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 - Jacques Plante

 

Hockey history was changed forever, and for the best, when goaltending legend Jacques Plante introduced the world to a strange new piece of goaltending equipment.  The MASK!  

Plante revolutionized the art of goaltending during his 18-year NHL career.  He won six Vezina Trophies while playing for the Montreal Canadiens, including five straight from 1956 to 1960. He is credited with being the first "active" goaltender, emerging from his crease to stop the puck for his defensemen or to pass it up the rink to his forwards. 

It was just a regular season game on November 1, 1959 against the fledgling New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.  However, it became a historical moment in NHL and hockey history when Plante made the decision to wear the face guard he had only previously wore in practice.  Despite his coach, Toe Blake's, objection to the use of the mask, it was necessary at this point as Plante took an Andy Bathgate backhander in the face.  Bathgate was known to have one of the hardest shots in the league and the puck split Plante wide open, from his mouth to his nose, leaving a trail of blood from the goal crease to the bench as he was helped off the ice. After about 20 minutes and a ton of stitches, Plante returned, donning his mask, and helped the Habs to a 3-1 victory. He wore the mask from that point forward and helped pave the way to others following suit.

After retiring in 1965, Plante returned to the NHL with the St. Louis Blues and won his record seventh Vezina Trophy in 1969. Plante later played for the Leafs and then the Bruins, finally retiring for good at the young age of 46.

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 - 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 - Jose Theodore

Jose Theodore, the former league MVP, was credited with a victory over the San Jose Sharks on December 7, 2006.  Theodore stopped 28 of 30 shots he faced, registering his 150th victory of his career. 

Colorado had obtained Jose the previous spring in a trade with Montreal that swapped goalies. David Aebischer went to the Habs, marking the second time the Avs were able to fleece a top goalie from the Original Six franchise; the other being Patrick Roy in 1995-96 season.  In 2001-02, Jose became only the sixth goaltender to win the Hart Trophy, leading the league with a .931 save percentage.  In 2003-04 he had won a career best 33 games as well.  

Despite fracturing his foot while salting the sidewalk outside his home, Colorado felt he was the better option for upgrading their back end going into the playoffs.  Then Avs president and GM, Pierre Lacroix said, "We are convinced that we are securing our goaltending position for many years." On Theodore, "He is a proven, All-Star caliber netminder and at 29, he is entering the prime years of his career."

Today in Penguins History (10/11/67)

1988-89 Panini Sticker #322

On this day in Penguins history, the first ever game by the newly christened expansion Pittsburgh Penguins was played at the Civic Arena.  While not part of the Original 6 franchises, the Penguins were one of the Next 6 brought into the league to start the 1967-68 season.

The Craziest Game I've Seen In Years

All I can say is that if you didn't get a chance to catch the Montreal vs. Boston game last night on either TSN or VS., you missed out.  If you are a fan of clean, skillfully played hockey though, good thing you missed it.

This was by far the craziest game I have seen in many years.  It was highly entertaining with countless fights, brawls, and melees, including ANOTHER GOALIE FIGHT!!! Sort of.  Plus, there were 7 goals scored in about 6 1/2 minutes during the 2nd period.  Final score was 8-6 with the B's knocking off the Canadiens for the first time this year.  But, let's look at what everyone wants to see.

Completely insane!!  All I know is that when these guys meet again, it's going to be a war zone.