Barry Beck's Only NHL Hat Trick Came in Just His 26th Game

On December 17, 1977, Barry Beck recorded the only hat trick of his NHL career, and it came remarkably early in his rookie season. Playing just his 26th NHL game, the Colorado Rockies defenseman scored three goals and added an assist in a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota North Stars at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver.

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Highlights

• December 17, 1977 at McNichols Sports Arena

• Colorado defeated Minnesota 5-1

• Beck scored 3 goals and 1 assist

• It was just his 26th NHL game

• His first goal proved to be the game-winner

• Beck led all players with 7 shots

• Doug Favell stopped 34 of 35 shots

• It remained the only hat trick of Beck's NHL career

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The Rockies had selected Beck second overall at the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft, behind only Dale McCourt. He quickly established himself as one of the league's top rookies and would eventually finish second to New York Islanders star Mike Bossy in voting for the 1977-78 Calder Trophy. On this December night against Minnesota, Beck showed exactly why he was generating so much attention.

Colorado struck just 1:18 into the game when Beck assisted on a goal by Paul Gardner. At 11:26 of the opening period, Beck scored his 12th goal of the season, beating Minnesota goaltender Pete LoPresti. The goal, assisted by John Van Boxmeer and Chuck Arnason, would stand as the game-winner. Beck struck again at 14:37 of the second period, once more with Van Boxmeer and Arnason providing the assists, to give Colorado a commanding 4-0 lead.

Beck completed his hat trick at 3:11 of the third period, giving him four points on the night and extending the Rockies' lead to 5-0. He also led all skaters with seven shots on goal. Colorado goaltender Doug Favell nearly completed the evening with a shutout, stopping 34 of 35 shots. However, Brad Maxwell spoiled the bid with an unassisted goal with just seven seconds remaining.

LoPresti stopped 23 of 28 shots for Minnesota in the loss. The performance would remain unique throughout Beck's NHL career: despite eventually playing 615 regular-season games with the Colorado Rockies, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings, December 17, 1977 remained Barry Beck's only NHL hat trick.

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Bill Barber Scores Four as Flyers Beat North Stars in 1980 Playoffs

Bill Barber put together one of the biggest playoff performances of his career on May 4, 1980, scoring four times as the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Minnesota North Stars 5-3 at the Met Center. The victory gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead in their Stanley Cup semifinal series after the teams had split the opening two games.

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Highlights

• May 4, 1980 at the Met Center

• Flyers and North Stars entered Game 3 tied 1-1

• Bill Barber scored twice late in the first period

• Barber completed his hat trick at 6:07 of the second

• Philadelphia built a 4-0 lead

• Minnesota responded with three consecutive goals

• Barber scored his fourth goal shorthanded at 16:34 of the third

• Philadelphia won 5-3 and eventually took the series in five games

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It took more than 15 minutes for the scoring to begin, but Barber quickly changed the complexion of the game. He opened the scoring at 15:15 of the first period with his fourth goal of the playoffs, beating Gilles Meloche on the power play with assists from Behn Wilson and Brian Propp. Less than two minutes later, Barber struck again at even strength. Wilson and Bobby Clarke assisted on the goal at 17:09, sending Philadelphia into the first intermission with a 2-0 advantage.

Mel Bridgman increased the lead just 1:14 into the second period before Barber completed the hat trick at 6:07. Clarke and Reg Leach picked up the assists as Barber's third goal of the night gave Philadelphia what appeared to be a commanding 4-0 lead. Minnesota, however, responded in a hurry. With Curt Giles in the penalty box, Tom Younghans and Tim Young scored back-to-back shorthanded goals. Tom McCarthy then added another, suddenly cutting Philadelphia's lead to 4-3.

The North Stars remained within a goal until the closing minutes. At 15:30 of the third period, Philadelphia's Ken Linseman was sent off for interference, giving Minnesota an opportunity to tie the game. Instead, Barber delivered the knockout blow. At 16:34, he scored his fourth goal of the night while shorthanded, assisted by Andre Dupont, restoring Philadelphia's two-goal advantage.

The Flyers held on for the 5-3 victory, with Barber accounting for four of their five goals. Philadelphia went on to win the next two games and eliminate Minnesota in five, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. There, the Flyers fell in six games to the New York Islanders, who captured the first of their four consecutive Stanley Cup championships.

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Anders Hedberg’s 4-Goal Night Powers Wild Rangers Comeback

The Detroit Red Wings of the 1970s and early 1980s had an unfortunate knack for finding ways to lose games that appeared to be theirs. On October 26, 1980, at Madison Square Garden, that tendency was on full display. Detroit held a 6-5 lead with just 1:14 remaining, only to watch Anders Hedberg take over and lead the New York Rangers to a stunning 7-6 victory.

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Highlights

• October 26, 1980 at Madison Square Garden

• New York Rangers defeated Detroit 7-6

• Anders Hedberg recorded 4 goals and 2 assists

• Detroit led 6-5 with only 1:14 remaining

• Hedberg tied the game at 18:46 of the third

• He scored the winner just 33 seconds later

• Reed Larson and Mike Blaisdell scored seven seconds apart for Detroit

• Hedberg led all players with 7 shots on goal

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Hedberg opened the scoring just 4:50 into the first period, beating Detroit goaltender Gilles Gilbert on the power play for his third goal of the season. Ulf Nilsson and Rangers goalie John Davidson picked up the assists. Later in the period, Hedberg added an assist on a Steve Vickers goal as New York and Detroit settled into what would become a high-scoring battle.

The second period featured a remarkable burst from the Red Wings. Reed Larson and Mike Blaisdell scored just seven seconds apart, nearly matching a Detroit franchise record. The Rangers battled back, however, with Mike Allison scoring with an assist from Hedberg before Hedberg added another goal of his own. By the end of the second, the teams were deadlocked at 4-4.

Detroit struck quickly again to open the third. George Lyle scored just 58 seconds into the period, and Mike Foligno followed only 55 seconds later to give the Red Wings a 6-4 advantage. Ron Greschner cut the lead to one at 11:45, but as the clock wound down, it appeared Detroit was finally going to escape Madison Square Garden with a 6-5 victory.

Then Hedberg took over. With just 1:14 remaining, he scored the tying goal with assists from Phil Esposito and Tom Laidlaw. Only 33 seconds later, Hedberg struck again, this time unassisted, completing the Rangers' remarkable comeback and giving New York a 7-6 lead. In the span of 33 seconds, Detroit went from being on the verge of victory to trailing for good.

Hedberg finished the night with four goals and two assists for six points, while leading all skaters with seven of New York's 37 shots on Gilles Gilbert. At the other end, John Davidson allowed six goals on 30 shots but still walked away with the victory. It was a wild night at Madison Square Garden and one of the biggest offensive performances of Hedberg's NHL career.

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