Today In NHL History - Lindros Trade (QUE-PHI)

On June 30th in 1992, Quebec Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut and GM Pierre Page traded 1991 draft day holdout Eric Lindros to Philadelphia.



Amidst confusion among two competing bids, arbitrator Larry Bertuzzi selected Flyers GM Russ Farwell's proposal over New York Rangers GM Neil Smith's package of Doug Weight, Tony Amonte, Alexei Kovalev, John Vanbiesbrouck, three first round draft picks, and $12 million.

The trade ultimately saw Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, Chris Simon, two first-round picks (Jocelyn Thibault, Nolan Baumgartner), and $15 million going to Quebec in exchange for the inaugural Next One. The deal remains one of the most significant and lopsided trades in NHL history.

The club would later exchange Hextall for Adam Deadmarsh and package Thibault for Patrick Roy and Mike Keane, claiming two Stanley Cups as the Colorado Avalanche. The Flyers remain winless since 1975.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Luongo Trade (NYI-FLA)

On June 24th in 2000, New York Islanders GM Mike Milbury traded Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen to the Florida Panthers for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha. The 2000 NHL Entry Draft day play saw the Isles select goalie Rick DiPietro 1st overall ahead of future all-stars Dany Heatley (2nd), Marian Gaborik (3rd) and Henrik Lundqvist (205th), to name a few.

In response to the move Milbury surmised, "In the end, we thought the quality that DiPietro will bring is just a notch above Luongo. If we're wrong, we may have made an unbelievable mistake. It'll be bonehead city. It's my job. If we're not a better team immediately, off with my head. I've been here five years, and I'm tired of losing."

Safe to say the Isles would have been better off with future Vezina/Hart/Pearson finalist Luongo, Calder winner and two-time 50 goal scorer Heatley, and Finnish national teamer Jokinen than the trio of DiPietro, Parrish, and Kvasha. Alas, the Milbury legacy lives on and on.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Luongo Trade (FLA-VAN)

On June 23rd in 2006, Florida Panthers' GM Mike Keenan traded Roberto Luongo, Lukas Krajicek, and a 6th round pick (Sergei Shirokov) in the next day's 2006 NHL Entry Draft to the host city's Vancouver Canucks for Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen, and Alex Auld.

Both Bertuzzi (7 games) and Auld (27 games) enjoyed limited play during their one season down south while Allen (284 game) was a fixture for Florida before being traded to Carolina for forward Sergei Samsonov.

On September 2, 2009, Luongo signed a 12 year contract extension with Vancouver through 2022 where he's won Olympic Gold (2010), presided over two Presidents' Trophy wins (2011, 2012), been named to three NHL All-Star Games (2007, 2008, 2009), received four NHL Award nominations (Vezina 2007 & 2011, Pearson 2007, Hart 2007), captured a Jennings Trophy (2011) with Cory Schneider, set several Canucks franchise records, and authored a popular Twitter feed @strombone1.

Despite these successes, Luongo has been widely criticized for spectacular playoff losses to the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins, blamed for the Canucks failure to capture the Stanley Cup in 2011, and remains to this day a favorite whipping boy for hockey pundits everywhere.

That's today in NHL history.

2012 NHL Individual Awards Winners

When it comes to the NHL Awards, a handful are earned on statistical achievement with the rest won through votes. The list below itemizes trophy winners for the 2012 NHL season.

Award: ------------------- Winner
CONN SMYTHE: --------- Quick
ART ROSS: ---------------- Malkin
ROCKET RICHARD: ----- Stamkos
PLUS-MINUS: ------------ Bergeron
HART: -------------''''------ Malkin
TED LINDSAY: ---''------- Malkin
SELKE: ------------'-'------ Bergeron
NORRIS: ----------''''------ Karlsson
VEZINA: -----------'''------ Lundqvist
JENNINGS: --------------- Elliott & Halak
CROZIER: ----------------- Elliott
CALDER: ------------------ Landeskog
JACK ADAMS: ------------ Hitchcock
TOP GM: --'---------------- Armstrong
MASTERTON:---------'''-- Pacioretty
LADY BYNG:-----------'--- Campbell
KING CLANCY: ----------- Alfredsson
FOUNDATION: ------'''--- Fisher
MESSIER: ----------------- Doan

Additional honors were bestowed upon Lundqvist, Karlsson, Weber, Malkin, Neal, Kovalchuk for making the 2012 NHL First All-Star Team. The 2012 NHL Second All-Star Team spots were assigned to Quick, Chara, Pietrangelo, Stamkos, Gaborik, Whitney.

