Gary Sabourin Scores Four Goals For The California Golden Seals Against His Former Team

On November 7, 1975, the California Golden Seals pulled off a wild 7-5 win over the New York Rangers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena and the unlikely star of the night was Gary Sabourin.

Not Bobby Orr, but the other guy from Parry Sound, Ontario. Sabourin, once a Rangers prospect, lit up John Davidson and the Blueshirts for four goals, recording his second NHL hat trick (and then some).

Just a year earlier, Sabourin had scored only five goals in 55 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. By his 15th game as a Seal, he had already surpassed that mark. He opened the scoring at just 1:01 of the first period with his fifth of the season, set up by Bob Girard and Ralph Klassen. A few minutes later, he struck again, once again thanks to Girard, this time with Rick Hampton adding an assist.

In the second period, after Al MacAdam and Rick Middleton traded goals, Sabourin completed his hat trick at 11:02 with Klassen picking up another helper. Early in the third, at 1:03, Sabourin buried the eventual game-winner, assisted by Klassen and former Ranger Jim Neilson. Sabourin, MacAdam, and Dennis Maruk paced the Seals with six shots each, while Phil Esposito and Rod Gilbert each had three-point nights for New York.

Goaltender Gilles Meloche backstopped the Seals with his usual heavy workload, stopping 31 of 36 shots, including six from Esposito.

That four-goal performance helped Sabourin finish the season with 21 goals, the fifth and final time he would hit the 20-goal mark in his career. Twice, with the St. Louis Blues, he topped out at a career-high 28 goals. Sadly, his NHL journey wrapped up shortly after, with just 33 games for the Cleveland Barons in 1976-77 before calling it a career.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Gary Sabourin

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

1. Gary Sabourin scored four goals in one game for the California Golden Seals in 1975. Which team was the opponent?

2. Sabourin twice reached his career-high in goals during a season. How many goals did he score in each of those peak years?

3. Which team did Gary Sabourin spend the majority of his NHL career with?

4. Sabourin’s final NHL season came in 1976-77, when he played 33 games for which franchise?

5. Gary Sabourin was born in Parry Sound, Ontario — the same hometown as which Hockey Hall of Famer?

Gerry Cheevers’ 40-Save Shutout And Wild Brawl Highlight Boston's 10-0 Playoff Win

On April 2, 1969, the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs opened their playoff series with one of the wildest games in Stanley Cup history. The Bruins dominated from start to finish, crushing Toronto 10-0, but the storyline was far more than just the score.

Goaltender Gerry Cheevers stood tall in net, stopping all 40 shots sent his way. While it might seem like a goalie in a 10-0 win would have little to do, Cheevers was busy all night and even got into a fight with Toronto’s Forbes Kennedy late in the game.

Key Highlights From Game 1

• The 10-0 victory remains the second-highest scoring shutout in Stanley Cup playoff history, behind Montreal’s 11-0 win over Toronto in 1944.

• Phil Esposito had a monster night, scoring four goals and adding two assists for six points. His four-goal game still ties him for sixth on the all-time playoff list.

• Toronto’s Forbes Kennedy racked up 38 penalty minutes, the sixth most ever in a single NHL playoff game.

• Pat Quinn delivered a brutal hit that knocked young Bobby Orr out of the game.

• Including the regular season finale, Toronto suffered three straight shutouts, with Boston taking Game 2 by a 7-0 score.

The Chaos Unfolds

The mayhem peaked at 16:14 of the third period after a whistle in the Boston zone. Kennedy tried to take on nearly the entire Bruins roster, including Cheevers. Things crossed the line when he punched linesman George Ashley and then attacked John “Pie” McKenzie, who held his own in the scrap. That game turned out to be Kennedy’s last in the NHL.

Meanwhile, Esposito fired 13 of Boston’s 51 shots at Toronto’s goaltending duo of Bruce Gamble and Johnny Bower, who were left shell-shocked. Esposito continued his hot streak with three more points in Game 2 and scored again in Game 4 as Boston swept the Maple Leafs out of the postseason.

