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 20th, featuring Henri Richard.
Today in Hockey History
Henri Richard Nets 1,000th Point
1973: Montreal Canadiens centre gets his 1,000th point in a 2-2 tie with the Buffalo Sabres at the Memorial Auditorium. Richard reaches the milestone on a second-period goal by Jim Roberts. The “Pocket Rocket” gets 55 points with the Canadiens in the 1973-74 campaign.
The younger brother of Maurice Richard retires with 1,046 points on 358 goals and 688 assists. He finishes his career with 11 Stanley Cups before retiring in the 1974-75 season. Richard passed away at the age of 84 in March 6, 2020.
Other Notable Events
1938: Boston Bruins rookie Frank Brimsek posts his third straight shutout in a 3-0 win over the New York Americans. Brimsek has six shutouts in his first eight career games.
1950: Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Turk Broda becomes the first netminder to get 300 wins. He reaches the milestone in a 6-1 rout of Montreal.
1964: Chicago Blackhawks forward Bobby Hull scores to get his 28th goal in 28 games in a 3-2 victory over Boston. Hull goes on to score 32 goals in Chicago’s first 35 games of the 1964-65 season, but injuries limit him to 39 goals in 61 games.
1969: Boston’s Bobby Orr hands out five assists in a 6-4 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins. Orr becomes the first defenceman to lead the league in scoring.
1981: Doug Smail of the Winnipeg Jets scores the fastest goal to start a game just five seconds into a contest. Smail scores just five seconds into the game against the St. Louis Blues in a 5-4 Winnipeg win.
1983: Montreal’s Guy Lafleur gets his 500th goal and Steve Shutt scores his 400th in a 6-0 rout of the New Jersey Devils.
1985: New York Islanders defecnceman Denis Potvin becomes the top-scoring defender with 916 points. Potvin gets the mark with an assist in a 2-2 tie with the rival Rangers.
1986: The Los Angeles Kings rally from four goals down in the final 9:14 of regulation to forge an 8-8 tie with the Edmonton Oilers.
2007: Minnesota Wild forward Marian Gaborik becomes the first player in 11 years to record five goals in a game. Gaborik gets five in a 6-3 win over the Rangers.
Happy Birthday to You
1909: Charlie Conacher
1949: Mike Christie
1950: Bill Clement
1970: Travis Green
1973: Cory Stillman
1978: Andrei Markov
1986: Derek Dorsett
1989: Chris Tanev
1994: William Carrier
