Dec. 29 NHL History
Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scores two memorable goals exactly 10 years apart.
1945: Richard scores twice, giving him 100 goals in 145 NHL games, in a 5-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at the Forum. It’s the fastest 100 goals by any player in NHL history.
1955: Richard scores the 500th goal of his NHL career (including Stanley Cup Playoffs) in a 5-2 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Forum. The goal gives Richard 443 in the regular season and 57 in the playoffs at this point in his career.
That game is also the first in which NHL officials wear vertically striped uniforms, a practice that continues to this day.
1957: Lefty Wilson, the Detroit Red Wings’ assistant trainer, is pressed into service after Boston Bruins goaltender Don Simmons is forced to leave because of a dislocated shoulder during the first period and Boston has no replacement available. Wilson makes 23 saves and allows one goal in a 2-2 tie at Olympia Stadium. It’s the third and final time in his 32 years with the Red Wings (1950-82) that he’s forced to play goal, and the only time he gets a decision.
1984: Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers scores three goals for his 32nd NHL hat trick and sets up three more in a 6-3 victory against the Detroit Red Wings to give him 100 points in 35 games. It’s the second-fastest 100 points in NHL history; Gretzky did it in 34 games to begin the 1983-84 season.
1992: The Philadelphia Flyers spot the Los Angeles Kings an early 2-0 lead, then score 10 consecutive goals for a 10-2 victory at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Rod Brind’Amour scores three goals for his first NHL hat trick and has three assists, Brent Fedyk has two goals and two assists, and Brian Benning has a goal and three assists.
1995: Scotty Bowman coaches his NHL-record 1,607th regular-season game when the Red Wings defeat the Dallas Stars 2-1. Bowman breaks the record held by Al Arbour. He improves his record to 939-428-240.
1996: Philadelphia’s Dale Hawerchuk becomes the 10th player in NHL history with 1,400 career points. He reaches the milestone with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory at the Calgary Flames.
2014: Martin Brodeur makes 16 saves for his 125th and final NHL shutout in the St. Louis Blues’ 3-0 victory against the Colorado Avalanche at Scottrade Center. It’s Brodeur’s first shutout for an NHL team other than the New Jersey Devils. At 42 years and 237 days old, Brodeur is the fifth-oldest goaltender in NHL history to have a shutout, trailing Jacques Plante (whose last shutout came at age 44), Johnny Bower(44), Dominik Hasek (43) and Gump Worsley (an older 42 than Brodeur).
