https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/category/wild/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 21st featuring Wayne Gretzky.
Today in Hockey History
Wayne Gretzky Becomes Second in Points
1989: The Los Angeles Kings centre dishes out three assists in a 5-4 loss to the Hartford Whalers. Gretzky moves past Marcel Dionne with his 1,771st point in 743 games. The Great One also reaches 100 points for a record 10th straight season.
Gretzky is only behind Gordie Howe at that point on the all-time point list. However, Gretzky passes Howe on Oct. 15 later that year.
Other Notable Events
1943: The Boston Bruins score four goals in a record one minute, 20 seconds in a 14-3 rout of the New York Rangers.
1985: Dionne moves past Bobby Hull on the all-time scoring list with his 611th career goal. His goal moves him into third on the all-time list, but the Kings lose 8-7 to the Edmonton Oilers. Los Angeles had a 7-3 lead, but gave up the last five goals of the game.
1986: New York Islanders Denis Potvin ties Bobby Orr with his 270th goal, which is the most for a defenceman. Potvin nets the game-winner in a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
1995: Mats Sundin scores his first goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Sundin was recently acquired in a trade with the Quebec Nordiques. He goes on to score a Maple Leafs record 420 goals in 13 seasons.
1997: Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Patrick Lalime extends his career-opening record to 14-0 with two ties. He makes 49 saves in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames.
2001: Pittsburgh tops the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 in the first game between European-trained coaches. The Penguins Ivan Hlinka tops the Blackhawks Alpo Suhonen after Garth Snow gets a shutout.
2004: Jim Dowd and Richard Park score a record three seconds apart for the Minnesota Wild. The duo power the Wild to a 4-2 win over the Blackhawks.
2016: Daniel Sedin becomes the leading goal scorer in Vancouver Canucks history. He scores twice to pass Markus Naslund with 348 in a 4-2 win over Boston.
2019: Peter Laviolette becomes the second American coach to 600 coaching wins in the Nashville Predators 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanhce
Happy Birthday to You
1887: Georges Vezina
1961: Moe Mantha
1965: Brian Bradley
1967: Ulf Dahlen
1971: Doug Weight
1978: Andrei Zyuzin
1981: Dany Heatley
1985: Ryan Suter
1986: Jonathan Quick
1987: Darren Helm
1991: Brayden McNabb
1992: Tom Kuhnhackl
2000: K’Andre Miller
2001: Kirby Dach
