Jim Rutherford’s Stunning Shutout Ends Detroit’s Long Drought vs Montreal

For most of the 1970s, one NHL truth felt ironclad: Montreal was dominant, Detroit was not. But on April 9, 1978, Jim Rutherford delivered a rare moment that flipped the script and ended four long years of Red Wings frustration.

Detroit’s previous win against Montreal had come back on March 20, 1974, a wild 7-6 victory with Rutherford newly arrived from Pittsburgh. What followed was pure futility: 0-18-5 against the Canadiens from the start of 1974-75 through early 1978. Then came one unforgettable night at Olympia.

Montreal entered the matchup as a powerhouse at 59-9-11, gearing up for what would become their third straight Stanley Cup. Detroit was a modest 31-34-14, simply trying to build momentum heading into the playoffs. The Habs had their usual lineup, though backup Michel Larocque got the start instead of Ken Dryden. Rutherford seized the opportunity.

He stopped all 28 shots he faced, earning his only shutout of the 1977-78 season and giving Detroit a cathartic 4-0 victory, the franchise’s first against Montreal in four years.

The Red Wings struck quickly. Just 33 seconds in, Dennis Hextall scored the eventual game-winner, assisted by Nick Libett and Vaclav Nedomansky. Before the first period ended, Bill Lochead added two more goals, both set up by Dale McCourt. In the second period, Nedomansky capped the scoring with his 11th of the year, assisted by Hextall and Libett.

Detroit would go on to enjoy a milestone spring: their first playoff appearance since 1969-70 and their first series win since 1965-66, ironically, the year they had fallen to the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Jim Rutherford

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

1. Which team originally drafted Jim Rutherford into the NHL?

Detroit Red Wings
Montreal Canadiens
Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs

2. Rutherford was traded to Detroit in January 1974. Which team dealt him?

Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings
Buffalo Sabres
Washington Capitals

3. Rutherford’s famous 4–0 shutout over Montreal came in which NHL season?

1975–76
1977–78
1979–80
1981–82

4. After retiring as a player, which major NHL award did Rutherford later win as a general manager?

NHL General Manager of the Year Award
Lester Patrick Award
Jennings Trophy
King Clancy Trophy

5. Which teams did Rutherford win the Stanley Cup with as a general manager? (Select all that apply)

Carolina Hurricanes
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings
St. Louis Blues

How Gump Worsley Became Part of Bobby Orr’s First NHL Milestone

Bobby Orr’s legend didn’t take long to spark. After notching an assist in his NHL debut, the Boston Bruins’ rookie phenom waited only two more games before lighting the lamp for the first time. The date: October 23, 1966. The setting: a packed Boston Garden ready to witness the beginning of something special.

The Montreal Canadiens entered the third period with a 2-1 lead, but momentum flipped at 4:13, when Orr ripped home an unassisted goal to tie the game 2-2. It was one of three shots he fired at veteran netminder Gump Worsley, who, unfortunately for him, became the answer to a great hockey trivia question: Who allowed Bobby Orr’s first NHL goal?

Boston couldn’t complete the comeback. Jean-Guy Talbot scored the late game-winner at 17:55, a shorthanded tally against Eddie Johnston while Jim Roberts sat for tripping. Earlier, Pit Martin had given Boston its first goal on a power play in the opening period.

For Orr, though, the night marked the start of a remarkable scoring journey. He finished his rookie year with 13 goals, capturing the Calder Trophy, and ultimately produced 270 career goals across 657 games, despite injuries cutting his career short. His peak came in 1974-75, when he scored an incredible 46 goals from the blue line. He added 26 playoff goals and helped bring two Stanley Cups to Boston.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Bobby Orr's Rookie Season

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

1. How many goals did Bobby Orr score during his Calder Trophy–winning rookie season?

9
13
17

2. Orr recorded his first NHL point (an assist) in which type of game?

His NHL debut
His third NHL game
His first road game

3. Which goaltender allowed Bobby Orr’s first NHL goal?

Eddie Giacomin
Gump Worsley
Glenn Hall

4. Which Boston Bruins teammate scored the team’s first goal in the game where Orr scored his first?

Johnny Bucyk
Eddie Shack
Pit Martin

5. How many points did Bobby Orr finish with in his rookie season?

34
41
48