THIS DATE IN NHL HISTORY: March 17
1938: The Montreal Canadiens defeat the Montreal Maroons 6-3 at the Forum in the final game between the intra-city rivals. The Maroons drop out of the NHL after the 1937-38 season.
On the same night, Nels Stewart of the New York Americans becomes the first player in NHL history to score 300 career goals. The milestone goal comes during a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
1940: For the first time in history, one line — Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer — finishes 1-2-3 in NHL scoring after the Boston Bruins score five goals in the third period to defeat the Canadiens 7-2.The trio, known as the “Kraut Line” because they’re boyhood friends who hail from the German community of Kitchener, Ontario, also help the Bruins finish first in the regular-season standings. Schmidt leads the NHL with 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists); Dumart (22 goals, 21 assists) and Bauer (17 goals, 26 assists), tie for second with 43 points.
1945: Bill “Flash” Hollett becomes the first NHL defenseman to score 20 goals in a season. Goal No. 20 comes in the Detroit Red Wings’ 4-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1955: A riot erupts in the streets of Montreal with fans violently protesting NHL President Clarence Campbell’s suspension of Maurice Richard the day before. The Canadiens forfeit their game to the Red Wings after a smoke bomb goes off in the Forum, and crowds spill into the streets.
1990: Wayne Gretzky scores a goal and has two assists to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a 5-victory against the Bruins at Boston Garden. Gretzky scored 40 or more goals for the 11th consecutive season, an NHL record. He also reaches 100 assists for the 10th season, another NHL record.
1992: Joe Mullen of the Pittsburgh Penguins becomes the first U.S.-born player to score his 400th NHL goal. Mullen has a goal and two assists in the Penguins’ 6-5 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. He’s the 39th NHL player to score 400 goals.
1996: Mike Gartner scores two goals to help the Maple Leafs defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 at Maple Leaf Gardens. Gartner becomes a 30-goal scorer for the 16th time in his NHL career, extending his own record.
2009: Martin Brodeur becomes the winningest goaltender in NHL history, but not without a scare.
Brodeur makes 30 saves, including one in the final seconds on Troy Brouwer, to help the New Jersey Devils hold off the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 at Prudential Center for his 552nd NHL win, moving him past Patrick Roy for first place on the all-time list.
2015: Andrew Hammond makes 35 saves in the Ottawa Senators’ 2-1 overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes. Hammond improves to 11-0-1 since making his first NHL start on Feb. 18, becoming the second goaltender in NHL history to allow two or fewer goals in each of his first 12 career starts. He equals the mark set by Boston’s Frank Brimsek in 1938-39.
