Bobby Clarke Powers Flyers With Rare Special-Teams Hat Trick

On March 28, 1974, at the Omni in Atlanta, Bobby Clarke delivered one of the most unusual hat tricks of his NHL career. The Philadelphia Flyers captain scored all three goals in a 3-3 tie against the Atlanta Flames but what made the performance truly memorable was that none of the goals came at even strength. For Clarke, it was all special teams: two shorthanded goals and one power-play tally.

The game began with immediate adversity for the Flyers. Just 12 seconds after puck drop, Rick MacLeish was sent to the penalty box for hooking. Instead of Atlanta taking advantage, Clarke flipped the script. At 1:06 of the opening period, he scored shorthanded, his 31st goal of the season, with assists from Barry Ashbee and Bill Barber.

By the time the third period arrived, Atlanta held a 2-1 lead thanks to goals from Jacques Richard and Bryan Hextall. Hextall made his presence felt in more ways than one, engaging in first- and second-period fights with Bob Kelly and Andre Dupont. He nearly added a third scrap in the final period when both he and Jimmy Watson received double-minor penalties.

Clarke struck again at 5:40 of the third period. With Butch Deadmarsh serving a hooking penalty, Clarke capitalized on the power play to tie the game, assisted by Barber and Tom Bladon. The tie didn’t last long. Just 17 seconds later, Keith McCreary restored Atlanta’s lead. But Clarke wasn’t finished.

At exactly nine minutes of the third period, he completed the hat trick, again while shorthanded. Ed Van Impe had been in the penalty box for only nine seconds when Clarke found the back of the net, securing the 3-3 draw and sealing one of the most unique three-goal performances of his career.

Clarke finished the 1973-74 NHL season tied with Ralph Stewart of the New York Islanders for the league lead in shorthanded goals with five. Over the course of his Hall of Fame career, Clarke recorded 32 shorthanded goals, tying him for 17th all-time alongside Peter Bondra, Dave Keon, and Joe Sakic. Of course, that total still sits well behind the NHL record of 73 shorthanded goals, held by Wayne Gretzky.

So You Think You're a Philadelphia Flyers Fan?: Stars, Stats, Records, and Memories for True Diehards

A deep dive into Flyers history filled with stars, records, stats, and unforgettable memories from the ice — perfect for true diehards and history buffs.

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Yvan Cournoyer Erupts for Five Goals as Canadiens Torch Blackhawks in 1975

More than six years passed after Red Berenson’s six-goal night in 1968 before another NHL player reached the five-goal mark in a game. On February 15, 1975, Yvan Cournoyer finally ended that drought in unforgettable fashion at the Montreal Forum.

The Canadiens overwhelmed the Chicago Blackhawks 12-3, with Cournoyer delivering one of the finest offensive performances of his career. His first goal didn’t come until 8:17 of the second period, when he scored Montreal’s fourth goal of the night unassisted on Mike Veisor. From there, the floodgates opened.

Cournoyer piled up seven points in total, scoring five goals and adding two assists. Three of his five goals came on the power play during the third period, as Montreal completely dismantled Chicago’s penalty kill. His assists came on goals by Jacques Lemaire and Doug Risebrough, rounding out a dominant all-around effort.

The 12-goal explosion marked the first time since 1954 that the Canadiens scored a dozen goals against Chicago. Montreal’s franchise and NHL record of 16 goals in a game still dated back to a 1920 victory over the Quebec Bulldogs.

Adding to the night’s rarity, two Canadiens recorded Gordie Howe Hat Tricks. Larry Robinson finished with a goal and two assists while dropping the gloves with Grant Mulvey in the second period. Doug Risebrough also recorded a goal, an assist, and a fight, squaring off with Darcy Rota.

Despite his five-goal outburst, Cournoyer’s 1974-75 season actually saw a dip in goal production. He finished with 29 goals, eleven fewer than the previous year despite playing nine additional games. Even so, he maintained a remarkable streak of scoring at least 24 goals in 12 consecutive seasons from 1966-67 through 1977-78.

Cournoyer’s career-best season came in 1971-72, when he scored 47 goals, finishing fourth in the NHL. Nights like this one in 1975 served as a reminder of just how explosive the speedy right winger could be when everything clicked.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Yvan Cournoyer

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

1. Which NHL team did Yvan Cournoyer spend his entire career with?

Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs
Chicago Blackhawks
New York Rangers

2. What nickname was Yvan Cournoyer best known by during his career?

The Rocket
The Pocket Rocket
The Roadrunner
Le Magnifique

3. In which NHL season did Cournoyer score a career-high 47 goals?

1969–70
1971–72
1973–74
1975–76

4. How many Stanley Cups did Yvan Cournoyer win with the Canadiens?

10
6
8
5

5. What honor did Cournoyer receive shortly after retiring from the NHL?

Canadiens captaincy
NHL scoring title
Induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Olympic gold medal