We’re normally starting up another hockey season, but 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 November 6th, featuring Mark Messier.
Today in Hockey History
Mark Messier Gets 500th Goal
1995: The New York Rangers captain is the 21st player in league history to reach the 500-goal mark. Messier does it in style with a hat trick in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames. The three-goal night is the 21st of his career when he beats Rick Tabaracci at 12:32 of the third period.
It’s also Messier’s first hat trick since Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils. Messier guaranteed victory in that game and he came through.
Other Notable Events
1943: A 42-year-old player scores against a teenage goalie for the first time in league history. Frank Boucher of the Rangers beats 19-year-old goalie Hec Highton of the Chicago Black Hawks. Highton gets the last laugh and his first win in net as Chicago wins, 4-3.
1946: The Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings play to a 3-3 tie with zero penalties called. It’s the first penalty-free game in Bruins’ team history.
1983: Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers gets four goals and three assists in an 8-5 win over the Winnipeg Jets. He becomes the third player to net 1,700 points with two goals and an assist five years later. Gretzky helps the Los Angeles Kings to a 5-3 victory over Chicago.
1985: The Philadelphia Flyers are the first team to score the first goal of the game for the 12th straight time to start a season. Peter Zezel scores 14:01 into the first period in a 5-2 win over the Rangers.
2011: The Vancouver Canucks score five power-play goals in a 6-2 win over the Blackhawks. Vancouver also kills off five Chicago power plays.
2015: Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg scores his 300th career goal in a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He joins Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov as the only players in Red Wings history with 300 goals, 500 assists and 800 points.
2016: Ryan Kesler scores twice as the Anaheim Ducks beat the Flames, 4-1, at the Honda Center. It’s a record-setting 24th straight win at home over Calgary.
2018: Vancouver rookie Elias Pettersson is fourth player in the last 90 years to score 10 goals in his first 10 career games in a 3-2 shootout loss to Detroit.
Happy Birthday to You
1922: Joe Klukay
1927: Marty Pavelich
1934: lbert Langlois
1945: Darryl Edestrand
1978: Keith Aucoin; Erik Cole
1979: Brad Stuart
1995: Sam Reinhart
