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 June 5th, featuring NHL expansion.
Today in Hockey History
NHL Expansion Adds Six More Teams
1967: The NHL doubles in size when it adds six more teams to the mix. Franchises are given to the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Oakland Seals and St. Louis Blues. The expansion turns the league into a coast-to-coast league across North America.
The Seals are the only team in the group to not win a Stanley Cup. They would eventually be moved to Cleveland and become the Barons. That team would be merged with the North Stars in 1978. Minnesota moved its team to Dallas in 1993 to become the Stars.
Pittsburgh has the most Cups in the expansion group with five.
Other Notable Events
1963: The league holds its first amateur draft in Montreal, where the hometown Canadiens have the first pick. Montreal selects forward Garry Monahan with the top selection while the Detroit Red Wings take Peter Mahovlich at number two.
1991: Blues forward Brett Hull wins the Hart Trophy for league MVP just like his father Bobby Hull did. They become the first father and son duo to win the league’s top honor as Bobby took the award in 1964-65 and 1965-66.
1993: John LeClair scores 34 seconds into overtime as Montreal beats Los Angeles, 4-3, in overtime of Game 3. Montreal wins its record ninth straight playoff overtime game.
1997: Sergei Fedorov gets two goals and two assists as the Red Wings rout the Flyers, 6-1, in Game 3 of the Final. Detroit would score six straight goals to get a 3-0 series lead.
2004: Martin St. Louis scores 33 seconds into the second overtime in the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s 3-2 Game 6 win over the Calgary Flames. Brad Richards adds a pair of power-play goals for the Lightning.
2006: Rod Brind’Amour scores twice as the Carolina Hurricanes rally past the Edmonton Oilers, 5-4, in Game 1. Carolina trails 3-0 with three minutes left in the second before starting the comeback.
2013: Patrice Bergeron‘s goal at 15:19 of the second overtime helps the Boston Bruins beat Pittsburgh, 2-1, in Game 3 of the Eastern Final. Tuukka Rask makes 53 saves in the win for Boston.
2017: Frederick Gaudreau nets the game-winner as the Nashville Predators even the Cup Final at two with a 4-1 win over Pittsburgh.
Happy Birthday to You
1945: Andre Lacroix
1965: Bob Probert
1970: Martin Gelinas
1986: Dave Bolland
1989: Cam Atkinson
1990: Radko Gudas
