Normally we’d be in the closing in on the mid-way point of the regular season, however, 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 28th, featuring Maurice Richard.
Today in Hockey History
Maurice Richard Has Eight-Point Night
1944: The Montreal Canadiens great gets five goals and three assists in a 9-1 rout of the Detroit Red Wings. Richard sets a record for most points in a game with his eight-point outburst. The crowd of 13,000 at the Montreal Forum erupts when his historic feat is announced.
Bert Olmstead ties the record against the Chicago Blackhawks, but Toronto Maple Leafs forward Darryl Sittler gets 10 points in February 1976 versus the Boston Bruins.
Other Notable Events
1918: Montreal goalie Georges Vezina is the first goalie to get an assist in an NHL game. Newsy Lalonde rushes up the ice and scores after a Vezina save in a 6-3 win over the Toronto Arenas.
1929: Hall of Fame goaltender Terry Sawchuk is born on this date in Winnipeg. He plays 21 seasons and sets since-broken records for wins (445) and shutouts (103) and won four Stanley Cups.
1967: Canadiens great Jean Beliveau hands out four assists in a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota North Stars. Beliveau’s big night puts him past former teammate Richard for second on the all-time points list.
1975: The New York Rangers are the first time to play a team from the Soviet Union in an exhibition. It’s the Soviet Red Army that gets off to a winning start in the Super Series with a 7-3 win. Vladimir Petrov scores two goals and has two assists for the Red Army, and Vladislav Tretiak makes 38 saves.
2002: New Jersey Devils defenceman Scott Niedermayer becomes the second blueliner to get seven regulat-season OT winners. He joins Brian Leetch after getting the winner with 49.5 seconds left. Niedermayer’s goal helps the Devils beat the Washington Capitals.
2010: The Vancouver Canucks end a 14-game home losing streak against the Philadelphia Flyers. Vancouver beats Philadelphia, 6-2, for its first win since Jan. 17, 1989.
2017: David Perron gets the overtime-winner to help the Vegas Golden Knights their 10th straight win. Perron’s goal gives Vegas the most consecutive wins by a first-year team with a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
2019: Washington’s Alex Ovechkin tops Teemu Selanne‘s power-play goal record with his 256th.
Happy Birthday to You
1912: Eddie Wiseman
1929: Terry Sawchuk
1932: Harry Howell
1949: Dave Hudson
1960: Ray Bourque
1974: Rob Niedermayer
1981: Dave Moss
1982: Curtis Glencross
1992: Tomas Jurco
