Three big-time hockey cities – Montreal, Edmonton, and Washington – all had plenty of memories on this date. Feb. 19 has also provided us with some great performances and milestones between the pipes. It is time for us to take our daily trip back through NHL history and relive the best moments from this date.
Montreal Canadiens Take Center Stage
A pair of Canadiens Hall of Famers had big performances on Feb. 19, 1955, as they blew out the New York Rangers 10-2. Bernie Geoffrion scored five goals, including four on the power play. This was the only five-goal in the entire NHL from 1947 until 1961. Defenseman Doug Harvey did his part on offense by chipping in with five assists.
Another duo of all-time greats in Montreal hit milestones on Feb. 19, 1977, as the Habs extended their team-record home undefeated streak to 23 straight games (18-0-5) with a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Yvan Cournoyer scored twice to become the third player in franchise history to score 400 goals. Also, Jacques Lemaire lit the lamp to become the sixth player to score 300 goals with the Canadiens.
Russ Courtnall completed his second career hat trick by scoring on a penalty shot on Feb. 19, 1990, during a 5-5 tie with the Detroit Red Wings.
On Feb. 19, 2008, the Canadiens tied the record for the biggest comeback in league history by beating the Rangers 6-5 in a shootout. The Blueshirts opened a 5-0 lead just five minutes into the second period before the tables began to turn. Michael Ryder began the epic comeback with two goals before the end of the middle frame. Alex Kovalev and Mark Streit scored early in the third period to draw within one goal. Kovalev proved to be the hero by tying the game on a power play, with less than five minutes in regulation, before scoring the only goal of the shootout to pull off the victory.
Edmonton Oilers Dominate the 80s
Rookie Wayne Gretzky and legend Gordie Howe played against each other for the fourth and final time, on this date in 1980. Neither player picked up a point as the Oilers beat the Hartford Whalers 6-2.
Gretzky found the scoresheet on Feb. 19, 1982, when he scored his 14th career hat trick and added two assists in a 7-4 win over the visiting Whalers. Jari Kurri did his part with a goal and three assists.
One year later, Kevin Lowe set a team record for the most points by a defenseman in a game when he scored a goal and added five assists in a 10-7 road win at…
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