Sept. 13 has been an enormous date on the worldwide stage as Canada, and the Soviet Union battled one another quite a few occasions. A number of the greatest names in NHL historical past had the glory of enjoying for his or her nation on this date. Additionally, a formidable Corridor of Fame class was inducted and a celebrity blueliner was traded throughout the continent. So, let’s start our each day journey again in time to revisit all the nice reminiscences.
Canada/USSR Rivalry Renewed
A Soviet Blowout
There have been three massive Canada Cup video games performed between Canada and the Soviet Union on this date over time. The primary came about on Sept. 13. 1981, on the Montreal Discussion board with the 2 hockey powerhouses assembly within the one-game championship remaining.
This was a rematch from the ultimate recreation of the round-robin, which noticed Canada beat the Soviets 7-3. Canada then beat the USA 4-1 within the semifinals, with the Soviet Union beating Czechoslovakia by the identical rating.
The USSR opened the scoring early within the second interval with a objective from future NHLer Igor Larionov. Clark Gillies tied the sport lower than 4 minutes later, together with his New York Islanders teammates Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier choosing up the assists.
It was all downhill from right here for the Canadians because the Soviet Union scored three extra objectives earlier than the tip of the second interval and one other 4 within the third for the 8-1 blowout victory. Goaltender Vladislav Tretiak made 25 saves on his method to successful the Most Helpful Participant of the Event honors.
Paul Coffey’s OT Heroics
Workforce Canada obtained revenge three years later, on Sept. 13, 1984, by beating the Soviet Union within the semifinals. The Soviets beat Canada, 6-3, in round-robin play three days earlier. The 2 rivals met within the second semifinal on the Saddledome in Calgary, with Sweden ready to tackle the winner.
John Tonelli’s power-play objective halfway by way of the second interval gave Canada a 1-0 benefit by way of 40 minutes. The Soviets obtained objectives from Sergei Svetlov and Sergei Makarov throughout the first seven minutes of the ultimate body. With simply over six minutes to play in regulation, defenseman Doug Wilson obtained a feed from Wayne Gretzky and compelled extra time.
Canada obtained an early energy play in extra time however didn’t convert. Later within the additional session, the Soviet Union obtained a 2-on-1 break, however defenseman Paul Coffey broke up a go and began a counterattack. Bossy obtained to the entrance of the online and deflected Coffey’s shot from the purpose for the game-winning objective. Canada went on to brush Sweden within the best-of-three championship remaining to win the event.
Tremendous Mario’s Hat Trick
Lastly, on Sept. 13, 1987, these two groups met in what some really feel is the best recreation ever performed in hockey historical past. This time, Hamilton, Ontario, was the positioning of Recreation 2 of the best-of-three championship remaining. The Soviet Union was working excessive after their 6-5 extra time victory within the first recreation of the collection.
The sport obtained off to a livid begin, with defenseman Normand Rochefort giving Canada a 1-0 simply 43 seconds after the opening faceoff. Andrei Khomutov answered for the USSR lower than a minute later earlier than Doug Gilmour gave Canada a 2-1 lead on the 3:48 mark. Coffey scored 9 minutes later to take a 3-1 lead into the primary intermission.
Slava Fetisov and Vladimir Krutov scored two minutes aside to tie the sport halfway by way of the second interval. Nonetheless, the sport stayed even for simply over two minutes earlier than Mario Lemieux struck to present Canada a 4-3 lead.
Viacheslav Bykov knotted the sport at 4-4 early within the second interval, however Lemieux scored once more, this time on the ability play, to present Canada a 5-4 benefit with just below 10 minutes to play. Valeri Kamensky pressured extra time, with simply over a minute to play, by scoring off an end-to-end rush.
Grant Fuhr needed to exhibit his Corridor of Fame expertise in the course of the first extra time to maintain the sport alive. Simply previous the 10-minute mark of the second extra time, Lemieux beat goaltender Evgeny Belosheikin to finish his hat trick and pressure a 3rd and remaining recreation.
Gretzky had the first help on the play. He had assists on each Canadian objective apart from the opening tally.
 A New Corridor of Fame Class
The Hockey Corridor of Fame inducted a brand new class on Sept. 13, 1978. The group of six included gamers Andy Bathgate, Jacques Plante and Marcel Pronovost in addition to builders Jack Bickell, Sam Pollock and William Tutt.
Bathgate performed in 1,069 NHL video games throughout his 17-season NHL profession, scoring 349 objectives and 973 factors. The proper winger spent most of his profession with the New York Rangers, the place he received the Hart Trophy (league MVP) in 1958-59 for scoring 40 objectives and 88 factors in 70 video games. Late within the 1963-64 season, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs and received the lone Stanley Cup of his profession. He additionally frolicked with the Detroit Purple Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vancouver Blazers of the World Hockey Affiliation (WHA) earlier than retiring in 1975.
