Your first NHL game and other prominent games you attended

[goldenage]

First game - Upper level seats Boston Garden 1970s

2nd game - Spectrum Philadelphia. 1980. Flyers score two in the last minute
of the game to tie the Bruins 3-3.

Devils joined the league in the mid 80s and tickets were $10 a piece, and you could sit anywhere you wanted because the place was empty. Saw Mario
play quite a few games there in the 80s, plus this rookie named Sakic. Met Joe in the dressing room after the game. Very nice guy.

Lots of games at Madison Square Garden. A great place to see the game.
One night Rod Gilbert between periods was telling some Habs fans how their rookie goalie Carey Price was terrible. Price did have a bad night and struggled early on in his career.

Saw Gretzky in Philadelphia. Saw Orr in Boston. Saw Lemieux in NJ and NY.
Never saw Gordie, even though he played until 1980.

[Kevin]

Isles ‘81
Isles ‘83
Lightning ‘04 (told my friend living in Tampa at the time “if there is a Game 7 in Tampa, I’ll buy the tickets and fly down there”)

We have Isles season tickets (dad dating back to 2nd season, although he tells everyone “original season ticket holder” and they believe him) went to about 25 games a year from mid 80s through Pittsburgh brawl game earlier this decade. Where was I during the brawl game - most significant regular season home game for franchise in 20 years at that point - where was I? Attending my first basketball game at MSG as a 37 or 38 year old. Girlfriend at the time was a Kobe Bryant fan. I broke up with her a week later, eating my heart out for not being at that game. I swore to never miss an isles home game at the Coliseum for the rest of my life. (I missed 11/26/14 - my daughter’s birthday and one in December right before Christmas - sewer back up in new house.)

We took Brooklyn off. Went to one game there; worst arena in the league. You can say one thing about the Coliseum, as the ‘old barns’ started disappearing, the Coliseum had the best sight lines in the league. We sat in 205 and the back. On the blue line isles shot 2x. Best seats in the NHL. The 15 games dad sold off from Pittsburgh brawl game to the move to Brooklyn, I bought on stubhub for $5 or less. Once paid 99 cents. We were season ticket holders, I just went to my section, tipped the usher, sat down. Last season, didn’t even have to buy tickets. Just walked in and paid the ticket taker later on. Showed an old ticket and he pretended to scan it. A year or so later, Rangers-Lightning Semi-Finals. I think a Game 7. MSG had about 1000 extra fans there walking around. The usher I knew for pinched in a sting.

I could tell you some other significant games: Trottier’s 500th, Lemieux’s 500th. But there was just so much bad terrible hockey from 1990 through Brooklyn. The 80s stuff is great. Went to so many significant games. You know how I got back into my cards? My T206s? All started with Peter Schwartz (WFAN 1010WINS update guy) posting his ticket stubs. I found mine at my folks house w my T206s. Pulled 5 random games. Bossy scored 13 or 14 goals in those 5 games I pulled.

In 2012, I bought tickets to Game 5 of the Kings-Devils Final. Hoping I’d see a 4th Cup won. Wasn’t to be.

I’ll be back with more stuff...

[Kevin]

Funny, I’ve been to about 15 arenas. I’d say MSG was the SECOND WORST place to watch a game. Sight lines were terrible pre-facelift. Didn’t think anything could be worst until Barclays Center.

[commishbob]

First game was at the old MSG, December 1960. Leafs played the Rangers. My Blueshirts go a rare win (6-0!) Back then my uncle passed along a lot of sporting event tickets to my father. My uncle was a pharmasist in a one-pharmacy town in North Jersey and knew everyone. He was always getting tickets and had no interest in sports but my father and I took the seats happily.

Saw a lot of Ranger games in the 60s until I went off to Texas for college. Best memories are seeing Brad Park's first goal in '68 and, above all, this game, Game Three of the Bruins-Rangers playoff series in 1970. https://youtu.be/fp1x_2Iu5BQ

They had a major brawl just after the puck dropped to start it. Rangers vs Derek Sanderson. Set a record at the time for penalties in a period. Sanderson got tossed and shot us all the bird as he left. Fun night. We'd skipped school to land the tix after the Rangers clinched a berth on the last day of the season. EDIT to add to the above post...our seats for that Rangers Bruins playoff game were in the last row upstairs behind one end. My buddy and I had to literally stand on our seats to see the whole ice. But we didn't care.

