Bob Probert Stays Out of the Box and Records Lone Career Hat Trick on New Year’s Eve 1987

A New Year’s resolution to play a clean, high-scoring style? That was never really Bob Probert’s reputation. Still, during the 1987-88 season, Probert was delivering offense at a remarkable pace. Skating alongside Steve Yzerman, Probert finished the year with 29 goals, 62 points, and an eye-popping 398 penalty minutes, a statistical combination rarely seen in NHL history.

On December 31, 1987, Probert’s scoring touch took center stage. The St. Louis Blues were in town to face the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena, and Probert turned in the only hat trick of his NHL career, powering Detroit to a convincing 7-2 victory.

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Probert also set up a Steve Yzerman goal midway through the first period that put Detroit ahead 3-0. That tally would stand as the game-winner, capping a dominant opening stretch for the Red Wings on New Year’s Eve.

Despite the physical tone of the contest, Probert managed to stay out of the penalty box entirely, no small feat in a game that featured three fights involving Detroit teammates Lee Norwood, Doug Halward, and Darren Veitch. By night’s end, officials had handed out a total of 89 penalty minutes.

Probert was flawless offensively, scoring three goals on just three shots against Blues goaltender Rick Wamsley. Yzerman added a goal of his own on six shots while assisting on three others, finishing with four points. Normal service quickly resumed in Detroit’s next game, though, as Probert racked up 24 penalty minutes in a fight-filled outing against Winnipeg while Yzerman stole the spotlight with a natural hat trick.

About Bob Probert

Between 1985-86 and 2001-02, Bob Probert played 935 regular season and 81 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. The third round pick by the Red Wings at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft sits fifth all-time with 3,300 career penalty minutes.

Bob Probert: Tough Guy (Video)

The powerful documentary chronicling the life and career of Bob Probert.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Bob Probert

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

1. Which NHL team drafted Bob Probert?

Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
Toronto Maple Leafs
Edmonton Oilers

2. What combination best described Bob Probert’s most productive NHL season?

High goal totals and extremely high penalty minutes
Low scoring and strong defensive play
Elite playmaking with minimal physical play
Defensive shutdown role with few offensive chances

3. Which future Hall of Famer was most closely associated with Probert during his early years in Detroit?

Steve Yzerman
Sergei Fedorov
Nicklas Lidström
Brendan Shanahan

4. Bob Probert led the NHL in penalty minutes during which season?

1985-86
1987-88
1990-91
1993-94

5. After leaving Detroit, Bob Probert spent the final seasons of his NHL career with which team?

Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
New York Rangers
Winnipeg Jets

Rick Dudley Does All the Damage in Buffalo’s 1974 Shutout Win Over St. Louis

On October 26, 1974, Rick Dudley signaled the start of what would become a career-best NHL season with a dominant performance at the St. Louis Arena. While the Blues focused their defensive attention on Buffalo’s famed French Connection line, it was the trio of Dudley, Peter McNab, and Brian Spencer that delivered all the offense in a 2-0 Sabres victory.

Dudley opened the scoring just over nine minutes into the first period, firing home a power-play goal against St. Louis goaltender John Davidson. McNab and Spencer picked up the assists on the play, which came with Bob Stumpf serving a penalty for elbowing. The goal proved to be the game-winner.

Early in the second period, Dudley struck again. At the 3:13 mark, he buried his second goal of the night, once more set up by McNab and Spencer, to cap the scoring. Those two shots were the only ones to beat Davidson, who turned aside 36 of 38 attempts in a strong but losing effort.

At the other end, Gary Bromley made 21 saves to secure the shutout for Buffalo, marking the first shutout of his NHL career. Dudley’s two-goal night was a snapshot of the offensive impact he would provide all season long.

During the 1974-75 campaign, Dudley posted career highs with 31 goals and 39 assists for 70 points. His standout play earned him Hart Trophy consideration, finishing tied for ninth in voting alongside Bob Nevin of the Los Angeles Kings. Following Buffalo’s run to the Stanley Cup Final that spring, Dudley made the jump to the WHA, where he spent four seasons with the Cincinnati Stingers.

