When your fandom overlaps your kids sports, you make do😂😅 #Smashville #NHLPredators #HockeyDon

Flames win, Jets and Preds lose. I'm on this hope drip from the NHL.

#Flames #NHLJets #SMASHVILLE #NHL

New on Instagram: Nashville loves a big Pekka. #pekka #pekkarinne #pekkastatue #smashville #predspride https://instagr.am/p/CqONYHWpDKv/

“March 11th - This Day in Hockey History” (Bruins Blah Blah Blah)

Much like this seasons standings, today’s March 11th “This Day in Hockey History”, is all about those Beantown B's. They’ve already set a milestone this season, becoming the fastest team in history to reach 100 points in 61 games as the top team in “The National”, and today’s game, literally, like a “broken record", was more of the same.  First, some other interesting history.

1965 -  Marked the end of the original six days, when the NHL announced an expansion, adding six more teams on this day.  The expansion teams:

1.       Philadelphia Flyers
2.       St Louis Blues
3.       Pittsburgh Penguins
4.       Los Angeles Kings
5.       Minnesota North Stars
6.       California Golden Seals

The “Seals” are known for several things including, being the worst team in history at the time. They are the only team no longer in existence from that expansion and are often remembered for the skates they wore.

Before the 1970-71 season, Charles O. Finley, who owned the Oakland A's, bought the NHL team and changed the Seals colors to mirror the MLB A’s.  The players  skates were painted to match the kelly green and gold uniforms.  Later, the skate color was changed to the more remembered, white.  Players talked about the skates becoming heavier as repeated coats of paint were added.  In 1976, the California Golden Seals moved to become the “Cleveland Barons” but, would cease operations in 1978 by “merging" with the North Stars.

1969 – Montreal Canadiens net minder, Gump Worsley, picked up his 40th career shutout on this date, blanking the Blues in St Louis .

1979 – In a game between the Flyers and Kings that included a bench-clearing Donnybrook, LA’s Randy Holt set two NHL records with 9 penalties and 67 pim, most in a game. Holt has 1438 penalty minutes in his 395 game career. 

1986 - Mike Bossy set a record achieving his 9th consecutive 50 goal season on a 4 goal performance, as the Islanders downed the Calgary Flames,  8-4.

1996 –  March 11th marked the end of an era as Les Canadiens de Montreal took the ice at the Montreal Forum for the last time. The "Habs" closed out 72 years in the historic building with a 4-1 victory over Dallas.

1998 - Patrick Roy beat Grant Fuhr twice in the same game, defeating the Blues 3-2 and tallying his 376th career win. In doing so, he took the top spot directly from Fuhr for all-time wins by a goalie.  Martin Brodeur surpassed Roy for most wins in history and still holds the title with 691.  Roy finished his career with 551 holding the second spot.

Also on this day, in several different years, “Savoir-Faire" Dennis Savard did some stuff.  As usual, Wayne Gretzky did some stuff.  Terry Sawchuk, Reggie Leach, Marcel Dionne and Coach Barry Trotz all did some stuff on this day.  Many other players and teams did stuff on March 11th but, just like hogging wins this season, Boston seems to be hogging the “done the most stuff on this Day in Hockey History” title.

1930 – The Boston Bruins set a record for the longest home winning streak in a season on March 11, registering a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.  The Flyers tied the same 20 win mark in 1976 but,  the streak would not be bested until the 2011-12 Detroit Red Wings took 23 in a row at home. 

1971 – The Defending Stanley Cup Champions Boston Bruins set several records on March 11, 1971.

Boston trounced the LA Kings 7-2, becoming the first team in NHL history to win 50 games in a season.   In the first period, Phil Esposito,  broke Bobby Hulls record for most goals in a single-season (58).  Number 7's second goal would make Esposito the first player in NHL history to reach the elete 60 goal club.  He would finish with 76 on the year.

In that game, Bobby (Number 4, watch him score) Orr broke his own record for defenseman when he set two on this day: one for points in a season by a defenseman with his 121st, and one for assists, with his 88th.  Yet another of Bobby Hull's records was overtaken by the Bruin’s Johnny Bucyk.  Bucyk scored twice giving him 99 points, breaking Hull’s single-season record for points by a left winger.

1976 – Boston's Ken Hodge scored his 300th goal and 5th career hat trick on March 11.

1982 – Rick Middleton scored his fifth career hat trick helping the B's to victory over the Winnipeg Jets.

2021 – Brad Marchand passed Ken Hodge becoming 9th on the Bruins' all time points leaders list with his helper on a Bergeron goal against the NY Rangers.  Also netting his 47th career shorthanded goal,  Brad tired Bobby Orr and Ed Westfall record for most shorthanded points in Boston history.  As a fan of a rival team, I can’t stand Marchand.  Unbiased translation: dam he’s good!.