2012 NHL Individual Statistical Leaders

With only 5 trophies awarded for statistical achievement alone (Art Ross, Rocket Richard, Plus-Minus, Jennings, Crozier) there are plenty of regular season accomplishments that escape recognition at the NHL Awards. The list below provides a complete picture of the NHL's individual leaders in a variety of statistical categories for 2012.

----------- SKATERS
Statistic: -------------- Leader
Points:------------''----- Malkin (109)
Points/G:-----------''--- Crosby (1.68)
ES Points:-----------'--- Malkin (75)
PP Points:-------'------- Giroux (38)
SH Points:---------''---- Parise/Henrique (7)
Goals:-----------------'-- Stamkos (60)
Goals/G:-------------'--- Stamkos (.73)
ES Goals:---------------- Stamkos (48)
PP Goals:---------------- Neal (18)
SH Goals:-------''------- Henrique/M. Richards/Clutterbuck (4)
GW Goals:------------'-- Stamkos/Vrbata (12)
EN Goals:-----------''--- Michalek (5)
Assists:----------------''- H. Sedin (67)
Assists/G:------------''-- Crosby (1.32)
Shots:-------------------- Malkin (339)
Missed Shots:----------- Ovechkin (135)
Plus/Minus:----------'-- Bergeron (36)
PIMs:--------------'-''-'- Dorsett (235)
Minor Penalty:-------''- Subban (47)
Major Penalty:----'-'-''- Prust/Thornton (20)
Game Misconduct:----- Smyth/Bogosian/Lucic/Grabovski (2)
TOI:-------------------'-- Campbell (2,205:31)
TOI/Game:-----------'-- Campbell/Keith (26:53)
Shifts:-----------------'-- Pietrangelo (2,668)
TOI/Shift:----------''''-- Beauchemin/Kovalchuk/Letang (59)
Face Off %:----------''''- Peverley (61.1)
Giveaways:----------'''-- Kovalchuk (120)
Takeaways:---''-----''--- O'Reilly (101)
Blocked Shots:---------- Gorges (250)
Hits:------------------''-- Martin (374)

----------- GOALIES
Statistic: -------------- Leader
Wins: ------------------- Rinne (43)
Losses: ------------''---- Hiller (30)
Shots Against: --------- Rinne (2,153)
Saves: --------'''''--'''-'- Rinne (1,987)
GA: ----------------'''''-- Pavelec (191)
GAA: ------------------'- Roloson (3.66)
SV%: ----------------'--- Elliott (.940)
Shutouts: --------------- Quick (10)
TOI: -------------'------- Hiller (4,252:31)

Perhaps one day the NHL will expand their annual awards selection to include more leaders of these statistical categories. Until then, we'll leave it up to the voters to determine who's ripe for recognition.

Today In NHL History - Stevens Hits Kozlov

On June 20th in 1995, New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Stevens dealt a devastating blow to Detroit Red Wings forward Vyacheslav Kozlov in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, turning the tide of the game and series.

The 2nd period collision sparked the Devils, turning a 1-1 tie into a 4-2 win and eventually sweeping the series 4-0 to clinch their first Cup.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Brett Hull's No Goal

On June 19th in 1999, Brett Hull scored 5 minutes and 9 seconds into the third overtime period of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals giving the Dallas Stars a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres and their first (and only) Stanley Cup.

