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 23rd, featuring the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Today in Hockey History
Canada Takes Win at 2014 Winter Olympics
2014: Carey Price stopped all 24 shots he faced as Canada won its third gold medal in their last four. Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz each tallied goals in 3-0 win over Sweden in Sochi, Russia.
[pickup_prop id=”3419″]
It was the first time that Canada had went unblemished in an entire tournament without a loss or a tie. The Canadian women also won gold to allow Canada to sweep hockey for the the third time.
Other Notable Events
1952: Montreal Canadiens forward Elmer Lach becomes the league’s all-time leading scorer. Lach gets a goal and three assists in the Habs 7-0 rout of the Chicago Blackhawks to pass Bill Cowley with 550 points.
1964: Chicago goalie Glenn Hall becomes the third goalie to have five 30-win seasons. Hall helps the Blackhawks blank the Boston Bruins 2-0 and he even gets an assist.
1972: The Bruins become the first team to rally from five goals down to beat the California Golden Seals, 8-6. Craig Patrick‘s goal at 8:53 of the second gave the Seals a seemingly unassailable lead. However, Bobby Orr finishes with a goal and four assists while Fred Stanfield gets a hat trick.
1983: New York Rangers forward Mark Pavelich becomes the first American to score five goals in a game. He ties Don Murdoch‘s Ranger record in an 11-3 win over the Hartford Whalers.
1985: Montreal rookie goalie Patrick Roy debuts with a 6-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
1996: Pittsburgh Penguins teammates Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr each get their 50th goal of the season. The duo both get to the milestone in a 5-4 win over Hartford. Lemieux and Kevin Stevens pulled off the feat just under three years earlier against the Edmonton Oilers.
2001: Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman becomes the sixth player to get 1,600 career points. He scores in a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Scotty Bowman’s 600th game in charge of the Wings.
2003: New Jersey Devils forward Joe Nieuwendyk scores in a 4-3 win over the Penguins to get to his 1,000th career points.
[pickup_prop id=”4260″]
Happy Birthday to You
1927: Jimmy Thomson
1966: John Druce
1976: Jeff O’Neill
1990: Marco Scandella; Kevin Connauton
1996: Nick Schmaltz