About Rick Dudley

Undrafted, Rick Dudley played 309 regular season and 25 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1972-73 to 1980-81 with the Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets. Dudley also played 270 regular season and four playoff games in the WHA between 1975-76 and 1978-79, all with the Cincinnati Stingers.

In 1972-73 with the Cincinnati Swords in the AHL, Rick led the team with 22 points in the playoffs with the team capturing the Calder Trophy championship. His 40 regular season goals tied him for fifth, 12 behind leader Yvon Lambert.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Rick Dudley

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

1. Which NHL team drafted Rick Dudley and launched his professional career?

Montreal Canadiens
Buffalo Sabres
New York Rangers
Toronto Maple Leafs

2. Rick Dudley recorded his highest NHL point total during which season?

1974–75
1972–73
1976–77
1978–79

3. After Buffalo’s Stanley Cup Final appearance, Dudley jumped to the WHA to play for which team?

Edmonton Oilers
Cincinnati Stingers
Houston Aeros
Quebec Nordiques

4. Which NHL honor did Rick Dudley receive votes for following his breakout 1974–75 season?

Hart Memorial Trophy
Selke Trophy
Lady Byng Trophy
Calder Trophy

5. After retiring as a player, Rick Dudley later served the NHL as a:

Referee only
Television broadcaster only
Coach and general manager
League executive only

John Tonelli Hits 100 Points in Dramatic Fashion in Islanders’ 1984-85 Finale

John Tonelli reached a major personal milestone in unforgettable fashion during the final game of the 1984-85 NHL season, becoming just the fifth player in New York Islanders history to record a 100-point campaign. Alongside teammate Brent Sutter, Tonelli joined an exclusive club previously occupied only by Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, and Bryan Trottier. Since then, only Pat LaFontaine and Pierre Turgeon have managed the feat in an Islanders uniform.

Tonelli’s path to 100 points was anything but easy. After being shut out along with the rest of the Islanders in a 3–0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 79, Tonelli entered the season finale stuck at 99 points. The April 6, 1985 matchup against the New Jersey Devils at Nassau Coliseum appeared to be slipping away as the third period wound down without a goal, and New Jersey clung to a 5-4 lead.

With just 48 seconds remaining in regulation, Tonelli delivered when it mattered most. He scored his 42nd goal of the season against Devils goaltender and former Islander Glenn Resch, with assists from Mike Bossy and Clark Gillies. The goal not only tied the game but also gave Tonelli his long-awaited 100th point. Overtime failed to produce a winner, and the contest ended in a 5-5 tie, but the moment belonged to Tonelli.

Brent Sutter also played a key role in Islanders history during the 1984-85 season. He finished with 102 points, collecting an assist in the finale. Sutter reached the 100-point mark earlier, on March 12, 1985, during a road win over the St. Louis Blues in which he recorded four points. His total could have been even higher if not for missing ten late-season games before returning for the final two contests.

About John Tonelli

John Tonelli played 1,028 regular season and 172 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1978-79 and 1991-92 with the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques. 

The four-time Stanley Cup champion was originally drafted by the Islanders in the second round of the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft but started his major league career in the WHA. Between 1975-76 and 1977-78, Tonelli played 224 regular season and 34 playoff games in the World Hockey Association, all with the Houston Aeros.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: John Tonelli

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

1. Which NHL team originally drafted John Tonelli?

Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Islanders
Montreal Canadiens
Chicago Blackhawks

2. How many Stanley Cups did John Tonelli win during his NHL career?

Two
Three
Four
Five

3. During which season did John Tonelli record his only 100-point campaign?

1980-81
1984-85
1982-83
1986-87

4. Against which former New York Islanders goaltender did Tonelli score his 100th point?

Billy Smith
Glenn Resch
Chico Resch
Ron Hextall

5. Which Original Six team did John Tonelli play for late in his NHL career?

Chicago Blackhawks
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers