Hextall and Goldsworthy Power North Stars to First 10-Goal Game in Franchise History

On March 7, 1973, the Minnesota North Stars reached a historic offensive milestone at the Met Center, scoring ten goals in a single game for the first time in franchise history. Facing the Pittsburgh Penguins, the North Stars delivered a dominant performance that would stand as a benchmark moment in team history.

To date, the Minnesota North Stars / Dallas Stars franchise has scored ten goals in a game nine times, surpassing that total only once. The franchise record of 15 goals was set in 1981 against the Winnipeg Jets, but this 1973 outburst marked the beginning of Minnesota’s most explosive nights offensively.

Dennis Hextall and Bill Goldsworthy led the charge with four-point performances. Hextall recorded the first of his two NHL career hat tricks, scoring his 24th, 25th, and 26th goals of the 1972-73 season. He also added an assist on one of Goldsworthy’s second-period goals, capping off a standout night.

Mirage of Destiny: The Story of the 1990-91 Minnesota North Stars

A deep dive into the remarkable season of the Minnesota North Stars — their playoff run, key moments, and legacy.

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Goldsworthy matched Hextall’s impact, scoring his 24th and 25th goals of the season while assisting on two of Hextall’s tallies. All ten Minnesota goals came against Penguins goaltender Andy Brown, who was left in net for the entire game and stopped 32 of 42 shots despite the lopsided score.

Minnesota received strong secondary scoring as well, with Jude Drouin, Buster Harvey, and J.P. Parise each contributing three-point nights. For Pittsburgh, Eddie Shack scored twice and Syl Apps Jr. recorded three assists. North Stars goaltender Cesare Maniago turned aside 30 shots to secure the convincing victory.

Hextall finished the 1972-73 season with career highs in goals (30) and points (82), leading the North Stars in scoring while also topping the team with 140 penalty minutes. Goldsworthy ended the year with 27 goals and 60 points, finishing fifth on the team in scoring during one of the most productive seasons in franchise history.

Rick Blight Scores Four Goals in Canucks’ 1976-77 Season Opener

When the Vancouver Canucks opened their 1976-77 NHL season on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 6, 1976, most of the team looked nervous and out of sync. Everyone, that is, except Rick Blight.

In a wild 9-5 loss to the Penguins, Blight was a one-man show for Vancouver, scoring four of the team’s five goals on just five shots. All four came against Pittsburgh goalie Gord Laxton, and three were on the power play. Mike Walton assisted on every one of Blight’s goals, earning a four-point night of his own.

That performance kicked off what would become Blight’s best NHL season. He went on to score 24 more goals that year for a career-high 28, along with 40 assists and 68 total points, leading the Canucks in both goals and points. Defenseman Dennis Kearns led the team in assists with 55.

A native of Manitoba and a tenth overall pick in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft after a standout junior career with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Blight’s time in the NHL was brief but impressive. Between 1975-76 and 1982-83, he appeared in 326 regular season games and five playoff contests with the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings. He was also briefly on the rosters of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, though he never suited up for either team.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Rick Blight

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

1. Rick Blight was selected 10th overall in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. Which team drafted him?
   a) Toronto Maple Leafs
   b) Vancouver Canucks
   c) Los Angeles Kings
   d) Edmonton Oilers
   


2. Blight scored four goals in one game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in October 1976. How many shots did he take that night?
   a) Three
   b) Four
   c) Five
   d) Six
   


3. What were Rick Blight’s career highs in goals and points during the 1976-77 NHL season?
   a) 28 goals and 68 points
   b) 30 goals and 70 points
   c) 24 goals and 60 points
   d) 26 goals and 66 points
   


4. Before joining the NHL, Blight starred for which junior hockey team?
   a) Flin Flon Bombers
   b) Brandon Wheat Kings
   c) Regina Pats
   d) Medicine Hat Tigers
   


5. Rick Blight also spent time under contract with two other NHL clubs but never played for them. Which teams were they?
   a) Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers
   b) Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings
   c) Montreal Canadiens and Atlanta Flames
   d) New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres
   

Don Marcotte Lights Up Christmas Day 1970 With Two Shorties and the Game Winner

On December 25, 1970, the Pittsburgh Penguins visited the Boston Garden for a rare Christmas Day NHL matchup against the powerhouse Boston Bruins. It was a true holiday mismatch. The Penguins entered with just eight wins in 34 games, while the Bruins had dropped only five of their first 33.

Don Marcotte made the night unforgettable with a pair of shorthanded goals, two of his seven that season and the game-winner in an 8-4 Bruins victory.

The first came midway through the second period. With Derek Sanderson serving a tripping minor, Marcotte struck at 6:32, assisted by Ed Westfall and Ted Green, to make it 5-2 Boston. It was all the Bruins would need.

