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 20th, featuring the 1975 Fog Game.
Today in Hockey History
Sabres Win 1975 Fog Game over Flyers
1975: The Buffalo Sabres beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-4, in overtime of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. A hot and humid night combined with a non-air conditioned rink create fog on the ice. Play is interrupted five times during regulation by the conditions.
Bill Hajt scores midway through the third period to force overtime. The fog further halts play seven times during the overtime period before Rene Robert scores 18:29 into overtime. Flyers goalie Bernie Parent couldn’t see Robert’s shot before it won the Sabres the game.
Other Notable Events
1979: The Winnipeg Jets win the final AVCO World Trophy in six games over the Edmonton Oilers. It’s the final game in World Hockey Association history before the merger with the NHL.
1986: The Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames have a wild sequence of four goals in 1:34. Joel Otto puts Calgary ahead but Bobby Smith, Mats Naslund and Bob Gainey score quickly to give Montreal a 4-2 lead. The Canadiens would win Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, 5-3.
1992: The Chicago Blackhawks get their 10th straight post-season win with a 4-3 OT win in Game 3. Jeremy Roenick scores 2:45 of overtime as the Blackhawks beat the Oilers in the Campbell Conference Final.
1993: Montreal wins its record seventh straight playoff OT game with a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. Guy Carbonneau scores 12:34 into overtime as the Habs win Game 3 of the Wales Conference Final.
1997: Eric Lindros‘ first post-season hat trick helps the Flyers beat the New York Rangers, 6-3, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
2002: Detroit Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios is the first American-born player to play 200 playoff games. Steve Yzerman gets his 100th post-season assist, but the Colorado Avalanche win in overtime, 4-3.
2007: Teemu Selanne scores 11:57 into the third period as the Anaheim Ducks rally past Detroit, 2-1. Anaheim takes a 3-2 win Game 5 of the Western Conference Final.
2015: Nikita Kucherov scores 3:33 into overtime as the Tampa Bay Lightning win 6-5 in Game 3 over the Rangers.
2017: Pontus Aberg‘s winner leads the Nashville Predators to a 3-1 Game 5 win over the Ducks.
2018: The Vegas Golden Knights reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season with a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Happy Birthday to You
1940: Stan Mikita
1946: Craig Patrick
1950: Yvon Lambert
1965: Stu Grimson
1967: Bob Beers
1970: Jason York
1977: Vesa Toskala
