During the NHL’s hiatus, we at the Last Word on Hockey are going to look back at each date’s historical significance to the game. We’ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here’s our look at this date in hockey history for March 15th, featuring Bobby Orr.
Also read: When Bobby Orr Won the Scoring Title
Today in Hockey History: March 15
Bobby Orr First Defenceman to Get 100 Points in a Season
1970: The great No. 4 for the Boston Bruins scored twice and added a pair of assists to be the first defenceman to get to 100 points in a season. He was the fourth player to reach the milestone after Phil Esposito, Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe.
Orr came into the game just three points shy of the century mark in points. The 100th point came on a shorthanded goal where Orr went the length of the ice to score.
The Hall of Famer would finish with 120 points to become the first blue-liner to win the scoring title.
Other Notable Events
1934: The original Ottawa Senators host their last game with a 3-2 loss to the New York Americans. It would be the last NHL game held in the Canadian capital for nearly 60 years.
1951: Detroit Red Wings goalie Terry Sawchuk is the first goalie to win 40 games in a season after they blank the Bruins, 4-0, in the Motor City. Gordie Howe nets a pair of goals in the win.
1957: Former Red Wing Ted Lindsay becomes the all-time leader in games played 928 while with the Chicago Blackhawks. He breaks the record held by Montreal Canadiens great Maurice Richard.
1988: Craig Simpson becomes the first player to score 50 goals that were split among two teams in the same season. Simpson scored 13 in 21 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins but was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers earlier in the season. He then scores the rest of his goals while playing for Edmonton that season.
Mark Messier also scored his 300th career goal in the 6-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
2004: Alexander Mogilny is second Russian to net 1,000 career points in the NHL. He supplied three assists in the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 overtime win over the Sabres.
2018: Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets gets an assist in the 6-2 win over the Blackhawks to extend his point streak to 14 games, which is the longest point-streak for any teenager.
Happy Birthday to You
1961: Craig Ludwig
1975: Darcy Tucker
1986: Jannik Hansen
1988: James Reimer
1993: Mark Scheifele