Marcotte wasn’t done. Late in the third, with Ace Bailey in the box for hooking, he fired home his second shorty of the game at 18:32, again set up by Ted Green. Amazingly, they were the only two shots Marcotte took that night.

Johnny Bucyk and Phil Esposito also had strong performances, each notching two goals and an assist, while Gerry Cheevers turned aside 28 of 32 shots to secure the win.

About Don Marcotte 

Between 1965-66 and 1981-82, Don Marcotte played 868 regular season and 132 playoff games in the National Hockey League, all with the Boston Bruins. He played his first game with the Bruins in 1965-66 while still a junior with the Niagara Falls Flyers. He would not play his first full season until 1970-71.

A winner no matter the level of play, Marcotte won a Memorial Cup with Niagara Falls, followed by a CPHL championship with the Oklahoma City Blazers. With the Hershey Bears in 1968-69, he was part of a Calder Cup winning team in the AHL. Of course, he also won the Stanley Cup twice with the Bruins.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Don Marcotte

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

1. Don Marcotte spent his entire NHL career with which team?

Montreal Canadiens
Boston Bruins
New York Rangers
Toronto Maple Leafs

2. Known as one of the NHL’s top defensive forwards of the 1970s, Marcotte was often part of a checking line with which teammate?

Terry O’Reilly
Ed Westfall
Wayne Cashman
Peter McNab

3. Marcotte scored a career-high how many goals in the 1974-75 NHL season?

21
27
31
36

4. How many Stanley Cups did Don Marcotte win with the Boston Bruins?

One
Two
Three
None

5. Marcotte was part of Team Canada during which famous international hockey series?

1987 Canada Cup
1979 Challenge Cup
1976 Canada Cup
1981 Canada Cup

Al MacAdam Scores the Only Penalty Shot Goal in Cleveland Barons History

During their brief time in the NHL, the Cleveland Barons had just one chance at a penalty shot and it came courtesy of Prince Edward Island’s own Al MacAdam. On December 16, 1976, in a road matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins, MacAdam was awarded the rare opportunity after being tripped on a breakaway by Russ Anderson.

At 9:23 of the second period, MacAdam made the most of it, firing the puck past Penguins goalie Denis Herron to tie the game 3-3. It was his eighth goal of the season and marked a moment of franchise history, the only successful penalty shot ever recorded by the Cleveland Barons.

MacAdam wasn’t finished there. He added another goal in the third period, assisted by Dennis Maruk and Mike Christie, once again tying the game, this time at 4-4. Unfortunately, just 39 seconds later, Pierre Larouche buried the game-winner for Pittsburgh, sealing a 5-4 Penguins victory.

Jean Pronovost led the way for the Penguins that night with a four-point performance, two goals and two assists, while adding a shorthanded tally set up by Syl Apps.

Though the Barons’ history was short-lived, MacAdam’s effort stood out. Across his 864 game NHL career, he proved a model of consistency and leadership with the Philadelphia Flyers, California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars, and Vancouver Canucks.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Al MacAdam

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

1. Al MacAdam was originally drafted by which NHL team in 1972?

California Golden Seals
Philadelphia Flyers
Minnesota North Stars
Cleveland Barons

2. MacAdam scored the only penalty shot goal in Cleveland Barons history during a 1976 game against which team?

Chicago Blackhawks
Pittsburgh Penguins
St. Louis Blues
New York Rangers

3. Al MacAdam’s best NHL season came with the Minnesota North Stars in 1979-80. How many points did he record that year?

55
63
93
78

4. MacAdam won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1979-80. What does this award recognize?

The league’s top scorer
The player showing perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey
The best defensive forward
The league’s most gentlemanly player

5. Over his NHL career, Al MacAdam played for five different teams. Which of the following was not one of them?

Philadelphia Flyers
Vancouver Canucks
California Golden Seals
Boston Bruins

Super Mario’s Legendary 5-Goal New Year’s Eve Performance in 1988

On December 31, 1988, the Pittsburgh Civic Arena became the stage for one of the most jaw-dropping individual performances in NHL history. Mario Lemieux, already known as "Super Mario," put on a show that may never be duplicated, scoring five goals in five different ways in an 8-6 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

No other player has ever done it, and odds are no one ever will again. Lemieux’s magical night unfolded like this:

• Even Strength: Just 4:17 into the game, Lemieux opened the scoring with help from Rob Brown.

• Shorthanded: Less than four minutes later, he struck again while killing a penalty, punishing the Devils for Phil Bourque’s minor.

• Power Play: Before the first period was through, Lemieux completed his hat trick on the man advantage, assisted by Paul Coffey and Gord Dineen.

• Penalty Shot: In the second period, he was awarded a penalty shot at 11:14. Cool and composed, he buried it past Chris Terreri, who was promptly pulled in favor of Bob Sauve. Remarkably, it also counted as a shorthanded tally with Dan Quinn in the box.

