We’re normally starting up 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 17th, featuring Jari Kurri.
Today in Hockey History
Jari Kurri Gets 500th Goal
1992: The Los Angeles Kings forward is the first European-trained forward to get 500 career goals. He scores an empty-net goal in an 8-6 win over the Boston Bruins. The Finnish star takes the puck from future Hall of Famer Ray Bourque and beats him and another defender for the goal.
Kurri scores the 500th goal in 833 games and a day shy of the 12th anniversary of his first goal that was scored against the New York Islanders.
Other Notable Events
1957: Henri Richard gets three goals and three assists in a 9-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1974: The expansion Washington Capitals get their first win with a 4-3 triumph over the Chicago Black Hawks. Jack Egers gets the game-winner and Ron Low stops 33 shots. However, it would be a rare win as the Caps finish with an 8-67-5 record.
1989: The Calgary Flames make a furious comeback to forge an 8-8 tie with the Quebec Nordiques. Calgary was down 8-3 with seven minutes to go. However, Gary Roberts gets a pair of goals in 16 seconds and Jim Peplinski scores another one 11 seconds later. Doug Gilmour sets up a goal with 16 seconds remaining in regulation and sets up Paul Ranheim four seconds later. The last two goals are the shortest span between shorthanded tallies.
1991: Paul Coffey of the Pittsburgh Penguins becomes the league’s highest-scoring defenceman. He has two assists in an 8-5 win over the Islanders. He passes Denis Potvin with his 1,053rd career point.
2000: Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche gets the most regular-season wins with a 4-3 overtime victory over Washington. Roy passes Terry Sawchuk with his 448th career win in net.
2015: The Canadiens extend their franchise-best start to a season with a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. It’s the Habs’ sixth consecutive win after starting seasons 4-0-1 four times before since 1977-78.
2017: Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lighting becomes the sixth player since 1943 to score a goal in his team’s first seven games to start a season. Kucherov joins Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Hodge and Tony Tanti in accomplishing the feat.
Happy Birthday to You
1955: Rick Blight
1956: Ken Morrow
1975: Francis Bouillon
1984: Sami Lepisto
1990: Natalie Spooner
1996: Jake Debrusk
Main Photo
