Last Word on Hockey looks back at the most historically significant events in hockey history each day of the year. We’ll remember the moments that shaped the sport over the years, helping it to become the game we know and love today. Here’s our look at this date in hockey history for November 20th.
Also Read: November 19, November 21
Today in Hockey History: November 20
Dave Keon Plays Game No. 1,000
1974: The Toronto Maple Leafs centre plays his 1,000th career game. Toronto falls, 8-5, to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Keon does mark his 1,000th game in style. Keon scores a hat trick for the Leafs in the loss.
He becomes the third Toronto player to skate in 1,000 games for the club. The Noranda, Quebec native would jump to the WHA at the end of the season before retiring with the Hartford Whalers in 1981-82.
Other Notable Events
1928: The Boston Bruins play their first game at the Boston Garden in a 1-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Boston remains at the Garden for 67 years before moving to its current home, now known as TD Garden. The Habs and the Bruins play one final pre-season game on Sept. 26, 1995.
1934: Toronto’s Busher Jackson is the first player to score four goals in a single period. He powers the Maple Leafs to a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Eagles.
1955: The Original Six teams all tie each other 1-1 on the back end of back-to-back games. Visiting teams won the night before and none of the three games has a goal scored in the third period.
1988: A pair of goalies are honoured by the Chicago Blackhawks prior to a 7-4 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Goalie Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito have their numbers retired, but current Chicago goalie Darren Pang struggles with only 16 saves.
1999: Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman is the seventh player to reach 1,500 points. He gets an assist in a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.
2003: Columbus Blue Jackets rookie forward Dan Fritsche is the first Ohio native to score for the club. Fritsche scores in a 3-0 victory over the Red Wings.
2007: Paul Gaustad and Thomas Vanek each score twice as the Buffalo Sabres use seven second-period goals to win 7-2 over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
2018: Ken Hitchcock wins his coaching debut with Edmonton, 4-3, against the San Jose Sharks thanks to a Leon Draisaitl overtime goal.
2019: Henrik Lundqvist ties Curtis Joseph for fifth on the NHL all-time list for wins by goalies when he makes 30 saves in the New York Rangers 4-1 victory against the Washington Capitals.
Happy Birthday to You
1900: Billy Burch
1946: Bob Murdoch
1952: John Van Boxmeer
1964: John MacLean
1988: Max Pacioretty
main image credit: © Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images