• Empty Net: After the Devils clawed back, Lemieux sealed history in the dying second of the third, scoring into an empty net with an assist from Jay Caufield.

Lemieux wasn’t done. He also added three assists, meaning he figured in all eight Penguins goals. His eight-point masterpiece overshadowed Kirk Muller’s five-point effort (two goals, three assists) for New Jersey.

About Mario Lemieux

Mario Lemieux played 915 regular season and 107 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1984-85 and 2005-06, all with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The two-time Stanley Cup champion won the Art Ross Trophy six times, the Hart Trophy three times and the Conn Smythe Trophy twice.

His personal best season offensively came in 1988-89 when he totaled 199 points on 85 goals and 114 assists. The first overall pick by the Penguins in 1984 was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.

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Bonus Quiz: The Career of Mario Lemieux

1. In which year was Mario Lemieux drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins?

1982
1984
1986
1988

2. How many Stanley Cups did Mario Lemieux win as a player?

1
2
3
4

3. Lemieux won six Art Ross Trophies as NHL scoring champion. Which other player’s dominance kept him from winning even more?

Wayne Gretzky
Mark Messier
Jaromir Jagr
Steve Yzerman

4. After retiring in 1997, Lemieux made a comeback in 2000. How did he rejoin the Penguins before lacing up again?

He was hired as head coach
He became the team’s owner
He signed as a free agent
He was traded back to Pittsburgh

5. Which major health challenge did Mario Lemieux publicly battle during his career, yet still return to dominate on the ice?

Heart disease
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Diabetes
Multiple concussions

Two Goals in Six Seconds: Turgeon’s Historic Whalers Moment

On March 28, 1987, Sylvain Turgeon snapped out of a scoring slump in dramatic fashion for the Hartford Whalers. Facing Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Hartford Civic Center, Turgeon delivered one of the most memorable performances in franchise history.

After scoring just one goal in his previous eight games, Turgeon opened the scoring late in the first period, beating Pat Riggin unassisted. The second period turned into a wild offensive showcase, with six goals scored in just over five minutes.

Lemieux tied the game at 13:39 with his 53rd goal of the season, but Turgeon responded instantly. Just 20 seconds later, he notched his second of the night. Six seconds after that, he completed the hat trick. The two lightning-quick tallies remain a Whalers franchise record for the fastest two goals by a single player. Even after the team relocated and became the Carolina Hurricanes, the closest anyone has come was Ray Whitney’s two goals in 31 seconds back in 2007.

The Whalers went on to win 5-4, thanks to a clutch goal from captain Ron Francis. Turgeon himself fired 10 of Hartford’s 22 total shots, while goaltender Mike Liut made 19 saves for the victory.

Turgeon went on to play 669 regular season and 36 playoff games in the NHL with the Whalers, New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators. Twice he hit the 40-goal plateau in Hartford, peaking with a career-best 45 in 1985-86.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Sylvain Turgeon

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

1. Which NHL team drafted Sylvain Turgeon second overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft?

Montreal Canadiens
Hartford Whalers
Ottawa Senators
New Jersey Devils

2. Turgeon’s career-best season came in 1985-86 with how many goals scored for Hartford?

35
40
45
50

3. Which of the following teams did Sylvain Turgeon NOT play for during his NHL career?

Hartford Whalers
Montreal Canadiens
New Jersey Devils
Toronto Maple Leafs

4. In March 1987, Turgeon set a Hartford Whalers record by scoring two goals just six seconds apart. Who were the opponents that night?

Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
Buffalo Sabres
New York Rangers

5. Across his NHL career, how many regular season games did Sylvain Turgeon play?

450
669
710
820

Ken Dryden Shines in NHL Debut With 35 Saves Against Penguins

When Ken Dryden made his NHL debut on March 14, 1971, few could have predicted the legendary career that was about to unfold. Called up late in the season from the AHL’s Montreal Voyageurs, the 23-year-old goaltender wasted no time making an impact for the Montreal Canadiens.

His first start came on the road at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena against the Penguins. Despite Pittsburgh being one of the weaker teams in the league, they peppered Dryden with 36 shots. The rookie stood tall, turning aside 35 of them. Syl Apps, Jean Pronovost, and Bob Woytowich each fired five shots on goal, but it was John Stewart who scored the lone tally for Pittsburgh. Montreal’s offense ensured Dryden’s night ended comfortably, with goals from Pete Mahovlich, J.C. Tremblay, Henri Richard, Marc Tardif, and Frank Mahovlich in a 5-1 Canadiens victory.

At the other end, Pittsburgh netminder Al Smith also faced 36 shots, with Henri Richard leading the charge with seven attempts.

Dryden’s stint in the 1970-71 regular season was short but dominant. Sharing duties with Rogie Vachon and Phil Myre, he appeared in just six games, posting a dazzling 1.65 goals-against average and a remarkable .957 save percentage.

