Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Sidney Crosby

 

Crosby hit the century mark in points for the sixth time in 2018-19, when he ended the season by assisting on Jake Guentzel's late goal against the Rangers on April 6.

The last two seasons, with all the turmoil and health issues in the world, Crosby only put up 47 in 41 games in 2019-20 and 62 in 55 games in 2020-21.  Despite that, he is still a guaranteed future HHOFer.

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - - Barry Melrose

 

Melrose is to hockey viewers in the U.S. what Don Cherry is (was) to Canadian fans - minus the outrageous wardrobe perhaps.  Barry was born in Saskatchewan, but was sworn in as an American citizen in March 1998. He played 335 career NHL games with the Jets, Maple Leafs, and Red Wings.

Now broadcasting with ESPN, he's one of the leading proponents of hockey on the brand and towed the line even through the 2003-2021 time when ESPN ignored hockey completely.  Barry, like him or hate him, is a hockey icon.

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - - Stephane Morin

Stephane played extremely well down the stretch in '90-91. A fine skater, he was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for March after picking up six goals and 12 assists in his final 10 matches.  Stephane had on of his best games on March 23, 1991 when he had four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in a 7-3 win over the Whalers. He also had a pair of two-goal efforts during the final week of the season.

Despite playing only 48 games, Stephane finished fourth on the Nordiques in scoring and his plus-6 rating was the club's best. He had a brilliant junior career in the QMJHL.  Stephane was named the circuit's MVP in '88-89 after notching a league-leading 186 points (77 gals, 1099 assists) for Chicoutimi.

Morin spent the majority of his hockey career in the minors but did appear in 90 NHL games.  Unfortunately after feeling unwell but still playing in the game, he collapsed on the bench from heart failure. The medical staff was unable to bring him back and he passed away. He was later diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and an enlarged heart.  It was suspected he had previous undiagnosed heart attack(s).

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - - Mats Zuccarello

 

Zuccarello got the scoring started with a first-period goal and added an empty-netter later in the third period when the Rangers downed the visiting Hurricanes, 6-3, on March 12, 2018.

I don't have much to say about Zucc since he's always been a nemesis of the Penguins. He's a little ball of fire at 5'8" and great at doing dirty work. He's now doing it for the Minnesota Wild.

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - - Steve Vickers

 

Steve holds the Ranger's club record of 7 points in one game. He tallied 3 goals and 4 assists in game vs. Capitals, 2-18-76.

That's still a record today.  Most recently, Mika Zibanejad tried to break it, not once, but twice in 2021.  Both on March 17th and March 25th against the Flyers, Mika put up 6 points in each game.

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Rick Tocchet

Rick Tocchet enjoyed the highest scoring game of his NHL career on January 25, 1989 when he scored four goals with two assists against the Winnipeg Jets. 

A punishing hitter with an accurate wrist shot, he passed the 400th game, 300th point and 200th assist plateaus all in the 1989-90 season. He also scored a goal with an assist in the 1990 All Star Game, on his way to the best offensive season of his career to that point.  He led the flyers in points, goals, assists, points per game and power-play goals. 

During that season, the three-time 30-goal scorer said, "I wanted to be known as one of the best right wings. Right now I consider myself in the top three or four."

Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - - T.J. Oshie

 

Oshie was named the NHL Third Star for the week ending January 22, 2017, after leading Washington to two wins and an overtime loss by scoring three goals - two on the power play - and dishing out three assists in three games. 

Team USA Shootout Legend!

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - - Radim Vrbata

 

Radim's first shining moment on NHL ice came in his debut on November 20, 2001, as he tallied two assists.  the very next night, Vrbata scored his first goal while adding two more helpers.

I'm not sure how Pacific gets Shining Moments to come through with the graphic of a deckle edge photo on the front of the card. Seems like a stretch.  Also, his name spelled backward is Midar Atabrv, who is also a hockey player on the Uzbekistan National Hockey Team. 

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - - Jeff Carter

Carter skated in his 1000th NHL game on November 16, 2019, and celebrated the milestone by scoring the game-winning goal in Los Angeles' 4-3 home victory over Vegas.

These days, Carter, the London, Ontario native, spends his time being awesome on the Penguins, helming one of the top lines in the absence of Crosby or Malkin or sitting on the third line putting up points. Apparently he was also a New Year's baby.  I didn't know that.

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Paul Gardner

Paul Gardner was a former junior star with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey Association. He was the club's first draft pick in 1976.  As an amateur, he scored 69 goals and assisted on 75 more for 144 points. He finished 3rd in the OHA scoring race for the campaign and was also picked as the team's MVP.

On this date in 1976, Gardener scored his first MHL goal in his league debut with the Colorado Rockies club.  It was a game against the Montreal Canadiens where they skated to a 3-3 tie.

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Matthew Tkachuk

Elite Prospects describes Matthew Tkachuk as, "A multi-dimensional energy winger who plays a pro-style, adaptive game. Well-versed as a guy who can consistently put up points, but also as an agitator who plays with a little bit of bite and nastiness."  That last part is what makes Matthew a player fans love to hate. 