About Gerry Cheevers

Between 1961-62 and 1979-80, Gerry Cheevers played 418 regular season and 88 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. He also appeared in 191 regular season and 19 playoff games in the WHA with the Cleveland Crusaders between 1972-73 and 1975-76. The two-time Stanley Cup champion was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Gerry Cheevers

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

1. With which NHL team did Gerry Cheevers win two Stanley Cups?
   Toronto Maple Leafs
   Boston Bruins
   Cleveland Barons
   
2. Cheevers was famous for his goalie mask, decorated with what design?
   Flames
   Stitches
   Shamrocks
   
3. Gerry Cheevers also played in the WHA. Which team did he join?
   Cleveland Crusaders
   Winnipeg Jets
   Quebec Nordiques
   
4. In what year was Gerry Cheevers inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?
   1985
   1990
   2001
   
5. Which unique distinction did Cheevers’ Bruins hold in the early 1970s?
   Highest-scoring team in NHL history
   Longest unbeaten streak ever
   Most consecutive shutouts
   

Bill Collins Torches Leafs with Back-to-Back Hat Tricks in 1970

When the Minnesota North Stars reached game 59 of the 1969-70 season, Bill Collins had just 13 goals to his name. That all changed on March 1, 1970, when the Toronto Maple Leafs came to town.

At the Met, Collins exploded for a hat trick, his 14th, 15th, and 16th of the season, all against Leafs netminder Bruce Gamble. Minnesota dominated the night with an 8-0 blowout, outshooting Toronto 40-41. Cesare Maniago was rock-solid, turning away all 41 shots for the shutout. Bill Goldsworthy and J.P. Parise chipped in with two goals and two assists each, but Collins set the tone with his relentless play and seven shots on goal.

Less than a week later, the two teams met again at Maple Leaf Gardens. And once more, Collins found his magic. This time he struck for another three goals, numbers 18, 19, and 20 on the year, with the first two coming shorthanded. Remarkably, he scored on all three of his shots, again at the expense of Bruce Gamble, who was pulled in favor of Marv Edwards after the second period. Minnesota rolled to an 8-3 win as Gump Worsley turned aside 44 of 47 shots.

Though Collins didn’t pick up a single assist in either game, that reflected his style during the 1969-70 campaign: pure goal-scoring. He finished the season with a career-best 29 goals, paired with just nine assists. It was the first of three seasons where he crossed the 20-goal mark, later tallying 21 with the Detroit Red Wings in 1972-73 and 22 with the St. Louis Blues in 1974-75.

About Bill Collins

After several years in the minors, Bill Collins got his NHL start after the Minnesota North Stars drafted him from the New York Rangers organization in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. Originally a prospect of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was traded to the Rangers on February 22, 1964, along with Arnie Brown, Dick Duff, Bob Nevin and Rod Seiling for Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney.

Collins played 768 regular season and 18 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1967-68 and 1977-78 with the North Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Bill Collins

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

1. Which team did Bill Collins score consecutive hat tricks against in March 1970?

Detroit Red Wings
Toronto Maple Leafs
St. Louis Blues
Boston Bruins

2. Which Toronto goalie did Collins score his goals on during those games?

Johnny Bower
Marv Edwards
Bruce Gamble
Gerry Cheevers

3. How many goals did Bill Collins finish the 1969–70 season with?

21
25
29
33

4. How many of Collins' goals in the second hat trick were scored shorthanded?

0
1
2
3

5. Who recorded the shutout for Minnesota in the 8–0 game (stopping 41 shots)?

Gump Worsley
Cesare Maniago
Tony Esposito
Ken Dryden

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
   

Bob Nevin’s Final Goals as a Ranger Eliminate the Maple Leafs in 1971 Playoffs

Bob Nevin’s NHL journey began with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he played a key role in two Stanley Cup championships before being traded to the New York Rangers in a blockbuster February 22, 1964 deal. Alongside Dick Duff, Bill Collins, Arnie Brown, and Rod Seiling, Nevin was sent to New York in exchange for Don McKenney and Andy Bathgate, missing out on Toronto’s third straight Cup later that spring.

Fast forward to April 15, 1971. Nevin delivered a playoff performance Leafs fans would rather forget. In Game 6 of the quarter-final series, the veteran forward scored both New York goals in a 2-1 overtime victory, single-handedly eliminating his former team. His first came at 12:39 of the second period, beating Jacques Plante with help from Walt Tkaczuk and Vic Hadfield. After Jim McKenny tied it late in the third, Nevin struck again at 9:07 of overtime to clinch the series.

Nevin was unstoppable that series, netting all five of his playoff goals in the six games against Toronto, along with two assists for seven points. However, his scoring touch cooled in the semi-final against Chicago, where he managed just one assist as the Rangers fell in seven games.

Just three weeks later, Nevin was dealt to the Minnesota North Stars for Bobby Rousseau. He spent two seasons in Minnesota before finishing his NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings and wrapping up his major league days with the WHA’s Edmonton Oilers.

