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 28th, featuring Billy Smith.
Today in Hockey History
Billy Smith Credited with Goal
1979: The New York Islanders netminder is the first goalie to be credited with a goal in league history. He makes a save on a shot from Colorado Rockies defenceman Rob Ramage during a delayed penalty. Smith is the last player to touch the puck while Ramage backpasses the puck into his own net.
“Battling Billy” gets credit for the goal, but the Isles lose, 7-4, to the Rockies. Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ron Hextall is the first to score with his own accord in Dec. 1987.
Other Notable Events
1925: Montreal Canadiens goalie Georges Vezina collapses during his 328th straight game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s diagnosed with tuberculosis and dies four months later. The trophy for best goalie is named after him and donated in his honour.
1931: The Toronto Maple Leafs hire Dick Irvin as coach one day after firing Art Duncan. Toronto beats the Boston Bruins, 6-5, in overtime and win the Stanley Cup at the end of the season.
1954: Boston’s Leo Labine sets a record for points in a period with six in the Bruins’ 6-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Labine gets three goals in 4:22 and hands out three assists in the second period.
1957: Detroit’s Gordie Howe becomes the league’s all-time assist leader in a 3-3 tie with Toronto. Howe gets his 409th career assist providing a helper for Dutch Reibel.
1958: Punch Imlach becomes Maple Leafs coach after firing Billy Reay. Imlach leads Toronto to the final in 1959 and 1960 and wins titles from 1962–64 and again in 1967.
2001: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim coach Bryan Murray coaches in his 1,000th game in a 2-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Murray is the eighth coach to reach the milestone.
2009: The Atlanta Thrashers finally beat the Philadelphia Flyers for the first time in 15 games. Johan Hedberg stops 34 shots while Rich Peverley scores for Atlanta, which hadn’t defeated Philadelphia since Nov. 18, 2005.
2014: New York Rangers forward Martin St. Louis gets his 1,000th point of his career in the Blueshirts 3-0 win against the Flyers. He scores a second-period goal to reach the milestone.
Happy Birthday to You
1914: Mud Bruneteau
1940: Jim Neilson
1984: Marc-Andre Fleury
1991: Blake Coleman
1996: Zach Whitecloud
