• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
New Jersey Devils
Devils History

Today in Hockey History: April 22

By Greg Boysen April 22nd, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Breaking a record set by the Great One is quite the accomplishment and a very unlikely player did just that on this date. One of the National Hockey League’s charter teams has had plenty of reasons to celebrate while two legendary goaltenders had memorable games, as well.

Maple Leafs Magic

April 22 is a big date in the franchise history of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 1945, they beat the Detroit Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup, but the championship did not come without its fair share of drama.

The Maple Leafs made an epic comeback in the 1942 Stanley Cup Final by losing the first three games of the series to the Red Wings before beating them in Game 7. Three years later, Detroit nearly returned the favor.

On this day in 1945, the Maple Leafs defeated the Red Wings in Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup #Hockey365 #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/ILWlxwXsfW

— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) April 22, 2020

Toronto stormed out to a 3-0 series lead thanks to three straight shutouts by goaltender Frank McCool. The Red Wings finally solved McCool and won the next three games to force a seventh and deciding game to played on their home rink.

With the game tied 1-1 in the third period, defenseman Babe Pratt scores the Cup-clinching goal for the Maple Leafs, adverting disaster. They became the first road team to win Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, a feat that isn’t repeated until Montreal Canadiens win the 1971 Stanley Cup in Chicago.

On April 22, 1962, the Maple Leafs beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to win the championship. This was the first of three straight Cup wins by the Maple Leafs.

Darryl Sittler had himself quite the night on April 22, 1976. He tied an NHL record by scoring five goals in an 8-5 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Quarterfinals. He became the third player in league history to score five goals in a playoff game and the first to do it not wearing a Canadiens uniform.

Newsy Lalonde was the first player to score five goals in a playoff game in 1919 against the old Ottawa Senators. Maurice Richard equaled that mark against the Maple Leafs in 1944. Reggie Leach, who was on the losing end to Sitller that night, matched the five goals just a couple of weeks later in a game against the Boston Bruins. Mario Lemieux was the last player to have five goals in a playoff game, doing it in 1989, also against the Flyers.

Sundstrom’s Night of a Lifetime

There are few things left in hockey that can make a long-time fan stand up and take notice. However, breaking one of the Wayne Gretzky’s records a sure-fire way to get your name on the marquee. That is exactly what Patrik Sundstrom did for the New Jersey Devils on April 22, 1998.

Sundstrom had the greatest offensive night in Stanley Cup playoff history in the Devils’ 10-4 whitewashing of the Washington Capitals, in Game 3 of the Patrick Division Final. The 26-year-old Swedish-born center had three goals and five assists to have the first eight-point night ever in the postseason.

He scored two goals in the second period before completing the hat trick in the final frame. He assisted on defenseman Anders Carlsson’s goal before getting helpers on all four of Mark Johnson’s goal. It was an awful night for Washington goaltender Clint Malarchuk and Pete Peeters, who allowed 10 combined goals on just 31 shots against.

Sundstrom broke the record of seven points, set by Gretzky in 1985; a mark he matched in 1987. He did not hold the record by himself for very long as Lemieux had an eight-point game in 1989, but the duo still shares it. In case you are wondering, Sundstrom had 26 points in 37 playoff games, so 31% of them came in this game.

A Pair of Islander Streaks

On April 22, 1983, the New York Islanders set an NHL record by winning their 14th consecutive playoff series when they knocked the New York Rangers out of the Patrick Division Final. Goaltender Billy Smith made 28 saves while Butch Goring was the difference maker with a pair of goals. The Islanders went on to win an incredible 19 straight playoff series before their streak was snapped by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1984 Stanley Cup Final.

Billy Smith
Smith and the Islanders were unbeatable in the early 80s. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Islanders ended another streak 33 years later when they beat the Florida Panthers on April 22, 2016. Alan Quine scored in double overtime to give the Islanders a 2-1 win in Game 5 of their first-round series. This ended a streak of 11 straight losses by the Islanders in Game 5 of a postseason series. Their last victory in a Game 5 came against the Flyers in 1987.

Odds & Ends

On April 22, 1971, the Minnesota North Stars became the first expansion team to beat an “Original 6” franchise in a playoff game. Their big win came over the Canadiens in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals. Former Canadiens forward Danny Grant had three assists in Minnesota’s 6-3 victory in Montreal. Up until this game, the 1967 expansion teams were 0-17 versus “Original 6” teams in the postseason.

In the same game Sittler scored five goals, on April 22, 1976, Flyers forward Dave Schultz set a modern-era record by picking up 42 penalty minutes.  He received a minor, two five-minute majors, a 10-minute misconduct and a pair of game misconducts. His record was matched by Deryk Engelland, who racked up 42 penalty minutes as a member of the Calgary Flames, in 2015, versus the Vancouver Canucks.

Ken Dryden set two high-water marks on April 22, 1979, when he took the ice for the Canadiens against the Maple Leafs, in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Quarterfinals. First, he became the first goaltender to play in 100 playoff games.

Ken Dryden #29 of the Montreal Canadiens
Dryden won 70% of the playoff games he started. (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)

With the 5-4 overtime victory, he also became the NHL’s all-time winningest playoff goalie with 72 wins. He broke the old record of 71 held by Canadiens’ legend Jacques Plante. Dryden retired with 80 wins in just 112 games, which are still the sixth-most in league history.

Speaking of Hall of Fame goaltenders, Patrick Roy played in his final NHL game on April 22, 2003. Andrew Burnette scored in overtime to lead the underdog Minnesota Wild past the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. A month later, Roy retired with four Stanley Cups and a record 151 Stanley Cup playoff wins.

Patrick Roy of the Montreal Canadiens
Roy’s legendary career ended on this date. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)

On April 22, 2018, Jake Guentzel and Sean Couturier became the first set of opposing players to each score five points in the same playoff game. Guentzel was just the third player ever to score four consecutive goals in the Pittsburgh Penguins 8-5 win over the Flyers to advance out of the Eastern Conference First Round. Couturier had a hat trick and two assists in the losing effort while playing with a torn ligament in his knee.

Happy Birthday to You

There are 26 former and current NHL players who were born on this date. Among them are Peter Zezel (55), Zarly Zalapski (52), Dan Cloutier (44), Chandler Stephenson (26), Madison Bowey (25) and Eeli Tolvanen (21).

  • Tags
  • Darryl Sittler
  • Ken Dryden
  • Patrick Roy
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 6:58 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Price Still Has Room to Improve Early in 2020-21

Jan 23rd 4:05 PM
All-Star Weekend

25 Years Later: The FoxTrax Glowing Puck Makes Its Debut

Jan 23rd 3:50 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Should Play Grzelcyk With McAvoy

Jan 23rd 3:23 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Are Being Too Patient With the Puck

Jan 23rd 2:20 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Pierre-Oliver Joseph Shines in NHL Debut

Jan 23rd 2:10 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Lacombe, McLaughlin, Sundsvik & More

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Prospects News & Rumors: Clarke, Byram & Cozens

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders’ Kieffer Bellows Adapting to New Role

Jan 23rd 1:50 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Monahan Vying to Be Best Center in North Division

Jan 23rd 1:40 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Rumors: Oilers, Canucks, & Truth Behind Jets and Blue Jackets Trade

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information