Hockey Trivia: Bob Nevin

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

1. Bob Nevin began his NHL career with which team?
   New York Rangers
   Toronto Maple Leafs
   Minnesota North Stars
   Los Angeles Kings
2. In which playoff year did Nevin score both New York goals in game 6 to eliminate the Maple Leafs?
   1967
   1971
   1973
   1975
3. Who was the Maple Leafs goaltender Nevin scored on for the Game 6 overtime winner?
   Jacques Plante
   Johnny Bower
   Bernie Parent
   Eddie Johnston
4. After leaving the Rangers, Nevin was traded to which team?
   Chicago Blackhawks
   St. Louis Blues
   Minnesota North Stars
   Philadelphia Flyers
5. Nevin ended his major league hockey career playing in which league?
   NHL
   WHA
   AHL
   IHL

3 Goals and 1 Fight: Wendel Clark’s Rookie Statement Game

On February 25, 1986, Toronto Maple Leafs fans witnessed a performance that would define the fiery rookie season of Wendel Clark, the franchise’s first-ever first overall draft pick.

Facing the higher-ranked New York Rangers at Maple Leaf Gardens, the Leafs quickly fell behind 2-0. But Clark and company stormed back in thrilling fashion to earn a 7-3 victory and the young forward played a starring role.

In a game that had everything, Wendel served five minutes for fighting after a heated scrap with RonGreschner. Just seconds after leaving the box, he netted his 24th goal of the season, the eventual game-winner, assisted by Russ Courtnall, who had a standout night himself with a goal and three helpers.

Clark wasn’t done. He added two more goals in the third period, his 25th and 26th of the season, both again set up by Courtnall to complete the hat trick. All seven Leafs goals were scored on John Vanbiesbrouck, with Clark’s third tally sending the goalie to the bench in favor of Glen Hanlon.

Clark wrapped up his 1985-86 rookie season with 34 goals and helped the Leafs win their first playoff series since 1979. He would finish second in Calder Trophy voting, just behind Gary Suter of the Calgary Flames.

About Wendel Clark

Wendel Clark played 793 regular season and 95 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1985-86 and 1999-00 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. He was originally a first overall pick by Toronto at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.

Despite an injury plagued career that saw Wendel play just one full schedule, he totaled 330 regular season goals. Clark's career best came in 1993-94 when he scored 46 for the Maple Leafs in just 64 games.

Wendel Clark Rookie Game Trivia Quiz

The first set of trivia questions pertains to the content above. Following that, there's another short hockey trivia quiz for Wendel Clark's NHL career. 

There is much more NHL hockey trivia at our hockey trivia website!

1. How many goals did Wendel Clark score in the February 25, 1986 game against the Rangers?
   2
   3
   4
   5
   


2. Who did Wendel Clark fight in that game?
   Barry Beck
   Ron Greschner
   Ulf Samuelsson
   George McPhee
   


3. Which teammate assisted on all three of Clark’s goals that night?
   Russ Courtnall
   Gary Leeman
   Al Iafrate
   Steve Thomas
   


4. How many goals did Wendel Clark score in his rookie season?
   26
   34
   38
   40
   


5. Who won the Calder Trophy over Wendel Clark in 1985-86?
   Brian MacLellan
   Claude Lemieux
   Gary Suter
   Patrick Roy
   

Wendel Clark NHL Career Trivia Quiz

1. In what year was Wendel Clark selected 1st overall in the NHL Draft?
   1985
   1983
   1986
   1984
   


2. What position did Wendel Clark play for most of his NHL career?
   Left Wing
   Defense
   Center
   Right Wing
   


3. Wendel Clark was traded from the Leafs to which team in a blockbuster 1994 deal?
   Edmonton Oilers
   Quebec Nordiques
   New York Islanders
   Detroit Red Wings
   


4. What future superstar did the Leafs receive in return for Wendel Clark in 1994?
   Mats Sundin
   Joe Sakic
   Owen Nolan
   Mike Modano
   


5. How many times did Wendel Clark score 30 or more goals in an NHL season?
   1
   3
   5
   7
   

Red Kelly’s Hat Trick vs Canadiens Includes His Only NHL Penalty Shot

On January 31, 1963, the Toronto Maple Leafs stormed into the Montreal Forum and took down the Canadiens 6-3. The spotlight belonged to Red Kelly, who recorded a hat trick, highlighted by the only penalty shot goal of his entire 20-year NHL career.

The Canadiens jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Gilles Tremblay and Dickie Moore. But at 14:59 of the opening frame, Kelly sparked the comeback with a powerplay goal assisted by Billy Harris.

