Hockey is finally back! Normally we’d be 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 January 15th, featuring Tony Esposito.
Today in Hockey History
Tony Esposito Gets Final Win, Shutout
1984: The Chicago Blackhawks‘ goalie makes 35 saves to get his final win and shutout with a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s his first shutout since March 27, 1983 for his 76th of his career. Esposito gets his 423rd win, which is the most in franchise history.
He gets 418 of the victories and 74 of the shutouts with the Blackhawks, who selected him from the Montreal Canadiens in the 1969 intra-league draft.
Other Notable Events
1966: Detroit Red Wings‘ great Gordie Howe becomes the first player to get 1,400 points in league history. He assists on Bill Gadsby‘s goal in a 4-4 tie with the New York Rangers.
1970: Boston Bruins‘ defenceman Bobby Orr gets two assists in a 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings to get 51 for the season. Orr sets the record for most assists for a blueliner that was held by Pat Stapleton.
1979: Tim Young scores five goals and has an assist to power the Minnesota North Stars to an 8-1 win against the Rangers. It’s Young’s first career hat trick.
1986: Montreal goalie Patrick Roy gets his first career shutout in a 4-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets. The rookie stops 19 shots for the first of his 66 shutouts as Stephane Richer scores twice.
1987: Bruins’ defenceman Reed Larson scores twice to become the first American to score 200 goals. He scores a pair of power-play goals in a 6-4 win over the Hartford Whalers.
1990: Family dinners become awkward as the Washington Capitals fire Bryan Murray as the team’s head coach. The Caps hire Terry Murray, who was coaching the team’s AHL affiliate in Baltimore.
2015: Devan Dubnyk makes his Minnesota Wild debut a memorable one with a 7-0 shutout over the Buffalo Sabres. He came over from the Arizona Coyotes in a trade a day earlier.
2016: Chicago’s Patrick Kane gets his first regular-season hat trick in a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kane had two post-season hat tricks for Chicago in 2009 and 2013.
2019: The Rangers extend their home winning streak against the Carolina Hurricanes to 16 games with a 6-2 victory at Madison Square Garden.
Happy Birthday to You
1958: Willie Huber
1969: Adam Burt
1976: Alexander Korolyuk
1996: Mason Appleton
1999: Martin Necas
