Oilers Crush Devils with Three Hat Tricks in Chaotic 1983 Blowout

On November 19, 1983, the Edmonton Oilers delivered one of the wildest offensive eruptions in franchise history and sparked Wayne Gretzky’s legendary “Mickey Mouse organization” quip toward the New Jersey Devils. The Devils entered Northlands Coliseum with a brutal 2-17 record, and although they opened each period with a goal, this was never going to be their miracle turnaround night.

Edmonton rolled to a 13-4 win, and for only the second time in the modern NHL, three players from one team recorded hat tricks in the same game. One of them even went beyond that.

Gretzky, Kurri & Lindstrom Run Wild

Wayne Gretzky put on an eight-point show, three goals and five assists, marking the first of his two career eight-point outings. Only 14 such performances exist in NHL history.

Jari Kurri delivered the night’s biggest explosion with five goals and one assist for six points. Willy Lindstrom completed the rare trifecta with three goals and one assist, including a helper on Kurri’s opening goal.

A Rough Night in the Devils’ Crease

The Devils’ goaltending tandem took a pounding:

Ron Low: 8 goals allowed on 22 shots

Chico Resch: 5 goals allowed on 15 shots

Even Edmonton’s Grant Fuhr had a shaky evening, giving up four goals on just 22 shots, though he certainly had more offensive support than he needed.

The Aftermath: Devils Push Back

Gretzky’s sharp postgame criticism didn’t go unnoticed. In their two remaining 1983-84 meetings, New Jersey came out far stronger:

Jan 15, 1984 – Oilers barely win 5-4

Jan 27, 1984 – Devils rally from 3-0 down to earn a 3-3 tie

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NHL Hockey Trivia: 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers

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

1. Which Edmonton Oiler led the NHL in scoring during the 1983-84 season?
Wayne Gretzky
Mark Messier
Jari Kurri
Glenn Anderson

2. Who scored the Stanley Cup–winning goal for the Oilers in the 1984 Final?
Paul Coffey
Ken Linseman
Charlie Huddy
Dave Hunter

3. Which defenseman won the Norris Trophy during the 1983-84 season?
Charlie Huddy
Paul Coffey
Randy Gregg
Kevin Lowe

4. Which Oiler scored 50 goals for the first time in his career during 1983-84?
Wayne Gretzky
Jari Kurri
Glenn Anderson
Mark Messier

5. Which goaltender earned the majority of starts for the Oilers in 1983-84?
Andy Moog
Grant Fuhr
Ron Low
Bruce Nicholson

Marc Tardif & Frank Mahovlich Power Ken Dryden’s First NHL Shutout

Ken Dryden’s 1970-71 playoff heroics made him an instant legend. Six regular-season games, 20 playoff starts, and a Stanley Cup run that earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy before he won the Calder as rookie of the year. 

But one milestone escaped him during that magical spring: his first NHL shutout. That moment finally arrived early in the 1971-72 season.

Montreal travelled west to face the Vancouver Canucks at the Pacific Coliseum, just five games into the new campaign. The Canucks, still only in their second year, were a respectable 3-4-0 and held the Canadiens scoreless until the dying minutes of the first period. At 18:01, Marc Tardif broke through with the eventual game-winner on Dunc Wilson, assisted by Henri Richard.

Tardif struck again early in the second, his second of the night and fourth of the season, with J.C. Tremblay and Rejean Houle picking up helpers. From there, Frank Mahovlich took over the scoring, completing a natural hat trick that included a shorthanded tally set up by his brother, Pete.

While the offense rolled, Dryden did his part by turning aside all 28 Vancouver shots in a commanding 6-0 victory. Rosaire Paiement and Dale Tallon each fired four shots for the Canucks, but nothing found its way through.

The shutout was the first of eight for Dryden that season and the first of 46 in his Hall of Fame career. Remarkably, three of his eight blanks in 1971-72 came against Vancouver. Montreal swept all five matchups with the Canucks that year, outscoring them by a staggering 32-8 margin.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Ken Dryden

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

1. In which season did Ken Dryden famously win the Conn Smythe Trophy before winning the Calder Trophy?

1970-71
1969-70
1971-72
1972-73

2. Ken Dryden spent his entire NHL career with which team?

Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers

3. How many Vezina Trophies did Ken Dryden win during his NHL career?

Five
Two
Three
Six

4. Ken Dryden retired surprisingly early. How old was he when he played his final NHL game?

31
35
33
29

5. Which team did Dryden face in his first career postseason start — a series that helped launch him to the Conn Smythe?

Boston Bruins
Chicago Black Hawks
New York Rangers
Buffalo Sabres

Börje Salming: The Swedish Trailblazer Who Redefined NHL Defence

When Börje Salming arrived in Toronto in 1973, few in the NHL were prepared for what the Swedish defenceman would bring. At a time when European players were still viewed with skepticism, Salming’s combination of toughness, poise, and two-way excellence quickly shattered the old stereotypes and opened the door for generations of European stars who followed.

Signed from Brynäs IF, one of Sweden’s premier clubs, Salming made an immediate impact with the Maple Leafs. His smooth skating, elite vision, and willingness to battle in the gritty corners of the rink made him a fan favourite from the moment he stepped on the ice. Toronto had never seen a defenceman quite like him and soon, neither had the rest of the league.

Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Salming became one of the NHL’s premier blueliners. He set new standards for offensive production from the defence position, highlighted by a franchise-record season in 1976-77 when he posted 78 points, a Maple Leafs record for a defenceman that stood for decades. Yet Salming’s game was never just about numbers. His courage and resilience made him a symbol of pride in Toronto, especially during the rougher, more physical era of the league.

Despite facing intense abuse from opponents and fans early in his career, often rooted in anti-European bias, Salming earned universal respect for his durability. One of the more iconic moments came in 1986, when he received a horrific facial cut from a skate yet returned to play soon after, reinforcing a toughness that even his harshest critics could not deny.

When he left the Maple Leafs in 1989, he did so as one of the most beloved players in franchise history. His impact extended far beyond Toronto: Salming helped change the NHL’s perception of European talent, paving the way for modern superstars from Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and more.

In 1996, Salming became the first Swedish player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, cementing his place as both a Maple Leafs legend and a global hockey pioneer.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Börje Salming

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

1. Börje Salming was a pioneering NHL star from which country?

Sweden
Finland
Norway
Denmark

2. Salming is best known for his long NHL career with which team?

Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
Vancouver Canucks
Los Angeles Kings

3. Which major honour did Börje Salming achieve in 1996?

Induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Winning the Norris Trophy
Winning the Stanley Cup
Coaching the Swedish National Team

4. Börje Salming set a Maple Leafs record for most points in a season by a defenceman in which decade?

1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s

5. Before joining the Maple Leafs, Salming starred for which Swedish club?

HV71
Brynäs IF
Färjestad BK
Djurgårdens IF