Brian Sutter’s Supercharged Gordie Howe Hat Trick Knocks Out Winnipeg Jets in 1982 Playoffs

When the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets squared off in the opening round of the 1981-82 Stanley Cup playoffs, few expected the Blues to dominate. Winnipeg had finished eight points ahead in the regular season, but St. Louis entered Game 4 at the Checkerdome with a 2-1 series lead on April 11, 1982.

Enter Brian Sutter, a player who could score just as well as he could scrap. In a career-defining performance, Sutter delivered an enhanced Gordie Howe Hat Trick that propelled the Blues to an emphatic series win.

Before the first period ended, Sutter scored twice. His first came at 7:18, assisted by Bernie Federko and Joe Mullen, and just 29 seconds later he dropped the gloves with Winnipeg’s Dave Babych, earning five for fighting and two for elbowing. Back out of the box, he struck again at 16:01, once again set up by Federko and Mullen. The second marker would stand as the game-winner in what turned into an 8-2 blowout.

Sutter wasn’t finished. Late in the second period, he assisted on Federko’s first goal of the postseason, stretching the lead to 7-1. In the third, he added another helper on Joe Mullen’s tally at 8:17, the final goal of both the game and the series.

Traditionally, a Gordie Howe Hat Trick consists of one goal, one assist, and one fight. Sutter went above and beyond, recording two goals, two assists, a fight, and even a minor penalty for good measure.

About Brian Sutter

Brian Sutter played 779 regular season and 65 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1976-77 and 1987-88, all with the St. Louis Blues. He scored at least 23 goals in seven consecutive seasons and 40 or more in two campaigns. His career high 46 was scored in 1982-83.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Brian Sutter

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

1. Which NHL team did Brian Sutter play his entire career with?

Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
Calgary Flames
New York Rangers

2. In which year did Brian Sutter first captain the St. Louis Blues?

1978
1980
1982
1984

3. What was Brian Sutter especially known for as a player?

Stickhandling wizardry
Two-way grit and leadership
Goaltending skills
Speed skating records

4. How many career NHL goals did Brian Sutter score?

175
247
303
356

5. Which year was Brian Sutter forced to retire due to back injuries?

1984
1986
1988
1990

Super Mario’s Legendary 5-Goal New Year’s Eve Performance in 1988

On December 31, 1988, the Pittsburgh Civic Arena became the stage for one of the most jaw-dropping individual performances in NHL history. Mario Lemieux, already known as "Super Mario," put on a show that may never be duplicated, scoring five goals in five different ways in an 8-6 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

No other player has ever done it, and odds are no one ever will again. Lemieux’s magical night unfolded like this:

• Even Strength: Just 4:17 into the game, Lemieux opened the scoring with help from Rob Brown.

• Shorthanded: Less than four minutes later, he struck again while killing a penalty, punishing the Devils for Phil Bourque’s minor.

• Power Play: Before the first period was through, Lemieux completed his hat trick on the man advantage, assisted by Paul Coffey and Gord Dineen.

• Penalty Shot: In the second period, he was awarded a penalty shot at 11:14. Cool and composed, he buried it past Chris Terreri, who was promptly pulled in favor of Bob Sauve. Remarkably, it also counted as a shorthanded tally with Dan Quinn in the box.

• Empty Net: After the Devils clawed back, Lemieux sealed history in the dying second of the third, scoring into an empty net with an assist from Jay Caufield.

Lemieux wasn’t done. He also added three assists, meaning he figured in all eight Penguins goals. His eight-point masterpiece overshadowed Kirk Muller’s five-point effort (two goals, three assists) for New Jersey.

About Mario Lemieux

Mario Lemieux played 915 regular season and 107 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1984-85 and 2005-06, all with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The two-time Stanley Cup champion won the Art Ross Trophy six times, the Hart Trophy three times and the Conn Smythe Trophy twice.

His personal best season offensively came in 1988-89 when he totaled 199 points on 85 goals and 114 assists. The first overall pick by the Penguins in 1984 was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.

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Bonus Quiz: The Career of Mario Lemieux

1. In which year was Mario Lemieux drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins?

1982
1984
1986
1988

2. How many Stanley Cups did Mario Lemieux win as a player?

1
2
3
4

3. Lemieux won six Art Ross Trophies as NHL scoring champion. Which other player’s dominance kept him from winning even more?

Wayne Gretzky
Mark Messier
Jaromir Jagr
Steve Yzerman

4. After retiring in 1997, Lemieux made a comeback in 2000. How did he rejoin the Penguins before lacing up again?

He was hired as head coach
He became the team’s owner
He signed as a free agent
He was traded back to Pittsburgh

5. Which major health challenge did Mario Lemieux publicly battle during his career, yet still return to dominate on the ice?

Heart disease
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Diabetes
Multiple concussions

Gordie Howe’s Natural Hat Trick Powers Red Wings Toward 1955 Stanley Cup

On April 10, 1955, Detroit’s Olympia Stadium witnessed one of Gordie Howe’s finest playoff performances. Facing the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, “Mr. Hockey” delivered a natural hat trick that carried the Red Wings within one win of the championship.

Howe’s trio of goals showcased his all-around greatness: one even strength, one on the power play, and one shorthanded. His first, scored at 18:59 of the opening period against Montreal’s Jacques Plante, stood as the game-winner in a 5-1 Detroit victory.

The second period belonged to Howe. At 12:29, he struck on the power play with help from Alex Delvecchio and Ted Lindsay. Just four minutes later, with Montreal down a man for hooking, Howe struck shorthanded, assisted by Lindsay and Red Kelly, to complete the rare natural hat trick.

Montreal bounced back to win Game 6 at the Forum, 6-3, with Bernie Geoffrion notching the winner. Howe was shut out that night, but in Game 7 he responded the way legends do, scoring his ninth goal of the postseason late in the second period. Detroit clinched the Stanley Cup with a 3-1 win, capturing the series 4-3.

Over 11 playoff games that spring, Howe racked up 9 goals and 11 assists for 20 points, numbers that would have easily earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy, had it been awarded at the time. It was the fourth and final Stanley Cup of his extraordinary career.

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Bonus Quiz: Gordie Howe’s Legendary Career

1. Gordie Howe played the majority of his NHL career with which team?

Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
Montreal Canadiens

2. Howe was nicknamed “Mr. Hockey.” Which of these is a unique record he held at the time of his retirement in 1980?

Most career goals, assists, and points in NHL history
Most consecutive games without a penalty
Most penalty minutes in a single season
Most playoff shutouts

3. In addition to the NHL, Gordie Howe also played in another professional league during the 1970s. Which league was it?

AHL (American Hockey League)
WHA (World Hockey Association)
IHL (International Hockey League)
KHL (Kontinental Hockey League)

4. Howe famously played professional hockey alongside his sons. What were their names?

Marty and Mark
Brett and Bobby
Wayne and Keith
Dave and Dean

5. Which of the following best describes Howe’s final professional game?

NHL game at age 48 with the Hartford Whalers
WHA game at age 52 with the Houston Aeros
AHL game at age 56 with the Rochester Americans
IHL game at age 69 with the Detroit Vipers