I saw some fun games in Dallas and St. Louis over the years but I didn't see a game at MSG again until 35 years later when I saw the Sabres in 2005. I admit to getting a bit emotional when I walked inside the Garden. Traveled back for several games since including Lundqvist's last start at MGS a year ago.

I was a Houston Aeros ticket holder during most of their short WHA life in Houston. Some good times watching the Howes and many more.

[Throttlesteer]

I was present at the game Gretzky tied Gordie's goals record. Many other memorable games, but no huge milestones. I guess I did see Jagr's last GWG.

[Kurri17]

My wife and I started making the 4 1/2 hour trip to St. Louis in 1992 to see Kurri (and of Gretz), so my first game was the Kings and Blues at the "old barn." First few games I saw were there and I loved the ambience. My main memory for that game is a large group of fans, Blues fans primarily, crowded above the tunnel where the Kings came out, and when Gretz came out they all did the "we're not worthy" arms out bow.

Most notable game would have to be Brett Hull's jersey retirement. Of course, no Kurri there that night, but my buddy was, and still is, a huge Hull fan and he was kind enough to invite me along.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Kurri17

Most notable game would have to be Brett Hull's jersey retirement. Of course, no Kurri there that night, but my buddy was, and still is, a huge Hull fan and he was kind enough to invite me along.

Brett Hull, I think, does NOT get the love he deserves. After Bossy, best pure goal scorer I've seen.

[irv]

I've only been to two NHL games in my life. The first one was years ago when I was in my late teens/early 20s. My buddy and I purchased scalpers to a Toronto/Red Wings game but managed to get some decent seats for a decent price.

Toronto was up 7-0 on the Wings and I told my bud, a die hard Wings fan, well, this game is over. He told me lots of game left yet, Irv, but I thought it was just wishful thinking.
Long story short, the Wings came back and won that game.

My second NHL game was 10 yrs ago when I took my then 10 yr old son to his first game, a Toronto/Flyers game.
The Leaf's were fighting for a playoff spot and needed to win this game but you wouldn't know it. Half way through the second period, my son leaned over and put his head on my shoulder and said, dad, can we go.
He was bored as was I. It was an absolute boring, non eventful game up to that point and I remember thinking, more than once, I see way better hockey when I watch my Oshawa Generals, and for about an 1/8th of the price.

I told my son lets stick it out for the rest of the second and then we'd decide.
Before the second was over, Mikhail Grabovski had a goal scored from off his face. I forget the player who took the shot, but that's where it went before it deflected into the net. He was uninjured.
When that happened, and the place erupted in laughter and cheer, we decided to stick out the rest of the game.
Toronto ended up losing and in all honesty, my son never mentioned about ever going to another game, and personally, it really took away a lot of desire for me as well.

[Throttlesteer]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Brett Hull, I think, does NOT get the love he deserves. After Bossy, best pure goal scorer I've seen.

I might suggest Ovi be considered in that discussion.

[Nunzio11]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Brett Hull, I think, does NOT get the love he deserves. After Bossy, best pure goal scorer I've seen.

Grew up going to the Islander games in the mid 80s. Would even take the train into the city to go to Islanders Ranger games at MSG in high school. Always an adventure.
The best time ever though was 2014 going at a Blues game with a buddy who grew up with Brett Hull. Went to his box then down to the ice level bar outside the locker rooms. Watched the whole game with Brett. Must have drank 20 vodka sodas. The stories were just incredible.

[goldenage]

Originally Posted by Nunzio11

Grew up going to the Islander games in the mid 80s. Would even take the train into the city to go to Islanders Ranger games at MSG in high school. Always an adventure.
The best time ever though was 2014 going at a Blues game with a buddy who grew up with Brett Hull. Went to his box then down to the ice level bar outside the locker rooms. Watched the whole game with Brett. Must have drank 20 vodka sodas. The stories were just incredible.

Yep. Brett could put them down. He was the life of the party in the casino one night after the Lake Tahoe celebrity golf tournament. Friendly to anyone who came up to him. I had the pleasure of sitting and talking with Mario Lemieux while playing blackjack. Mario was winning all night long. M. Jordan has his own private area where no one could get near him, except Brett, who just kept drinking while watching Michael throw down millions.

[Kevin]

Lemieux- I’d have to say he was the best player I ever saw play: let’s say 1979 to present day. How was he 1:1? I have a lot of respect for him, but his whining after the brawl game I discussed above was pretty weak.

