Jacques Lemaire’s Only NHL Penalty Shot Goal Opens Four-Point Night Against Rangers

Jacques Lemaire scored 366 regular-season goals during his NHL career, but only one came on a penalty shot. That goal opened the scoring at the Montreal Forum on March 31, 1973, as Lemaire collected four points to lead the Canadiens to a 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers.

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Highlights

• Montreal defeated the Rangers 5-1 at the Forum on March 31, 1973.

• Jacques Lemaire opened the scoring on a penalty shot at 1:33.

• The goal against Ed Giacomin was his only successful NHL penalty shot in three attempts.

• Lemaire added three assists for a four-point night.

• Larry Robinson, Chuck Lefley, Murray Wilson and Marc Tardif also scored for Montreal.

• Steve Vickers scored the lone Rangers goal.

• Lemaire finished 1972-73 with career highs of 44 goals and 95 points, then added 20 playoff points during Montreal’s Stanley Cup run.

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Just 1:33 into the first period, Lemaire beat Rangers goaltender Ed Giacomin on a penalty shot for his 43rd goal of the 1972-73 season. It was the second of three penalty shot attempts during his NHL career and the only one he converted.

Lemaire quickly followed that goal with a pair of assists. At 5:11, he and Marc Tardif helped set up Larry Robinson’s second goal of the season. Later in the opening period, Lemaire and Yvan Cournoyer assisted on a Chuck Lefley goal, sending Montreal into the first intermission with a 3-0 lead.

At 12:30 of the second period, Lemaire earned his third assist and fourth point on a goal by Murray Wilson. Tardif added another Montreal goal late in the period to make it 5-0. Steve Vickers supplied New York’s only answer at 11:21 of the third, completing the scoring in a convincing Canadiens win.

The performance came near the end of Lemaire’s most productive offensive season. He finished 1972-73 with career highs of 44 goals and 95 points, along with 51 assists. His goal total ranked fourth in the NHL, 11 behind league leader Phil Esposito, while his 95 points placed fifth in the Art Ross Trophy race, 35 behind Esposito. Lemaire followed that regular season with 20 points in 17 playoff games as Montreal captured the Stanley Cup.

Hockey’s Best Team Ever: A Chronicle of the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens' Record-Breaking Season

Relive the legendary 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens season, when a powerhouse roster led by Guy Lafleur, Ken Dryden, and Larry Robinson set an NHL record with 60 regular season wins before capturing the Stanley Cup.

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Finding His Footing in New York: Bruce MacGregor’s Five-Point Breakout

Bruce MacGregor needed a little time to find his footing with the New York Rangers. On February 1, 1971, the Detroit Red Wings traded the veteran forward and Larry Brown to New York for Arnie Brown, Tom Miller and Mike Robitaille. After 673 regular-season games with Detroit, MacGregor was adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings. Through his first 12 games as a Ranger, he had two goals and five assists, with three of those assists coming against his former club.

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Highlights

• Detroit traded Bruce MacGregor to the Rangers on February 1, 1971.

• He recorded seven points through his first 12 games with New York.

• On March 3, he scored three goals and added two assists against California.

• His first goal was the game-winner; his third came shorthanded.

• Pete Stemkowski also finished with five points: two goals and three assists.

• New York outshot California 46-20 in the 8-1 victory.

• Ed Giacomin stopped 19 shots, allowing only a Norm Ferguson power-play goal.

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On March 3, 1971, everything clicked. With the California Golden Seals visiting Madison Square Garden, MacGregor delivered a hat trick and two assists in an 8-1 Rangers victory. His five-point performance more than doubled his goal total with New York and gave the home crowd a memorable introduction to what their recent acquisition could contribute.

Walt Tkaczuk opened the scoring at 4:50 of the first period before MacGregor made it 2-0 at 14:19. Larry Brown and Pete Stemkowski assisted on the goal, MacGregor’s ninth of the season, against California goaltender Gary Smith. It ultimately stood as the game-winner. MacGregor struck again at 14:01 of the second period, with Stemkowski supplying another assist, to send the Rangers into the intermission ahead 4-1.

MacGregor completed his hat trick at 5:37 of the third period, this time while the Rangers were shorthanded. With Jim Neilson serving a tripping penalty, MacGregor beat Smith with help from Stemkowski and Andre Dupont. He then returned the favour to Stemkowski, assisting on two of his teammate’s goals to finish with three goals and two assists. Stemkowski also recorded five points, combining two goals with three assists and leading the Rangers with seven shots.

The Rangers kept Smith under pressure throughout the evening, firing 46 shots and forcing the California goalie to make 38 saves. At the other end, Ed Giacomin stopped 19 of 20 shots, beaten only by a Norm Ferguson power-play goal in the second period. Just over a month after leaving Detroit, MacGregor had delivered his biggest offensive night yet as a Ranger.