Plante is considered one in all the most effective goaltenders in league historical past. He received 314 video games and 6 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens between 1953 and 1963. He received seven Vezina Trophies, which, on the time, was given to the goaltender who allowed the fewest objectives. He received the Hart Trophy for successful 42 video games and posting a .923 save share (SV%) and a pair of.37 goals-against common (GAA).
After being traded to the Rangers in 1963, Plante retired however returned in 1968 to the St. Louis Blues, the place he went to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. He frolicked with the Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins earlier than one remaining skilled season, in 1974-75, with the Edmonton Oilers within the WHA. Plante was the primary goaltender to put on a masks fulltime within the NHL.
Pronovost performed 1,206 video games within the NHL, with the primary 983 coming in a Purple Wings uniform. The proficient defenseman received 4 Stanley Cups in his 15 seasons in Detroit. Following the 1964-65 season, he was traded to the Maple Leafs in a deal that included Bathgate going to the Purple Wings. He received a fifth Stanley Cup with Toronto in 1967. Pronovost performed 5 seasons in Toronto earlier than retiring in 1970.
Bickell was identified for his affiliation with the Maple Leafs because the proprietor, president, chairman, and director between 1924 and 1951. Pollock was the overall supervisor of the Canadiens for 14 seasons during which they received 9 Stanley Cups. Tutt was a longtime govt for numerous leagues and organizations, together with serving as president of the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).
Odds & Ends
The Maple Leafs traded ahead Rick Kehoe on Sept. 13, 1974, to the Penguins for winger Blaine Stoughton and a first-round choose. Kehoe scored 312 objectives and 636 factors, in 722 video games, over his 11 seasons in Pittsburgh. Stoughton performed in two seasons for the Maple Leafs, scoring 29 objectives, earlier than heading to the WHA.
The Leafs used that first-round choose in 1977 (12th total) to pick out defenseman Trevor Johansen, who performed in 132 video games over two stints with the group.
On this similar day, the Islanders acquired the NHL rights to Bob Bourne, from the Kansas Metropolis Scouts, in alternate for Larry Hornung and Bart Crashley. Bourne scored 238 objectives and 542 factors in 814 video games for New York and was a part of all 4 of their Stanley Cup wins within the Eighties.
On Sept. 13, 1983, the Canadiens signed undrafted free agent Brian Skrudland. He ultimately made the NHL in 1985 and is finest remembered for scoring the quickest extra time objective in Stanley Cup Closing historical past.
The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Canadiens 5-4, on Sept. 13, 1992, of their second of two exhibition video games in London, England. The sport was determined in a shootout, one thing that doesn’t change into an everyday factor within the NHL till 2005.
The Bruins signed free agent Joe Mullen on Sept. 13, 1995, after spending the earlier 5 seasons with the Penguins. The long run Corridor of Famer was restricted to only 37 video games in his lone season with Boston, scoring eight objectives and 15 factors.
After months of rumors and hypothesis, the Ottawa Senators lastly traded Erik Karlsson on Sept. 13, 2018. The star defenseman was despatched to the San Jose Sharks, with Francis Perron, for Chris Tierney, Rudolfs Balcers, Dylan DeMelo and Joshua Norris.
The 2-time Norris Trophy winner has performed 293 video games for the Sharks within the final 5 seasons and scored 52 objectives and 243 factors, together with a monster 25 objectives and 101 factors in 2022-23 the place he received his third Norris Trophy. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins within the 2023 offseason.
Glad Birthday to You
A grand whole of 23 present and former NHL gamers have been born on this date. The primary was Harold Darragh, who was born on Sept. 13, 1902. He performed in 307 NHL video games between 1926 and 1933, scoring 68 objectives and 117 for 4 completely different groups. The newest is St. Louis Blues middle Alex Texier, turning 25 at this time, who made his NHL debut in 2019.
Emile Francis was born on Sept. 13, 1926, however he’s hardly remembered for his 95 video games within the NHL. He was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame for his work as a coach and common supervisor. He grew to become common supervisor of the Rangers in 1964 and have become their head coach the next season, main them to a really profitable run.
After being fired in New York, in 1976, he grew to become common supervisor of the Blues the place he additionally had two stints as head coach. He ended his lengthy hockey profession with 10 seasons as common supervisor and president of the Hartford Whalers earlier than retiring in 1993.
Different notable gamers born on this date embrace Igor Kravchuk (58), Ted Drury (53), Craig Rivet (50), Jose Theodore (48), Michael Houser (32), Mark Jankowski (30), Miles Wooden (29), Adrian Kempe (28), and Alex Formenton (25).
*Initially constructed by Greg Boysen
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