This Day in MN Hockey History: Dec. 23

1973: The Minnesota Fighting Saints first live broadacsted game was a home contest versus Cleveland, with WTCN Buetel and Allard simulcasting. Buxton called subsequent games on WTCN.

1977: Roland Eriksson scored his second career hat trick and Tim Young had two goals and an assist to lead the Minnesota North Stars to a 7-5 win at Vancouver. Rick Blight scored a goal and three assists for the Canucks.

1980: Rookie Steve Christoff scored his first NHL hat trick to lead the North Stars to a 6-2 win against the Red Wings, at Detroit.

1982: Reed Larson scored a goal and added two assists as Detroit became the fourth team in league history to win 1,500 NHL games when they beat the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins 6-4. It also extended the Wings home unbeaten streak over Pittsburgh to 6-0-1.

1982: Former MN Wild defenseman Zbynek Michalek born in Jindrichuv Hradec, Czech. Michalek has played in the NHL since 2003-04.

1986: 1986 NHL center T.J. Oshie born in Mt. Vernon, Washington. Oshie has played in the NHL since 2008-09.

1988: Buffalo’s Phil Housley picked up his 300th career NHL assist as the Sabres won 5-2 over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs.

1989: Phil Housley scored a goal and tied team records for defensemen with four assists and give points to lead the Sabres to a 6-5 win over the Nordiques in Quebec City, to extend their unbeaten streak to 5 games (3-0-2).

1989: Randy Burridge and Dave Christian each picked up three assists to lead the Bruins to 6-5 win over Detroit.

1990: Bruins’ Dave Christian scored twice, including his 300th NHL goal in a 5-5 tie against the Rangers at New York.

1990: Dave Gagner scored his third career hat trick and added an assist, taking 9 shots on goal for the Minnesota North Stars in a 5-2 win at Hartford.

1991: Los Angeles Kings obtained Corey Millen from the N.Y. Rangers, in exchange for Randy Gilhen.

1996: Senators’ goaltender Damian Rhodes recorded the first road shutout in Ottawa history, and their first ever against the Canadiens, and Daniel Alfredsson scored a goal and three assists in a 6-0 win at Montreal.

2001: Minnesota’s Dwayne Roloson made 43 saves in a 6-3 loss at Colorado.

2003: Marian Gaborik broke a 9-game scoring drought with a goal as the Wild extended its season-high unbeaten streak to 6 games (4-0-2), a 3-3 tie with the visiting Nashville Predators.

2005: Todd White and Marian Gaborik scored 36 seconds apart in the third period to lead the Wild to a 5-3 win over the visiting Avalanche.

2008: Minnesota trailed 2-0 early in the second period but came back with three goals in the second period to beat the visiting Hurricanes 3-2. Mikko Koivu led the scoring with two assists and Stephane Veilleux scored the shorthanded tally.

2009: Niklas Backstgrom made 30 saves and improved his lifetime home record against Edmonton to 11-0-0, when the Wild beat the visiting Oilers 3-1.

2010: Matt Cullen scored a shorthanded goal, an even strength goal and picked up a power play assist to lead the Wild to a 3-1 win over the Avalanche at Denver.

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