The real magic came in the playoffs. Dryden backstopped Montreal through all 20 postseason games, guiding the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup. His brilliance earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Ken Dryden

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

1. In which year did Ken Dryden make his NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens?
   1969
   1970
   1971
   1972
   
2. How many regular season games did Dryden play before backstopping the Canadiens to the 1971 Stanley Cup?
   82
   6
   20
   12
   
3. Which trophy did Ken Dryden win as the 1971 playoff MVP?
   Vezina Trophy
   Conn Smythe Trophy
   Hart Trophy
   Calder Trophy
   
4. How many Stanley Cups did Dryden win with the Canadiens during his career?
   4
   6
   3
   5
   
5. After retiring from hockey, which profession did Ken Dryden famously pursue?
   Actor
   Lawyer & Politician
   Sports Broadcaster
   Business Executive
   

Lanny McDonald’s Lone Hat Trick With The Colorado Rockies

On February 6, 1981, Lanny McDonald recorded his only hat trick as a member of the Colorado Rockies in a thrilling 6-4 home win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

McDonald was no stranger to multi-goal games, he tallied 18 career hat tricks, including eight with the Toronto Maple Leafs (one a four-goal outing) and nine with the Calgary Flames. But during his short stay in Denver, fans only got to witness one such performance.

In the first period, McDonald opened the scoring just 5:22 in, beating Pittsburgh’s Nick Ricci with help from Merlin Malinowski. After the Penguins tied it up, McDonald struck again in the second frame with his 24th of the season, assisted by Paul Gagné and WaltMcKechnie, giving Colorado a 3-2 edge.

His third goal sealed the night, coming unassisted into an empty net with just 41 seconds left in the game. Not only did McDonald complete the hat trick, but he also collected two assists on goals by Lucien DeBlois and Mike Gillis, finishing with a five-point night. He registered five of Colorado’s 23 shots, while Rockies goaltender Al Smith turned aside 30 of 34 Pittsburgh attempts for the win.

McDonald’s path to Denver began with a December 29, 1979 trade that sent him and Joel Quenneville to Colorado in exchange for Pat Hickey and Wilf Paiement. His Rockies tenure spanned 142 games over parts of three seasons before he was dealt to Calgary on November 25, 1981, in a trade that saw Don Lever and Bob MacMillan head to Colorado.

About Lanny McDonald

Lanny McDonald played 1,111 regular season and 117 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1973-74 and 1988-89 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames. Originally a fourth overall pick by the Maple Leafs at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, McDonald was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Lanny McDonald

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

1. In which year did Lanny McDonald score his only hat trick as a member of the Colorado Rockies?
   1979
   1981
   1983
   
2. Which team did McDonald spend the majority of his NHL career with, including winning a Stanley Cup?
   Toronto Maple Leafs
   Calgary Flames
   Colorado Rockies
   
3. How many career hat tricks did Lanny McDonald record in total?
   12
   18
   22
   
4. What was unique about McDonald’s goal-scoring in the 1982-83 season with Calgary?
   He scored 66 goals, setting a franchise record
   He scored 50 goals in 50 games
   He had more assists than goals for the only time in his career
   
5. In which year was Lanny McDonald inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?
   1990
   1992
   1995
   

Bonus Round!

NHL Hockey Trivia: Colorado Rockies

1. In what year did the Colorado Rockies first take the ice in the NHL?
   1974
   1976
   1978
   
2. Before moving to Denver, what was the team’s original NHL identity?
   Kansas City Scouts
   Oakland Seals
   Cleveland Barons
   
3. Who was the goaltender most associated with the Rockies, appearing in over 150 games?
   Ron Low
   Chico Resch
   Michel Plasse
   
4. In 1979-80, who coached the Rockies for one memorable season before becoming an NHL legend elsewhere?
   Scotty Bowman
   Don Cherry
   Herb Brooks
   
5. What became of the Colorado Rockies franchise after the 1981-82 season?
   Folded
   Relocated to New Jersey as the Devils
   Merged with the Quebec Nordiques
   

Who Scored 50 First? The Penguins’ Historic 1975-76 Season

In the 1975-76 NHL season, the Pittsburgh Penguins achieved a franchise first. Not one, but two players reached 50 goals. Pierre Larouche and Jean Pronovost both cracked the milestone, with Larouche finishing at 53 goals and Pronovost close behind at 52. But who hit 50 first?

March 24, 1976: Pronovost Makes Penguins History

On a Wednesday night at the Civic Arena (a.k.a. The Igloo), the Penguins faced off against the powerhouse Boston Bruins. With the game tied in the third period, Jean Pronovost scored his 50th goal of the season at the 11:01 mark. The goal came on Gilles Gilbert, assisted by Lowell MacDonald and Syl Apps.

That moment made Pronovost the first Pittsburgh Penguin ever to reach 50 goals in a single season. Larouche also scored in the game, his 45^th, The match ended in a 5-5 tie.

