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 December 5th, featuring Wayne Gretzky.
Today in Hockey History
Wayne Gretzky Scores 1,400th Point
1986: The Edmonton Oilers great is the fifth player to get 1,400 points in a three-assist effort. He powers Edmonton to a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gretzky becomes the fastest man to get 1,400 points as he does it in 580 games.
Gordie Howe, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito and Stan Mikita are the only others to reach the milestone. Gretzky got 1,300 points nine months earlier and it only take him 40 games to get to the 1,500-point mark.
Other Notable Events
1939: Eddie Shore plays his final game with the Boston Bruins and gets the game-winner in a 2-1 win over the New York Americans. Shore is traded to the Americans in January and retires at the end of the season.
1968: Montreal Canadiens goalie Tony Esposito makes his first career start in a 2-2 tie with Boston. He make 33 saves and the only goal he allows is to his older brother, Phil.
1991: Mario Lemieux gets two goals and four assists and Kevin Stevens gets his fourth hat trick in 10 games as the Penguins down the San Jose Sharks, 8-0. The expansion Sharks have to use three goalies; Brian Hayward comes out of the stands after starter Jeff Hackett and backup Arturs Irbe leave with injuries.
2001: Mike Keenan becomes the second person to coach seven NHL teams. He gets behind the bench for the Florida Panthers in a 2-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
2002: Philadelphia Flyers forward Michal Handzus is the second player to score an overtime penalty shot. Handzus converts the penalty shot to get a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers.
2014: Montreal defenceman Sergei Gonchar becomes the oldest Habs player to score a goal. The 40-year-old tallies in a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
2017: Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom gets his first career shutout in 129 games. Markstrom makes 30 saves in a 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
2019: Chicago captain Jonathan Toews is the first modern Blackhawks player to score an OT winner in Boston. He scores 54 seconds into overtime in a 4-3 win.
Happy Birthday to You
1942: Bryan Murray
1964: Perry Berezan
1970: Kevin Haller
1978: Olli Jokinen
1979: Niklas Hagman
1991: Cam Fowler
1992: Nathan Beaulieu
1995: Nick Ritchie
