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

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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

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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

Reg Leach and Dennis Hull Trade Hat Tricks in a 1974 Blackhawks Blowout

In the early 1970s, matchups with the California Golden Seals often meant big nights for opposing scorers and January 6, 1974 was no exception. Dennis Hull made the most of the opportunity, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 9-4 win at Chicago Stadium. But California’s Reggie Leach wasn’t about to let Hull have the spotlight to himself.

Leach got on the board first, beating Blackhawks goalie Mike Veisor just 2:15 into the opening period. Walt McKechnie and Brent Meeke assisted on the early goal. Hull answered back five minutes later with his 17th of the season, set up by Pit Martin and Bill White.

Before the first period ended, Hull had already added his second of the night, and the Hawks took a 3-2 lead into the intermission. He completed the hat trick just 1:17 into the second period.

Reggie Leach wasn’t done either. He tallied his second goal of the game at 12:07 of the second period, then notched his third at 11:11 of the third. Despite the lopsided final score, Leach’s hat trick earned him some well-deserved respect.

Hull rounded out his stellar night with two third-period assists, giving him five points overall. Both he and Leach led their respective teams with six shots on goal.

In net for the Golden Seals was Bob Champoux, who played 17 games that season. After a single NHL playoff appearance with Detroit back in 1964, the 1973-74 campaign with California marked his only regular-season action in the league. He finished the year with a 5.21 goals-against average and a .848 save percentage.

Dennis Hull vs. Reg Leach in 1973-74

1973-74 was the final year with the California Golden Seals for Reg Leach. His 22 goals were one off his previous best of 23, put up the year before. His 46 points were a career best but these highs would change fast. On May 24, 1974, Leach was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Al MacAdam and Larry Wright. With the Flyers, Reg would see his potential and have career highs of 61 goals and 91 points.

For Dennis Hull, 1973-74 was a decent year with 29 goals and 68 points. However, his goal scoring had been declining since he put up 40 in 1970-71. He would remain in the NHL until the end of the 1977-78 campaign but he would not really have the same scoring success he'd enjoyed.

Quiz: Reg Leach and Dennis Hull Hat Trick Showdown (1974)

For more hockey trivia, come on over and check out our hockey trivia website!

1. Who scored the first goal of the game on January 6, 1974?

Dennis Hull
Reggie Leach
Pit Martin
Brent Meeke

2. How many points did Dennis Hull score in the game?

3
4
5
6

3. Who was the California Golden Seals’ starting goalie that day?

Bob Champoux
Terry Sawchuk
Mike Veisor
Rogie Vachon

4. How many goals did Reggie Leach score in the game?

2
3
4
1

5. How many games did Bob Champoux play in the NHL that season?

10
17
3
1