What's in a picture? If you're interested in hockey history, a bit of trivia and an example of how my mind works-read on!

This photo was recently posted on one of the hockey facebook pages I follow. These shots are so classic. Not just because of Gordie Howe in action but people love zooming in on these and looking at the crowd. And of course the mask less goalie. Those are always cool to see. Now let me take you in the world of Liam Maguire. As soon as I saw this pic I knew everything about it, from the date, the score and various other sundry details. Why in God’s name would that be you ask? Read on and let me weave for you a hockey history story that will ultimately lead to the modern day Ottawa Senators.

NHL trades have always been the subject of trivia talk and follow ups in terms of who did what for whom after the deals etc. One of the biggest trades in Montreal Canadien history happened on January 13, 1971 when they acquired Frank Mahovlich from Detroit for three players. More on that in a moment.

Of course I remember the deal when it happened. I was a student at St. Leonard’s elementary in grade six and I was then as I am now a massive Habs fan. It was an exciting trade. As I got older and began a lifetime of digesting, regurgitating and getting hired to perform my hockey history/trivia act this trade along with countless others became a must-know. The primary reason being when Mahovlich joined the Habs they were on the road in Minnesota and they had no number 27 available for him so he had to wear the sweater of the biggest player that went the other way in the deal. He had three choices, Mickey Redmond’s number 24, Guy Charron’s number 23 or Bill Collins number 10. 10 was the biggest sweater, Frank is a big man so he wore 10 for the Montreal game on January 14, 1971, scoring a goal as the Habs tied Minnesota 3-3. Number 27 was ready for him next game so 10 was parked and then that summer Montreal drafted Mr. Guy Lafleur so that means the last player to wear 10 on Montreal before Lafleur was Frank Mahovlich…for one game. I digress. Back to the picture.

As the years rolled by and I extended my research on trades I would quite often look at a players numbers just prior to their deal. The two games prior to Frank’s trade to Montreal were a 3-2 loss to Toronto on January 10th and a 3-2 win over Buffalo on January 9th. From a Mahovlich perspective they were most unusual games in that he had back to back fights. Frank was not a fighter per se. He certainly did a bit of it in the late 50s when he joined the NHL but this was his 14th season yet here he was playing two weekend games and fighting in each one of them. I knew when this game was in this picture right away because of the Buffalo goalie, Joe Daley. Most of you have probably not heard of Joe Daley. He was the third last goalie to play without a mask in the NHL and he played one game and one only against Detroit in 1970-71 and I knew that from researching Frank’s games before his trade to Montreal so that means this game is the 3-2 Detroit win over Buffalo on January 9, 1971.

Furthermore, as mentioned Mahovlich fought that night. He also scored and he also drew an assist so that gave him the ‘Gordie Howe hat trick’ a goal, assist and a fight in the same game. He assisted a goal scored by Gordie Howe in the first period. Mahovlich scored the winner in the third and he fought in the second period. Who did he fight you ask? I’m glad you did! He fought Jim Watson, not to be confused with Jimmy Watson of Watson brother fame from Smithers, BC. Jim Watson was a Quebec native and earlier that season in the Buffalo Sabres first ever game, a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh he scored their first ever goal! Four days after this picture was taken Mahovlich was traded to Montreal. I just find that kind of cool. BTW if you zoom in on the pic that is Frank skating on the right. You of course see number 10 on Detroit, Alex Delvecchio. The two of them along with Howe comprised what was known as the third version of the Production Line.

a) Howe-Lindsay-Abel

b) Howe-Lindsay-Reibel

c) Howe-Mahovlich-Delvecchio

The Buffalo Sabre defenseman in front is number 3, Tracy Pratt. Pratt is the son of former NHL defenseman Walter ‘Babe’ Pratt who is in the Hockey Hall of Fame and who was the first defenseman in NHL history to score a Cup winning goal which he did for Toronto in 1945. He also won the Hart Trophy in 1944 among many other things. I digress.

And for one final rip down the Liam Maguire rabbit hole, let’s extrapolate on Joe Daley. If Joe was the third last goalie to go without a mask who were the last two? Gump Worsley who only wore a mask for the last six games of his NHL career and Andy Brown who never wore a mask. Andy Brown is the son of a former NHL’er named Adam Brown. Adam Brown’s main claim to fame, he drew one of the assists on Gordie Howe’s first ever NHL goal scored nearly 25 years before this photo was taken. So now you’re asking well geez Liam, if Worsley and Brown are the last two to play without a mask did they play against each other becoming the final two goalies to do so? Great question!! They did! On New Year’s Eve of all dates, December 31, 1972 in a 4-4 tie between Minnesota and Detroit. Some of you researching zealots might be doing the finger in the sky ah-ha! right now. No Liam, Brown and Worsley actually played against each one final time on March 27, 1974. Correct, but it was Worsley’s third game wearing a mask making New Year’s Eve the last ever NHL contest featuring two mask less goalies.

Now you’re saying, hold on Liam! If Gump Worsley was the second last and Andy Brown was last who then would be the player that has the unique distinction of scoring the final goal ever on a mask less goalie in the NHL? Well ladies and gentlemen, that would be one Rey Comeau. Yes, Rey, not Ray. As the Pittsburgh Penguins lost 6-3 to the Atlanta Flames on April 7, 1974.

And finally, the Ottawa Senator connection. Well, Andy Brown was traded from Detroit to Pittsburgh on February 25, 1973 for a 3rd round pick who the Red Wings used to select Nelson Pyatt. Pyatt had two sons who played in the NHL, Taylor and Tom. Tom played three seasons for the Ottawa Senators wearing sweater number 10.

And now you know……………………………..the rest of the story. Welcome to Liam Maguire’s mind. Please pour a drink and forget all of this immediately. Cheers.