This Day in MN Hockey History: Dec. 21

1952:  Former NHL coach and general manager Les Jackson born in Manning, Alta.  Jackson worked in the league with Dallas and the Minnesota North Stars, starting in 1985-86.

1968:  Bob McCord had two assists to lead the Minnesota North Stars to a 3-1 win over the Penguins at Pittsburgh.  Coach John Muckler picked up the win — but his next NHL coaching victory wouldn’t be until October 5, 1989 with Edmonton – more than 20 years later.

1971:  Murray Oliver and Lou Nanne each scored a goal and added two assists to lead the Minnesota North Stars to a 3-2 win over the Kings at the Met Center.

1974:  Defenseman Barry Gibbs scored a goal and three assists in one period (a team record) as the Minnesota North Stars became the third post-1967 expansion team to win 200 games in franchise history, with an 8-7 win over the visiting Penguins.

1982:  Bobby Smith scored two goals and added an assist as the Minnesota North Stars lost 6-4 to the Flames, at Calgary.

1987:  Maple Leafs’ goaltender Allan Bester and North Stars’ goaltender Kari Takko recorded shutouts as Minnesota tied 0-0 at Toronto.  It was the only shutout of Takko’s NHL career and the 5th career shutout for Bester.

1988:  Capitals’ Dave Christian scored his 250th NHL career goal as Washington won 4-3 at Chicago.  Christian became the second U.S. born player to score 250 NHL goals.

1991:  Ed Olczyk had two goals and four assists to lead the Jets to a 7-2 win over the Flames, in Winnipeg.  It was the Jets’ eighth straight win at home.  Phil Housley added four assists in the second period.

2002:  Minnesota set a team record for with 47 shots and Marian Gaborik set a Minnesota team record by taking 10 shots for the Wild, scoring once in a 4-2 loss at Colorado.

2006:  St. Louis rookie David Backes scored his first NHL goal, and coach Andy Murray earned his first win with the Blues, 5-2 against visiting Los Angeles.  It was the Blues first home victory of the season.

Courtesy of Vintage Minnesota Hockey.com,
your No. 1 source for Vintage Minnesota Hockey History and Hockey Apparel!