{"id":72635,"date":"2020-04-04T08:45:31","date_gmt":"2020-04-04T12:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=72635"},"modified":"2020-04-04T08:20:49","modified_gmt":"2020-04-04T12:20:49","slug":"today-in-hockey-history-new-york-islanders-denis-potvin-reaches-1000-points","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/04\/04\/today-in-hockey-history-new-york-islanders-denis-potvin-reaches-1000-points\/","title":{"rendered":"Today in Hockey History: New York Islanders Denis Potvin Reaches 1,000 Points"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the NHL\u2019s hiatus, we at the Last Word on Hockey are going to look back at each date\u2019s historical <\/span>significance<\/span> to the game. We\u2019ll <\/span>remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here\u2019s our look at this date in hockey history for April 4th, featuring Denis Potvin<\/a>.<\/strong>
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Today in Hockey History<\/h2>\n

Denis Potvin First Defenceman to 1,000 Points<\/h3>\n

1987:<\/strong> The New York Islanders<\/a> defenceman scores twice in a 6-6 tie with the Buffalo Sabres.<\/a> Potvin is the first at his position to get to 1,000 points and the 21st player overall.<\/p>\n

He would reach the milestone with a game-tying goal with 17 seconds left to go in regulation. Potvin would retire after the 1987-88 with 1,052 points, which would be the most for a blueliner at the time.<\/p>\n

Other Notable Events<\/h3>\n

1921:<\/strong> The Ottawa Senators<\/a> are the first NHL team to win back-to-back crowns as they beat the Vancouver Millionaires, 2-1, in Game 5.<\/p>\n

1944: Maurice Richard<\/a><\/strong> makes his Stanley Cup Final debut in the Montreal Canadiens<\/a> 5-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> in Game 1.<\/p>\n

1961:<\/strong> The Habs’ quest for a sixth Stanley Cup ends after a 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks in Game 6 of the semifinals. It’s the first time since 1950 that Montreal failed to reach the final.<\/p>\n

1971:<\/strong> Both Gordie Howe<\/a><\/strong> and Jean Beliveau<\/a><\/strong> make their last regular season appearances. The Hall of Fame duo would retire at the end of the post-season. However, Howe would play six seasons in the WHA before one last season with the Hartford Whalers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1979: Ken Dryden<\/a> <\/strong>is the first goalie to win 30 games in his first seven season in the Canadiens’ 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1990: Larry Robinson<\/a><\/strong> of the Los Angeles Kings<\/a> skates in the post-season for a record 18th straight season. Los Angeles would beat the Calgary Flames<\/a>, 5-3.<\/p>\n

2004: Brad Fast<\/a><\/strong> scores in his only NHL game as the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers<\/a> play to the last tie in NHL history. Fast scored at 17:34 of the third period to forge a 6-6 stalemate. The league would adopt a shootout for the locked out 2004-05 season.<\/p>\n

2019:<\/strong> Carolina makes the playoffs for the first time since 2009 with a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils.<\/a><\/p>\n

Happy Birthday to You<\/h3>\n

1952: Pat Burns<\/strong><\/p>\n

1953; Blake Dunlop<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

1963: Dale Hawerchuk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

1971: Yanic Perreault<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

1979: Roberto Luongo<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

1996: Andrew Mangiapane<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n