NHL 100 YEARS AGO TODAY – CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST GAMES

Tuesday marks the 100th anniversary of the first games in National Hockey League history. On Dec. 19, 1917, the Montreal Wanderers defeated the Toronto Arenas 10-9 at Westmount Arena in Montreal and the Montreal Canadiens skated to a 7-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Dey’s Arena in Ottawa.

BY THE NUMBERS: 100 YEARS OF THE NHL

Over the past century, 40 different franchises have competed in the National Hockey League, combining for 358,737 total goals (including 1,833 shootout-deciding goals) across 58,997 total games (54,705 regular-season, 4,292 playoffs) played at 139 different venues. Notables from 100 years of the NHL.

The highest-scoring day in NHL history was Jan. 23, 1993, when 103 goals were scored across 12 games. The highest-scoring contest that day was between the Oilers and original Jets, an 8-5 victory for Winnipeg.

Four games in League history have featured at least 20 goals, including two 21-goal games – the Canadiens defeated the Toronto St. Patricks 14-7 on Jan. 10, 1920 in Montreal and the Oilers defeated the Blackhawks 12-9 on Dec. 11, 1985 in Chicago.

 

A Quick look at the History of the NHL

33: Number of goaltenders who have won 300 or more games (in the regular season), including active players Roberto Luongo (459), Henrik Lundqvist (421), Marc-Andre Fleury (379), Ryan Miller (361), Cam Ward (301) and Kari Lehtonen (300). Ward (Dec. 12 at VGK) and Lehtonen (Dec. 13 at NYI) both reached the milestone last week.

45: Number of skaters who have scored 500 or more goals (in the regular season), including active players Jaromir Jagr (766), Alex Ovechkin (581), Marian Hossa (525) and Patrick Marleau (519).

87: Number of skaters who have recorded 1,000 or more points (in the regular season), including active players Jaromir Jagr (1,921), Joe Thornton (1,413), Marian Hossa (1,134), Patrick Marleau (1,100), Alex Ovechkin (1,072), Sidney Crosby (1,060), Henrik Sedin (1,043) and Daniel Sedin (1,007). Daniel Sedin reached the milestone Nov. 30 at NSH; the Sedins are the only brothers in NHL history who each have collected 1,000 points.

100: The NHL was founded on Nov. 26, 1917. The League then played its first games on Dec. 19, 1917: the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators, 7-4, at Dey’s Arena in Ottawa, and the Montreal Wanderers posted a 10-9 win over the Toronto Arenas at Westmount Arena in Montreal.

139: Number of venues that have hosted at least one NHL game (regular season or playoffs). The Montreal Forum has played host to the most NHL contests: 3,025 (2,683 in the regular season, 342 in the playoffs).

1,007: Number of players who have won the Stanley Cup since the NHL assumed full control of the trophy in 1927.

7,663: Number of players who have appeared in at least one NHL game (regular season or playoffs).

58,997: Number of games played in NHL history. A total of 54,705 in the regular season and 4,292 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

358,737: Number of goals in NHL history, including the regular season and playoffs (and including shootout-deciding goals).