Deal With It: The Trades That Shook Hockey & How They Changed The Game

A fascinating look at the blockbuster trades that reshaped NHL history, revealing the stories, strategies, and consequences behind the deals that changed teams — and the game itself.

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DeJordy Perfect, Mohns Has 3 Points As Hawks Hammer Rangers In 1966-67 Finale

The Chicago Blackhawks closed out a dominant 1966-67 NHL regular season in emphatic fashion. On April 2, 1967, the Blackhawks visited Madison Square Garden for the final game of the schedule for both Chicago and the New York Rangers and walked away with a crushing 8-0 victory.

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Highlights

• Chicago defeated the Rangers 8-0 on April 2, 1967.

• It was the final regular-season game for both teams.

• Denis DeJordy stopped all 33 shots for the shutout.

• Doug Mohns had a goal and two assists for three points.

• Ed Van Impe recorded three assists despite having only 11 all season.

• Bill Hay scored twice — the final two goals of his NHL career.

• Cesare Maniago made his final appearance for the Rangers.

• Minnesota selected Maniago with its first pick in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft.

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There wasn't much at stake in the standings. Chicago had already secured first place with 41 wins and 94 points, finishing 17 points ahead of the second-place Montreal Canadiens. New York was locked into the fourth and final playoff position. Bobby Hull was also missing from the Chicago lineup after scoring his 52nd goal of the season a few games earlier. None of that stopped the Blackhawks from putting on a show.

Denis DeJordy was perfect in the Chicago net, turning aside all 33 shots he faced for the shutout. At the other end of the ice, Doug "Diesel" Mohns contributed a goal and two assists for a three-point night. Defenseman Ed Van Impe also had an unusually productive offensive game, recording three assists. He finished the entire season with just 11.

Bill Hay scored twice in the victory, with the two goals proving to be the final goals of his NHL career. Rangers starter Ed Giacomin endured a difficult night, allowing six goals on 22 shots over the first two periods before being replaced by Cesare Maniago.

Maniago stopped nine of 11 shots in the third period, and the appearance turned out to be his last as a member of the Rangers. Just a few months later, Minnesota made Maniago its first selection in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He was the fourth player taken overall and would go on to become the North Stars' primary goaltender during their early years.

The 8-0 victory was a fitting conclusion to Chicago's outstanding regular season, but the success wouldn't carry into the playoffs. Despite finishing comfortably atop the NHL standings, the Blackhawks were eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round.

The Big 50: Chicago Blackhawks (The Men and Moments that Made the Chicago Blackhawks)

Relive the greatest players, personalities, and turning points in Blackhawks history in this countdown of the 50 most influential figures and moments that shaped the franchise.

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NHL 3 Star Time Warp: December 5, 1970

From our "NHL 3 Star Time Warp" series on our Facebook Page: A look back at the 3 stars from NHL games played on November 5, 1970.

Third Star: Stan Mikita of the Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks traveled to Minnesota to take on the North Stars and found themselves trailing 1-0 after the opening period thanks to a goal from Bill Goldsworthy. Chicago responded in impressive fashion, rattling off four straight goals. Stan Mikita got the comeback rolling at 3:01 of the second period, scoring his third goal of the 1970-71 season with help from Dennis Hull.

Mikita wasn't finished there. In the third period, he picked up assists on goals by Jerry Korab and Cliff Koroll, finishing the night with a goal and two helpers in Chicago’s 4-1 victory. Koroll nearly completed a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, recording a goal and a fight after dropping the gloves with J.P. Parise in the second period, but fell one assist short.

Forever a Blackhawk

A tribute to Stan Mikita — one of the greatest Chicago Blackhawks of all time and a Hall of Famer.

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Second Star: Ernie Wakely of the St. Louis Blues

At St. Louis Arena, Ernie Wakely turned aside all 29 shots he faced to backstop the Blues to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Wakely was particularly sharp against Nick Libett, who led Detroit with five shots but could not solve the Blues netminder.

While Wakely earned the clean sheet, Jim Lorentz provided the offensive spark, scoring the first two goals of the game for St. Louis. The combination of timely scoring and steady goaltending ensured the Blues skated away with the win.

First Star: Ed Giacomin of the New York Rangers

A tightly contested goaltending duel unfolded at Maple Leaf Gardens as Ed Giacomin and the New York Rangers edged Jacques Plante and the Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0. Giacomin was flawless, stopping all 38 shots he faced, while Plante was nearly as strong, making 30 saves on 31 shots.

