Dec. 24 NHL History
1921: Punch Broadbent of the Ottawa Senators begins his NHL-record 16-game goal streak by scoring at 7:00 of the third period in a 10-0 win against the visiting Canadiens.
1949: The Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers stage one of the best goaltending duels in NHL history when Bill Durnan of the Canadiens and Chuck Rayner of the Rangers match saves for 60 minutes in a 0-0 tie at the Forum.
It’s the 31st NHL shutout for Durnan and the 17th for Rayner, who combine for the only 0-0 tie in League history to be played on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
1966: Two former Canadiens, Bernie Geoffrion and Don Marshall, spoil Christmas Eve for their old team and help the Rangers win 4-3 at the Forum. Geoffrion scores twice in the second period and Marshall wins the game by beating Charlie Hodge with 33 seconds remaining in the third.
1969: Ron Ellis scores twice in the first period, and the Toronto Maple Leafs roll to an 8-1 victory against the Los Angeles Kings at Maple Leaf Gardens. It’s the last time Toronto plays on Christmas Eve; the Maple Leafs are 5-2-2 in nine Dec. 24 games.
1972: In the final NHL game ever played on Christmas Eve, Serge Bernier scores four goals to help the Kings defeat the California Golden Seals 5-3 in Oakland. Bernier scores once in the first period and twice in the second, and then gets the game-winner at 7:34 of the third period. Juha Widing of the Kings scores the last Christmas Eve goal in NHL history when he beats Marv Edwards with 4:41 remaining in the third period.
Earlier that night, Ed Giacomin ties Dave Kerr’s Rangers record with his 40th NHL shutout and Pete Stemkowski has four assists in a 5-0 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden.