Red struck again midway through the second, tying the game 2-2 with his 13th of the season, set up by Bob Nevin and Frank Mahovlich. The Leafs then took over in the third:

• George Armstrong scored at 1:34 (assisted by Kelly),

• Dick Duff notched the game-winner at 6:17,

• and at 13:51, Red Kelly was awarded a penalty shot.

In a rare moment for the veteran center, he buried the puck behind Jacques Plante for his third goal of the game and 14th of the season. It marked the third hat trick of Kelly’s career, the only penalty shot goal he ever scored in his 1,316-game NHL tenure.

Kelly finished the night with four points and five shots on goal. That season, he would tally 20 goals and 40 assists in 66 games, with only four minor penalties, a model of sportsmanship. Despite that, he placed just fourth in Lady Byng Trophy voting, behind teammate Dave Keon.

About Red Kelly

Between 1947-48 and 1966-67, Red Kelly played 1,316 regular season and 164 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. The eight time Stanley Cup champion (four times each with the Red Wings and Maple Leafs) won the Lady Byng Trophy four times and was the Norris Trophy winner in 1953-54 as the NHL's top defenseman.

Immediately after retiring, Kelly became the first ever head coach of the Los Angeles Kings. He went on to stints as bench boss for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. Red was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.

Red Kelly’s Hat Trick vs Canadiens – Trivia Quiz

You can find much more hockey trivia at our hockey trivia website!

1. How many goals did Red Kelly score in the January 31, 1963 game vs the Canadiens?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

2. Who was the goaltender Red Kelly scored his penalty shot goal against?

A) Charlie Hodge
B) Jacques Plante
C) Gump Worsley
D) Terry Sawchuk

3. How many penalty shots did Red Kelly score in his NHL career?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 1
D) 0

4. How many points did Red Kelly record in that game?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 3
D) 5

5. Who scored the game-winning goal for the Leafs in that 6–3 victory?

A) George Armstrong
B) Dick Duff
C) Bob Nevin
D) Frank Mahovlich

6. What trophy is associated with sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct in the NHL?

A) Hart Trophy
B) Lady Byng Trophy
C) Norris Trophy
D) Selke Trophy

7. How many hat tricks did Red Kelly have in his NHL career?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 3
D) 5

Toronto Maple Leafs Waste Bruce Gamble’s Heroics in 1-0 Loss to Rangers

On October 19, 1969, the Toronto Maple Leafs visited Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Rangers in what would be their fourth game of the 1969-70 NHL season. For Leafs fans, the game felt like a one-man show and that man was goaltender Bruce Gamble.

The Rangers won 1-0 on an early goal from Vic Hadfield at the 7:33 mark of the first period, assisted by Jean Ratelle and Brad Park. That lone tally held up the rest of the way, not because the Rangers went into a defensive shell, but because Gamble stood on his head. He turned aside 44 of 45 shots, keeping the Leafs in the game all night long. Hadfield and Ratelle each had seven shots apiece, while former Leaf Ron Stewart chipped in with six.

On the flip side, Ed Giacomin had one of the easiest shutouts of his career. Toronto managed just 17 shots on net, with Paul Henderson and Bob Pulford accounting for nearly half with four shots each.

The lack of offense became a season-long theme. The Leafs finished last in the East Division, a brutal 21 points behind the next-closest team. They scored a division-low 222 goals and allowed a division-high 242, despite Gamble's solid play. Over 52 games, Gamble had five shutouts and a .915 save percentage, remarkable numbers considering the team's struggles.

Bruce Gamble’s career spanned from 1958-59 to 1971-72, playing with the Rangers, Bruins, Leafs, and Flyers. Though solid between the pipes, he’s often remembered for his heart attack during a game in 1972 while playing for the Flyers, a game he finished despite the medical emergency.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Rangers – October 19, 1969 Trivia

We have much more hockey trivia at our hockey trivia website!

1. Who scored the only goal in the Rangers' 1-0 win over the Maple Leafs on October 19, 1969?

• A) Rod Gilbert
• B) Vic Hadfield ✅
• C) Jean Ratelle
• D) Brad Park

2. How many shots did Bruce Gamble stop in this game?

• A) 35
• B) 40
• C) 44 ✅
• D) 47

3. Which former Leaf had six shots on goal for the Rangers in that game?

• A) Ron Stewart ✅
• B) Dick Duff
• C) Bob Nevin
• D) Phil Goyette

4. What was the Maple Leafs’ shot total in the 1-0 loss?

• A) 14
• B) 17 ✅
• C) 21
• D) 25

5. What serious health event is Bruce Gamble remembered for during a game in 1972?

• A) Concussion
• B) Broken collarbone
• C) Heart attack ✅
• D) Eye injury

Darryl Sittler’s First Game Against the Maple Leafs: A Bittersweet End to a Blue & White Legacy

On April 4, 1982, at the Philadelphia Spectrum, NHL fans witnessed a bittersweet and historic moment: Darryl Sittler, once the heart and soul of the Toronto Maple Leafs, suited up for the Philadelphia Flyers to face his former team for the very first time.

