Today In NHL History - Hextall Hammers Chelios

On May 11th in 1989, Philadelphia Flyers ferocious goalie Ron Hextall attacked Montreal Canadiens defenseman Chris Chelios after play was whistled offside trailing 4-2 with 1:37 left in Game 6 of the Wales Conference Finals.

The 1987 Vezina and Conn Smythe winner come single season goaltender penalty minute record holder (113 minutes in 1989) pounced in response to Chelios' unpenalized elbow on Brian Propp ten days earlier.

Hextall received a five-minute major and match penalty coupled with a 12 game suspension commencing the following season. The Canadiens eliminated the Flyers that night winning the game and series 4-2.

Asked 20 years later if the pair had made amends, Hextall explained:

"No, we’re not friends. I've talked to him a few times. You know what, honestly, when the game's over, when your career’s over, you look back at guys like that and you respect them more than anyone else because he is a competitor. He’s one of the top competitors in the league. I look at a guy like that, would I like to have played with him? Damn right I would have. Those guys that are competitive, there's a respect there even if you can’t stand the guy. There's a respect there that never goes away. When I was standing at the bench in Detroit two years ago when we were in town who comes over to talk to me? He does. It’s in the past."

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Sami Salo's Balls of Steel

On May 11th in 2010, Vancouver Canucks oft-injured blueliner Sami Salo skated in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals despite catching a slapshot squarely in the family jewels two evenings earlier courtesy of Chicago Blackhawks Norris winner Duncan Keith.
The Finn's miraculous return resulted in the well-deserved raucous chant "Balls of Steel", audible at the 1:00 mark of the video below.
Chicago beat Vancouver that night by a score of 5-1 taking the series 4-2 en route to their first Stanley Cup win in 49 years.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Bobby Orr's Goal

On May 10th in 1970, Bobby Orr scored the overtime marker in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals giving the Boston Bruins a 4-3 win and their first Stanley Cup in 29 years, sweeping Scotty Bowman's St. Louis Blues.

The image of Orr flying through the air with his arms raised after being tripped by defenseman Noel Picard at the moment the goal was scored is arguably the most famous and recognized hockey image of all time.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Walker Punches Ward

On May 10th in 2009, Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker sucker-punched Boston Bruins blueliner Aaron Ward down 4-0 with three minutes remaining in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

Walker was penalized 17 minutes and assessed a $2,500 fine but amazingly escaped suspension despite Rules 46.12 and 46.22 mandating such for instigating a fight with 5 minutes to play. Ward didn't miss a game quieting post game chatter of a broken orbital bone.

Boston beat Carolina that night by a score of 4-0 but lost the series 4-3.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Pronger's Heart Attack

On May 10th in 1998, Chris Pronger caught a slapshot in the chest courtesy of Detroit Red Wings defenseman Dmitri Mironov causing the St. Louis Blues blueliner to suffer an acute heart attack, with his team down 4-1 with 16 minutes remaining in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal.

Further footage may be found at the 3:35 mark of the video below.

Pronger recovered from the freak incident, returning to play four days later. Detroit beat St. Louis that afternoon 6-1, eventually winning the series in six games en route to their second consecutive Stanley Cup.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Steve Yzerman

On May 9th in 1965, Stephen Gregory Yzerman was born in Cranbrook, British Columbia. Drafted 4th overall by the Red Wings in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, the pint-sized sparkplug reignited hockey in the Motor City.

In addition to his five 50+ goal seasons ('88-'91, '93) and six 100+ point seasons ('88-'93), including 155 points in 1989 (65 goals, 90 assists) a milestone surpassed only by Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, Yzerman thrice returned the Stanley Cup (1997, 1998, 2002) to Detroit.

Rounding out his resume Yzerman added a Pearson (1989), Conn Smythe (1998), Selke (2000), Masterton (2003), and Patrick (2006), as well as the distinction of being the longest serving captain in North American major league sports history leading the winged-wheels for 19 seasons over 20 years.

On July 3, 2006, when his body could take him no further, Yzerman retired. He left with 1,755 points, 692 goals, and 1,063 assists, finishing 6th, 9th, and 7th overall, respectively. On January 2, 2007, the Wings raised his number 19 to the rafters adding a 'C' in the upper right corner memorializing his captaincy.

Since then Yzerman has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (2009) and won a second Olympic gold medal (2010) serving as GM for Team Canada. Today he manages the Tampa Bay Lightning.

That's today in NHL history.