When I was really little, 1977, 78? I was at a game and we were in our “other seats” in 301. It was the pre game skate. Isles-Flyers brawl. Thinking back at most of the games I ever attended, we were rarely at the pre game skate. But this day we were. All the player - Isles/Flyers - paired off - brawling.

[goldenage]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Lemieux- I’d have to say he was the best player I ever saw play: let’s say 1979 to present day. How was he 1:1? I have a lot of respect for him, but his whining after the brawl game I discussed above was pretty weak.

When I was really little, 1977, 78? I was at a game and we were in our “other seats” in 301. It was the pre game skate. Isles-Flyers brawl. Thinking back at most of the games I ever attended, we were rarely at the pre game skate. But this day we were. All the player - Isles/Flyers - paired off - brawling.

Ever catch the video on youtube of the Flyers-Canadiens pre game brawl where Chris Nilan and Dave Brown go at it. Claude Lemieux shot the puck into the Flyers net after warm ups, and the Flyers didn't like it. I was at a Devils-Flyers game in Philadelphia years later and Brown caught Lemieux at center ice, and Claude Lemieux turtled while Brown threw punches. Brown never forgot.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by goldenage

Ever catch the video on youtube of the Flyers-Canadiens pre game brawl where Chris Nilan and Dave Brown go at it. Claude Lemieux shot the puck into the Flyers net after warm ups, and the Flyers didn't like it. I was at a Devils-Flyers game in Philadelphia years later and Brown caught Lemieux at center ice, and Claude Lemieux turtled while Brown threw punches. Brown never forgot.

Remember that well. Brown/Lemieux! Great call back.

Speaking of cool events to be at: my dad was at MSG in November 1959 when Jacques Plante first donned the mask. Pretty cool event to witness in person.

[goldenage]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Lemieux- I’d have to say he was the best player I ever saw play:.

I'd say that too, but I saw Bobby Orr play. Mario just dominated on the ice like anyone except Bobby Orr.

[Throttlesteer]

Originally Posted by goldenage

I'd say that too, but I saw Bobby Orr play. Mario just dominated on the ice like anyone except Bobby Orr.

Never got to see Orr, but Lemieux also holds the title for me (Jagr is a close second). It's truly hard to compare players from different generations. I'm sure Connor McDavid would run circles around our favs from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. But different nutrition, conditioning, rules, equipment, etc...

[goldenage]

Originally Posted by Throttlesteer

Never got to see Orr, but Lemieux also holds the title for me (Jagr is a close second). It's truly hard to compare players from different generations. I'm sure Connor McDavid would run circles around our favs from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. But different nutrition, conditioning, rules, equipment, etc...

The greatest coach in NHL history speaks to McDavid and Orr in this article. It's a great read. Both Bobby and Connor are mentioned in the same breath when people talk about "quick feet", or "going from zero to sixty".

Gretzky speaks to the terrible skates the guys had to skate on in the fifties and sixties. My guess is that only McDavid could keep up with Orr today. Both of them are on a different level.

https://www.tsn.ca/bowman-on-the-uns...f-orr-1.586976

[mikemb]

First game was around 1980, NY Rangers vs. Chicago Black Hawks at Madison Square Garden.

Was at MSG for game 7 of the 1993-94 Eastern Conference finals when Rangers won in double overtime.

Mike

[Writehooks]

I've been fortunate to earn my living in Canadian sports media for 45 years, starting with covering the Vancouver Canucks in 1975. Relocated to Edmonton in 1982 and covered the Oilers dynasty through '92, then turned to fulltime freelancing. For what it's worth, the most dominant player I ever saw was Orr, with Gretzky a distant second. The most talented player I ever saw was Mario. Best pure goal scorers: Mike Bossy, Joe Sakic. Most exciting to watch: Guy Lafleur, Gil Perreault. Best goalie: Patrick Roy.
Just my 2 cents worth ...

[irv]

Originally Posted by Writehooks

I've been fortunate to earn my living in Canadian sports media for 45 years, starting with covering the Vancouver Canucks in 1975. Relocated to Edmonton in 1982 and covered the Oilers dynasty through '92, then turned to fulltime freelancing. For what it's worth, the most dominant player I ever saw was Orr, with Gretzky a distant second. The most talented player I ever saw was Mario. Best pure goal scorers: Mike Bossy, Joe Sakic. Most exciting to watch: Guy Lafleur, Gil Perreault. Best goalie: Patrick Roy.
Just my 2 cents worth ...

