Stories From The Epic History Of NHL Hockey (Volume II)

An collection of exciting short stories from the epic history of NHL hockey from the 1950's through the 1980's.

Since the NHL starting keeping shots on goal stats, no goalie had made 60 or more saves in a game. Until 1970-71. That year, it happened twice. Both times against the Boston Bruins. Joe Daley stopped 64 of 72 for the Buffalo Sabres in an 8-2 loss on December 10, 1970. Gump Worsley, just a few months shy of his 42nd birthday, stopped 63 of 67 for the Minnesota North Stars in a 4-4 tie on February 7, 1971.

Going into that match, Boston had lost just eight of 51 games in 1970-71. The North Stars were trying to get close to the .500 mark. With Gump's help, Minnesota jumped to a 3-0 lead before the first period was half over on goals by Jude Drouin, Charlie Burns and Bill Goldsworthy. Boston chipped away and eventually the game ended 4-4.

Worsley faced 13 shots by Bobby Orr with Number 4 registering just a single assist on a Ken Hodge goal. Phil Esposito was left off the scoresheet despite ten shots on net. Gerry Cheevers didn't exactly have it easy in the Boston nets, facing 32 shots. The two Hockey Hall of Fame goaltenders faced a combined total of 99 shots in the match.

Since, just four other goalies have made 60 or more saves in a game. Ron Tugnutt of the Quebec Nordiques leads the list with a 73 shot 3-3 tie against the Bruins in 1991. Mario Lessard of the Los Angeles Kings and Juuse Saros are the only two to come out with a win. Allan Bester of the Toronto Maple Leafs rounds out the group, making 60 saves in a 5-3 loss to the Hartford Whalers.

On December 21, 1983, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Winnipeg Jets at the Northlands Coliseum. As it was 1983-84 in Edmonton, there were lots of goals with the Oilers winning 7-4. Two of the Edmonton goals were scored in very unique fashion.

At 19:06 of the first period, Lee Fogolin was assessed a two minute minor for slashing. Not just before that penalty was killed but before the period was over, the Oilers scored two goals. At 19:33, Jari Kurri scored his 29th of the 1983-84 NHL season shorthanded on Winnipeg goalie Brian Hayward, assisted by Wayne Gretzky.

Just 15 seconds later, at 19:48, the two struck again. This time, it was Gretzky putting in his 38th of the season, assisted by Kurri. Two shorthanded goals within 15 seconds, amazing, yes. Yet, Esa Tikkanen of the Oilers would score a pair of shorties just 12 seconds apart in a November 12, 1988 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Gretzky wasn't quite done. He scored his 2nd shorthanded and third overall goal of the game with just 19 seconds left in the match. The goal was into the empty net with Dave Hunter serving two for roughing. Wayne finished the game with five points while Kurri had four on two goals and two assists.