The goal remains the most controversial in NHL history due to a now defunct rule banning a player's skate from entering the crease before the puck as it appears Hull's did. NHL Director of Officiating Bryan Lewis, however, claimed no crease violation on the play noting "Hull had possession of the puck when his skate entered the crease."

ESPN counts the non-call as the 5th worst officiating moment in sports history. The NHL removed the rule the following month.

That's today in NHL history.

NHL Consecutive Stanley Cup Wins

Since the Stanley Cup was dedicated to NHL's top team in 1926, only seven franchises (Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins) have successfully defended their title and won the Stanley Cup in consecutive years.

The record for consecutive Stanley Cup wins by the same club is five (Montreal 1956-1957-1958-1969-1960) with two teams managing four straight wins (Montreal 1976-1977-1978-1979, New York Islanders 1980-1981-1982-1983), one team duplicating three year streaks (Toronto 1947-1948-1949 & 1962-1963-1964), and four squads posting one or more pairs (Detroit 1936-1937 & 1954-1955 & 1997-1998, Philadelphia 1974-1975, Edmonton 1984-1985 & 1987-1988, Pittsburgh 1991-1992).

The charts below describe these streaks by team, years, and vice versa.

Team: Years
MTL: 1930-1931 (2), 1956-1957-1958-1959-1960 (5),
-------'1965-1966 (2), 1968-1969 (2), 1976-1977-1978-1979 (4)
DET: 1936-1937 (2), 1954-1955 (2), 1997-1998 (2)
TOR: 1947-1948-1949 (3), 1962-1963-1964 (3)
PHI: 1974-1975 (2)
NYI: 1980-1981-1982-1983 (4)
EDM: 1984-1985 (2), 1987-1988 (2)
PIT: 1991-1992 (2)

Years: Team
1930-1931: Montreal
1936-1937: Detroit
1947-1949: Toronto
1954-1955: Detroit
1956-1960: Montreal
1962-1964: Toronto
1965-1966: Montreal
1968-1969: Montreal
1974-1975: Philadelphia
1976-1979: Montreal
1980-1983: New York
1984-1985: Edmonton
1987-1988: Edmonton
1991-1992: Pittsburgh
1997-1998: Detroit

Detroit was the last team to appear in consecutive Stanley Cup Finals (2008, 2009) when they rematched against Pittsburgh. Unfortunately for Detroit, they failed to defend their title. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, they spared themselves the shame of losing in consecutive Cup Finals.

It's only been a week since the Los Angeles Kings hoisted their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, however, it's never too early to speculate as to whether they can repeat as champions. Early Vegas odds favor Pittsburgh to win at 7 to 1 with Los Angeles' probability to capture consecutive Cups currently calculated at 11 to 1.

NHL Stanley Cup Championship Droughts

Last night the Los Angeles Kings erased their 45 year Stanley Cup drought with a Game 6 win over the New Jersey Devils. The NHL's other 29 teams, however, extended their respective winless droughts by another year. The chart below describes, in descending order, the number of years each team has gone without winning a Stanley Cup, showing the last year they hoisted the hardware. Where no year appears, that team has NEVER won the Cup.

TOR: 45 (1967)
STL: 45
BUF: 42
VAN: 42
WAS: 38
PHI: 37 (1975)
PHO: 33
NYI: 29 (1983)
CGY: 23 (1989)
EDM: 22 (1990)
SJS: 21
OTT: 20
MTL: 19 (1993)
FLA: 19
NYR: 18 (1994)
NAS: 14
DAL: 13 (1999)
WPG: 13
MIN: 12
CLB: 12
COL: 11 (2001)
NJD: 9 (2003)
TBL: 8 (2004)
CAR: 6 (2006)
ANA: 5 (2007)
DET: 4 (2008)
PIT: 3 (2009)
CHI: 2 (2010)
BOS: 1 (2011)
LAK: 0 (2012)

The average drought rests at 18.8 years with longest being 45 years (Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues), 9 years shy of the all-time winless streak of 54 years belonging to the New York Rangers (1940-1994). Not only has Toronto failed to win since the NHL expanded beyond its original six teams, they haven't even reached the Final during that span.