Just months earlier, the Leafs had traded Sittler, one of their greatest players and longtime captain, to the Flyers for Rich Costello and a second-round pick in the 1982 NHL Draft, which became Peter Ihnacak. The trade felt like a slap in the face to fans and to Sittler himself, a player who had poured a decade of heart, hustle, and historic moments into the blue and white.

That night, the Flyers steamrolled the Leafs 7-1 in a game that underscored just how far Toronto had fallen. Sittler contributed modestly with a single assist on the opening goal by Ken Linseman, and fired five shots on goal. While Sittler played a steady game, it was Tim Kerr who stole the show for Philadelphia with a hat trick, his 19th, 20th, and 21st goals of the season. Flyers legend Bobby Clarke also notched three assists.

The Leafs mustered only 18 shots on Flyers goaltender Pete Peeters. Michel Larocque, on the other hand, faced a barrage of 59 shots in the Toronto net. The lone bright spot for the Maple Leafs was Rick Vaive, who scored his 54th goal of the season, a franchise record that stood for four decades until Auston Matthews finally broke it.

About Darryl Sittler

Darryl Sittler played 1,096 regular season and 76 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1970-71 and 1984-85 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. He was an eighth overall pick by Toronto at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft out of the London Knights.

In 12 seasons, Sittler scored at least 27 goals. He topped the 40 goal plateau five times, putting up a career best 45 in 1977-78. That year he had 117 points, placing him third in the NHL behind Guy Lafleur and Bryan Trottier. Darryl was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989.

NHL Hockey Card Legends: Darryl Sittler

Bobby Hull’s First 4-Goal NHL Game Came at the Expense of Johnny Bower and the Toronto Maple Leafs

On February 21, 1960, Bobby Hull delivered one of the most memorable offensive performances of his career at Chicago Stadium, scoring four goals in a 7-5 Chicago Black Hawks win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. This milestone marked Hull’s first of four career four-goal games in the NHL. He never surpassed that number in a single match, despite recording an impressive 30 career hat tricks.

The game opened with Hull striking early. At 8:07 of the first period, he buried his 30th goal of the season, assisted by Murray Balfour and Dollard St. Laurent. Early in the second, he scored again, this time with help from Pierre Pilote and Bill Hay, making it 2-0 for Chicago.

Even after Toronto’s Frank Mahovlich cut the lead in half, Hull completed his hat trick just over four minutes into the second frame, assisted by Elmer “Moose” Vasko and Pilote. Before the period ended, Hull added an assist on Balfour’s goal to stretch the lead to 5-2.

Then came the dagger: just 59 seconds into the third period, Hull scored his fourth goal of the night, making it 6-2. This goal would stand as the game-winner, his 33rd of the season. Bill Hay added another before Toronto mounted a furious but ultimately futile comeback with goals from Gerry James, Johnny Wilson, and Tim Horton.

A Golden Season for the “Golden Jet”

By the end of the 1959-60 season, Hull tallied 39 goals and 42 assists for 81 points, narrowly edging Boston’s Bronco Horvath for the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top scorer. Despite the scoring crown, Hull fell short of MVP honors, finishing second in Hart Trophy voting behind Detroit’s Gordie Howe.

It was a breakout campaign for the 21-year-old Hull, and his first 4-goal game against a future Hall of Famer like Johnny Bower remains a signature performance in his legendary career.

Bill Barilko’s Forgotten Goal: The Last Tie Game in Stanley Cup Playoff History

Most hockey fans remember Bill Barilko for his legendary overtime goal that won the Toronto Maple Leafs the 1951 Stanley Cup. Immortalized in The Tragically Hip’s “50 Mission Cap,” that goal was not only Barilko’s last but also one of the most iconic in NHL history. It sealed game five against the Montreal Canadiens, capping off a series in which every game went to overtime.

But Barilko’s first goal in the 1950-51 playoffs carries historical weight as well, though it's largely forgotten today. In game two of the semi-final series against the Boston Bruins, Barilko scored Toronto’s only goal in a 1-1 tie at Maple Leaf Gardens. It wasn’t just a clutch goal, it became part of a unique NHL milestone. This match would go down as the last time an NHL Stanley Cup playoff game ended in a tie.