Great story.

Thanks for sharing.

[goldenage]

Originally Posted by Writehooks

I've been fortunate to earn my living in Canadian sports media for 45 years, starting with covering the Vancouver Canucks in 1975. Relocated to Edmonton in 1982 and covered the Oilers dynasty through '92, then turned to fulltime freelancing. For what it's worth, the most dominant player I ever saw was Orr, with Gretzky a distant second. The most talented player I ever saw was Mario. Best pure goal scorers: Mike Bossy, Joe Sakic. Most exciting to watch: Guy Lafleur, Gil Perreault. Best goalie: Patrick Roy.
Just my 2 cents worth ...

Totally agree about your assessment comparing Orr to Gretzky. Orr dominated in a way that the younger generation couldn't fathom. You just couldn't get the puck off him. Like Bobby Hull said to the ref during a game, "You may as well get another puck for the rest of us to play with, because no one is going to get it off of that kid".


Patrick Roy was not as dominant as everyone thinks. Yes, he got a lot of wins playing with Montreal and Colorado, but the top five save percentage leaders all time are Hasek, Dryden, Bishop, Thomas, and Rask. All four have a lifetime save percentage over .920

In 20 NHL seasons Patrick Roy only had three seasons where his save percentage was above .920, and his lifetime save percentage was .910

Tim Thomas did the impossible one year in 2011 against Vancouver where he set the all time record postseason performance for goalies. He had a .967 save percentage that entire postseason, and he was the most dominant goalie ever in the postseason in 2011.

Dominik Hasek has the most impressive numbers in NHL history, and I have no problem with anyone ranking him as the greatest of all time.

Even Marty Broduer with all his wins does not have an impressive lifetime
save percentage. Broduer is #42 all time in save percentage and Patrick Roy doesn't even crack the Top 50.

https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/reco...e-leaders.html

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by goldenage

Totally agree about your assessment comparing Orr to Gretzky. Orr dominated in a way that the younger generation couldn't fathom. You just couldn't get the puck off him. Like Bobby Hull said to the ref during a game, "You may as well get another puck for the rest of us to play with, because no one is going to get it off of that kid".


Patrick Roy was not as dominant as everyone thinks. Yes, he got a lot of wins playing with Montreal and Colorado, but the top five save percentage leaders all time are Hasek, Dryden, Bishop, Thomas, and Rask. All four have a lifetime save percentage over .920

In 20 NHL seasons Patrick Roy only had three seasons where his save percentage was above .920, and his lifetime save percentage was .910

Tim Thomas did the impossible one year in 2011 against Vancouver where he set the all time record postseason performance for goalies. He had a .967 save percentage that entire postseason, and he was the most dominant goalie ever in the postseason in 2011.

Dominik Hasek has the most impressive numbers in NHL history, and I have no problem with anyone ranking him as the greatest of all time.

Even Marty Broduer with all his wins does not have an impressive lifetime
save percentage. Broduer is #42 all time in save percentage and Patrick Roy doesn't even crack the Top 50.

https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/reco...e-leaders.html

Patrick Roy was as dominant as people think.
Literally everything you stated was based on save %.... just that one stat.
Factor in all other stats for goaltenders and Patrick Roy is hands-down ONE of the greatest of all-time.

ROY:

- the only PLAYER in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy three times, the only one to do so in different decades, and the only one to do so for two teams.
- Most NHL playoff wins by a goaltender
- First NHL goaltender to win 500 games
- popularized the butterfly style of goaltending, which has since become the dominant style of goaltending around the world.
And, most importantly - selected as the greatest goaltender in NHL history in 2004 by a panel of 41 writers, coupled with a simultaneous fan poll

Hasek has great numbers, but his career is at best 12 "full" seasons (he played in 735 games in parts of 16 NHL seasons). Compare that to Roy's full 18 seasons...

If you consider shorter careers, Bill Durnan posted stats as arguably impressive as Hasek.... and he was certainly more dominant, albeit for a shorter period.

