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 May 12th, featuring the Monday Night Miracle.
Today in Hockey History
Blues Pull off Monday Night Miracle
1986: The St. Louis Blues rally from a 5-2 deficit to win 6-5 in overtime over the Calgary Flames. Doug Wickenheiser scores the winner at 7:30 to give the Blues a Game 6 victory in the Campbell Conference Final. Greg Paslawski forces the extra session with a pair of third-period goals, including one with 1:08 in regulation.
Joe Mullen almost won the series for Calgary, but hit the post earlier in the frame. The Flames would win the decisive Game 7, 2-1, in the Saddledome. Calgary would lose in the Stanley Cup Final in five games to the Montreal Canadiens.
Other Notable Events
1981: Bryan Trottier and Anders Kallur scores shorthanded goals 47 seconds apart in the New York Islanders 6-3 win over the Minnesota North Stars. The victory helps the Isles take Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
1984: A Clark Gillies hat trick helps New York beat the Edmonton Oilers, 6-1, in Game 2 of the final. Edmonton would win the next three games to break the Islanders four-year grip on the title.
1985: Eddie Olczyk is the youngest player to score in last four or final series in the Chicago Blackhawks 8-6 win over Edmonton. Olczyk is 18 years, 269 days and is the youngest to score in the expansion era (1967 and on).
1987: Larry Robinson ties the Canadiens record for points by a defenceman in a playoff game with four. Montreal beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-2, in Game 5 of the Wales Conference Final.
2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere gets his second straight shutout in the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim‘s 2-0 win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 2 of the Western Final. He stops 24 saves in the victory.
2013: The Detroit Red Wings are the first franchise to win 14 Game 7s. Henrik Zetterberg gets a goal and an assist in a 3-2 triumph over Anaheim,
2017: James Neal scores 9:24 into overtime as the Nashville Predators win 3-2 over the Ducks in Game 1 of the West final. It’s Nashville’s first appearance in the conference final since entering the league in 1998.
2018: Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Scheifele each has a goal and an assists in the Winnipeg Jets‘ 4-1 Game 1 of the West Final over the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s the first apperance in the last four for the Jets/Thrashers franchise since they joined in 1999.
Happy Birthday to You
1935: John Bucyk
1956: Bernie Federko
1959: Dave Christian
1965: Stacy Wilson (Canadian women’s captain)
1989: Antti Raanta
1993: Colton Parayko
1996: Sonny Milano