Why? Because of the Ontario Sunday Curfew Law, which forbade starting a new period after midnight. After one overtime period, officials were forced to halt the game. The stats counted, Barilko racked up 21 penalty minutes, but the result stood as a tie.

Toronto, down 1-0 in the series before that game, used it as a turning point. The Leafs bounced back with four straight wins to eliminate Boston and advance to the Finals.

Just months later, tragedy struck. In August 1951, Barilko vanished on a fishing trip in Northern Ontario. The floatplane carrying him and pilot Henry Hudson crashed, and their remains weren’t discovered until 1962, just after the Leafs won their next Stanley Cup.

Barilko’s final, famous goal is etched in hockey history. But his earlier tally in that same playoff run marks the end of an era, the last Stanley Cup playoff tie, forever shaped by curfew laws and forgotten circumstances.

About Bill Barilko

Because of his untimely death, Bill Barilko played a modest 252 regular season and 47 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1946-47 and 1950-51 all with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In four of those five years, Bill helped the Leafs to Stanley Cup championships. In the only season during his time that Toronto didn't win, they took the Detroit Red Wings to the full seven games in the semi-final before being eliminated.

In 1947-48, Barilko led the NHL with 147 penalty minutes, an 18 PIM edge over runner-up Ken Reardon. In 1948-49, two of his five goals were scored shorthanded. In a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 8, 1949 at Maple Leafs Gardens, Bill's shortie at 12:17 of the third tied the score at 3-3. The Leafs had been down 3-1 midway through the game before coming back. Interestingly, Toronto's first goal of the game was scored by Ted Kennedy, also shorthanded.

Mike Walton Awarded Penalty Shots In Consecutive Games (1967-68)

Mike Walton took three penalty shots over his NHL career, scoring on one. Two of those penalty shots occurred a day apart. The first, against the Detroit Red Wings, was unique in it's own way.

Mike Walton Penalty Shot 1 (vs. Detroit Red Wings)

On March 9, 1968 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, the home team held a slim 6-5 lead with 3:20 left in the game. That's when Walton was give the penalty shot. In an interesting move, Detroit pulled starting goaltender Roy Edwards and replaced him with Roger Crozier, just for Walton's attempt.

Shakey scored on the cold Crozier for his 27th of the 1967-68 NHL season to make the score 7-5 for the Maple Leafs. Edwards came back in to the game and Crozier's official line was zero saves on one shot with no actual game time.

For Mike, it was the only one of seven shots on net that night resulting in a goal. He led all skaters in that category with Toronto putting a total of 38 shots on Edwards in the game. Walton also added an assist on a Ron Ellis goal earlier in the period for a two point night. Ron's goal was part of some rapid fire offense by both teams that saw five goals scored over a span of 4:12.

Mike Walton Penalty Shot 2 (vs. Chicago Blackhawks)

The next night, March 10, the Maple Leafs were at Chicago Stadium to play the Blackhawks. At 2:49 of the second period, Walton was hauled down by Doug Jarrett on a breakaway and again was awarded a penalty shot.

This time, Shakey was thwarted in the attempt, stopped by Chicago goalie Jack Norris. It was one of 27 shots Norris stopped in the game, earning a 4-0 shutout. 

Despite causing the penalty shot, Doug Jarrett played a prominent role in the win for the Blackhawks. He led all skaters with seven shots and had a three point game with a goal and two assists. His first assist was on a Ken Wharram goal at 17:21 of the first period, the goal that turned out to be the game winner. 

After the Maple Leafs pulled Johnny Bower late in the game and Chicago's Pit Martin scored into the empty net to make the score 3-0, Jarrett popped one past Bower for his third of the season with just nine seconds left. That goal was assisted by Doug Mohns and Stan Mikita.

Mike Walton Penalty Shot 3 (vs. New York Islanders)

Walton had one more penalty shot during his NHL career, over a decade after the missed attempt in Chicago. Interestingly, by this time he was playing for the Blackhawks. On April 20, 1979 in game three of a quarter-final series between Chicago and the New York Islanders, Dave Lewis was assessed the penalty for covering the puck in the crease. Walton was chosen to take the shot.

This time, it was Glenn Resch who shut the door. In fact, Resch shut the door on the whole Blackhawks team in a 4-0 shutout win to put the Islanders up 3-0 in the series. Denis Potvin led the Isles offensively with three points on a goal and two assists while Ed Westfall had a pair of helpers.

