The Only Goalie to Shut Out the 1976-77 Canadiens? Mike Palmateer

The Montreal Canadiens were a daunting opponent in 1976-77, but a Toronto rookie managed something no other NHL goaltender accomplished against them that regular season. On November 17, 1976, Mike Palmateer stopped all 39 shots he faced at Maple Leaf Gardens, giving the Maple Leafs a 1-0 victory. The goalie known as the “Popcorn Kid” was playing just his ninth NHL game.

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Highlights

• Montreal’s only shutout loss of the 1976-77 regular season.

• Palmateer was playing just his ninth NHL game.

• Toronto won 1-0 at Maple Leaf Gardens on November 17, 1976.

• Lanny McDonald scored at 8:26 of the first period.

• Palmateer stopped 39 shots; Ken Dryden made 29 saves.

• Steve Shutt and Brian Glennie fought in the second period.

• Palmateer had also shut out Vancouver in his previous appearance.

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Lanny McDonald supplied all the offence Toronto needed at 8:26 of the first period. His 14th goal of the season, assisted by Darryl Sittler and Ian Turnbull, beat Ken Dryden and stood as the game winner. Dryden was nearly unbeatable himself, stopping 29 of Toronto’s 30 shots.

Montreal kept Palmateer busy throughout the night, including a 16-shot third period as the Canadiens searched for the equalizer. Guy Lapointe led the visitors with six shots, while Steve Shutt and Réjean Houle contributed five apiece. At the other end, defenceman Börje Salming paced the Maple Leafs with six shots on Dryden.

There was also a second-period confrontation between two former Toronto Marlboros. Shutt and Toronto defenceman Brian Glennie dropped the gloves, receiving fighting majors at 3:41. With the only goal already on the scoreboard, the rest of the evening belonged to the goaltenders.

Remarkably, Palmateer’s performance against Montreal was his second consecutive shutout. Four nights earlier, on November 13, he had stopped all 30 shots in a 3-0 road victory over the Vancouver Canucks at the Pacific Coliseum. Bob Neely, Pat Boutette and Inge Hammarström each scored against Cesare Maniago. Just nine games into his NHL career, Palmateer already had back-to-back shutouts and one came against a Canadiens team nobody else would blank during the regular season.

Top Shelf Trivia: The Toronto Maple Leafs

Test your knowledge of one of hockey’s most storied franchises with this collection of challenging and fun Toronto Maple Leafs trivia covering players, games, and unforgettable moments.

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Three Goals, One Scorer: Pronovost Beats Washington in 1975

The Washington Capitals were still searching for their seventh win of their inaugural NHL season when they visited the Pittsburgh Civic Arena on February 26, 1975. Goaltender Michel Belhumeur gave them a fighting chance, stopping 42 of Pittsburgh’s 45 shots. Jean Pronovost, however, supplied all the offence the Penguins needed, scoring three times in a 3-1 victory that handed Washington its 53rd loss of the season.

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Highlights

• Pittsburgh defeated Washington 3-1 on February 26, 1975.

• Jean Pronovost scored all three Penguins goals.

• The performance was his first NHL regular-season hat trick.

• Two of his goals came on the power play.

• Pete Laframboise assisted on all three goals.

• Michel Belhumeur made 42 saves as Pittsburgh outshot Washington 45-23.

• Pronovost completed the hat trick with just two seconds remaining.

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The teams remained scoreless until 8:13 of the second period, when Pronovost put his 34th goal of the season past Belhumeur. Pete Laframboise and Bob Paradise picked up the assists on what proved to be the only goal through the first two periods. Despite Pittsburgh’s pressure, Washington entered the final frame trailing by just one.

Pronovost wasted little time doubling that lead. With Capitals defenceman Yvon Labre serving a penalty, he scored on the power play just 17 seconds into the third period. Laframboise earned another assist, with Lowell MacDonald also helping set up the goal. Washington later cut the deficit to 2-1 when Ron Anderson spoiled Gary Inness’s shutout bid.

The Capitals remained within striking distance until the closing seconds. With Mike Bloom serving a double minor, Pronovost completed his hat trick on another power-play goal at 19:58. Laframboise collected his third assist of the night, while MacDonald added his second. Inness finished with 22 saves as Pittsburgh outshot Washington 45-23.

The three-goal performance was the first of five regular-season hat tricks in Pronovost’s NHL career. His first two came against the Capitals, making Washington a familiar opponent in his scoring milestones. In a fitting twist, his fifth and final NHL hat trick came while he was wearing a Capitals uniform.

NHL Playoff Hat Tricks Of The 1960s

Relive the NHL playoff hat tricks of the 1960s with the stories, stars, and memorable performances behind some of the decade’s biggest postseason scoring nights.

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Guy Lafleur Opens the 1977 Playoffs With a Six-Point Night

The Montreal Canadiens began their 1977 Stanley Cup playoff run with a convincing win, and Guy Lafleur led the way. On April 11 at the Montreal Forum, the Flower scored three goals and added three assists in a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. It was an impressive opening act for a team that would finish the postseason with a 12-2 record and capture its second of four consecutive championships.

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Highlights

• Lafleur recorded three goals and three assists on April 11, 1977.

• Montreal defeated St. Louis 7-2 at the Montreal Forum.

• Lafleur opened the scoring just 51 seconds into the game.

• He completed his hat trick at 11:27 of the second period.

• The Canadiens swept the Blues, outscoring them 19-4.

• Lafleur finished the series with five goals and 12 points.

• His 26-point postseason earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy.

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Lafleur needed just 51 seconds to open the scoring in Game 1 of the quarter-final series. With assists from Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, he beat Blues goaltender Ed Staniowski to give Montreal an early lead. By the first intermission, Lafleur already had two goals and an assist, and the Canadiens were ahead 4-1.

The second period brought more of the same. Lafleur completed his hat trick at 11:27, then assisted on Guy Lapointe’s goal at 14:33. Montreal carried a 6-1 lead into the second intermission, ending Staniowski’s night. Veteran Ed Johnston took over in the St. Louis net for the third period.

Johnston stopped nine of the ten shots he faced, with Bill Nyrop scoring Montreal’s final goal on assists from Jacques Lemaire and Lafleur. That helper gave Guy a point on six of the Canadiens’ seven goals. Brian Sutter later scored for the Blues, assisted by Bernie Federko, who finished the loss with a goal and an assist.

Montreal swept the series in four games, outscoring St. Louis 19-4. Lafleur was involved in 12 of those 19 goals, collecting five goals and seven assists. Two of his goals were game winners, and he assisted on another deciding goal during the sweep.

The opening-night performance set the tone for a memorable spring. In 14 playoff games, Lafleur scored nine goals and finished with 26 points, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. His six-point effort against the Blues had provided an early glimpse of the player who would help carry Montreal to another Stanley Cup.

Guy Lafleur: Autobiography

The story of the legendary Canadiens superstar — speed, scoring, and stardom in Montreal.

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NHL Playoff Hat Tricks Of The 1960s

Relive the NHL playoff hat tricks of the 1960s with the stories, stars, and memorable performances behind some of the decade’s biggest postseason scoring nights.

Buy on Amazon