Rick Middleton Shines with Four-Point Night in Fiery Win Over North Stars (Feb. 26, 1981)

Boston Garden was buzzing as the Bruins hosted the Minnesota North Stars, but no one made a bigger impact than Rick Middleton. In a 5-1 Bruins victory that was equal parts highlight reel and penalty box parade, Middleton delivered a vintage performance.

In the first period, Middleton helped open the scoring by assisting on a shorthanded goal by Mike O’Connell. Later in the frame, he teamed up with Ray Bourque to set up Jean Ratelle, who notched what would be the final goal of his illustrious NHL career, fittingly on the powerplay.

While chaos unfolded around him in a game that featured a staggering 404 penalty minutes, still one of the most penalized games in NHL history, Middleton managed to stay clear of the rough stuff until late in the second. At 17:13, he and former teammate Joe Zanussi dropped the gloves, each earning five-minute majors. Keith Crowder, however, led the penalty parade with 43 PIM, a mark that still ranks in the top 25 all-time for a single game.

Middleton wasn’t finished. In the third period, he returned to the scoresheet with style, netting two shorthanded goals just 62 seconds apart. One came unassisted, the other with help from Ratelle. Both came while Mike O’Connell was in the box, and both beat Minnesota goalie Gilles Meloche. Interestingly, both Meloche and Bruins netminder Rogie Vachon had earlier picked up minor penalties of their own during one of the game’s many melees.

By the end of the night, Middleton had posted two goals and two assists, all on special teams. He finished +3 and fired four of Boston’s 27 shots. It was a performance for the ages, not only for its offensive brilliance but for its poise amid the mayhem.

About Rick Middleton

Rick Middleton played 1,005 regular season and 114 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1974-75 and 1987-88 with the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins. Originally, he was a first round pick by the Rangers at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft out of the Oshawa Generals.

In 1973-74, between his junior days and NHL career, Middleton was awarded the Dudley Red Garrett Award as the AHL's top rookie. Playing for the Providence Reds, Rick scored 36 and assisted on 48 for 84 points in 63 regular season games. In the post season, he added 15 points in 15 games with the Reds losing the Calder Cup final to the Hershey Bears.

Left out of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Middleton has been honoured by the Boston Bruins with jersey number 16 retired by the club in 2018. From the start of his NHL career with the Rangers in 1974-75, Rick scored 20 or more goals in eleven consecutive seasons. He had eight years with 30 or more goals and topped out with a career high 51 in 1981-82.

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Rick Middleton [Video]

John Tonelli’s Lightning-Fast Start Can't Stop Oilers' Offense in 6-4 Loss

The 1984-85 NHL season was a milestone year for New York Islanders forward John Tonelli, who recorded a career-best 100 points with 42 goals and 58 assists. One of his most explosive starts came on December 5, 1984, when the Islanders faced the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers at Northlands Coliseum.

Tonelli wasted no time making an impact, scoring just 25 seconds into the game with assists from Mike Bossy and Gerald Diduck. An incredible 16 seconds later, he lit the lamp again, this time with Bossy picking up his second assist. Two goals in just 41 seconds gave the Islanders early momentum.

But the Oilers, led by their dynamic duo of Jari Kurri and Wayne Gretzky, stormed back. Edmonton responded with three straight goals and by the end of the second period, the teams were tied 4-4. In the third, Kurri took over, scoring twice to complete his hat trick. Both he and Gretzky ended the night with five points, driving the Oilers to a 6-4 comeback win.

Tonelli’s early outburst wasn’t his only contribution. He added an assist on a Mike Bossy powerplay goal with two seconds left in the second period, his third point of the night. It was one of eight times during the season that Tonelli notched three or more points in a game, including a remarkable six-point performance earlier in the year against the Los Angeles Kings.

About John Tonelli

A second round pick by the New York Islanders at the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft after his second of three years in the WHA with the Houston Aeros, John Tonelli got his NHL start with the Isles in 1978-79. Between 1978-79 and 1991-92, Tonelli playe 1,028 regular season and 172 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Islanders, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques. 

John helped New York to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships and had his jersey number 27 retired by the club in 2020. Over his time in the World Hockey Association, Tonelli played 224 regular season and 34 playoff games between 1975-76 and 1977-78, all with the Houston Aeros. Prior to that, he played major junior with the Toronto Marlboros.

Bernie Geoffrion Booms Back with 4-Point Game Against Former Team

When Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion returned to the NHL in 1966-67, it wasn’t in a Montreal Canadiens jersey, but rather in the blue of the New York Rangers. After retiring in 1964 following the Canadiens’ playoff run, Geoffrion made his comeback three seasons later. His first game back at the Forum was quiet, but the second? Pure Boom Boom.

On November 12, 1966, the Rangers rolled into the Montreal Forum and left with a 6-3 victory over the Habs. Geoffrion led the charge with a standout four-point performance. He scored once and set up goals by Rod Gilbert, fellow former Canadien Bill Hicke, and Harry Howell. Interestingly, he only fired two shots on Gump Worsley, taking on a more creative playmaker role in his triumphant return.

Geoffrion wasn’t the only former Hab making waves. Reg Fleming, who briefly suited up for Montreal earlier in his career, brought chaos and contributions. He assisted on both Geoffrion’s and Howell’s third-period goals, but not before logging serious time in the penalty box.

In the opening frame, Fleming dropped the gloves with Terry Harper, earning five for fighting. Then in the second period, he tangled with Dick Duff for another fighting major and picked up a 10-minute misconduct for good measure. All that downtime seemed to recharge him, as he contributed offensively to seal the Rangers' win.

About Bernie Geoffrion 

Bernie Geoffrion played 883 regular season and 132 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1950-51 and 1967-68 with the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers. He was the second NHL player to reach the 50 goal plateau, scoring exactly 50 for the Habs in 1960-61.

The six time Stanley Cup champion was the Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's top rookie in 1951-52. He won the Art Ross Trophy twice and the Hart Trophy once. Geoffrion was named a first team All-Star once and was selected to the Second Team twice. Bernie was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 and his jersey number 5 was retired by the Canadiens in 2006.