Darryl Sittler: The Trades

Darryl Sittler was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, eighth overall. The junior star with the London Knights was picked behind seven players: Gilbert Perreault, Dale Tallon, Reg Leach, Rick MacLeish, Ray Martyniuk, Chuck Lefley and Greg Polis. Of the 115 players taken in the 1970 draft, just Sittler and Perreault reached the 1,000 game plateau. 

Leaving Toronto

On January 20, 1982, the Maple Leafs traded their captain and centerpiece to the Philadelphia Flyers. Rick Costello and a 1982 draft pick that turned out to be Peter Ihnacak went to Toronto. Sittler played the rest of the 1981-82 NHL season with the Flyers, following by two more full campaigns. In 1982-83, he scored an impressive 43 goals, the fifth and final time he surpassed the 40 goal plateau.

Rich Costello played a total of 12 games for Toronto, ten in 1983-84 and two in 1985-86. Peter Ihnacak provided a little more value, appearing in 417 regular season and 28 playoff games in the NHL between 1982-83 and 1989-90, all with the Maple Leafs. 

Off To Detroit

Just prior to the start of the 1984-85 NHL season, on October 10, 1984, Darryl was on the move again. This time, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Murray Craven and Joe Paterson. Sittler finished out the year with the Wings, playing 61 games and collecting 27 points, before retiring as a player.

The trade was definitely won by the Flyers. Craven, a first round pick in 1982 out of the Medicine Hat Tigers, stayed with the Flyers until 12 games into the 1991-92 season before moving on to the Hartford Whalers. Murray played 1,071 regular season and 118 playoff games in the NHL between 1982-83 and 1999-00 with the Red Wings, Flyers, Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks.

Joe Paterson played just eleven regular season and 17 playoff games with the Flyers before moving on to the Los Angeles Kings. Another London Knights grad, Paterson played 291 regular season and 22 playoff games in the NHL between 1980-81 and 1988-89 with the Red Wings, Flyers, Kings and New York Rangers.

Bernie Parent As A Toronto Maple Leaf

Bernie Parent wasn't with the Toronto Maple Leafs long. He came to Toronto via a January 31, 1971 trade with the Philadelphia Flyers that saw Bruce Gamble and Mike Walton in the other direction. His arrival in Toronto put him in tandem with goaltending idol Jacques Plante.

In that back half of 1970-71, Bernie played in 18 games, putting up a modest 2.66 goals against average. He played in four playoff games, all against the New York Rangers, going 2-2 with nine goals against.

1971-72 was Parent's only full season in Toronto and he gave the team a chance to reach the post season. Playing 47 regular season games, Bernie recorded a 2.57 goals against average with three shutouts and a .915 save percentage. He often faced 30 or more shots in a game on a team that scored just nine more goals than the lowest scoring team in the league, ironically the Philadelphia Flyers.

Despite the lack of goal production, with the help of Parent, Toronto was also stingy on allowing goals and ended the season with a +1 on 209 for and 208 against. They also squeaked into the playoffs with a four point edge over the Detroit Red Wings for the final spot in the East Division. They fell to the Boston Bruins four games to one in the opening round.

The Shutouts

Bernie put up three shutouts in 1971-72 for the Maple Leafs. One was a 34 save affair against the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 23, 1972. Jim Rutherford also had a great game in net for the Pens, allowing just two goals on 40 shots in the 2-0 Toronto win. Brad Selwood scored the winning goal at 13:14 of the first period on the power play, assisted by Dave Keon and Jim Harrison.

Near the start of the season, Parent and Vancouver goalie Dunc Wilson battled to a 0-0 draw with both recording the blank. Wilson made 34 stops while Bernie had a quieter night with just 20 shots going his way.

The third was a 23 save 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings. A young Billy Smith allowed the four goals while making 24 saves. A Ron Ellis goal just 3:37 into the game, assisted by Dave Keon, was all the Leafs needed for the victory.

Biggest Win Of 1971-72

On January 15, 1972, Toronto hosted the New York Rangers at Maple Leaf Gardens. Bernie allowed three goals but made 42 saves to help the Buds knock off the powerful Blue Shirts 4-3. Dave Keon scored the winning goal on Ed Giacomin with just 23 seconds left in the game, assisted by Billy MacMillan.

Out of Toronto and Beyond

Bernie Parent jumped to the World Hockey Association for the league's inaugural 1972-73 season. It marked his return to Philadelphia, playing for the Blazers. He lasted one year in the WHA before returning to the NHL and the Philadelphia Flyers. His arrival was just in time to help the Broad Street Bullies to consecutive Stanley Cup wins.

Between 1965-66 and 1978-79, Bernie Parent played 608 regular season and 71 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers. He was a two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner and two-time Vezina Trophy winner. Bernie was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.