Tkachuk scored with a second remaining in Overtime in a game against the Nashville Predators on Halloween night, October 31, 2019. Firing home a rebound from the slot with a wrist shot, the Flames secured the W at Bridgestone Arena.

Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - - Jaden Schwartz

 

Schwartz recorded a six game points streak from October 14 -27, 2017 totaling eight points (5-3) as the Blues went 4-1-1 over that stretch.

The Blues at that point earned points in five straight, improving to 8-2-1, the fourth best start to a campaign in franchise history.  At that point in the season, Schwartz ranked 3rd in the NHL with 7 goals, 8 assists in 11 games. This point was an assist on Brayden Schenn's GWG.

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - - Mike Bossy

 

"The Boss" was a pure sniper with a bullet shot and quick release. He set an NHL rookie record with 53 goals in 1977-78 and won the Calder Trophy. He had five playoff hat tricks, ranks third all-time in plyoff goals and eighth in playoff points. Mike shares an NHL record for game-winning goals in a playoff year with 5 (1983), and is sole holder of the record for playoff power-play goals in a career, 35. A back injury forced him to retire October 24, 1988.

Of course, all these stats were as of the printing of the 1990-91 Pro Set cards and there wasn't another young, future HOFer quite ready to break that rookie record yet.

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - - Doug Gilmour

Doug spoiled Buffalo goalie Martin Biron's chance at a shutout by assisting on a goal with just 3:27 remaining on October 20, 2001.  It was Gilmour's first point as a Canadien.

You're thinking...Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour?  A Hab? Doug signed as a free agent in 2001 with Montreal, helping them make the playoffs that year. But at the 2003 trade deadline, he was dealt to the Maple Leafs for a 6th rounder.  

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Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - PK Subban

The flamboyant and unusually vocal PK Subban is certainly a sometimes polarizing figure in the NHL.  His style and outspoken personality injects a lot of spark to the often dry, wrote delivery of many NHL stars.  

The 2019-20 season marked Subban's 11th in the NHL and his first playing for the New Jersey Devils. The Jersey fan base was excited when the Devils acquired the all-star defenseman in June 2019 via a trade with Nashville.  He scored his first goal as a Devil on October 17, 2019, when he deposited the puck into an empty net with 48 seconds remaining to put the finishing touch on New Jersey's 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers.

Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Dion Phaneuf

Fresh off of being named the WHL's Top Defenseman in back-to-back seasons, Dion Phaneuf brought the same blend of offensive skills and defensive aggression to the NHL when he came into the league.  The much maligned D-man had a lengthy career playing for a variety of teams and solidified himself as a solid blue liner.  

On October 10, 2005, Phaneuf recorded both his first goal and first assist in a 2-point effort in a game against the Colorado Avalanche.  A month later he was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month, leading all rookie d-men with nine points and 2 GWGs.  If it wasn't for Sid and Ovi, Dion may have been a prime candidate for Rookie of the Year.

Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Alexander Ovechkin

Considered one of the greatest of the modern era, Ovechkin has cemented his legacy in the annals of hockey history. Even his critics won't argue with that, now that he has the Cup on his resume.

On October 5, 2005, the Russian phenom made his NHL debut in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Ovechkin scored at least on point in each of this first eight NHL contests to set a Washington Capitals record.  His 106 points in 2005-06 ranked third all-time among NHL rookies.

Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Derek Roy

On May 8, 2009, Derek Roy, then Buffalo Sabres center, scored two goals for Team Canada on their way to a 3-1 victory over Sweden at the 2009 World Championships.  

Many thought that despite the level of talent on the roster at the time, the team as a whole was underperforming and it showed. Many previous games were lackluster at best and it took a private, team-only meeting to light the fire under the players to give one of their best performances of the tournament.  By beating Sweden, the Canadians set up their destined rematch for the Gold Medal with Team Russia.  

Although Team Canada once again, fell to the Russians in the Gold Medal Game, Roy finished the tournament with four goals and four assists in nine games.

Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Ken Wregget

On March 28th 1992, Ken Wregget, who had only just joined the Pittsburgh Penguins a month earlier in February, posted his 100th career win.  In a 6-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, Wregget faced 31 shots, allowing goals from Brian Skrudland, Mathieu Schneider, and Sylvain Turgeon.  Penguins Rick Tocchet had 3 points including a goal and 2 assists.

Ken has said his two biggest hockey thrills were winning the Cup with the Penguins in 1992 and also beating the Penguins in the 1989 playoffs.

Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Justin Faulk

Justin Faulk was putting on a clinic when it came to on-ice discipline in 2012-13. The blueliner started the year with 18 consecutive games without a single minute in the penalty box. However, on March 2, 2013, that streak came to a screeching halt. 

In a game against the Florida Panthers, despite getting an assist in the Hurricanes win, Faulk was slapped with seven penalty minutes. This included a scrap with Stephen Weiss as retaliation for a late hit, where he yanked Weiss' jersey off, got in a few bombs and took Weiss to the ice.  No more Mr. Nice Guy, I guess.