- selected to the NHL First All-Star Team IN EVERY SEASON HE PLAYED except one, which equates to six in seven seasons (six selections for Hasek in parts of 16 seasons)
- won the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender in EVERY SEASON HE PLAYED except one, which equates to six in seven seasons (Hasek won six Vezina Trophies in parts of sixteen seasons)
- won a pair of Stanley Cup championships in just seven seasons (Hasek also won a pair, but over parts of 16 seasons)

Also, Hasek's NHL career average of 2.20 is only slightly better than Durnan's of 2.36, while Durnan registered a better win % than Hasek throughout his career.


.... if save % was the stat to gauge careers on, then goaltenders you mentioned at the top of that statistic would be considered the best all-time, and we know that is no where near the case for the likes of Bishop, Thomas and Rask.

[powderfinger]

Thanksgiving (US) night, 1964, second balcony in old Chicago Stadium. Hawks vs. Rangers. You generally couldn't get a ticket to a Hawks game in those days, but somebody who did have them decided to spend the evening with family and offered a friend of my father's his six tickets for the game. My dad took my younger brother and I, his friend brought his brother and his son. Six of us packed into one car (front seats were bench seats back then). Ten future Hall of Famers on the ice that night.

I did see the final game of two Stanley Cup Finals series, but unfortunately, saw Jean Beliveau skate the Cup around the ice after a game seven win, then Henri Richard do the same thing when they beat the Hawks in six games a year or two later.

Does anybody out there think John Ashley was anything but a Canadiens homer?

[goldenage]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

Patrick Roy was as dominant as people think.
Literally everything you stated was based on save %.... just that one stat.
Factor in all other stats for goaltenders and Patrick Roy is hands-down ONE of the greatest of all-time.

ROY:

- the only PLAYER in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy three times, the only one to do so in different decades, and the only one to do so for two teams.
- Most NHL playoff wins by a goaltender
- First NHL goaltender to win 500 games
- popularized the butterfly style of goaltending, which has since become the dominant style of goaltending around the world.
And, most importantly - selected as the greatest goaltender in NHL history in 2004 by a panel of 41 writers, coupled with a simultaneous fan poll

Hasek has great numbers, but his career is at best 12 "full" seasons (he played in 735 games in parts of 16 NHL seasons). Compare that to Roy's full 18 seasons...

If you consider shorter careers, Bill Durnan posted stats as arguably impressive as Hasek.... and he was certainly more dominant, albeit for a shorter period.

- selected to the NHL First All-Star Team IN EVERY SEASON HE PLAYED except one, which equates to six in seven seasons (six selections for Hasek in parts of 16 seasons)
- won the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender in EVERY SEASON HE PLAYED except one, which equates to six in seven seasons (Hasek won six Vezina Trophies in parts of sixteen seasons)
- won a pair of Stanley Cup championships in just seven seasons (Hasek also won a pair, but over parts of 16 seasons)

Also, Hasek's NHL career average of 2.20 is only slightly better than Durnan's of 2.36, while Durnan registered a better win % than Hasek throughout his career.


.... if save % was the stat to gauge careers on, then goaltenders you mentioned at the top of that statistic would be considered the best all-time, and we know that is no where near the case for the likes of Bishop, Thomas and Rask.

Goaltenders don't win games. Good teams win games. Marty Broduer won lots of games making 20 saves a night. Would Marty have won all those games playing for the Buffalo Sabres facing 35 shots a night ?

Hasek wasn't given a chance when he first entered the league. Chicago had him as a backup to Ed Belfour and Buffalo even had Fuhr start ahead of him in a playoff series. Go check out Fuhr and Hasek's numbers in that series. It was a joke that they wouldn't give Hasek a fair shot. Go watch game 6 of the Chicago-Penguins series when Belfour was pulled and Hasek replaced him. It wasn't even close who the better goaltender was. Hasek stoned Lemeiux on two breakaways. Which was impossible back in that day.

There was a Canadian goaltender bias back in that day. Europeans were not given the same chance the way Canadians were. Same with coaching back in the day, and pretty much even up till now. Most coaches have to be Canadian or American to get a good coaching job, but the player side has got better over the years. Not knocking it, just saying what the data shows us.

Durnan never faced a curved stick, or a Bobby or Brett Hull slapshot.
Would love to see Durnan face an Ovie or Chara shot with a fiberglass stick. He'd be toast.

Tim Thomas was one of the greatest goaltenders all time. No one gave him a shot out of high school or college. He was always a back up. On team USA in the Olympics he backed up Ryan Miller. On the Bruins it was always him and Rask. BTW, Thomas and Rask are in the Top 5 save percentage all time, so yes, I do see them as two of the greatest ever.