Darryl Sittler 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Vintage Hockey Card

 A quick look at a young Darryl Sittler of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In this 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee 188 hockey card, Sittler was struggling to find his spot in the National Hockey League. However, it was that 1972-73 season when Darryl began to be an offensive threat in the NHL. It was that year where his Hockey Hall of Fame career really started to take off.

Darryl Sittler Toronto Maple Leafs 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee 188 Hockey Card [Video]

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This Day In Hockey History: Tim Horton's Birthday

On January 12, 1930, the legendary Tim Horton was born in Cochrane, Ontario. 

Tim Horton 1963-64 Birthday Game

It's hard to find an actual game played by Tim Horton that took place on a January 12. But, on January 12, 1964, Horton and the Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Boston Bruins at the Boston Garden. The teams were opposite ends of the standings and it would be an understatement to say the game ended in an upset.

Going into the game, the Maple Leafs were 21-11-6. The Bruins were having a rough season with just seven wins, 24 losses and eight ties. It should have been a birthday cake walk for Tim and the Buds.

It was not. Boston came out on top 6-3. Goalie Eddie Johnston turned away 38 of 41 shots in the victory. The winning goal was scored by Dean Prentice in the second period with an assist from Andy Hebenton.

As for Horton, he was held off the scoresheet. In fact, he didn't even get a minor penalty. However, Tim led the Maple Leafs with five shots on net.

About Tim Horton

Tim Horton played 1,446 regular season and 126 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1949-50 and 1973-74. Although most of his career was played with Toronto, he also played for the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres.

Horton helped the Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cup championships. He was a First Team All-Star defenseman on three occasions and was selected Second Team All-Star the same number of times.

Tim was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame posthumously in 1977. His number 2 was retired by the Buffalo Sabres in 1996. The Toronto Maple Leafs retired his number 7 in 2016.

NHL Hockey Trivia: The Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is the holy grail of hockey. Lord Stanley’s Mug is handed to the National Hockey League’s playoff champion each season. Test your knowledge and broaden your hockey horizons with the following four bits of trivia.

Q. What was the first non-‘Original Six’ NHL team to win the Stanley in the post expansion era?

A. The Philadelphia Flyers, known as the ‘Broad Street Bullies’ won the Stanley Cup with a victory over the Boston Bruins in the 1974 Stanley Cup. The Flyers would repeat the accomplishment the following season with a victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Those were the only two times the Flyers have ever won the Cup, although Philadelphia reached the finals in 1975-76 against the Montreal Canadiens, 1979-80 against the New York Islanders, 1984-85 and 1986-87 against the Edmonton Oilers, 1996-97 against the Detroit Red Wings and 2009-10 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Flyers entered the NHL for the 1967-68 season. Previous to their first Stanley Cup championship in 1973-74, Philadelphia had won just one playoff series. In 1972-73, the Flyers knocked off the Minnesota North Stars in the quarter-finals before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in the semi-finals.

Q. Unfortunately, there are defunct franchises throughout the history of the NHL. What was the last now-defunct team to win the Stanley Cup?

A. The Montreal Maroons were the darlings of the English population in Montreal. The Maroons won the Stanley Cup in 1935. In that 1934-35 NHL season, Montreal was just fourth in the nine team league during the regular season. In the finals, they swept the Toronto Maple Leafs in three games. Toronto had finished first overall.

The Maroons entered the National Hockey League for the 1924-25 season. The following year, they captured their first of two Stanley Cup championships. Montreal would also lose in the finals in 1927-28 to the New York Rangers. It was New York's first ever championship in only their second year in the league. The Maroons played their final NHL season in 1937-38.

Q. How many Stanley Cups did the Montreal Canadiens win during the 1970’s?

A. The Habs won a total of six Stanley Cups in the 1970’s. They dominated the Cup from four years from 1976 to 1979. They also won in 1971 and 1973. Montreal has won 24 championships, to date. Since the 1970's, however, the Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup just twice, in 1985-86 over the Calgary Flames and in 1992-93 over the Los Angeles Kings.

Q. What team has gone the longest without winning the Stanley Cup?

A. Until the 2009-10 season ended, the answer to this question was the Chicago Blackhawks, not having won the Stanley Cup since 1961. Chicago's win left the Toronto Maple Leafs as the team that has gone the longest without a Stanley Cup victory. The Leafs last won in 1967, a year before the league expanded to twelve teams. The St. Louis Blues remain the only 1967 expansion team to have never won a Stanley Cup but entered the league a year after Toronto won their last Cup.