Today in Hockey History: Oct. 27

The Hockey Writers

On this date in National Hockey League History, one legendary player drew even with another all-time great. Plus, five Russian-born hit the ice together for the first time in league history while there was plenty of personal milestones reached on Oct. 27.

One Legend Ties Another

Much like with Wayne Gretzky, it is hard to find a date in hockey history where Gordie Howe wasn’t a part of it.

On Oct. 27, 1963, Howe scored the 544th goal of his legendary career in the Detroit Red Wings’ 6-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. His milestone goal came on a third-period power play against fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Gump Worsley. The goal tied him with Canadiens’ hero Maurice Richard, who retired three years earlier, for the most goals in NHL history.

Howe and Richard
Howe and Richard found themselves tied at the top of the goal list (THW Achive)

Five years later, on Oct. 27, 1968, Howe had two goals and an assist in the Red Wings’ 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. At 40 years old, he became the oldest player in league history to have at least one point in each of his first five games of a season.

The “Russian Five” Debuts

Staying in Detroit, Red Wings head coach Scotty Bowman made history on Oct. 27, 1995. This was the first game where he put Viacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Igor Larionov, Sergei Fedorov and Vyacheslav Kozlov all on the ice together. All five of these stars had played for the famed Red Army team in the Soviet Union and became known as the “Russian Five.”

This line clicked immediately. Fedorov led the team with 107 points during the 1995-96 season with Kozlov and Larionov on his wings, as both veterans scored over 70 points. Even the two defenders chipped in with Konstantinov finishing the season with a plus-60 rating and Fetisov matching his career-high with 42 points. This group was a huge part of the team’s 62-win regular season before they lost in the Western Conference Final to the Colorado Avalanche.

In the following year’s rematch with the Avs in the Western Conference Final, the Fedorov forward line combined for nine goals and 17 points in the six-game victory. The Red Wings went on to sweep the Philadelphia Flyers for their first Stanley Cup since 1955.

Franchise Firsts

On Oct. 27, 1971, the Vancouver Canucks recorded their first shutout in team history, a 0-0 tie at the Toronto Maple Leafs. Canucks goaltender Dunc Wilson earned the first shutout of his career, while this was the 12th of Bernie Parent’s career and first with Maple Leafs.

The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Washington Capitals 3-1, on Oct. 27, 2000, for their first win on home ice in franchise history. Goaltender Marc Denis made 32 saves while Jamie Heward’s first goal with the team proved to be the game-winner.

The Vegas Golden Knights beat the Avalanche 7-0, on Oct. 27, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena. Goaltender Oskar Dansk stopped all 32 shots he faced to give the Golden Knights their fifth straight win and the first shutout in franchise history. Vegas got goals from seven different players in a span of 26 minutes.

A First Time for Everything

Harry Lumley became the first Red Wings goaltender in franchise history to win 100 games, on Oct. 27, 1948, in a 3-2 victory at the New York Rangers.

On Oct. 27, 1962, Rod Gilbert scored his first career NHL goal, to go along with two assists, in a Rangers’ 5-1 win at the Maple Leafs. He went on to score 406 goals for the Blue Shirts, which are still the most in team history.

Hall of Famer Bob Gainey scored the first of his 239 career goals, on Oct. 27, 1972, in a 4-2 Canadiens’ win over the Minnesota North Stars, at the Forum.

John Vanbiesbrouck pokes the puck away from Bob Gainey
Gainey did great things on and off the ice in Montreal. (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)

On that same night, New York Islanders’ blueliner Denis Potvin scored his first two NHL goals in a 3-2 win over the Rangers. He retired in 1988 with 310 goals, which, at the time, where were the most scored by any defenseman in league history.

First-year forward Joe Sakic scored a goal, on Oct. 27, 1988, in the Quebec Nordiques 6-2 loss at the Boston Bruins. He became the first rookie ever to register at least one point in each of his first 11 games in the league.

Joe Sakic, Quebec Nordiques
Sakic started his career with points in 11 straight games. (THW Archives)

Ken Hodge, Jr., son of the former Bruins star Ken Hodge, made his debut in Boston, on Oct. 27, 1990, in a 5-4 win over the Blackhawks. The Bruins did all their scoring in the third period, led by Cam Neely’s goal and two assists. Hodge went on to score 30 goals during the 1990-91 season, but he only played in 67 NHL games, and 42 with the Bruins, following this breakthrough performance.

On this date in 2005, Manny Legace became the first goaltender to win 10 games during the month of October in the Red Wings’ 5-2 victory over the visiting Blackhawks. Mathieu Schneider led the way offensively with two goals while Legace made 21 saves.

