Blues Stun Red Wings with Third Period Rally on Opening Night 1978-79

On October 11, 1978, at Detroit’s historic Olympia, the Red Wings looked poised to start the 1978-79 NHL season with a win. Dale McCourt was the star early, assisting on a second-period goal by Reed Larson before netting his first of the year just 90 seconds later to give Detroit a 4-2 lead. Brian Sutter struck late in the period for St. Louis, keeping the Blues within reach.

Garry Unger and Curt Bennett Lead Blues Third Period Rally

McCourt fired a game-high 11 shots at St. Louis goalie Phil Myre, who stood tall with 38 saves on 42 shots. At the other end, Detroit netminder Rogie Vachon faced only 14 shots but the Blues made them count. Curt Bennett tied the game 4:30 into the third, assisted by Garry Unger and Larry Giroux. Then, at 12:17, Unger scored the game-winner with help from Bennett and Doug Palazzari.

For Unger, it was the first of 30 goals in what would be his final season with the Blues, including three game-winning tallies. Both he and Bennett would join the Atlanta Flames the following year.

Detroit stuck with Vachon despite his rough opener, starting him in 50 games that season. After Jim Rutherford took the next start (a loss to Philadelphia), Vachon bounced back with a 3-2 victory over Buffalo, stopping 25 of 27 shots.

Hockey Trivia: Garry Unger

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

1. Garry Unger famously held the NHL ironman streak for consecutive games played. How many straight games did he play?
   814
   902
   914
   936
2. Which NHL team did Garry Unger start his career with?
   St. Louis Blues
   Toronto Maple Leafs
   Detroit Red Wings
   Atlanta Flames
3. Unger was traded from Detroit to St. Louis in 1971 in a blockbuster deal involving which star player going the other way?
   Red Berenson
   Phil Esposito
   Marcel Dionne
   Bernie Federko
4. What was Garry Unger’s highest single-season goal total in the NHL?
   38
   41
   50
   54
5. Unger’s consecutive games streak ended in 1979 when he was benched by which coach?
   Al Arbour
   Don Cherry
   Al MacNeil
   Bernie Geoffrion

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Garry Unger

Esposito, Hull, Howe: The Race to the NHL’s First 100-Point Season

Before 1968-69, no NHL player had ever scored 100 points in a single season. The closest came in the mid-60s: Bobby Hull with 97 points in 1965-66, and Stan Mikita matching the feat the next year. Mikita even won the 1967-68 Art Ross Trophy with just 87 points. But the next season would change NHL history forever.

In 1968-69, not one, but three hockey legends shattered the 100-point barrier for the first time: Phil Esposito, Bobby Hull, and Gordie Howe.

Phil Esposito: The First to 100

On March 2, 1969, Boston Bruins centre Phil Esposito reached the milestone in style. Facing the Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Garden, Esposito scored his 39th goal of the season just 17 seconds into the third period, assisted by Ken Hodge and Ted Green. That goal marked point number 100.

He wasn’t done, adding a shorthanded goal later in the period, assisted by Hodge and Bobby Orr, on the way to a 4-0 win. Esposito ended the year with 126 points, earning his first of five Art Ross Trophies.

Bobby Hull: The Golden Jet Follows

On March 20, 1969, in the same Boston Garden, Bobby Hull of the Chicago Blackhawks became the second man to hit 100 points. Needing two points going into the game, Hull scored his 54th goal with less than three minutes left, then struck again just 13 seconds later for the magic number.

Hull closed the season with 107 points, finishing second to Esposito in the scoring race.

Gordie Howe: Mr. Hockey Joins the Club

Finally, on March 30, 1969, Gordie Howe entered the Detroit Red Wings last game of the season with 99 points. Against Hull’s Blackhawks, Howe scored his 43rd goal just 33 seconds into the second period for point number 100.

He added another goal and two assists for a four-point night, finishing the season with 103 points, good for third in the Art Ross race.

Quiz: NHL’s First Triple 100-Point Season (1968-69)

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our Hockey Trivia website!

1. Who was the first player in NHL history to reach 100 points in a single season?
   Bobby Hull
   Phil Esposito
   Gordie Howe
   
2. In which month of 1969 did Phil Esposito hit the 100-point milestone?
   January
   March
   February
   
3. How many points did Bobby Hull finish with in the 1968-69 season?
   100
   107
   126
   
4. Gordie Howe reached his 100th point against which team?
   Boston Bruins
   Chicago Blackhawks
   New York Rangers
   
5. How many points did Phil Esposito total in 1968-69?
   107
   103
   126
   

Butch Goring’s First Islanders Hat Trick Comes in High-Octane Duel with Real Cloutier

On March 10, 1980, the New York Islanders made a franchise-altering move by acquiring Butch Goring from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Billy Harris and Dave Lewis. Just nine games into his tenure with the Isles, Goring showed exactly why the deal would become legendary.

On March 30, 1980, the Islanders visited the Quebec Nordiques for a wild offensive showcase. Goring went toe-to-toe with Quebec star Real “Buddy” Cloutier, with both players recording a hat trick and an assist for four-point nights. The Islanders came out on top, winning 9-6 in a game loaded with firepower.

Cloutier got off to a hot start, notching his 36th and 37th goals of the season in the first period, both assisted by Marc Tardif, beating goalie Glenn "Chico" Resch. Butch Goring got on the board early in the second, narrowing the score to 3-2, and shortly after, assisted on a Clark Gillies goal to help the Islanders gain momentum.

Despite another Quebec tally from Paul Stewart (assisted by Cloutier), the Islanders held a slim 6-5 lead heading into the third.

Cloutier completed his hat trick with his 38th of the season just under four minutes into the third, tying the game 6-6. But the Islanders would not be denied. John Tonelli put New York back ahead just seconds later, and Goring sealed the win with two more goals, his 24th and 25th of the campaign, both assisted by Denis Potvin, with the final helper also coming from goalie Glenn Resch.

Goring was a force all game, firing six shots, alongside Bob Nystrom, Bryan Trottier, and Potvin, all of whom also registered six shots. The Islanders peppered Quebec goalie Goran Hogosta with 49 total shots. Cloutier and Tardif combined for nearly half of Quebec's 29 shots on goal.

Hockey Trivia: Butch Goring Quiz

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our Hockey Trivia website!

1. What team did Butch Goring start his NHL career with?
   New York Islanders
   Boston Bruins
   Los Angeles Kings
   Atlanta Flames
2. How many Stanley Cups did Butch Goring win as a player with the Islanders?
   1
   2
   3
   4
3. Which NHL award did Butch Goring win in the 1977–78 season?
   Hart Trophy
   Lady Byng Trophy
   Conn Smythe Trophy
   Bill Masterton Trophy
4. Who did the Islanders trade to get Butch Goring in 1980?
   Bob Bourne and Stefan Persson
   Bryan Trottier and Dave Langevin
   Billy Harris and Dave Lewis
   Mike Bossy and Bob Lorimer
5. What was Goring famously known for wearing on his head instead of a traditional helmet?
   A Spaps brand helmet
   A Jofa bubble helmet
   A heavily padded mask
   A clear plastic visor