The Montreal Canadiens have made a bevy of strikes on this date via the years. Additionally, the NHL named a brand new president that introduced in loads of innovation and helped triple the league’s measurement. So, let’s begin our every day journey again in time to revisit all the highest moments Sept. 4 has given us.
A Busy Day in Montreal
The Canadiens have been a really energetic crew on this date over time. On Sept. 4, 1978, common supervisor Sam Pollack resigned and was changed by Irving Grundman. Pollack spent 13 seasons on the helm of the Canadiens. The crew made it to the playoffs in all 13 seasons and received an unimaginable 9 championships of their 10 journeys to the Stanley Cup Closing. He was answerable for drafting the likes of Man Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Steve Shutt, Bob Gainey, Mario Tremblay, and Rod Langway.
Precisely one 12 months later, on Sept. 4, 1979, the Canadiens named former star Bernie Geoffrion as their new head coach. He changed the legendary Scotty Bowman, who had received 4 straight Stanley Cups and left to change into the top coach and common supervisor of the Buffalo Sabres.
Geoffrion performed in 882 video games for the Canadiens, however his teaching stint solely lasted 30 video games as he was pressured to resign as a consequence of well being causes. Claude Ruel coached the rest of the 1979-80 season.
On Sept. 4, 1990, the Canadiens traded Claude Lemieux to the New Jersey Devils for Sylvain Turgeon after he missed a lot of the earlier season as a consequence of damage. Montreal drafted Lemieux within the second spherical (26th total) of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft and was a part of their 1986 Stanley Cup Championship.
Lemieux spent the following 5 seasons with the Devils. His first stint with the crew ended with him profitable the Conn Smythe Trophy, for being probably the most priceless participant of the postseason, throughout New Jersey’s 1995 run to the Stanley Cup. Turgeon performed in simply 75 video games over the 2 seasons with the Canadiens earlier than being taken by the Ottawa Senators throughout the 1992 NHL Growth Draft.
Staff Canada Attracts Even
Two days after the Soviet Union scored a 7-3 win within the opening sport of the Summit Collection, Canada got here again to win 4-1 on Sept. 4, 1972. After a scoreless first interval, Boston Bruins star Phil Esposito obtained practically 17,000 followers on the Maple Leafs Backyard on their toes with a aim seven minutes into the center body.
Particular groups performed a giant position within the third interval. Yvan Cournoyer doubled Canada’s lead with a power-play aim simply over a minute into the ultimate body. Lower than a minute after Alexander Yakushev’s power-play aim obtained the Soviets on the board, Pete Mahovlich answered with a shorthanded tally. Frank Mahovlich iced the sport with a fourth and last aim simply a few minutes later.
Head coach Harry Sinden benched goaltender Ken Dryden after the Sport 1 loss. His substitute, Chicago Blackhawks Corridor of Famer Tony Esposito, stopped 20 of the 21 photographs he confronted for the victory. He and his brother, Phil, shared sport MVP honors.
Richter Calls it a Profession
On Sept. 4, 2003, goaltender Mike Richter introduced his retirement after struggling a pair of concussions simply eight months aside. Richter performed his complete 14-season profession with the New York Rangers after they chose him within the second spherical (28th total) within the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
Richter has not needed to pay for a meal in New York Metropolis since he helped the Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1994. He retired with 301 wins, which had been probably the most in franchise historical past till he was finally handed by Henrik Lundqvist.
Odds & Ends
Clarence Campbell was named president of the NHL on Sept. 4, 1946, changing Purple Dutton. He held the place for 31 years earlier than retiring shortly after the 1976-77 season. Throughout his time as president, the NHL expanded from six groups to 18. He additionally instilled each the All-Star Sport and novice draft.
Associated – These Different Silver Chalices: Clarence Campbell Bowl and the Prince of Wales Trophy
Campbell made one in every of his first huge modifications on this identical day. The league introduced they’d develop the schedule from 50 video games to 60 for the 1946-47 season. The Canadiens led the league with 34 wins and 78 factors throughout the first 60-game season. Nonetheless, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat them in six video games to win the 1947 Stanley Cup, the primary of their three straight championships. When Campbell retired, every crew was enjoying 80 video games a season.
On Sept. 4, 1999, the Calgary Flames traded a third-round draft decide to the St. Louis Blues for veteran goaltender Grant Fuhr. The four-time Stanley Cup winner and future Corridor of Famer performed the ultimate 23 video games of his NHL profession with the Flames. He went 5-13-2 with a .856 save share (SV%) and three.83 goals-against common (GAA) throughout the 1999-2000 season.
The Western Convention Closing was set for Sept. 4, 2020, in Edmonton. First, the Dallas Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-4, in additional time, in Sport 7 of their Second Spherical collection. Rookie Joel Kiviranta was the hero by scoring the primary three playoff targets of his profession. His first got here early within the second interval and tied the sport at 2-2. He scored one other aim simply 10 seconds after Vladislav Namestikov gave Colorado a 4-3 with lower than 4 minutes to play. He accomplished the hat trick at 7:24 in additional time to ship the Stars into the following spherical.
Within the second Sport 7 of the day, the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-0 to advance to play the Stars. The sport was scoreless till 13:52 of the third interval, when Shea Theodore scored a power-play aim. Alex Tuch and Paul Stastny iced the collection with late empty-net targets. Goaltender Robin Lehner solely needed to make 14 saves to earn the shutout.
Comfortable Birthday to You
A complete of 23 NHL gamers had been born on this date. The group contains two Hockey Corridor of Famers. The primary was Butch Bouchard, born on Sept. 4, 1919. He performed in 786 video games for the Canadiens between 1941 and 1956. The defenseman scored 49 targets and 193 factors whereas profitable 4 Stanley Cups. He was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 1966.
The opposite was ahead Bert Olmstead, who was born on this date in 1926. He performed in 848 video games between 1949 and 1962, scoring 181 targets and 602 factors for the Blackhawks, Canadiens, and Maple Leafs. He received 5 Stanley Cups throughout his profession; 4 in Montreal and one last one in Toronto. He took his place within the Corridor of Fame in 1985.
Craig Conroy, turning 53 at present, performed in probably the most video games of this bunch. He wearing 1,008 video games for the Canadiens, Blues, Flames, and Los Angeles Kings. Tomas Sandstrom, born on Sept. 4, 1964, was the most effective scorer with 394 targets and 856 targets throughout his 15-season profession. He’s presently the overall supervisor of the Flames.
Different notable birthdays at present embrace Jim Schoenfeld (72), John Vanbiesbrouck (61), Sergio Momesso (59), and Maxim Afinogenov (45).
*Initially constructed by Greg Boysen
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