Today,  March 11, 2023, Boston continued to argue the case that this date should be called Bruins Broken Records Day.  Defeating Detroit 3-2, they became the fastest team in league history to collect 50 wins, do it, in only 64 games. The previous record of 66 games was jointy held by the 2018-19, three time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the 1995-96 Red Wings.

To my Bruins fan friends, a disclaimer 😉:

This post and/or the accompanying image,  in no way implies that I now, nor will I at any time in the future, ever consider or actually;  “Come over to the dark side”, as once requested.  Furthermore, Pffft!  Congratulations on another historic season, Beantown. I hope you enjoy your President’s Trophy and all of it’s historic benefits.

Bruins 50 wins:
https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/35837621/bruins-become-fastest-team-reach-50-wins-nhl-history

Other March 11 history “stuff": https://thehockeywriters.com/march-11-history-savard-esposito-gretzky/

White skates, orange pucks & nudity: The California Golden Seals
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/california-golden-seals-story-documentary-itunes-watch-director-mark-greczmiel-interview-gretzky-meloche-streaker-white-skates/

California Golden Seals Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Golden_Seals

Don't forget the ALT text for fans with visual impairments.

#GoHabsGo #Smashville #NJDevils #Isles #NoQuitInNY #GoSensGo #FueledByPhilly #LetsGoPens #SharksTerritory #SeaKraken #NHLKings #NHL #LeafsForever #Canucks #VGK #ALLCAPS #NHLBruins #NHL #hockey #GoBolts  #STLBlues #Yotes #NHLJets

@hockey
@bostonbruinsgameday

Another day waiting for a hockey game. #Smashville #HockeyDon

@CityHoosier im on the same page.
Im gonna cheer every game until the end of their season, just the same. (#Smashville too)

What a play by #Smashville prospect Jack Matier, cutting to the net with a backhand try, and setting up Luca Pinelli's 20th of the campaign.

#NHLDraft

RT @Ottawa67sHockey@twitter.com

Luca Pinelli hunts the puck down for his 20th of the season 👇

#NHLDraft | @Lucapinelli44@twitter.com

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/Ottawa67sHockey/status/1619791721365389312

RT @67sComms@twitter.com

Cameron Tolnai gets the @Ottawa67sHockey@twitter.com on the board, with his third shorthanded goal of the season, and the 10th for the #67s.

With assists, Will Gerrior snaps a five-game pointless drought, and #Smashville prospect Jack Matier has seven points in his last five games.

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/67sComms/status/1616627923833741313

Second period in the books. Jack Matier (10) logs the only goal of the frame, and the @Ottawa67sHockey@twitter.com are in a 1-1 tie with the Colts.

#Smashville

Cameron Tolnai and Brady Stonehouse continue to produce, setting up Jack Matier's 10th of the campaign.

Since returning from the #WorldJuniors, Matier has six points in four games.

RT @Ottawa67sHockey@twitter.com

Matier blasts one from the point and we're all tied up at 1⃣

#Smashville | #OTTvsBAR

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/Ottawa67sHockey/status/1616249018434162688

RT @67sComms@twitter.com

#Smashville prospect Jack Matier ties the game for the @Ottawa67sHockey@twitter.com, with his 10th goal of the season.

The Soo product sets a new career high in the process, surpassing last year's total of nine.

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/67sComms/status/1616248457735323653

Jack Matier defies the constant fire alarms, and ties the game with a point shot.

His 10th of the year for the @Ottawa67sHockey@twitter.com. #Smashville

RT @BryanBastin@twitter.com

Y'all know how I feel about plus minus, but still impressive for #Smashville prospect Jack Matier, who is having a great season for @Ottawa67sHockey@twitter.com

@BrandonMaki_@twitter.com https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1615745847722909699

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/BryanBastin/status/1615762737967112192

I can pick my friends, i can pick my nose, but i cant pick my friends team fandom😂😅🥅🏒
#NHLBruins #LGRW #Smashville #NHL #HockeyDon

Jack Matier will get credited after Ben Roger puts one in his own net.

4-0 @Ottawa67sHockey@twitter.com

#Smashville

“This Day in Hockey History – January 7th”

So many historical events happened in "The National" on January 7th, I can not possibly mention all of them. Of course, as almost everyday he took the ice, “The Great One" made his mark known on this day, twice.  Go figure.  The Flyers and Kings made the list twice as well.

1928 – The Habs Howie Morenz notched his 100th career goal to begin his hat trick in a 9-1 victory over the Maple Leafs.

