Today in Hockey History: Toronto Maple Leafs Ian Turnbull Scores Five

Hockey is finally back! Normally we’d be 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 February 2nd featuring Ian Turnbull.

Today in Hockey History

Ian Turnbull Scores Five Goals

1977: The Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman sets a record for most goals by a defender in a single game. Turnbull scores five goals in a 9-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Maple Leaf Gardens. He’s efficient with his shots as he gets all five goals on five shots.

No other defenceman has scored five goals in a game in the 40-plus years since Turnbull set the record. He retires in 1983 with 123 goals and 440 points.

Other Notable Events

1918: Montreal Canadiens forward Joe Malone scores five goals as they beat Toronto, 11-2. Malone extends his goal-scoring streak 13 games that started with the league’s opening night.

1974: Philadelphia Flyers Bobby Clarke and Ross Lonsberry each get a hat trick in their 12-2 rout of Detroit. Clarke also gets three assists in the first double hat trick in Flyers history.

1980: New York Rangers forward Phil Esposito scores twice to get to 700 goals in a 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals. Esposito joins Gordie Howe as the league’s only 700-goal scorers.

1989: The Pittsburgh Penguins end their 42-game winless streak at The Spectrum with a 5-3 win in Philadelphia. It’s the first win for the Penguins at the arena since Jan. 20, 1974 as they went 0-39 with three ties.

1991: Pittsburgh rookie Jaromir Jagr gets his first career hat trick in 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins. The 19-year-old is the youngest Penguin to get a hat trick in team history.

1994: Detroit head coach Scotty Bowman becomes the first bench boss to win 1,000 games in the regular season and the playoffs. Bowman moves to 1,000-578-231 when the Red Wings beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-1.

2011: Red Wings forward Johan Franzen scores five times in a 7-5 win over the Ottawa Senators. Franzen is the first Detroit player to score five  since Sergei Fedorov in Dec. 1996. Patrik Laine is the next to get five goals in Nov. 2018.

2012: San Gagner of the Edmonton Oilers is the first player in 23 years to get eight points in a game. Gagner gets four goals and four assists in an 8-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.