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 14th, featuring Mike Gartner.
Today in Hockey History
Mike Gartner Gets 700th Goal
1997: The Phoenix Coyotes forward becomes the fifth player to get his 700th career goal. He scores twice in a 3-3 tie with the Detroit Red Wings. The milestone goal is the first one of the night when he beats Detroit goalie Chris Osgood.
Gartner gets goal 701 later in the game played at America West Arena. He retires at the end of the season with 708 career goals and enters the Hall of Fame in 2001.
Other Notable Events
1933: Montreal Canadiens great Howie Morenz becomes the league’s all-time leading scorer with his 247th career goal. He passes Cy Denneny for the lead in a 2-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1943: Boston’s Bill Cowley gets two goals and an assist in a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. He passes Frank Boucher to become the league’s all-time leader in assists. Cowley retires four years later as the NHL record holder with 353 assists.
1968: Bobby Orr gets his first career hat trick in Boston’s 10-5 win over Chicago. The defenceman almost gets a fourth goal, but narrowly misses the net.
Tony Esposito makes his first start in a 1-0 shutout for the Canadiens over the Philadelphia Flyers. It’s one of his five shutouts with the Habs before losing him in the intraleague draft to the Blackhawks.
1982: Los Angeles Kings forward Marcel Dionne scores his 500th goal to become the ninth player to do so. Dionne scores a pair in a 7-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.
1985: Ron Wicks referees his 1,034th NHL regular-season game, passing Bruce Hood for the most in league history. He oversees a 6-6 tie between the Minnesota North Stars and Maple Leafs.
2006: It’s a battle of twin brothers as Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers battles Joel Lundqvist of the Dallas Stars. Henrik makes 43 saves in a 5-2 win over the Stars in the first time twins take on each other.
2017: The Vegas Golden Knights beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-1, for their 20th win in 31 games. It’s the quickest an expansion team has gotten to 20 victories.
Happy Birthday to You
1939: Frank St. Marseille
1961: Patrik Sundstrom
1966: Bill Ranford
1971: Chris Therien
1978: Kim St-Pierre
1985: Mike Santorelli
1989: Cory Conacher
1995: Ivan Barbashev
