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 4th featuring Jaromir Jagr.
Today in Hockey History
Jaromir Jagr Reaches Pair of Milestones
2003: The Czech forward scores his 500th goal on a natural hat trick in the Washington Capitals 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jagr becomes the 33rd player to reach the 500-goal mark. It’s his 11th hat trick and the 12th time he’s scored at least 30 goals in a season.
2016: Jagr assists on a Brandon Pirri goal to notch his 1,100th career assist. The assist comes in the first period of the Florida Panthers 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
Other Notable Events
1943: League president Frank Calder dies of a heart attack in Montreal. Red Dutton replaces Calder, who has been president since the birth of the league.
1961: The start of the New York Rangers versus Boston Bruins game is delayed by two hours because the Rangers are delayed by a snowstorm. New York wins, 2-1, despite dressing only 13 players thanks to 28 saves from Gump Worsley.
1971: Gilles Villemure makes 30 saves and Rod Gilbert scores as the Rangers beat the Red Wings, 1-0, in Detroit. It’s the last 1-0 road victory for the Rangers until Feb. 27, 1993.
1973: Villemure gets his 10th career shutout and Pete Stemkowski nets a hat trick in a 6-0 win over the Atlanta Flames. It’s a team-record eighth straight win of the Blueshirts.
1989: Los Angeles Kings centre Wayne Gretzky gets his first hat trick with the team and 44th overall in a 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
1997: Pittsburgh Penguins great Mario Lemieux gets his 600th goal in a 6-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks. He becomes the first player to score 600 goals with just one team.
1999: Gretzky ties Gordie Howe for most regular season and playoff goals between the NHL and WHA. He scores his 1,071st professional goal in a win over the Canucks.
2019; The Philadelphia Flyers win their 2,000th regular season game with a 2-1 victory over Vancouver. Flyers rookie goalie Carter Hart makes 41 saves for his seventh straight victory.
The Rangers Mika Zibanejad gets a goal and an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Kings. He becomes the ninth different player (and first member of the Rangers) to have a point on at least 10 consecutive team goals.
Happy Birthday to You
1920: Adam Brown
1960: Dave Pichette
1961: Steve Patrick; Denis Savard
1969: Dallas Drake; Joe Sacco
1973: Manny Legace
1983: Lee Stempniak
1985: Mark Letestu; Brad Richardson
1995: Darnell Nurse
2000: Liam Foudy