The game's only goal came just 38 seconds into the second period when Pete Stemkowski scored his fourth of the season unassisted. Toronto pressed throughout the night, with Paul Henderson firing a game-high eight shots on goal and Norm Ullman adding seven, but Giacomin stood tall to secure the shutout and First Star honours.

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Len Fontaine Bursts Onto The Scene With 3 Points In His 1st NHL Game

On opening night of the 1972-73 NHL season, rookie forward Len Fontaine made a stunning first impression in his very first game with the Detroit Red Wings. Facing the New York Rangers at the Olympia, Fontaine needed less than eight minutes to score his first NHL goal, a power play marker on legendary goalie Ed Giacomin, assisted by Red Berenson and Ron Stackhouse.

Before the first period was over, Detroit held a 4-0 lead, and Fontaine had already picked up two assists, one on Guy Charron’s goal and another on Berenson’s. His debut performance was nothing short of spectacular: three points in his first NHL game.

Detroit followed up with another home win, 4-3 over the Boston Bruins, where Fontaine repeated his performance with another three-point game, setting up two goals by Charron and one by Berenson.

After just two games, fans were beginning to wonder if Detroit had found their next superstar. But as it turned out, those early fireworks would represent the peak of Fontaine’s NHL scoring. His six points in two games, plus a goal against Philadelphia in Game 3, would make up nearly 40% of his total NHL production.

Fontaine went on to play 39 games in 1972-73 and seven more in 1973-74, for a total of 46 NHL games. He then carved out a long and successful career in the International Hockey League (IHL), highlighted by a championship win with the Toledo Goaldiggers in 1977-78.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Len Fontaine

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

1. Len Fontaine made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings during which season?

1971-72
1972-73
1973-74
1974-75

2. Before turning pro, Fontaine starred in junior hockey with which Ontario team?

London Nationals
Windsor Spitfires
Sarnia Legionnaires
Petrolia Jets

3. Len Fontaine won an International Hockey League (IHL) championship in 1977-78 with which team?

Saginaw Gears
Toledo Goaldiggers
Fort Wayne Komets
Kalamazoo Wings

4. In his first two NHL games, Fontaine collected how many total points?

3
4
5
6

5. After leaving the NHL, Fontaine became a consistent scorer in the minors. Which of these leagues did he *not* play in?

IHL
WHA
AHL
CHL

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.

Ed Giacomin's Dramatic Return to Madison Square Garden After Trade to Detroit Red Wings in 1975

In one of the most emotional moments in NHL history, longtime New York Rangers goaltender Ed Giacomin was unexpectedly sold to the Detroit Red Wings on October 31, 1975. The shocking transaction was even noted on the front of his 1975-76 O-Pee-Chee hockey card, marking a significant turning point in his Hall of Fame career.

Just two days later, Giacomin made his first start for the Red Wings against none other than the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 2, 1975. The emotional tension in the arena was palpable as Giacomin faced his former team and fans who had revered him for years.

Detroit Dominates in Giacomin’s Red Wings Debut

In a powerful show of support for their new netminder, the Red Wings came out flying, dominating the opening period with a 4-0 lead. Bill Hogaboam led the charge with two goals, while Nick Libett and Danny Grant each added one. The Rangers managed to respond in the second period with goals from Bill Fairbairn and Rick Middleton, but Detroit held a commanding 6-2 advantage going into the third.

Though the Rangers scored two more times in the final frame, Ed Giacomin turned aside 42 of 46 shots to earn a 6-4 win in his Detroit debut. Offensively, Hogaboam and Dan Maloney led the way with three points each, while Grant, Libett, Phil Roberto, and Barry Salovaara all posted two-point games.

The moment was bittersweet for Rangers fans, many of whom gave Giacomin an emotional ovation, despite rooting for the opposing team. It remains one of the most iconic nights in Madison Square Garden hockey history.

A Quieter Return: Second Game Back at MSG

Giacomin’s second game back in New York came just weeks later but this time, the result wasn’t as favorable. Despite a solid performance with 36 saves on 39 shots, the Rangers shut out the Red Wings 3-0.

John Davidson made just 23 saves for the shutout, as the Rangers controlled much of the play. The game remained scoreless until Pete Stemkowski broke the deadlock at 14:42 of the second period. In the third, SteveVickers and Walt Tkaczuk added goals to seal the win for New York.

About Ed Giacomin

Eddie Giacomin played 609 regular season and 65 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1965-66 and 1977-78 with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. Ed was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Rangers retired his jersey number 1 in 1989.

He was a First Team All-Star twie and was selected to the Second Team three times. In 1970-71, he shared the Vezina Trophy with Gilles Villemure. His 54 career regular season shutouts tie him for 24^th all-time with Bernie Parent. Before getting his start with the Rangers, Giacomin spent seven years in the minors playing for six different teams in three leagues.

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Ed Giacomin