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There is little doubt that town of Montreal is chargeable for a number of the largest moments and best gamers in National Hockey League historical past. They had three of their quite a few legends play their first NHL recreation on this date, two of them in the identical contest. This was additionally a really memorable date in Chicago and the capitals of each NHL international locations. Let’s start our each day journey by way of time and look again on the most important moments from Dec. 16.
Three Montreal Legends Debut
Although he started enjoying organized hockey in 1916, Aurele Joliat didn’t play his first NHL recreation till Dec. 16, 1922. On this evening, he was the lone shiny spot for the Montreal Canadiens as he scored their solely two objectives in a 7-2 loss on the Toronto St. Pats.
Joliat got here to Montreal as compensation from the Saskatoon Sheiks of the outdated Western Canada Hockey League after signing Canadiens’ star Newsy Lalonde. This transfer labored out properly as Lalonde was on the tail finish of his profession, and Joliat went on to play 16 seasons for the Canadiens, scoring 269 objectives and 463 factors. He was a member of three Stanley Cup championship groups and received the Hart Trophy for being voted the league’s most respected participant of the 1933-34 season.
Two future legends performed in their first NHL video games on Dec. 16, 1950, because the Canadiens and New York Rangers skated to a 1-1 tie. Bernie Geoffrion scored his first profession objective in his league debut. He spent the subsequent 14 seasons with the Canadiens, scoring 371 objectives and 759 factors. He received the Calder Trophy in 1952 for being the NHL’s prime rookie. He was the Hart Trophy winner in 1961, received two scoring titles, and received his title engraved on the Stanley Cup six instances.
Also placing on the Habs sweater for the primary time this evening was Jean Beliveau, maybe the best of all of the Montreal legends. He solely performed 5 video games over the subsequent three seasons as a result of he didn’t have a lot curiosity in turning professional. He didn’t grow to be a full-time Canadien till 1953 when common supervisor Frank Selke purchased out the whole Quebec Senior Hockey League and made it knowledgeable league, thus forcing Beliveau to signal along with his membership.
The relaxation, as they are saying, is historical past. When Beliveau retired in 1971, he scored 507 objectives and 1,219 factors in 1,125 video games for the Canadiens. He was a two-time Hart Trophy winner and a 10-time Stanley Cup champion. He was essentially the most beloved participant in Montreal historical past, not just for his outstanding enjoying profession but additionally for the affect he made inside the group.
More Early Memories
The offside rule originated on Dec. 16, 1929, on the NHL’s Board of Governors assembly held in Chicago. The new proposed rule said: “No attacking player shall be allowed to precede the play when entering the opposing defensive zone.” The rule turned efficient 5 days later.
Brothers Lester and Frank Patrick had been behind reverse benches on Dec. 16, 1934, marking the primary time in NHL historical past the place a pair of siblings confronted one another as coaches. Older brother, Lester’s Rangers, beat the youthful Frank’s Boston Bruins 2-1.
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Charlie Conacher scored twice on Dec. 16, 1937, in the course of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 4-2 loss in Montreal. This made the longer term Hockey Hall of Famer grow to be the primary participant in franchise historical past to attain 200 objectives for the Maple Leafs. Since this date, 12 extra gamers have scored 200 objectives in Toronto.
A Big Date for Blackhawks Greats
Bobby Hull scored two objectives on Dec. 16, 1964, to grow to be the second participant in Chicago Blackhawks historical past to attain 250 objectives. He additionally added three assists to cap off a five-point evening in a 7-5 win over the visiting Bruins. He scored 604 objectives with the Blackhawks, nonetheless essentially the most in group historical past.
Stan Mikita and Cliff Koroll had their means with the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 16, 1970, in an enormous 8-3 win. Mikita scored 4 objectives and assisted on one other, whereas Koroll set a group file with 4 assists in the course of the second interval. The victory prolonged their unbeaten streak on the Chicago Stadium to 17 video games (15-0-2).
On Dec. 16, 1973, Tony Esposito turned the second goaltender to win 150 video games for the Blackhawks with a 6-1 highway victory on the Rangers. He received 418 video games in Chicago earlier than retiring, greater than some other netminder who ever performed for the group.
Rookie Darryl Sutter scored the primary objective of his NHL profession on Dec. 16, 1979, in a 7-3 win over the visiting Detroit Red Wings. He spent his complete enjoying profession with the Blackhawks, scoring 161 objectives and 279 factors in 406 factors. He then went on to a profitable teaching profession that noticed him win 634 video games over 17 seasons with the Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames, and Los Angeles Kings. He led the Kings to 2 Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. He is at present in his second stint with the Flames and has them close to the highest of the standings.
Jeremy Roenick scored his third profession hat trick on Dec. 16, 1990, in the Blackhawks’ 5-2 win over the Minnesota North Stars. This prolonged Chicago’s residence undefeated streak in opposition to the North Stars to 10 straight video games (8-0-2).