April 3, 1976: Larouche Follows In A Flash

Just over a week later, Pierre Larouche entered a game against the Washington Capitals with 49 goals. He scored number 50 at 11:16 of the second period, assisted by Ron Stackhouse and Rick Kehoe. With eight seconds left in the same period, he added another, goal number 51.

Despite Larouche’s heroics, the Penguins lost 5-4. It was just the Capitals' 11th win of the year.

A Quick Playoff Exit

Although Larouche and Pronovost combined for 105 goals, the Penguins were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, losing a best-of-three series to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Neither player scored during the series.

Today’s Franchise Benchmark: Lemieux’s 85

While Pronovost was the first to reach 50, and Larouche edged him in total, Mario Lemieux now holds the single-season franchise record with a jaw-dropping 85 goals in 1988-89.

1970's 50 Goal Scorers Quiz

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

1. Who was the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a season during the 1970s?
Phil Esposito (1971)
Phil Esposito (1970)
Bobby Hull (1970)
Guy Lafleur (1971)

2. In the 1970s, which NHL player had the most 50-goal seasons?
Marcel Dionne
Mike Bossy
Guy Lafleur
Rick Martin

3. Which of these players did NOT score 50 goals in a season during the 1970s?
Pierre Larouche
Jean Pronovost
Dave Keon
Ken Hodge

4. Which team had two players reach 50 goals in the same 1975-76 season?
Pittsburgh Penguins
Montreal Canadiens
New York Islanders
Buffalo Sabres

5. Who scored 52 goals in the 1974-75 season for the Buffalo Sabres?
Danny Gare
Gilbert Perreault
Rene Robert
Rick Martin

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.

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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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. 

Stan Mikita NHL Stats

Regular Season

Playoffs

Islanders V Penguins NHL Playoff History

The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the National Hockey League as an expansion franchise in 1967-68. The New York Islanders were an expansion franchise, starting play in 1972-73. The two teams met for just the fourth time in a post season series in the opening round of the 2012-13 Stanley Cup playoffs. The first time they met was in 1974-75, New York’s third year in the NHL. The last time was in 1992-93 when the Islanders spoiled Pittsburgh’s 3-peat attempt. It’s hard to believe but the Penguins had never won a series against the Islanders until 2012-13.

1974-75

The two evenly matched teams met in the Quarter-Finals with the Islanders taking the series in seven games. The final game of the series was a 1-0 shutout by New York. New York beat the cross-town New York Rangers and the Penguins beat the St. Louis Blues to set up the showdown. During the regular season, the Islanders placed third in the Patrick Division with 88 points while the Penguins finished third in the Norris with 89 points.

The Islanders were coached by Al Arbour and led offensively by Hall of Fame defenseman Denis Potvin. During the regular season, Billy Smith played the bulk of the games between the pipes with Glenn Resch as the backup. In the playoffs, the roles reversed with Resch taking on most of the goaltending load.

Pittsburgh was coached by Marc Boileau and was led by a pack of equally qualified stars in Ron Schock, Syl Apps, Jean Pronovost, VicHadfield and Pierre Larouche. Gary Inness saw the bulk of the team’s action in goal.

1981-82

Despite the matchup being a total mismatch, the Penguins held their own in the Patrick Division Semi-Final series with the Islanders. Pittsburgh fell three games to two. During the regular season, the Islanders finished first in the Patrick and first overall in the NHL with 118 points. Pittsburgh placed fourth in the Patrick with 75 points.

Once again, New York was coached by Al Arbour and led by Mike Bossy and Brian Trottier. Billy Smith was still the man in net for New York. The Islanders were at their greatest and advanced to win their third of four straight Stanley Cup championships with a sweep of the Vancouver Canucks in the finals.

Pittsburgh was coached by long-time NHL goaltender, Ed Johnston. Leading the way offensively were Rick Kehoe and defenseman Randy Carlyle. Playing most of Pittsburgh’s games in net was Michel Dion.

1992-93

This was the last time the Islanders won a playoff series. New York beat the Penguins four games to three in the Patrick Division finals. New York wrecked what should have the Penguins third consecutive Stanley Cup championship. Pittsburgh finished first overall in the NHL with 119 points. The Islanders placed fourth in the Patrick with 87 points.

In the opening round, Pittsburgh beat the New Jersey Devils and the Islanders took out the Washington Capitals to set up the series. New York met the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference finals and lost. The Habs went on to win the Stanley Cup with a win over the Los Angeles Kings.

In his second last year as head coach in the NHL, Al Arbour was again behind the bench of the Islanders. The team was led by Pierre Turgeon and Steve Thomas with Glenn Healy seeing the majority of action in net. The Penguins were coached by the great Scotty Bowman. Mario Lemieux, Kevin Stevens, Rick Tocchet and Ron Francis all had 100 points or more during the regular season.

