During the NHL’s hiatus, we at the Last Word on Hockey are 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 May 16th, featuring Steve Yzerman.
Today in Hockey History
Steve Yzerman Ends Series in Dramatic Fashion
1996: The Detroit Red Wings captain scores 1:15 into the second overtime to get a 1-0 win over the St. Louis Blues. Yzerman’s long slap shot beats Blues goalie Jon Casey and fires up the crowd at Joe Louis Arena. The shot comes in from the blue line and goes over Casey’s blocker side.
Chris Osgood makes 29 saves for the shutout for the Red Wings while Casey stops 29 shots. Detroit’s run to the Cup would end at the hands of archrival Colorado Avalanche in six games. The Avalanche would win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Other Notable Events
1926: Jack Adams is named general manager and coach of the Detroit Cougars. The team becomes the Red Wings and Adams controls the team for 35 years.
1971: Jean Beliveau nets his final two Stanley Cup points in the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 Game 6 win. Beliveau gets a pair of assists as they force a Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
1976: Montreal starts a run of four straight Stanley Cups with a 5-3 Game 4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Guy Lafleur gets the game-winner while the Flyers Reggie Leach gets the Conn Smythe for a record 19 post-season goals.
1982: The New York Islanders are the first American team to win three straight Cups in a row. Mike Bossy gets the last two of his 17 playoff goals to get the Conn Smythe. The Isles sweep the Vancouver Canucks with a 3-1 win.
1985: Jari Kurri‘s record third hat trick in the same playoffs helps the Edmonton Oilers beat the Blackhaws, 8-2. The Game 6 win gives the Oilers the Campbell Conference crown.
2014: The Los Angeles Kings reach the conference final for the third year in a row. Los Angeles beats the Anaheim Ducks, 6-2, in Game 7. It’s also the last game of Teemu Selanne‘s storied career.
2016: Sidney Crosby breaks an eight-game pointless streak with an OT-goal in the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, win in Game 2. Crosby’s first overtime playoff winner helps the Pens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference final.
2018: Jonathan Marchessault becomes the first player in NHL history to score a goal in the first minute and the last minute of a playoff game. The Vegas Golden Knights forward’s two goals lead to a 4-2 Game 3 win over the Winnipeg Jets in the Western final.
Happy Birthday to You
1935: Floyd Smith
1950: John Stewart
1977: Jean-Sebastien Giguere
1983: Kyle Wellwood
1984: Tomas Fleischmann
1985: Corey Perry
1992: Jeff Skinner