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane factored on the identical objective for the 298th time in the NHL on Dec. 16, 2022 in a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Only Steve Larmer and Denis Savard (396), and Mikita and Kenny Wharram (339) have performed it extra instances.
Capital Gains (and a Loss)
This has been a really productive date in the capital cities of each the United States and Canada, beginning on Dec. 16, 1991, when the NHL formally added the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators. When they started play initially of the 1992-93 season, the league grew to 24 groups.
On Dec. 16, 2002, Daniel Alfredsson performed in his five hundredth profession recreation with the Senators and scored a objective in a 3-2 loss in opposition to the visiting Canadiens. Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour’s objective in the profitable effort made him the 14th participant to attain 1,400 factors.
Related – Ottawa Senators’ All-Time Team
Goaltender Olaf Kolzig recorded his nineteenth profession shutout on Dec. 16, 2000, in the Washington Capitals’ 4-0 win in opposition to the visiting Edmonton Oilers. In the identical recreation, Peter Bondra turned the seventh participant in group historical past to play in 700 video games. He continues to be fourth all-time in video games performed with 961.
The Capitals misplaced to the Florida Panthers on Dec. 16, 2014, in the longest shootout in the historical past of the league. Nick Bjugstad lastly put an finish to the evening by scoring with the second try of the twentieth spherical. It was Bjugstad’s second shot of the shootout after each groups already used all 18 skaters. The Capitals took the lead 5 separate instances however had been answered after every objective. The 11 mixed shootout objectives set one other NHL file.
The Senators hosted the Canadiens on Dec. 16, 2017, on the NHL 100 Classic. Nearly 34,000 followers packed Lansdowne Park to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the primary NHL recreation. Craig Anderson made 38 saves in the Senators’ 3-0 win, with Ottawa-native Jean-Gabriel Pageau scoring the game-winning objective.
No shootout was wanted on Dec. 16, 2018, as Alex Ovechkin scored in additional time to beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. This was his 21st regular-season additional time objective. He has since added 4 extra, and his 25 are essentially the most in league historical past, six greater than Sidney Crosby and Jaromir Jagr.
Odds & Ends
Gordie Howe scored two objectives and arrange two others on Dec. 16, 1964, to grow to be the primary participant ever to attain 1,300 profession factors. His 4 factors led the best way in the Detroit Red Wings’ 7-3 win on the Rangers, the 1,000th in franchise historical past.
Bruce Boudreau scored the one hat trick of his NHL profession on Dec. 16, 1977, in the Maple Leafs’ 8-5 victory in opposition to the North Stars. Hall of Fame defenseman Borje Salming picked up 5 assists on the evening.
Bobby Clarke scored two objectives and added two assists on Dec. 16, 1982, to offer him 1,100 profession factors. His milestone night got here in the Philadelphia Flyers’ 7-2 blowout of the Red Wings.
On Dec. 16, 1993, Joe Sakic scored his 2 hundredth NHL objective in a Quebec Nordiques’ 3-2 loss on the Flyers. He continues to be the franchise’s all-time chief with 625 objectives.
Luc Robitaille scored a objective on Dec. 16, 2000, in the Kings’ 4-3 loss to the Lightning. His tally made him the second participant in group historical past, after Marcel Dionne, to attain 500 objectives with the Kings. He was additionally the 16th participant in league historical past to attain 500 objectives with one group.
Noah Clarke made his NHL debut on Dec. 16, 2003, changing into the primary California-born participant to decorate for the Kings. He picked up an help to assist Los Angeles to a 4-2 win over the Oilers. This was the one help of Clarke’s profession. He had three objectives and 4 factors in 21 NHL video games, together with one with the New Jersey Devils.
A few milestones had been hit on Dec. 16, 2021, in opposition to the Vancouver Canucks when Timo Meier scored his a centesimal objective in 342 video games and his twenty ninth level of the season. Only 5 Sharks gamers have reached 100 in fewer video games: Jeff Friesen (321), Joe Thornton (320), Owen Nolan (304), Logan Couture (271), and Jonathan Cheechoo (246). Also, solely two gamers have had greater than 29 factors by way of their first 25 video games of a season with the Sharks: Thornton (35 in 2005-06, 32 in 2009-10, 31 in 2007-08, and 30 in 2008-09) and Nolan (31 in 1999-00).
Bruce Boudreau additionally joined the celebration along with his sixth-straight win since being employed because the Canucks new head coach on Dec. 6, 2021. He turned solely the sixth NHL coach to win his first six video games with a group, becoming a member of Geoff Ward, Jacques Lemaire, Patrick Roy, Bryan Murray, and Mario Tremblay in the feat.
Finally in Nashville, Filip Forsberg registered the twenty fourth three-point recreation of his profession in a 5-2 win over the Avalanche on Dec. 16, 2021, passing Martin Erat for essentially the most in Predators historical past.
Happy Birthday to You
A bunch of 11 NHL gamers born on this date is headlined by Wayne Connelly (84), Eric Belanger (46), Mike Weber (36), and Mikkel Boedker (34).
*Originally constructed by Greg Boysen
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