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Today in Hockey History: First NHL All-Star Game in 1947

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 13, featuring the first NHL All-Star Game.

Today in Hockey History

NHL All-Star Game Played for the First Time

1947: The first All-Star Game is played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. It’s a different format than the current All-Star Games that are played. The Stanley Cup champion Toronto Maple Leafs take on a team of All-Stars from the other five teams.

Doug Bentley helps the league All-Stars rally for a 4-3 win over the Leafs. The game benefits the player’s pension fund, but changes format in 1968 to East vs. West.

Other Notable Events

1970: Roger Doucet sings “O Canada” at the Montreal Forum in the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. He sings the anthem for the next 10 years.

1973: Gump Worsley finally dons a mask in an NHL game. He was the last goalie to not wear a mask, but does so in the Minnesota North Stars 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. “Gumper” makes 30 saves for Minnesota.

1992: The league experiments with playing two neutral site games per season. The Calgary Flames beat Minnesota, 4-3, in front of a crowd of 8,783 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Neutral site games are played for the next two seasons.

1993: Ron Tugnutt makes 28 saves as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim win their first game in franchise history. Anaheim scores the first four goals of the game to hang on against the Edmonton Oilers, 4-3.

The New York Rangers score a record six power-play goals in a 6-4 victory over the Quebec Nordiques. Brian Leetch scores a pair of extra-man goals for the Blueshirts.

1998: The Nashville Predators win their first game in franchise history, 3-2, over the Carolina Hurricanes. Andrew Brunette scores the first goal in team history for the Predators.

2015: Montreal beats the Pittsburgh Penguins to go 4-0-0 for the first time since 1977. Tomas Fleischmann scored 5:20 into the third period to give the Habs a 3-2 victory. Pittsburgh drops to 0-3-0 for their worst start since the 2005-06 season.

2017: Alex Ovechkin is the fourth player since 1967 to get nine goals in the first five games of the season. Ovechkin scores a power-play goal at 8:01 of the second period, as the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils, 5-2.