We’re normally getting ready for another hockey season, but we’re in a different world. Last Word on Hockey is still 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 October 7, featuring Chris Kontos.
Today in Hockey History
Chris Kontos Gets Four Goals
1992: The Tampa Bay Lightning put on a show in their franchise debut over the Chicago Blackhawks at Expo Hall. Kontos gets his first career hat trick in a 7-3 win over Chicago. He bags the first two in team history in just six minutes before beating Ed Belfour twice more.
His mark still holds up as the most goals for one game in team history. However, Martin St. Louis tied this record in 2014. Tampa Bay goes 23-54-7 in their debut campaign.
Other Notable Events
1954: The Detroit Red Wings win their 15th straight opening night-game with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1972: The Atlanta Flames beat the New York Islanders, 3-2, in the first game for both teams. Bobby Leiter and Rey Comeau get third-period goals while Ed Westfall scores the first goal in Islanders history. Morris Stefaniw gets the first one for the Flames.
1976: Chicago’s Stan Mikita is the third player to reach 1,300 points in his career. This comes 17 years to the day of his first NHL goal. Chicago beats the St. Louis Blues, 6-4.
1983: The Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota North Stars combine for 19 goals in the Canucks’ 10-9 victory. Both teams combine for 10 power-play goals before Patrik Sundstrom gets the game-winner.
1986: Detroit names 21-year-old Steve Yzerman as its team captain. The youngest captain in team history serves in that role until 2006.
1995: Cam Neely is the first player in league history to have two opening-night hat tricks. He powers the Boston Bruins in their 4-4 tie with the Islanders. Neely also notched a hat trick in 1994 during the lockout-shortened season.
1996: Mike Gartner gets his 18th career hat trick in the Phoenix Coyotes 5-2 victory over the Bruins. It’s the second game for Phoenix since relocating from Winnipeg.
2017: The Vegas Golden Knights are the first expansion team in 50 years to win their first two games in their inaugural season. James Neal scores 3:46 into overtime of a 3-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes.
Alex Ovechkin is the first player in 100 years to get back-to-back hat trick to start a season in the Washington Capitals 6-1 rout of the Montreal Canadiens. Nathan Walker is also the first Australian to play in the NHL.
Happy Birthday to You
1901: Frank Boucher
1938: Gary Bergman
1952: Jacques Richard
1956: Brian Sutter
1983: Scottie Upshall
1991: Oscar Fantenberg
1994: Kerby Rychel
1995: Nikolay Goldobin