2012-13

For the Islanders, it was their first visit to the Stanley Cup playoffs since losing to the Buffalo Sabres in the 2006-07 opening round. 2012-13 did not bring around their first series win since beating the Penguins back in 1992-93.

After game four, the series was tied at two games each. However, it could have been a 3-1 Islanders lead if the Pens had not snuck out a game three victory in overtime. Pittsburgh then won the final two games to take the series in six. However, the Islanders fought until the end with game six also going into extra time.

In that final game, the Penguins never led. Evgeny Malkin tied the score at three fairly late in the third to force overtime. It was Malkin and Tyler Kennedy setting up Brooks Orpik in the first overtime period for the win.

Pittsburgh then beat the Ottawa Senators in five in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. It was the Boston Bruins that ended the team's run, sweeping the Penguins in the Conference finals. Over their 15 playoff games, the team was led offensively by Malkin, Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby.

1st Stanley Cup Playoff Action For The 1967 NHL Expansion Teams

For the 1967-68 hockey season, the National Hockey League added six expansion teams to double the number of teams in the league. Although the six new franchises were dismal, their odds of reaching the post-season were quite good. The NHL, in all their wisdom, created two divisions, the East and West. In the East, they placed all the existing ‘Original 6’ teams. In the West were all the expansion clubs. No matter their record, the top four in each division qualified for the playoffs.

That said, four of the six expansion teams, despite none having a .500 record, saw their first playoff action in their first year of existence. Because of the odd division setup, one of these four teams would get a chance to play in the Stanley Cup finals.

Here’s a little history into each of the six 1967 expansion team’s first experience with the Stanley Cup post-season, in no particular order.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins were slow out of the gate and did not qualify for the playoffs until their third year in the NHL. In 1969-70, Pittsburgh placed second in the West Division with just 64 points in 76 games, 26 points behind the division leader, the St. Louis Blues. During the regular season, the team was led offensively by Dean Prentice with just 51 points in 75 games. The Penguins were coached by Red Kelly.

Pittsburgh came up against the Oakland Seals in the quarter-finals and swept the series in four games. Oakland had finished the regular season fourth with 58 points. The Seals were tied in points with the Philadelphia Flyers but were awarded the final playoff spot on more wins. Two games were decided by just one goal and the fourth game went into overtime. In the semi-finals, the Penguins fell to St. Louis in six games.

In the post-season, Pittsburgh was led by Michel Briere. The rookie had five goals and eight points in ten games and was said by many to be on his way to super-stardom. Unfortunately, in the off-season, Briere was involved in a car accident that placed him in a coma. He died a year later.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings finished their inaugural NHL season with 72 points, placing second in the West, one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers. Another Red Kelly coached team, Los Angeles was led by Eddie Joyal during the regular season, contributing 57 points in 74 games.

Los Angeles came up against the Minnesota North Stars in the quarter-finals and the series went the full seven games. The Kings held a 3-2 lead in the series but Minnesota won game six in overtime then blew out the Kings in game seven, 9-4. L.A. was led offensively in the series by Lowell MacDonald and Doug Robinson who totalled seven points each.

The Kings would win their first playoff series the following year. In the 1968-69 Stanley Cup quarter-finals, Los Angeles beat their California Rivals, the Oakland Seals, in seven games to advance.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers were the first of the six 1967 expansion teams to capture the Stanley Cup, but that wouldn’t come until 1973-74. In 1967-68, Philadelphia qualified for the post-season, finishing first in the West with just 73 points in 74 games. The team was led by Lou Angotti with just 49 points in 70 games.

Philadelphia met the Blues in the quarter-finals with the series going the full seven games before St. Louis came out victorious. The Flyers were led offensively by Forbes Kennedy and Andre Lacroix with five points each. Philly would not win their first playoff series until 1972-73 when they beat the North Stars 4-2 in the quarter-finals.

St. Louis Blues

The Blues were the top expansion franchise right out of the gate, reaching the Stanley Cup finals in their first three years of existence. As mentioned earlier, the Blues beat the Flyers in their first playoff series, a quarter-final meeting that went the full seven games. St. Louis then took out Minnesota in seven games to earn a berth in the Stanley Cup finals. The Montreal Canadiens swept the Blues in four.

During the 1967-68 regular season, the Blues finished third in the West with 70 points, just three points out of first place. In regular season play, it was Red Berenson leading the way with 51 points in 55 games. In the playoffs, a Hockey Hall of Famer had his last kick at the can. Dickie Moore led the team with 14 points over 18 games.

Oakland Seals

The Oakland Seals played in the Stanley Cup playoffs just twice in an NHL existence that lasted from 1967-68 to just 1975-76. After that, the franchise moved to Ohio, where they became the Cleveland Barons for two years. Somewhere in the Dallas Stars bloodlines lie this ill-fated California team.

