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 18th, featuring Mark Recchi.
Today in Hockey History
Mark Recchi Has Six-Point Night
1991: The Pittsburgh Penguins forward gets three goals and three assists in a 7-3 victory over the host Quebec Nordiques. It’s the first hat trick of Recchi’s career, who had seven for his 22-year tenure. Recchi would enter the Hockey Hall of Fame 2017 after scoring 577 career goals.
Kevin Stevens also scored three goals for Pittsburgh in the rout of Quebec. The Penguins finish the 1991-92 with the Stanley Cup after beating the Minnesota North Stars.
Other Notable Events
1926: The Detroit Cougars (later the Detroit Red Wings) would play their first game in franchise history. Detroit falls 2-0 to the Boston Bruins thanks to goals by Duke Keats and Archie Briden. The Cougars play their first season in Windsor, Ontario before playing at the Olympia.
1930: Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Lorne Chabot is the first goalie to start a season with three straight shutouts. Chabot helps the Leafs blank the Montreal Maroons, 3-0.
1967: Leafs defenceman Tim Horton is the first Toronto player play 1,000 games for the team. Rookie Garry Unger scores the first of his 413 career goals in a 2-2 tie with the Chicago Black Hawks.
1977: Vaclav Nedomansky gets three assists just hours after signing with the Red Wings. The native of Czechoslovakia is the first Eastern European to defect in 1974. He played for the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls of the WHA before joining Detroit.
1979: The Vancouver Canucks get an elusive home win over the Montreal Canadiens, 5-2. It’s the first win over the Habs since the Canucks enter the league in 1970. Glen Hanlon makes 34 saves to end an 0-15-6 drought.
2001: Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy makes 33 saves for his third consecutive shutout in the Avs’ 2-0 win over the New Jersey Devils.
2010: Steven Stamkos scores three goals as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 8-7. The teams combine for nine goals in the first period and another five in the second before Nate Thompson nets the game-winner 5:19 into the third.
2014: The Nashville Predators score the most goals in a game in franchise history. Taylor Beck scores twice in a 9-2 rout of the Maple Leafs.
Happy Birthday to You
1881: Percy LeSueur
1922: Ed Slowinski
1928: Rudy Migay
1951: Bill Hajt
1954: Tom Edur
1964: Lane Lambert
1967: Jocelyn Lemieux
1981: Chris Minard
1987: Cal Clutterbuck ok
1989: Caroline Park