Tim Thomas lifetime playoff and regular season save percentage numbers are considerably better than Patrick Roy's, and you're going to tell me that Patrick Roy was a better shot stopper than Tim Thomas ? No. Tim Thomas stopped the puck better than Patrick Roy.

Not sure if you ever looked at the 2001 playoff numbers for Thomas, but they aren't even human. He belonged in another league with Bobby Orr.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by goldenage

Goaltenders don't win games. Good teams win games. Marty Broduer won lots of games making 20 saves a night. Would Marty have won all those games playing for the Buffalo Sabres facing 35 shots a night ?

Hasek wasn't given a chance when he first entered the league. Chicago had him as a backup to Ed Belfour and Buffalo even had Fuhr start ahead of him in a playoff series. Go check out Fuhr and Hasek's numbers in that series. It was a joke that they wouldn't give Hasek a fair shot. Go watch game 6 of the Chicago-Penguins series when Belfour was pulled and Hasek replaced him. It wasn't even close who the better goaltender was. Hasek stoned Lemeiux on two breakaways. Which was impossible back in that day.

There was a Canadian goaltender bias back in that day. Europeans were not given the same chance the way Canadians were. Same with coaching back in the day, and pretty much even up till now. Most coaches have to be Canadian or American to get a good coaching job, but the player side has got better over the years. Not knocking it, just saying what the data shows us.

Durnan never faced a curved stick, or a Bobby or Brett Hull slapshot.
Would love to see Durnan face an Ovie or Chara shot with a fiberglass stick. He'd be toast.

Tim Thomas was one of the greatest goaltenders all time. No one gave him a shot out of high school or college. He was always a back up. On team USA in the Olympics he backed up Ryan Miller. On the Bruins it was always him and Rask. BTW, Thomas and Rask are in the Top 5 save percentage all time, so yes, I do see them as two of the greatest ever.

Tim Thomas lifetime playoff and regular season save percentage numbers are considerably better than Patrick Roy's, and you're going to tell me that Patrick Roy was a better shot stopper than Tim Thomas ? No. Tim Thomas stopped the puck better than Patrick Roy.

Not sure if you ever looked at the 2001 playoff numbers for Thomas, but they aren't even human. He belonged in another league with Bobby Orr.

With all due respect, the majority of what you said is meaningless....

save percentage means absolutely nothing if your team loses games.
Nothing.
Your team loses, you go nowhere and win nothing.... but hey, what a great save percentage!

And "no one gave him (Thomas) a shot out of high school or college"
Is that how it's supposed to work? Everyone is given a shot??
Its a BUSINESS, EARN your spot, there's no handouts or free rides.

And your assumption regarding Bill Durnan is spurious to say the least, ridiculous at most.
With your logic, Bobby Orr wouldn't have been able to do anything and would be useless with an old, solid one-piece stick like players used in the earlier days, or Tim Thomas wouldn't be able to stop a single puck wearing much smaller and heavier antiquated goaltending equipment.

Rangers and Flyers at Madison Square Garden in 1980 Go Rangers!

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by rgpete

Rangers and Flyers at Madison Square Garden in 1980 Go Rangers!

When hockey was hockey...man, the Garden ice was terrible for years.

[sedin26]

I was able to see the Canadians vs. Oilers at the Northlands Coliseum in 1984. Also the Rangers the same year.

My last game was the Trevor Linden jersey retirement game in Vancouver.

[judsonhamlin]

Started life as a Rangers fan in the end of Ratelle/Giacomin/Park transition to Davidson/Esposito years at the old Garden (still miss the chants and vague smell of weed drifting down from the Blue seats), but I did go to the first Devils game vs the Penguins. They managed a tie and it was fun hearing the fans coming out yelling that the Devils were in first place. Brendan Byrne Arena wasn’t bad but no Garden. I mostly remember the Devils being the slowest team on ice - couldn’t outrun the zamboni on a bet.

[mortimer brewster]

Saw my first NHL game at the Aud in Buffalo against the Islanders. Richie Dunn scored the GWG against the Islanders on a shot from the point. He actually broke his stick on the play.

Sabres were having a fantastic season under our new coach/GM Scotty Bowman and were favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Little did I know at the time I was witnessing the start of a dynasty......