1933 – According to one source, the first nation wide hockey broadcast was aired by the CBC (radio) on this day.  The Detroit Red Wings beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1.  Nineteen years later, the first airing of the iconic “Hockey Night in Canada” took place on October 11th, 1952. This was my Saturday night delight as a kid in the early 70s, while I anxiously awaited the end of the “Tommy Hunter Show" for the puck to drop.

1968 – “The Golden Jet", Bobby Hull scored twice against the Boston Bruins’ Gerry Cheevers, making him only the fourth player in league history to achieve 400 career goals. Chicago defeated Esposito and the Bruins by a score of 4-2.  He was dubbed “The Golden Jet" in a 1966 article because of his blonde hair and “lightning” speed.  The name had nothing to do with his time as a member of the WHL's  Winnipeg Jets. Did you see what I did there Jet’s fans. Chirp chirp.

1976 – In the LA Kings’ 5-2 win over the KC Scouts on January 7th, Bob Nevin achieved the 700 career points milestone in what would be his final NHL season.  He won the 1962 and ’63 Stanley Cup Championship with the Leafs in his 1128 game career, in which he also played for the NY Rangers and Minnesota North Stars.  The Kansas City Scouts moved to briefly become the Colorado Rockies, coached by Don Cherry in 1979-80.  They are now the New Jersey Devils.

1979 – My man and first goaltender idol, Bernie Parent achieved his 54th career shutout on January 7th in a 3-0 blanking of the LA Kings.  It would prove to be the last career shutout in this, his final season. This 1984 Hall of Fame inductee won two Vezina Trophies and a Con Smythe as MVP for his efforts in the Philadelphia Flyers’ back to back Cup conquests.  I was removed from the ice as a kid goaltenders because I wore my handpainted Bernie mask complete with Flyer logos on each side, just like Parent’s.  After dawning a cage mask, I was allowed to return to mind the net.

1980 – The longest undefeated streak in the history of North American sports, met it’s demise on January 7th against the Minnesota North Stars, as they ended the Flyers 35 game run without a loss. Bill Barber’s opening goal would be the only for Philly as MN scored seven unanswered.  One source only, cited the final score as 9-2. Sorry Hockey Writers but, the final was 7-1.   I guess there goes my chances of ever getting an article published with that great hockey news source.

1981 – Wayne Gretzky had two goals on two assists in a 6-3 victory over Washington to reach 200 points in just his 117th NHL game.

1984 – Gretzky had his 25th career hat trick and seventh of the season, also capturing his 5th consecutive 50-goal season in the Oliers 5-3 win against the Hartford Whalers.

1987 – Beloved St. Louis Blue, Bernie Federko was the first player in franchise history to score 300 career goals on January 7th versus the Hartford Whalers. 

1999 – In his second stint as a King, Luc Robitaille was the 27th NHL player in the history of the game to score 500 carrer goals. His two goals on this day helped LA to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2.

2002 - No hockey piece would be complete without mentioning the three time, twice consecutive Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Defenseman, Dan Boyle was acquired by the Bolts for Tampa’s 2003, 5th round draft pick.  He helped the team win their first Cup before spending several years on the blue line for the San Jose Sharks.

2004 - Anyone that has ever partolled the paint at any level of the game,  would be remiss not to mention Brian Boucher's amazing underdog achievement.  This backup and once third stringer, would snatch his fouth consecutive shutout on January 7th, 2004 in service to the Arizona Coyotes. This short lived tie of Bill Durnan's 1949 accomplishment would be eclipsed by Boucher two days later, when set a new record gathering in his fifth consecutive shutout win. That record still stands.

That’s what happened on this day in hockey history, January 7th, in the greatest game on the planet.

By OutOfExile_IDR

Image courtesy of:
https://vintagesportsitems.com/products/copy-of-goalie-mask-bernie-parent-philadelphia-blazers-wha-1

#GoBolts #BernieParent #ShutOut #BrianBoucher #HockeyLegends #NHLJets #GoHabsGo #Smashville #NJDevils #Isles #NoQuitInNY #GoSensGo #FueledByPhilly #LetsGoPens #SharksTerritory #SeaKraken #STLBlues #LeafsForever #Canucks #VGK #ALLCAPS #NHL #STLBlues

@hockey

@hockey #Smashville #HockeyDon #UglyJerseys and that was that, kids.

@hockey #Smashville #HockeyDon #UglyJerseys i despise Empty Net.

@hockey #Smashville #HockeyDon #UglyJerseys fuckity. 3-2 Dallas lead.
Now be the time for #CribbageHockey

@hockey #HockeyDon #Smashville #UglyJerseys PP killed! Well done at the bare minimum