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 17th, featuring Sidney Crosby.
Today in Hockey History
Sidney Crosby Young to 100 Points in a Season
2006: The Pittsburgh Penguins forward is the youngest player to collect 100 points in season. Crosby is 18 years and 253 days old and gets the mark on his second of three assists. The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native joins Dale Hawerchuk as the only 18 year olds to get 100 points.
Crosby would tally 102 points at the end of the season on 39 goals and 63 assists. The three helpers would lead the Penguins to a 6-1 rout of the New York Islanders. Play is stopped for nearly five minutes as fans shower the ice with hats and T-shirts.
Other Notable Events
1958: Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scores his sixth overtime winner in a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. The goal helps Montreal take Game 5 after Richard beats Don Simmons at 5:45.
1977: Don Kozak of the Los Angeles Kings scores the fastest goal to start a post-season game. Kozak beat Bruins goalie Gerry Cheevers six seconds into Game 4 of the quarterfinals.
Reggie Leach helps the Philadelphia Flyers cap a three-goal rally with an OT winner against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Leach scored 19:10 of overtime as the Flyers win Game 3. Philadelphia is the second team to win back-to-back games in one playoff series despite trailing in the last two minutes of the third period in each game.
1981: Denis Potvin of the Islanders is the third NHL defenceman to score three goals in a game. The Isles would beat the Edmonton Oilers, 6-3, in Game 2 of the quarterfinals.
1983: Wayne Gretzky sets a record for most points in a playoff game with seven in Edmonton’s 10-2 rout of the Calgary Flames. The Great One gets four goals and three assists to win Game of the Smythe Division Final.
1996: The Florida Panthers win their first game in post-season history with a 6-3 victory over Boston in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
1997: Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils is the second goalie to score in a post-season game. Brodeur caps a 5-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern quarterfinal.
2018: The Vegas Golden Knights are the first team to sweep a playoff series in their debut season. Vegas blanks Los Angeles, 1-0, in Game 4 thanks to 31 saves by Marc-Andre Fleury.
Happy Birthday to You
1906: Herbie Lewis
1940: Tommy Williams
1943: Dennis Hextall
1951: Borje Salming
1964: Ken Daneyko
1979: Eric Brewer
1982: Brad Boyes; Chuck Kobasew
1995: Pavel Buchnevich
