Normally we’d be in the closing in on the mid-way point of the regular season, however, 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 23rd, featuring Bryan Trottier.
Today in Hockey History
Bryan Trottier Gets Six Points in a Period
1978: The New York Islanders forward records a gets a record six points in the second period of a 9-4 win over the rival New York Rangers. Trottier gets a first-period goal, but goes off in the second frame.
He gets three goals and three assists as part of the Islanders’ seven-goal period. Trottier puts an exclamation point on the game with a third-period power-play goal to cap off the night. Mike Bossy’s seven-point night is almost a side note.
Other Notable Events
1933: Montreal Canadiens forward Howie Morenz becomes the league’s all-time leading scorer with his 249th career goal. He passes Cy Denneny for first en route to 271 career goals.
1967: Rookie netminder Wayne Rutledge gets his career and franchise first shutout for the Los Angeles Kings. He stops 21 shots in a 4-0 win over the St. Louis Blues.
1980: The Winnipeg Jets get off the skids with a 5-4 win over the Colorado Rockies. Winnipeg stops a 30-game winless streak of 0-23 with seven ties. Willy Lindstrom gets the long-awaited for the Jets.
1987: Buffalo Sabres goalie Tom Barrasso earns his 100th career win in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. He’s the youngest to get to the milestone at 22 years and nine months old.
1988: Edmonton Oilers great Wayne Gretzky moves past Bobby Hull for fourth on the all-time scoring list. The Great One pots a pair of empty-net goals to go with two assist in a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
1999: Paul Coffey gets an assist to become the first defenceman to get 1,500 points. Coffey assists on Sami Kapanen’s power-play goal in a 4-3 Carolina Hurricanes loss to the Ottawa Senators.
2006: Mike Sillinger becomes the first player to get double digit goals in a 4-0 Islanders win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
2016: It’s a banner night for Shane Doan in the Arizona Coyotes 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Doan gets his 400th career goal in his 1,500th game with the Jets/Coyotes franchise.
Happy Birthday to You
1891: Cy Denneny
1916: Woody Dumart
1964: Petr Klima
1976: Brett Clark; Mikael Samuelsson
1978: Ales Kotalik
1979: Johan Franzen; Scott Gomez
1982: Zbynek Michalek
1986: T.J. Oshie
