Today in Hockey History: Columbus Blue Jackets John Tortorella Gets 600th Win

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 January 10th, featuring John Tortorella.

Today in Hockey History

John Tortorella Wins 600th Game

2019: The Columbus Blue Jackets coach gets his 600th career win behind the bench. Artemi Panarin scores 1:22 into overtime to get his coach the milestone win with a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. The win also makes Tortorella the first American coach with 600 NHL wins.

He currently has 655 coaching victories prior to the 2020-21 season. Tortorella has had stints in charge Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks and Blue Jackets.

Other Notable Events

1920: Newsy Lalonde scores six goals as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto St. Pats, 14-7, in the highest-scoring game in league history. The 21 goals isn’t matched until 65 years later.

1931: The Philadelphia Quakers defeat the Montreal Maroons 4-3 in overtime to end their 15-game losing streak. Gerry Lowry ends the streak that is eclipsed by the 1974-75 Washington Capitals with 17.

1960: Boston Bruins goalie Don Simmons becomes the second goalie to wear a mask after Jacques Plante. He stops 37 shots in a 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

1985: Buffalo Sabres goalie Tom Barrasso makes 20 saves to give his team a 2-0 win over Barrasso’s hometown team. It’s the first shutout in more than seven years by an opposing team at the Boston Garden.

1989: Edmonton Oilers centre Wayne Gretzky passes Gordie Howe for most combined points in the regular season and playoffs. Gretzky gets four assists in a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. The Great One has 2,011 points at the point.

1993: Bob Kudelski scores three goals for the first hat trick in modern Ottawa Senators history. Kudelski gets all three tallies in a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, which broke an 11-game losing streak.

2004: Sheldon Souray gets a Canadiens team-record for a defenceman with six points in an 8-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Souray gets a goal and five assists to pass Doug Harvey and Lyle Odelein‘s mark of five points.

2016: Washington winger Alex Ovechkin becomes the first Russian player to 500 goals. Ovechkin reaches the milestone in a 7-1 rout of the Senators. He quickly gets No. 501 later in the third period.