I attended 1 Sabre game with my father (he was in his early 70’s at the time). I won Tickets in the Oranges from a radio contest. When we arrived at our seats my father turned pale white and announced that he would watch the game from standing room only area. I didn’t realize he was afraid of heights. We watched the whole game from there. Game was against Chicago and Perreault scored on a Penalty shot in the 3rd period (back when there was only a few called every year). November 1983.

Aud was a great place to watch a game. You were right on top of the action.

[mortimer brewster]

Throw the Stats out the window. Between 1994 and 1999 No goaltender meant more to his team than Hasek.

He played on a team that had a bargain basement budget. Virtually no offensive firepower at all. During the 96-97 season the Sabres were outshot in all but 2 games.

In the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Flyers, I remember thinking to myself when the Flyers would apply pressure in the Sabres end "Why are they trying so hard, Hasek is only going to stop whatever they fire at the net."

Brett Hull's goal in overtime in the 1999 Finals should not have been allowed. Shortly before he scored I remembered saying to myself. "Who is going to step up and score for the Sabres?" Hasek took a team with a 23 million dollar payroll to the finals against a team with a 33 million dollar payroll. The difference in salary was Hull,Nieuwendyk and Modano.

Aside from Lafontaine (concussion) and Mogilny (traded) who were teammates early in Hasek's Sabre career Name one teammate (please don't mention Grant Fuhr) who would even be remotely considered for the Hockey Hall of Fame?

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by mortimer brewster

Throw the Stats out the window. Between 1994 and 1999 No goaltender meant more to his team than Hasek.

He played on a team that had a bargain basement budget. Virtually no offensive firepower at all. During the 96-97 season the Sabres were outshot in all but 2 games.

In the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Flyers, I remember thinking to myself when the Flyers would apply pressure in the Sabres end "Why are they trying so hard, Hasek is only going to stop whatever they fire at the net."

Brett Hull's goal in overtime in the 1999 Finals should not have been allowed. Shortly before he scored I remembered saying to myself. "Who is going to step up and score for the Sabres?" Hasek took a team with a 23 million dollar payroll to the finals against a team with a 33 million dollar payroll. The difference in salary was Hull,Nieuwendyk and Modano.

Aside from Lafontaine (concussion) and Mogilny (traded) who were teammates early in Hasek's Sabre career Name one teammate (please don't mention Grant Fuhr) who would even be remotely considered for the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Using the 1998-99 NHL season for comparison, Hasek....

- won 30 of his 64 games including 9 shutouts
- posted a 1.87 average throughout the season, 1.77 in the playoffs
- led his club to the final, but didn't win

Charlie Gardiner, in 1933-34 with the Chicago Black Hawks....

- won 20 of his 48 games including 10 shutouts
- posted a 1.63 average throughout the season, 1.33 in the playoffs
- led his club to the final, and won

Gardiner took the team with the LOWEST SCORING throughout the season to victory, while Hasek couldn't win with a team that was ranked 18th out of 27 for goals in 1998-99... hardly a team with no offense.

[mortimer brewster]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

Using the 1998-99 NHL season for comparison, Hasek....

- won 30 of his 64 games including 9 shutouts
- posted a 1.87 average throughout the season, 1.77 in the playoffs
- led his club to the final, but didn't win

Charlie Gardiner, in 1933-34 with the Chicago Black Hawks....

- won 20 of his 48 games including 10 shutouts
- posted a 1.63 average throughout the season, 1.33 in the playoffs
- led his club to the final, and won

Gardiner took the team with the LOWEST SCORING throughout the season to victory, while Hasek couldn't win with a team that was ranked 18th out of 27 for goals in 1998-99... hardly a team with no offense.

Please re-read the first line of my comment. One season is not a 5 year period.

Sabres were the lowest scoring playoff team in their conference in 1999.

Maybe you can enlighten the readers of this thread about the differences in playoff formats, league size etc comparing 1934 and 1999. Leagues evolve over a 60 year period (some may say not necessarily for the better).

I have quite a bit of respect for the pioneers of the game. The era Charlie Gardiner played in was very colorful. One of his adversaries was a goaltender named Wilf Cude. Read up on him if you haven't done so.

I hope you know that 1934 was not only Charlie Gardiner's last stand as a hockey player but his last stand in life.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by mortimer brewster

Please re-read the first line of my comment. One season is not a 5 year period.

Sabres were the lowest scoring playoff team in their conference in 1999.

