Hockey is back! Normally we’d be closing in on the NHL trade deadline for the final push of the 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 17th, featuring Ken Dryden.
Today in Hockey History
Ken Dryden Gets Last Career Shutout
1979: The Montreal Canadiens goalie makes 31 saves in a 2-0 victory over the Washington Capitals. It’s the 46th and final shutout of Dryden’s career. The victory gives him a record of 22-1 with four ties in a 27-game stretch.
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He retires at the end of the season with a career record of 258-57 and 74 ties. Dryden also wins the Stanley Cup six times and five Vezina Trophies in his career.
Other Notable Events
1923: Ottawa Senators forward Cy Denneny scores his 143rd NHL goal to pass Joe Malone on the all-time list. Denneny helps the Senators beat the Canadiens, 2-0, and hold the scoring lead for 11 years.
1927: The newly rebranded Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New York Americans, 4-1, in the first game under Conn Smythe’s ownership.
1944: The Habs’ Maurice Richard ties Malone’s record of 44 goals for most in a season. Richard scores the game-winner with 4:30 left in regulation to give Montreal a 4-3 win over Toronto. Malone originally set the single-season mark in the league’s first season of 1917-18.
1951: Detroit Red Wings forward Goride Howe steals the show with his 100th career goal in a 2-1 victory over the Canadiens. Howe’s big night spoils the night the Habs honoured Richard with a car and other gifts.
1960: Trainer Joe Schaefer becomes the first New York native to play in goal for the hometown New York Rangers. He replaces Gump Worsley in a 5-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks and allows five goals on 22 shots.
1993: Los Angeles Kings centre Wayne Gretzky gets his 91st five-point of more game of his career. He gets a goal and four assists in a 10-5 win over the Minnesota North Stars.
1994: Quebec Nordiques forward Mike Ricci scores five goals in an 8-2 win over the San Jose Sharks.
2013: Chicago edges Los Angeles, 3-2, to extend their season-opening point streak to 15 games. The Blackhawks match the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers for the second-longest streak from the start of a season in NHL history.
2019: Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin gets his 10th 40-goal season with a goal in a 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
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Happy Birthday to You
1949: Jim Rutherford
1960: Lindy Ruff
1964: Darren Pang
1966: Luc Robitaille
1975: Todd Harvey; Vinny Prospal
1976: Hnat Domenichelli
1984: Drew Miller
1988: Michael Frolik
1998: Adam Fox
