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 April 12th, featuring Dominik Hasek.
Today in Hockey History
Dominik Hasek Completes Season with Sub-2.00 GAA
1994: The Buffalo Sabres goalie is the first goalie in 20 years to have a goals-against-average under 2.00. Hasek made 37 saves in a 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. He finishes with a 30-20-6 record and a 1.95 goals-against-average and seven shutouts.
The Czech goalie is the first goalie to finish with a goals-against-average under two since Philadelphia Flyers great Bernie Parent. He recorded a 1.87 in the 1973-74 season.
Other Notable Events
1945: Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frank McCool gets his third straight shutout in a 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Leafs would take Game 3 and win the Cup in seven.
1960: Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scores his final post-season goal in a 5-2 win over Toronto. Richard finishes with 82 Stanley Cup playoff goalies before the record is broken by Mike Bossy.
1970: The Pittsburgh Penguins are the first team to win their first four playoff games. Pittsburgh sweeps the Oakland Seals with a 3-2 OT win in the quarterfinals.
1987: Wayne Gretzky stars his mastery of April 12 with four assists and a goal in a 6-3 Edmonton Oilers victory over the Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers take Game 4 of the Smythe Division semifinals after blowing the game open late.
1988: Gretzky strikes for five points again in a 6-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 5 of the Smythe semis.
1991: This time with the Kings, Gretzky gets four assists in a 7-4 Game 5 win over the Vancouver Canucks. His four helpers push him over 200 post-season assists for The Great One.
1996: Detroit beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 to get the NHL record for wins with 61. The Wings also tie the 1975-76 Flyers for most home wins with 36.
2008: Chris Chelios suits up for his 248th career post-season game. The American breaks Patrick Roy‘s previous record in a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators.
2017: Henrik Lundqvist gets the Rangers first post-season shutout in Montreal in 67 years. The Rangers would blank the Habs 2-0 after getting their first shutout since April 6, 1950.
Happy Birthday to You
1960: Tomas Jonsson
1968: Adam Graves
1974: Roman Hamrlík
1991: Torey Krug
1993: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
gr
