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

Gilbert Perreault Becomes the 12th Player in NHL History to Reach the 500 Goal Plateau

On March 9, 1986, the Buffalo Sabres faithful at the Aud witnessed history. Their franchise cornerstone, Gilbert Perreault, became just the 12th player in NHL history to reach the 500-goal milestone.

Perreault had notched goal number 499 two nights earlier in a loss to the Hartford Whalers. Against the New Jersey Devils, he struck again, scoring his milestone marker at 10:44 of the second period on Alain Chevrier, with Mike Foligno and Bill Hajt picking up the assists.

Although it was Perreault’s only point of the night, the Sabres pulled off a 4-3 victory. Foligno added a goal and an assist, and Doug Smith netted the game-winner late in the third period. Tom Barrasso was solid between the pipes, turning aside 31 of 34 shots for the win.

For Perreault, the milestone came near the twilight of his brilliant career. His 500th was his 18th goal of the 1985-86 season, and he would finish that year with 21, good for fourth on the team despite his age and reduced ice time. The Sabres missed the playoffs, and Perreault would play only 20 more games the following season before retiring with 512 career goals.

A true one-franchise legend, Gilbert Perreault played 1,191 regular-season games and 90 playoff games, all with Buffalo. He remains the only player ever to wear No. 11 for the Sabres, and his 1990 induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame cemented his place among the game’s greatest. As of today, he still ranks 43rd on the NHL’s all-time goals list, just behind Jeremy Roenick, a testament to the skill, grace, and longevity that defined his career.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Gilbert Perreault

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

1. In what year did Gilbert Perreault make his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres?

1968-69
1969-70
1970-71
1971-72

2. Which award did Perreault win during his rookie season in the NHL?

Lady Byng Trophy
Calder Memorial Trophy
Hart Trophy
Bill Masterton Trophy

3. Gilbert Perreault was the centerpiece of what famous Buffalo Sabres forward line?

The French Connection
The Production Line
The Triple Crown Line
The Legion of Doom

4. How many career goals did Perreault finish with before retiring in 1987?

486
500
512
519

5. In what year was Gilbert Perreault inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?

1988
1989
1990
1991