Arguably more intriguing than the length of each team's drought is that 12 of the 30 current NHL teams (40%) have never won the Stanley Cup. In fact, 6 of the 30 teams (20%) have never skated in a Final in their franchise history (Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets).

In 10 months the Stanley Cup playoffs commence and the quest for the Cup continues for 16 of the 30 clubs that qualify for the postseason. Early Vegas odds favor the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7 to 1 while the Kings probability to capture consecutive Cups is currently calculated at 11 to 1.

The IIHF Triple Gold Club

Of the over 15,000 World Championship participants seeking gold since 1930, 9,000 that have skated for the Stanley Cup since 1893, and 4,000 that have competed for Olympic Gold since 1920, only 25 players and one coach have won all three titles. These accomplished 26 are recognized with membership in hockey's most exclusive association, the IIHF's Triple Gold Club.

The club includes individuals from Sweden (9), Canada (9), Russia (6), and the Czech Republic (2), of which the majority are forwards (19) with remainder rounded out by defensemen (6) and a coach. No goalies have earned the honor. All members are listed below by date of admission.

PLAYERS
Tomas Jonsson (SWE): 2.27.94
Mats Näslund (SWE): 2.27.94
Håkan Loob (SWE): 2.27.94
Valeri Kamensky (RUS): 6.10.96
Alexei Gusarov (RUS): 6.10.96
Peter Forsberg (SWE): 6.10.96
Viacheslav Fetisov (RUS): 6.7.97
Igor Larionov (RUS): 6.7.97
Alexander Mogilny (RUS): 6.10.00
Vladimir Malakhov (RUS): 6.10.00
Rob Blake (CAN): 2.24.02
Joe Sakic (CAN): 2.24.02
Brendan Shanahan (CAN): 2.24.02
Scott Niedermayer (CAN): 5.9.04
Jaromír Jágr (CZE): 5.15.05
Jiří Šlégr (CZE): 5.15.05
Nicklas Lidström (SWE): 2.26.06
Fredrik Modin (SWE): 2.26.06
Chris Pronger (CAN): 6.6.07
Niklas Kronwall (SWE): 6.4.08
Henrik Zetterberg (SWE): 6.4.08
Mikael Samuelsson (SWE): 6.4.08
Eric Staal (CAN): 2.28.10
Jonathan Toews (CAN): 6.9.10
Patrice Bergeron (CAN): 6.15.11

COACHES
Mike Babcock (CAN): 2.28.10

During a Triple Gold Club induction ceremony held at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Zetterberg described the challenges of the different championships and the camaraderie of his co-members.

Of the 26 Triple Gold Club cardholders, only Viacheslav Fetisov, Igor Larionov and Peter Forsberg have completed a Triple Gold Club Double winning each of the requisite three championships twice.

The next logical step in IIHF recognition is the creation of a Quadruple Gold Club adding World Junior Championship gold to the mix. To date, only 10 players (5 Russian, 5 Canadian) have achieved such status (Kamensky, Gusarov, Fetisov, Larianov, Mogilny, Sakic, Neidermayer, Pronger, Toews, Bergeron) with Fetisov and Larionov being the sole pair to turn a Quadruple Gold Club Double, taking each title twice.

No members of the 2012 Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings or the 2012 World Hockey Championship gold medal winning team Russia cracked the Triple Gold Club this year. Aspiring athletes will have to wait another year before the window opens again on this elite offering.

NHL Consecutive Stanley Cup Rematches

Since the Stanley Cup was first awarded to the NHL's best in 1926, only 10 times have the same two teams met in the Cup Final in consecutive years. Of those 10 meetings, the same team won both series 7 times and split 3 times. Put another way, the Stanley Cup champion has successfully defended its title in 7 of the 10 rematches (70%).

