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 15th, featuring Clark Gillies.
Today in Hockey History
Clark Gillies Scores Fourth Straight Game-Winner
1977: The New York Islanders forward scores his fourth straight game-winning goal in a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Gillies would set a playoff record for most consecutive game-winners as the Isles win Game 3.
New York would go on to sweep Buffalo in four straight before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens in the semifinals. He would be a key part of the Islanders four straight Stanley Cups. Gillies would be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.
Other Notable Events
1937: The Detroit Red Wings are the first American-based team to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. Detroit would beat the New York Rangers, 3-0, in the deciding Game 5.
1952: The Red Wings octopus tradition is born after beating the Canadiens, 3-0, in Game 4. Metro Prystai scores twice and Terry Sawchuk gets his fifth straight shutout. Pete and Jerry Cusimano make history when they toss an octopus onto the ice at Olympia Stadium. Each tentacle symbolizes one of the eight victories needed to win the Cup during the Original Six era.
1975: The Vancouver Canucks win their first playoff game in franchise history with a 2-1 win in Game 2 over Montreal.
1977: Rick MacLeish helps the Philadelphia Flyers rally from a three-goal deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3, in overtime. He would score the game-tying and game-winning goals.
1989: Wayne Gretzky helps the Los Angeles Kings eliminate the Edmonton Oilers with a 6-3 win in Game 7 of the Smythe Division semifinals. Bernie Nicholls gets four points and Gretzky scores twice.
1993: Teemu Selanne scores his rookie-record 76th goal in a 3-0 win for the Winnipeg Jets over Edmonton.
2004: Brett Hull ties Gretzky’s record for most game-winning goals in the post-season with his 24th in a 4-1 Detroit win over the Nashville Predators.
2019: The Carolina Hurricanes win their first post-season game in 10 years. Carolina blanks the Washington Capitals, 5-0, in Games 3 of the opening round.
Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche scores in his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames. Makar won the Hobey Baker Award just days earlier.
Happy Birthday to You
1947: Don Marcotte
1958: Keith Acton
1959: Kevin Lowe; Ray Neufield
1965: Kevin Stevens
1966:Todd Elik
1974: Tim Thomas
1977: Pavel Kubina
1983: Ilya Kovalchuk