Maybe you can enlighten the readers of this thread about the differences in playoff formats, league size etc comparing 1934 and 1999. Leagues evolve over a 60 year period (some may say not necessarily for the better).

I have quite a bit of respect for the pioneers of the game. The era Charlie Gardiner played in was very colorful. One of his adversaries was a goaltender named Wilf Cude. Read up on him if you haven't done so.

I hope you know that 1934 was not only Charlie Gardiner's last stand as a hockey player but his last stand in life.

With all due respect, no history lesson is needed... I've already given that.
Reading the comments here, it seems fair to say that some posters have limited knowledge about the game before the modern era, hence my pointing out that others in the past including Durnan and Gardiner - for example - have performed much better than Hasek.

Nothing complicated, just simple facts.
And regarding the "leagues evolve" comment....
The game since Hasek has played will continue to change....
will you think less of him as time goes forward, just because the game has evolved or changed?

[samosa4u]

Been to only one NHL game in my life: Leafs vs. Canes. Score was 2-2, I believe, and then Sundin scored the winner. My older cousin said "Canes suck." And they ended up winning the cup that season!

I prefer to watch the Marlies instead. Cheap tickets, and you can sit anywhere you want. The game is also fast and exciting!

Originally Posted by Kevin

When hockey was hockey...man, the Garden ice was terrible for years.

I would not know never played hockey on MSG ice. Only on pond ice and local indoor rinks

[goldenage]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

With all due respect, the majority of what you said is meaningless....

save percentage means absolutely nothing if your team loses games.
Nothing.
Your team loses, you go nowhere and win nothing.... but hey, what a great save percentage!

And "no one gave him (Thomas) a shot out of high school or college"
Is that how it's supposed to work? Everyone is given a shot??
Its a BUSINESS, EARN your spot, there's no handouts or free rides.

And your assumption regarding Bill Durnan is spurious to say the least, ridiculous at most.
With your logic, Bobby Orr wouldn't have been able to do anything and would be useless with an old, solid one-piece stick like players used in the earlier days, or Tim Thomas wouldn't be able to stop a single puck wearing much smaller and heavier antiquated goaltending equipment.

So if Patrick Roy played for the NY Islanders all his career he wouldn't be the greatest of all time because he never won a championship ?

Funny, in baseball many say Ted Williams was the greatest of all time and he never won a championship.

Baseball and hockey are team games. You can be great and still not win championships.

Save percentage is mentioned by all the great commentators, from McKenzie to Don Cherry. It's a simple concept. A goalie sees a shot, has a breakaway on him, has a two on one, and he either is better than the shot takers, or he gets beat.

Hasek, Dryden, Rask, Bishop, and Thomas were the best ever at stopping shots. Patrick Roy wasn't even in the Top 50. Roy is highly over rated.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by rgpete

I would not know never played hockey on MSG ice. Only on pond ice and local indoor rinks

I was one of those high school kids in between periods at the Coliseum in 1989. That ice was pretty good! I never skated on MSG either

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by goldenage

So if Patrick Roy played for the NY Islanders all his career he wouldn't be the greatest of all time because he never won a championship ?

Funny, in baseball many say Ted Williams was the greatest of all time and he never won a championship.

Baseball and hockey are team games. You can be great and still not win championships.

Save percentage is mentioned by all the great commentators, from McKenzie to Don Cherry. It's a simple concept. A goalie sees a shot, has a breakaway on him, has a two on one, and he either is better than the shot takers, or he gets beat.

Hasek, Dryden, Rask, Bishop, and Thomas were the best ever at stopping shots. Patrick Roy wasn't even in the Top 50. Roy is highly over rated.

Yes, Patrick Roy would have won with the Islanders if he spent his entire career there... Things would have been totally different. That's what winners do.... WIN.

Since your complete argument is going to cling to a single stat, let's apply that logic to players.
If stopping the puck from going into the net is the be all end all for goaltenders, then surely putting the puck in the net is the only important stat for players....
So Bobby Orr wouldn't even rank in the top 50. "Orr is highly overated"... by YOUR criteria.

https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/reco...e-leaders.html

And no argument can be made that it's different because he's a defenseman, otherwise, all you could claim then is that Bobby Orr is the greatest DEFENSEMAN of all-time, but clearly not the best player.

....see how ridiculous it is to judge players by a single stat?

So much for "It's a simple concept".....