Years: ----- Matchup ------ Outcome
1932-1933: - TOR v NYR -'--' TOR 1932, NYR 1933
1948-1949: -'TOR v DET ''--- TOR won both
1954-1955: --DET v MTL '''-- DET won both
1957-1958: -''MTL v BOS '''-- MTL won both
1959-1960: '-MTL v TOR -''-' MTL won both
1963-1964: '-TOR v DET '-'-- TOR won both
1968-1969: -'MTL v STL ---'- MTL won both
1977-1978: ''-MTL v BOS ---- MTL won both
1983-1984: '-EDM v NYI ---- NYI 1983, EDM 1984
2008-2009: 'DET v PIT ---'--DET 2008, PIT 2009

Of the 9 teams (Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins) to compete in such Stanley Cup Final rematches, all but two (Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues) have won at least one championship during such series. Never have the same two teams met in 3 or more consecutive Stanley Cup Finals.

Though teams have enjoyed consecutive Stanley Cup wins and suffered consecutive Stanley Cup losses over the years, the rematch is a far rarer occurrence. Time will tell if the 2012 Stanley Cup Final's unlikely pairing of the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils have the stuff to reach the 2013 Cup Final and rematch their series. Until then, cue the music.

Today In NHL History - Konstantinov Limo Crash

On June 13th in 1997, heartbreak hit Hockeytown when a limousine carrying two members of the Russian Five and the Red Wings' masseuse struck a tree six days after their first Cup win in 42 years.

The crash left Vladimir Konstantinov and Sergei Mnatsakanov in a coma with severe head injuries. Both eventually awoke, Konstantinov suffering extensive brain and bodily damage and Mnatsakanov paralyzed from the waist down. The Vladinator would never play hockey again. Slava Fetisov walked away unscathed.

Bearing badges embroidered "Believe" the Wings repeated as Stanley Cup champions, engraving Konstantinov's name despite his on-ice absence. Though not officially retired, no player has worn his number 16 since the injury. His locker remains intact.
Driver Richard Gnida was sentenced to nine months for operating the vehicle with a suspended license and testing positive for marijuana.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Maggie The Monkey Retires

On June 13th in 2009, the Bowmanville Zoo's primate prophet Maggie the Monkey, technically a Crab-eating Macaque, made her last Stanley Cup Playoff pick at the ripe age of 18, leaving the stage to the paid pundits she's owned in the past.

Selecting the underdog Ducks to swim away with it all in 2003, Maggie tamed TSN's braintrust and was invited back for five more seasons.

Year: Record
2003: 8-7 (tying Miller and Reda, beating Duthie)
2004: 7-8 (tying Miller and Hodge, beating McKenzie)
2006: 9-6 (beating McKenzie, McGuire, and Berg)
2007: 8-7
2008: 8-7
2009: 5-10

Peaking in 2006 when she out-picked the entire panel, Maggie slowed with age ending 45-45 after six seasons. Never nailing the Cup winner in her previous five, Maggie picked the Penguins in her Finals finale putting McKenzie, Duthie, and Pang in their place one last time.

Rest easy Bob, no longer will Maggie be sharing your cage.

That's today in NHL history.

Conn Smythe Trophy - Stanley Cup Playoff MVP

Moments before each Stanley Cup crowning the Conn Smythe Trophy is bestowed upon the Hockey Writers' selection of the post season's best. First presented to Jean Beliveau in 1965, the honor dedicated to the Leaf legend has been handed out 47 times to 41 different players.

Typically finding a Stanley Cup champion (41 times) who is Canadian (41 times), the trophy has only found six Stanley Cup Final losers (Roger Crozier, Glenn Hall, Reggie Leach, Ron Hextall, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Tim Thomas) and six non-frostbacks (Brian Leetch, Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, Evgeni Malkin, Tim Thomas, Jonathan Quick). That said, only 1 of the last 5 winners was Canadian (Jonathan Toews 2010) and the past two were American (Thomas 2011, Quick 2012).

Positionally the award has been dominated by goalies (16) and centers (16), followed by defensemen (9), right wingers (4) and left siders (2). Only Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy has laid claim to the trophy three times with the well-heeled foursome of Bobby Orr, Bernie Parent, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemieux each taking it twice.

