Normally we’d be in the midst of starting up another hockey season now, 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 December 9th, featuring Henrik Lundqvist.
Today in Hockey History
Henrik Lundqvist Wins Game No. 419
2017: The New York Rangers goalie gets his 419th career victory in gea 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. Lundqvist’s win gives him the second-most victories with any one franchise. The Swede passes Chicago Blackhawks great Tony Esposito and his 418 wins.
Lundqvist only trails Devils great Martin Broduer and his 688 wins with New Jersey. “The King” ends up winning 459 games with the Blueshirts before having his contract bought out. Lundqvist signed with the Washington Capitals in the off-season.
Other Notable Events
1933: Montreal Canadiens forward Howie Morenz ties Cy Denneny as the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer. Morenz scores his 246th goal in a 4-2 loss to the Rangers.
1956: Gordie Howe ties Nels Stewart for second on the all-time goal-scoring list with his 324th goal. Howe scores in a 4-2 Detroit Red Wings loss to New York at Madison Square Garden.
1979: The Edmonton Oilers beat the Hartford Whalers, 3-0, in the second meeting between Howe and Wayne Gretzky, who scores for Edmonton.
1982: Gretzky sees his 30-game point streak end in a 3-3 tie with the Los Angeles Kings. Kings netminder Gary Laskoski makes 32 saves and keeps Gretzky pointless.
1986: Rookie winger Luc Robitaille get his first career hat trick in the Kings’ 7-2 win over the New York Islanders. He helps break the game open with two in the third period.
1989: The NHL announces it will expand by seven teams in the next 10 years. League officials eventually go above and beyond and the league grows to 30 teams by the year 2000. The NHL stays at 30 teams until the Vegas Golden Knights are added in 2017-18.
2007: Colorado Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk gets three goals and three assists in a 9-5 win over the St. Louis Blues. Hedjuk, Paul Stastny and Ryan Smyth combine for 14 points for Colorado.
2018: Vancouver Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson gets his second five-point game of the season. He gets a goal and four assists in a 6-1 win over St. Louis. Pettersson assists on three goals by Brock Boeser for his second hat trick.
2019: The Islanders get their 20th win of the season in a 5-1 victory at the Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s the Isles’ 20th win in only 29 games.
Happy Birthday to You
1925: Bep Guidolin
1935: Bill Hay; Noel Price
1942: Germain Gagnon
1943: Pit Martin
1945: Nick Libett
1964: Nevin Markwart
1966: Dana Murzyn
1971: Petr Nedved
1982: Jim Slater
1987: Jeff Petry
1996: Kyle Connor; Mackenzie Blackwood