Plenty of Personal Milestones

Reggie Leach scored his 350th career NHL goal, on Oct. 27, 1981, in the Flyers’ 11-2 loss at the Canadiens. Leach scored a total of 381 goals before he retired in 1983. He is seventh on Philadelphia’s all-time goals list with 306.

Bryan Trottier played in his 1,000th career game, on Oct. 27, 1988, joining Potvin as the only two Islanders to ever accomplish this feat. He played in a franchise-record 1,123 games for New York before signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990.

Bryan Trottier New York Islanders
Trottier had a legendary career with the Islanders. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)

Pat LaFontaine scored his seventh career hat trick, on Oct. 27, 1990, to become the sixth player in Islanders’ history to score 250 goals. Exactly one year later, LaFontaine scored his first goal as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.

Mario Lemieux scored twice, on Oct. 27, 1992, to extend his consecutive goal-scoring streak to a team-record 10 games. The 7-2 win over the Ottawa Senators improved the Penguins’ record to 8-02 to start the season.

On Oct. 27, 1993, Denis Savard lit the lamp to become the 20th player in NHL history to score 1,200 career points. The milestone stone came in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 4-3 loss to the visiting Winnipeg Jets.

Scott Mellanby scored the 200th goal of his NHL career, on Oct. 27, 1996, as the Florida Panthers extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games (7-0-3) with a 3-2 win at the Flyers.

Tony Amonte scored his 250th NHL goal, on Oct. 27, 1999, in the Blackhawks 1-0 victory at the Canadiens. Goaltender Jocelyn Thibault recorded his 13th career shutout and it was his second straight against his former team.

Amonte’s future teammate, Keith Tkachuk, scored the 300th goal of his NHL career, on Oct. 27, 2000, as the Phoenix Coyotes extended their undefeated streak to seven straight games (5-0-2) with a 4-2 win at the Dallas Stars.

Odds & Ends

On Oct. 27, 1926, the Rangers named Lester Patrick as their new coach and general manager, replacing Frank Carroll and Conn Smythe in those respective roles. Patrick spent the next 13 seasons as head coach, winning 281 games and two Stanley Cups. He held on to the general manager’s job until 1946. The Rangers made it to the Stanley Cup Final six times under his tenure, winning three championships.

The Bruins signed Hall of Fame goaltender Frank Brimesk on this date in 1938. He quickly earned the nickname “Mr. Zero” by picking up shutouts in six of his first seven starts. He played in 444 games for the Bruins, over nine seasons, winning 230 times and recording 35 shutouts.

He may have wore No. 1, but Brimsek was Mr. Zero. (THW Archives)

The Islanders set a team record, on Oct. 27, 1979, by scoring three goals in just 44 seconds in a 6-4 win over the Blackhawks. Trottier, who had a hat trick on this night, Clark Gillies and Mike Bossy combined for the quick-strike offense.

Speaking of team records, Gaetan Duchesne and Mark Taylor set one, on Oct. 27, 1985, by scoring six seconds apart in the opening minute of the Capitals’ 4-2 victory over the Blackhawks.

On Oct. 27, 1998, Dominik Hasek and Mike Richter dueled in a 0-0 tie between the Sabres and Rangers, where both teams went a combined 0-for-11 on the power play. This was the Sabres’ fourth straight shutout of the Rangers, becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to shut out the same opponent in four consecutive meetings.  

The Carolina Hurricanes extended their unbeaten overtime streak to an NHL-best 21 games in a row (4-0-17), on Oct. 27, 2000, with a 3-3 tie against the visiting New Jersey Devils. The streak ended with an overtime loss to the Devils on Nov. 18, 2000.

Defenseman Sergei Gonchar announced his retirement, on Oct. 27, 2015, after 20 seasons in the NHL. He played in 1,301 total games for the Capitals, Bruins, Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Stars and Canadiens. The 2009 Stanley Cup-winner, immediately rejoined the Penguins as a defenseman development coach.

Happy Birthday to You

A large group of 21 current and former NHL players have been born on Oct. 27. The most notable of the bunch are Brian MacLellan (62), Stanley Cup winner Mike Ricci (49), Calder Trophy winner Sergei Samsonov (42), Chris Butler (34), Brandon Saad (28), Rasmus Ristolainen (26), 2020 Hart Trophy winner Leon Draisaitl (25), Rasmus Andersson (24) and late Hall of Fame goaltender Hugh Lehman.


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