The most recent recipient was Los Angeles Kings backstop Jonathan Quick, who became the third American (Brian Leetch, Tim Thomas) to capture the honor. Patrick Roy remains the youngest winner at age 20.

Today In NHL History - Stevens Hits Kariya

On June 7th in 2003, defenseman Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils crushed Paul Kariya of the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals with an unpenalized late hit rendering the speedy winger motionless on the ice.

Amazingly, Kariya returned to the game scoring a goal and finishing with three points and the first star in a 5-2 victory to force Game 7. Two nights later New Jersey won their third Stanley Cup marking the first Final since 1965 where the home team won every game.

The hit ranks #2 on SportsCentre's top 10 Stevens hits of all-time, bested only by his hit on Eric Lindros in Game 7 of the 2000 Conference Final.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Cam Neely

On June 6th in 1965, Cameron Michael Neely was born in Comox, BC. Blessed with the rare trifecta of size, talent and toughness, Bam-Bam Cam became the NHL's prototypical power forward.

Selected 9th overall in the 1983 Draft, Neely spent three seasons with the Canucks before Harry Neale sent him to Boston on his 21st birthday with the club's 1987 first round draft pick (Glen Wesley) in exchange for Barry Pederson, the worst trade in franchise history.

Neely would collect 395 goals (395G/299A/694Pts) in his 726 game 13 year career, including three 50+ goal seasons ('90, '91, '94), placing him 15th overall in goals per game. Despite his Masterton winning perseverance (1994), Neely never recovered from a pair of Ulf Samuelsson-induced injuries in the 1991 Wales Conference Finals, finally buckling at the age of 31.

In 2005, Neely was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, a year after having his number 8 jersey raised to the Boston rafters. Today he serves as Vice President of the Bruins, a position held since 2007.

Away from the rink Neely focuses on his Foundation, helping cancer patients battle the disease that took his parents, and appears in TV (Cheers, Rescue Me) and film (Dumb & Dumber, Me, Myself and Irene), most famously as the Farrelly brothers' recurring tough guy Sea Bass.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - McSorley's Illegal Stick

On June 3rd in 1993, the Los Angeles Kings were two minutes away from taking a 2-0 series lead against the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Finals when coach Jacques Demers called for a measurement of Marty McSorley's stick.

Kerry Fraser described it as one of his easiest calls: "For any player to go into the third period in a Stanley Cup final with an illegal stick was, to my mind, absolutely asinine. The stick was so illegal, I mean, I just looked at it and said holy smokes, we won't need the gauge for this one."
With McSorley in the box and Patrick Roy on the bench, Eric Desjardins scored the tying goal on a two man advantage with 1:13 remaining in regulation. Desjardins completed the hat trick in overtime sending the series to the Great Western Forum tied 1-1. Melrose's Kings lost the next two games in overtime, surrendering the series 4-1 six days later at the Montreal Forum and denying the Great One his California crowning.

McSorley revisited the mishap 19 years later (beginning at the 2:45 mark below) prior to the Kings' first return to the Stanley Cup Final, acknowledging the illegality of his stick and accusing the Canadiens of foul play in measuring visiting players' sticks prior to the game.
Amazingly, Marty admits to playing subsequent games in the Final with sticks identical to the illegal one that so dearly cost his team in Game 2.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Pronger Hits McAmmond

On June 2nd in 2007, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger delivered a devastating elbow to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Dean McAmmond in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final rendering McAmmond unconscious.

The third period cheapshot was likely in response to Pronger's second period own goal that was created by and credited to McAmmond.

Pronger was assessed his 7th career suspension for the unpenalized play, earning the 3rd ever suspension during a Cup Final (Fischer 2002, Nieminen 2004) and marking the 3rd time a player was suspended twice during the same postseason (Lemieux 1996, Nieminen 2004).

Ottawa beat Anaheim that night 5-3 but Pronger returned after his one game suspension to win the Stanley Cup in Game 5. McAmmond missed the remainder of the series owing to a concussion suffered on the play.

That's today in NHL history.