Normally we’d be closing in on 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 March 4th, featuring Mike Bossy.
Today in Hockey History
Mike Bossy Has Fifth Straight 50-Goal Season
1982: The Islanders forward becomes the first player in league history to start his career with five straight 50-goal seasons. Bossy gets a third-period hat trick in a 10-1 rout of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Nassau Coliseum.
He gets four more 50-goal seasons to run his streak to an amazing nine consecutive 50-goal seasons. Bossy finishes his career with 573 goals and 1,126 points. He also wins four straight Stanley Cups in the early 1980s.
Other Notable Events
1925: Ottawa Senators forward Cy Denneny becomes the first player to score 200 NHL goals. He scores the milestone tally in a 5-1 victory over the Montreal Maroons.
1967: Toronto goalie Terry Sawchuk becomes the first netminder to get 100 career regular season shutouts. He makes 22 saves in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
1973: Jacques Plante gets a 27-save shutout in his Boston Bruins debut in a 4-0 win over Chicago for his 81st career shutout.
1976: Bryan Trottier of the Islanders gets two rookie records in a 3-3 tie with the Vancouver Canucks. Trottier’s first of two assists give him 53 to set the rookie assist record and gets 79 points for the rookie points mark.
1989: Los Angeles Kings centre Wayne Gretzky hits 50 goals for the ninth and final time of his career. He scores twice in a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
1992: Gretzky hands out his 1,500th career assist in 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks.
1999: Toronto scores four goals on nine shots in a 4-0 win over the St. Louis Blues. It’s the fewest shots by a winning team in NHL history.
2008: Florida Panthers goalie Craig Anderson is the first goalie to get back-to-back 1-0 shutouts in league history. He makes 40 saves and Nathan Horton scores in OT over Boston.
2018: Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg scores in overtime in a 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche. It’s Nashville’s record-setting eighth straight win in franchise history.
2019: Detroit Red Wings legend Ted Lindsay passes away at the age of 93. Lindsay was part of the vaunted Production Line with Gordie Howe and Sid Abel that won four Stanley Cups in the 1950s.
Happy Birthday to You
1931: Bob Johnson
1959: Ray Allison
1964: Gord Kluzak
1980: Michael Henrich
1992: Derek Forbort
1995: Valeri Nichushkin
