists flying. But in a surprising twist, “The Hammer” didn’t start his NHL career with a fight, he started it with offense.

During the 1972-73 season with the Philadelphia Flyers, Schultz quickly established himself as one of hockey’s most feared enforcers. By season’s end, he had piled up an eye-popping 259 penalty minutes in 76 games, along with nine goals. But his first real impact in the NHL didn’t come in the penalty box.

After a quiet debut, Schultz made his presence felt in just his second NHL game, a dominant 7-3 Flyers win over the Vancouver Canucks. At 9:38 of the second period, Schultz scored his first career NHL goal, beating goaltender Dunc Wilson off a setup from Bobby Clarke. He wasn’t done there, in the third period he added his first assist, helping set up a goal by Don Saleski. Notably, Schultz stayed out of the penalty box entirely that night, something that would soon become a rarity.

Just two games later, everything changed. Facing the Detroit Red Wings at the historic Detroit Olympia, Schultz finally introduced the league to his other skillset. In a heated third period of a 5-0 loss, Schultz dropped the gloves with Thommie Bergman at 16:44, earning his first NHL fighting major.

The penalties piled up quickly. Along with the fight, Schultz received a double minor, an elbowing minor, and a ten-minute misconduct, totaling 21 penalty minutes in a single game. It was a sign of things to come.

That season, the Flyers cemented their reputation as the infamous “Broad Street Bullies,” leading the NHL with 1,756 penalty minutes, nearly 500 more than the St. Louis Blues. Schultz led the league in penalty minutes, edging teammate Bob Kelly by 21 minutes, while teammates like Saleski, Andre Dupont, and Gary Dornhoefer also ranked among the league’s most penalized.

Dave Schultz: The Hammer

The story of Dave Schultz — the iconic Broad Street Bully whose toughness defined an era of Flyers hockey.

Buy on Amazon

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

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.

Dave Schultz: Hammered - The Fight Of My Life

The story of Dave Schultz — the iconic Broad Street Bully whose toughness defined an era of Flyers hockey.

Buy on Amazon

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
   

Hockey Trivia: NHL Records Not Belonging to Wayne Gretzky

Believe it or not, there are actually some individual NHL records not owned by Wayne Gretzky. Of course, you have to look to categories that Wayne didn’t involve himself in like penalties and defenseman scoring.

Test and expand your knowledge of the NHL’s single season individual records with these four trivia questions.

Q. Who holds the record for the most goals in a single NHL season by a defenseman?

A. No, it’s not Bobby Orr. Paul Coffey broke Orr’s record of 46 goals during the 1985-86 season when he put 48 past opposing goaltenders. Coffey and Orr are the only defensemen to score 40 or more in a single season with Coffey doing it twice and Orr just the once.

The only current blue liner to surpass 30 in a season is Mike Green of the Washington Capitals, scoring 31 in 2008-09. The list of defensemen throughout the history of the NHL scoring 30 or more in a season is slim with just Doug Wilson, Kevin Hatcher, Ray Bourque, Denis Potvin and Phil Housley added to Coffey, Orr and Green.

Q. With 76, what player holds the record for the most goals by a rookie?

A. Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets broke Mike Bossy’s previous record by a whopping 23 goals in 1992-93. Selanne, Bossy and Joe Nieuwendyk are the only first year NHL players to surpass the 50 goal plateau.

In a weird twist of fate, Selanne did not share the league lead in goal scoring in 1992-93. Alexander Mogilny of the Buffalo Sabres also scored 76. Mogilny was in his fourth year in the National Hockey League and nearly doubled his previous career high of 39 goals, set the previous year. Mogilny would surpass the 50 goal plateau just once more in his career while Selanne would do it just twice more.

Q. Who holds the record for the most points in a single season by a defenseman?

A. No, it’s not Paul Coffey! Bobby Orr won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading point getter in 1970-71 with 139 points. Orr still remains the only defenseman to win the Art Ross. Coffey came within one point of the record with 138 in 1985-86.

Just five defensemen in NHL history have topped the 100 point plateau. Along with Coffey and Orr, Denis Potvin, Al MacInnis and Bryan Leetch have accomplished the feat. Leetch was the last to do it with 102 points way back in 1991-92, over 20 years ago.

Q. What 1970’s super goon holds the record for the most penalty minutes in a single season?

A. Dave ‘The Hammer’ Schultz sat out 472 minutes in the penalty box during the 1974-75 season. This number amounts to nearly eight whole hours in the sin bin! Paul Baxter was the next closest challenger with just 409 minutes in 1981-82.

Current member of the Calgary Flames, Brian McGrattan, holds the American Hockey League record with 551 PIM in 2004-05 with the Binghamton Senators. Joel Theriault, a fourth round pick by the Washington Capitals in 1995, holds the CHL record with 573 PIM in 1995-96 in a QMJHL season split between the Halifax Mooseheads and Drummondville Voltigeurs.