WHEN the New York Rangers put up a six-spot against the Nashville Predators in the first period Sunday, as part of a lopsided victory, it brought out the fact-checkers who delve into statistics within the National Hockey League.
They in turn reported the half-dozen tallies the Broadway Blueshirts registered in the opening frame were the 11th fastest a team has recorded that many to begin a game in NHL history, at 13 minutes and 36 seconds.
The league record holders in that department remain the 1945-46 Toronto Maple Leafs, who scored six in just 10 minutes and 33 seconds, as part of an eventual 9-3 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings at Maple Leaf Gardens on January 12, 1946.
Looking deeper, we find a couple of Lakehead hockey greats played a pivotal part in that rapid outburst.
Gus Bodnar began the scoring for Toronto on that night, with help from fellow Fort William product, Gaye Stewart.
Two markers later, Stewart found the back of the net, while the fourth Leafs’ goal saw the duo both assist on an effort by future Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Syl Apps.
On the evening, Bodnar paced all skaters with four points, while Stewart had three to his credit.
The other local connection in that match-up 77 years ago was the head coach and general manager of the Red Wings, the legendary Jack Adams.
Of note, less than nine months later, Adams signed an 18-year-old forward out of Floral, Saskatchewan that he had rated as one of the most promising prospects that he had seen in years – Gordie Howe.
The profound understatement from the Detroit boss morphed into ‘Mr. Hockey’ becoming one of the game’s all-time greats and turned the Red Wings’ fortunes around, as Adams’ clubs went on to win four Stanley Cups over the course of the next nine seasons.
Adams’ brilliance, along with the work of area scout Louie Passador, eventually led to the signing of another future star, Alex Delvecchio, in 1950.
A 13-time NHL All-Star, multiple Stanley Cup winner, HHOF honouree and named as one the NHL’s Top 100 players of all-time, Delvecchio remains the leading point-getter of anyone from the Lakehead, with 1,281, which places him 37th in the lengthy tenure of the NHL.
That’s 223 more than his closest local rival, Eric Staal, of the Florida Panthers.
Staal however only requires two more goals to match the 456 Delvecchio collected in his time on the ice.
Ironically, his latest marker came Monday evening in Florida’s 5-2 triumph over Detroit.
ONE MORE: Looking at other numbers, it shows Matt Murray’s next victory will tie him with the late Wayne Stephenson for most wins by any goaltender from Thunder Bay who has played in the NHL at 146.
Stephenson set the achievement in 328 appearances, but played in an era where there was no overtime, or shootouts, in regular season play.
He also won a Stanley Cup with the Philadelphia Flyers, while Murray has a pair of titles to his credit during his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Murray has played in 269 contests to date, and holds the distinction of being the only goaltender to win two NHL championships while still classified as a rookie.
Others from the city, or northwestern Ontario, in the Top 10 area list in NHL victories include: Murray Bannerman (116); Bruce Gamble (111); Carter Hutton (94); Alex Auld (91); Mackenzie Blackwood (63); Rick St. Croix (49); Steve Passmore (23) and John Adams (9).
In terms of NHL shutouts, it’s Gamble that paces the local contingent with 22.
Maple Leafs’ goalkeeper Murray is next with 15, followed by Stephenson’s 14, Hutton’s 13, as well as the eight Bannerman and Blackwood have posted.