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 17th, featuring Claude Lemieux.
Today in Hockey History
Claude Lemieux Helps Devils Surprise Wings
1995: The New Jersey Devils limit the Detroit Red Wings to 17 shots in a 2-1 Game 1 win. Stephane Richer scores a power-play goal and Martin Brodeur makes 16 saves for the Devils. Lemieux scores 3:17 into the third period to break the 1-all tie. The Devils would win their record ninth playoff road game. Detroit head coach Scotty Bowman is the first to coach in the Final with four different teams.
New Jersey frustrated Detroit throughout the series to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Devils would shockingly sweep the top-seeded Red Wings in four straight. Lemieux would end up winning the Conn Smythe for playoff MVP. He would become a longtime bane to the Red Wings’ existence in the decade.
Other Notable Events
1969: The New York Rangers obtain veteran goalie Terry Sawchuk from Detroit for Larry Jeffrey.
1977: The Toronto Maple Leafs fire head coach Red Kelly. Toronto would hire Roger Neilson one month later.
1989: The Quebec Nordiques select Mats Sundin with the top pick of the NHL Draft. He’s the first player born and trained in Europe to be the top pick.
New Jersey trades Sylvain Turgeon to the Hartford Whalers in exchange for Pat Verbeek.
1991: The Winnipeg Jets hire John Paddock as their new head coach. He replaces Bob Murdoch, who was fired on April 1.
1993: Boston Bruins defenceman Ray Bourque ties a record with his 10th NHL First Team All-Star selection. He would end up on the team 13 times by the end of his career.
1999: Ed Belfour makes 23 saves for his third shutout of the postseason for the Dallas Stars. Mike Modano assists on a pair of goals in the 2-0 Game 5 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Stars head coach Ken Hitchock also becomes the winningest in the postseason in franchise history.
2006: Fernando Pisani scores his 13th goal of the post-season in the Edmonton Oilers 4-0 Game 6 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Jussi Markkanen stops 16 shots to help Edmonton force a Game 7. Erik Cole returns from a broken vertebra sustained on March 4 for the Canes.
Happy Birthday to You
1943: Brent Hughes
1952: Mike Milbury
1955: Bob Sauve
1969: Patric Kjellberg
1970: Stephane Fiset
1981: Matt Hendricks
1982: Marek Svatos
1993: Dougie Hamilton; Nikita Kucherov
1996: Sammy Blais
1999: Henri Jokiharju
