Pat Lafontaine Finds His NHL Groove in Just His Second Game with the Islanders

Pat Lafontaine wasted little time proving he belonged in the NHL. Less than two weeks after representing the United States at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Yugoslavia, the highly touted rookie was already making his presence felt with the New York Islanders.

Selected third overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, behind Brian Lawton and Sylvain Turgeon, Lafontaine joined a veteran Islanders lineup late in the 1983-84 season. Despite appearing in just 15 regular-season games, he produced an impressive 13 goals and 19 points, an early sign of the elite scoring touch that would define his career.

Lafontaine’s second NHL game, played on March 3, 1984, came at Maple Leaf Gardens against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In classic high-scoring 1980s fashion, the Islanders erupted for an 11-6 road victory and Lafontaine stole the spotlight.

At 11:31 of the first period, he scored his first NHL goal, beating Allan Bester with assists from Bob Bourne and Denis Potvin. Before the opening frame ended, Lafontaine added his first NHL assist, setting up John Tonelli as New York piled on four first-period goals.

The rookie wasn’t finished. In the third period, Lafontaine recorded three more points in a span of just over eight minutes. He scored his second goal at 4:05 against Rick St. Croix, picked up another assist on a Tonelli goal at 11:22, and completed his first NHL hat trick at 12:14. When the dust settled, Lafontaine had five points in just his second NHL appearance.

That explosive night was an early glimpse of what would become a remarkable NHL career. Between 1983-84 and 1997-98, Lafontaine scored 468 regular-season goals while starring for the Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Rangers. He reached the 50-goal mark twice, highlighted by a career-best 54-goal season in 1989-90. In recognition of his achievements, Pat Lafontaine was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.

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Golden Seals Goalie Gilles Meloche Records Rare 2-Point Period Against The Rangers

Gilles Meloche built his NHL reputation the hard way, by standing tall while facing a relentless barrage of shots night after night for struggling teams. But on January 17, 1975, at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, the California Golden Seals goalie found himself in an unfamiliar position: with time, space, and opportunity to make history offensively.

The visiting New York Rangers managed just 25 shots on Meloche that night, a rarity during his career. That lighter workload allowed the veteran netminder to make his mark in a completely different way.

Despite the Rangers entering the game as a far superior club, New York had lost only 12 of its first 42 games in 1974-75, while the Seals had won just 11 of 46. The contest remained close. The Rangers carried a 3-2 lead into the third period, but California refused to fade quietly.

At 10:15 of the third, Ron Huston netted his 10th goal of the season on Rangers goalie Gilles Villemure, with assists credited to Dave Hrechkosy and Meloche. Just 91 seconds later, Steve Vickers restored New York’s lead with his 20th of the year, but the Seals weren’t done.

At 14:22, Al MacAdam tied the game 4-4, assisted by Len Frig and, once again, Gilles Meloche.

Two assists by a goaltender in a single game is rare enough. Recording both helpers in a span of just 4:07 within the same period makes the feat even more remarkable and possibly record-setting. That season, Meloche posted a career-high six points. Over 788 NHL regular-season games, he finished with 22 assists, a decent total.

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Don Luce’s Only NHL Hat Trick Gives the French Connection the Night Off

When the Buffalo Sabres visited the Capital Centre on December 22, 1974, all eyes were on the famed French Connection. Washington’s expansion Capitals keyed in on slowing Gilbert Perreault, René Robert, and Rick Martin. For the most part, they succeeded. What they didn’t account for was the damage done by Buffalo’s secondary line.

With Washington desperate for just its fourth win in the first 35 games of its inaugural season, and the Sabres rolling with only six losses in their first 33 contests of 1974-75, holding Buffalo to four goals was an achievement in itself. But one Sabre made those four count. Don Luce.

Luce, skating alongside Craig Ramsay and Bill Hajt, recorded the only hat trick of his NHL career in a dominant two-period stretch. He first contributed with an assist on the game-winning goal, a shorthanded marker by Ramsay at 19:53 of the opening period. Then came the second.

At 9:59, Luce opened the scoring himself, netting his 17th goal of the season at even strength, the only even-strength tally of the game. With Gilbert Perreault in the penalty box later in the period, Luce struck again, this time shorthanded at 13:25, beating Ron Low with help from Ramsay.

Just 23 seconds later, with Perreault still serving his minor, Luce completed the hat trick. This time, Bill Hajt picked up the assist as Luce capped off a rare offensive outburst. That would be all the scoring on the night. Gary Bromley stopped all 27 shots he faced to earn the shutout, while Low made 37 saves in a losing effort for Washington.

The performance came during a career season for Luce, who finished 1974-75 with 33 goals and 43 assists for 76 points. He added 13 more points in 16 playoff games as the Sabres marched to the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Philadelphia Flyers.

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About Don Luce

Don Luce played 894 regular season and 71 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1969-70 and 1981-82 with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Luce had 20+ goals in six seasons, putting up a career best 33 in 1974-75 with Buffalo.

Don Luce NHL Career Stats

Regular Season

Playoffs