Their first series came in 1968-69 when they met the St. Louis Blues in the quarter-finals. The Seals extended the series to seven but couldn’t conquer the Blues. During the regular season, the Seals had their best year in their short history, finishing second in the West with 69 points. The team was led in the regular season by Ted Hampson with 75 points in 76 games. In the post season, it was Earl Ingarfield leading the way with ten points in seven games.

Oakland, later known as the California Golden Seals, would reach the post season on just one other occasion. In 1969-70, the Seals met the Pittsburgh Penguins in the quarter-finals. The Penguins made haste with a four game sweep.

Minnesota North Stars

The direct descendant of the modern day Dallas Stars, Minnesota clung to the fourth and final playoff spot in their first year with 69 points in 74 games. The North Stars were led during the regular season by Wayne Connelly with 56 points in 74 games.

Minnesota faced off against the Los Angeles Kings in the quarter-finals and took the full seven games to eliminate their foes. The North Stars then went another full seven games in the semi-finals before falling to the St. Louis Blues. In the post season, it was Bill Goldsworthy leading the way with 15 points in 14 games.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Minnesota North Stars

The Minnesota North Stars were one of the six expansion teams that doubled the size of the NHL for the 1967-68 season. The North Stars remained in the Twin Cities until the end of the 1992-93 season when they were moved to Dallas where they became known as simply the Stars. NHL hockey returned to Minnesota in 2000 as the Wild entered the league.

Test and expand your knowledge of Minnesota North Stars trivia with the following questions.

Q. In their first trip to the Stanley Cup finals in 1981, which team did the Minnesota North Stars lose to?

A. The North Stars lost to the New York Islanders. For New York, it was their second of four consecutive Stanley Cup victories. The North Stars finished the 1980-81 regular season in third place in the Adams Division, behind the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins. Minnesota knocked off both those teams before upsetting the Calgary Flames in the conference final.

The playoff hero for Minnesota was Steve Payne with 17 goals and 29 points over 19 games. He was followed close behind by Bobby Smith and Dino Ciccarelli. Now in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Ciccarelli played the last half of the 1980-81 season with the North Stars, his first National Hockey League action, after starting the year with the Oklahoma City Stars of the CHL. Minnesota was coached that year by Glen Sonmor with Murray Oliver and J.P. Parise at his side.

Q. In their second trip to the Stanley Cup finals, which team beat the North Stars in 1991?

A. The Pittsburgh Penguins took out the North Stars in six games. The North Stars finished the regular season with an anaemic 27 wins but upset Chicago, St. Louis and Edmonton before bowing out to the Penguins.

That version of the North Stars had a Montreal Canadiens feel behind the bench with Bob Gainey acting as head coach and Doug Jarvis by his side as assistant coach. Minnesota was led in the playoffs by Dave Gagner’s 12 goals and Brian Bellows and his 29 points. Mike Modano was in just his second year in the NHL and contributed 20 points over 23 playoff games.

Q. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy was named for the Minnesota North Stars player who died as a result of an on-ice injury during Minnesota’s first season. Who was the only Minnesota North Star to win the Masterton?

A. Al MacAdam won the award in 1979-80. MacAdam started his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers, playing just five games with the club in 1973-74. The following year, he was a member of the California Seals and followed that franchise through Cleveland and eventually to Minnesota.

In 1979-80, Al scored 42 goals and assisted on 51 for 93 points, leading the team in goals and points. Over his career, MacAdam played 864 regular season games in the NHL with the Flyers, Seals, Barons, North Stars and Vancouver Canucks.

Q. In their second season in the NHL, which Minnesota North Stars forward won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie?

A. Danny Grant won the Calder in 1968-69. Grant played the season before with the Montreal Canadiens but didn’t appear in enough regular season games to qualify as a rookie. He helped Montreal in the playoffs as they won the 1969 Stanley Cup. Grant is one of just four players to win the Stanley Cup before winning the Calder.

In that 1968-69 season, Grant scored 34 and assisted on 31 for 65 points over 75 games, leading the North Stars in goals and points. Danny played 736 regular season games in the National Hockey League between 1965-66 and 1978-79 with the Canadiens, North Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings. He was a 50 goal scorer with Detroit in 1974-75.

1975-76 NHL Goal Scoring Leaders - Leach Replaces Esposito

1975-76 was an end of an era in the National Hockey League. Phil Esposito had dominated the goal scoring landscape since 1969-70, leading the NHL for six consecutive seasons. Esposito scored 50 or more goals for five consecutive seasons and set the mark for most goals in a single season with 76 in 1970-71. In 1975-76, the Boston Bruins traded him mid-season to the New York Rangers and he totalled just 35 goals, not good enough to place in the top ten.

Reggie Leach – Philadelphia Flyers

Leading the NHL in 1975-76 with 61 goals was Reggie Leach of the Philadelphia Flyers. It was a career year for Leach with his next highest goal total coming in 1979-80 with 50. Reggie carried on into the 1975-76 playoffs with 19 goals in 16 games as the Flyers reached the finals before losing out to the Montreal Canadiens. Leach was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in the losing cause. To date, he is one of just five players to be awarded the Conn Smythe when not winning the Stanley Cup.

Guy Lafleur – Montreal Canadiens

Guy Lafleur of the Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens came second with 56 goals. It was Guy’s second of six consecutive seasons with 50 or more goals and his first of three consecutive Art Ross Trophies. The 56 goals was a far cry from the 130 he scored in 62 games for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL in 1970-71.

Despite finishing third in the Norris Division and making an early opening round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins provided the National Hockey League with two 50 goal scorers. Pierre Larouche finished third with 53 and Jean Pronovost ended 1975-76 with one less than his teammate.

Pierre Larouche – Pittsburgh Penguins

Pierre Larouche was another phenom in the QMJHL. With the Sorel Black Hawks in 1973-74, he scored 94 goals and totalled 251 points in 67 regular season games. 1975-76 was just his second season in the NHL. He would score 50 goals in a season one more time in his NHL career, exactly 50 as a member of the 1979-80 Montreal Canadiens.

Jean Pronovost – Pittsburgh Penguins

Jean Pronovost had a career year with his 52 goals and 104 points. Pronovost played two games shy of 1,000 in an NHL career that spanned from 1968-69 to 1981-82. He spent the bulk of his time with Pittsburgh but also played for the Atlanta Flames and Washington Capitals.

Bill Barber – Philadelphia Flyers

Two players tied for fifth spot in 1975-76 with 50 goals each. Bill Barber of the Philadelphia Flyers and Danny Gare each had 50. Barber gets the tie breaker nod with 112 points to Gare’s 73.

Bill Barber is one of just two of these six players to have a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Barber was inducted in 1990, two years after Guy Lafleur. 1975-76 was the only time during his twelve year NHL career, all with the Flyers, that Barber reached the 50 goal plateau.

Danny Gare would reach the 50 goal plateau one more time in his career. In 1979-80, he scored 56 for the Buffalo Sabres, tying Blaine Stoughton of the Hartford Whalers and Charlie Simmer of the Los Angeles Kings for the NHL lead. Gare played in the NHL from 1974-75 to 1986-87 with the Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers.

 

Hockey Trivia: NHL Streaks and Longevity

Everyone or every team can have their fifteen minutes in the spotlight. It’s the ones that stretch out the fifteen that are truly great. This is your chance to test and expand your NHL hockey knowledge regarding streaks, both individual and team.

Q. At 35 games, what team has the longest undefeated streak during a regular NHL season?

A. The 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers not only set the record for the NHL but for all of North American professional sports. The team went 25-0-10 during the streak while going only 13-12-10 for the rest of the season. The Flyers went on the Stanley Cup finals that season before bowing out to the New York Islanders.

It was Pat Quinn’s first full season as an NHL head coach and he was awarded his first of two Jack Adams Awards as coach of the year. The core of players that formed the Broad Street Bullies were still on the roster. This group included Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Reggie Leach and Rick MacLeish. Ken Linseman was Philadelphia’s offensive leader with just 79 points in 80 games. Pete Peeters and Phil Myre split the goaltending duties.

Q. What team holds the NHL record for the longest regular season winning streak at 17?

A. The 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins set the mark. The Penguins ended up with the best record in the NHL that season but were upset by the New York Islanders in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Scotty Bowman coached the Penguins, who were coming off consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 1990-91 and 1991-92. At his side as assistant coach was long time Penguins leader Rick Kehoe. Mario Lemieux led the way offensively with 160 points over just 60 regular season games.

Q. Who is the NHL’s Iron Man, having played 964 consecutive regular season games between 1975 and 1985?

A. Doug Jarvis started his streak of 964 games from his first game as a rookie during the 1975-76 NHL season. Jarvis played for the Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals and Hartford Whalers before finishing off his NHL career in 1987.

Jarvis broke the record previously held by Garry Unger. Unger played 914 consecutive games. There have been just 19 players in National Hockey League history to play 500 or more in a row. Steve Larmer is the only other player with more than 800 straight with 884 Craig Ramsay is the only player with 700 or more with 776. Interestingly, all-time games played leaders Gordie Howe, Mark Messier and Ron Francis are not included in the group of 19.

Q. With 502 consecutive regular season games played, which goaltender will most likely hold that NHL record through time?

A. Glenn Hall will undoubtedly forever hold this record. The days of the goaltender playing every game of the season are almost half a century gone. Hall played all 70 of his team’s regular season games from 1955-56 to 1961-62. The first two years were played with the Detroit Red Wings and the rest was with the Chicago Black Hawks. Glenn Hall played in the NHL from 1952-53 to 1970-71 with the Red Wings, Black Hawks and St. Louis Blues.