Normally we’d be in the midst of starting up another hockey season now, 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 November 11th, featuring Bobby Smith.
Happy Veterans Day to our American readers and Happy Remembrance Day to our Canadian friends.
Today in Hockey History
Bobby Smith Has Seven Points for Minnesota
1981: The Minnesota North Stars forward powers the team to a 15-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at the Met Center. Smith logs four goals and three assists in the team’s biggest win in franchise history. He gets two goals in an eight-goal second period.
Minnesota rattles off 11 unanswered goals after Winnipeg got to within 4-2. It’s the second time since the adoption of the red line in 1943 that a team scores 15 goals in one game.
Other Notable Events
1930: Philadelphia welcomes the NHL as the Quakers lose, 3-0, to the New York Rangers. John Ross Roach earns his 28th NHL shutout for the Blueshirts. Philadelphia goes 4-36-4 and leaves the league after the season. Hockey returns to the city in 1967 with the Philadelphia Flyers.
1986: Minnesota’s Dino Ciccarelli scores twice in the 15th game of the season to set a modern record for fastest to 20 goals to start a season. The North Stars would tie the Washington Capitals, 2-2.
1989: Guy Lafleur scores his 544th NHL goal to tie Maurice Richard for eighth on the all-time scoring list. His goal helps the host Quebec Nordiques beat the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2.
2009: The Detroit Red Wings rout the Columbus Blue Jackets, 9-1, in Ken Hitchcock‘s 1000th game behind the bench. Detroit scores four times in the first to spoil Hitchcock’s milestone night.
2010: Alexander Semin scores three goals and adds two assists in Washington’s 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Washington wins its sixth straight game thanks to Semin.
2016: Defenceman Andy Greene scores on an overtime penalty shot as the New Jersey Devils edge the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1. Greene is the first Devils player to score on a penalty shot in overtime. Scott Niedermayer was the last New Jersey blueliner to score on a penalty shot 18 years ago to the day.
2017: Mike Hoffman scores twice as the Ottawa Senators beat the Colorado Avalanche, 4-3, to sweep both games in Stockholm, Sweden.
Happy Birthday to You
1911: Gord Pettinger
1926: Harry Lumley
1933: Brian Cullen
1954: Michel Bergeron
1972: Steve Konowalchuk
1980: Chris Kelly
1992: Jean-Gabriel Pageau
