Denis Potvin: Battles Dave Schultz In 1974-75 Gordie Howe Hat Trick Game

You've got to hand it to him, Denis Potvin wasn't backing down from no one. On December 8, 1974, his New York Islanders were visiting the Philadelphia Flyers at the Spectrum. The Flyers ended up taking the closely fought match 3-2 but Potvin seemed to be in on everything. He achieved the Gordie Howe Hat Trick on a goal, assist and first period fight.

The Goal

Denis Potvin's goal was the second of the game for the Islanders and his sixth of the 1974-75 NHL season. New York was shorthanded, killing off a 4 on 3 with Dave Lewis just about to come out of the penalty box. New York's Dave Fortier and Flyers captain Bobby Clarke were both serving minors.

At the twelve minute mark of the second period, Denis scored unassisted on Bernie Parent. The marker tied the game at two and gave the Islanders hope. It was one of two shots on net for Potvin in the game and one of only 13 that the Islanders would put towards Parent. While Glenn Resch had 35 pucks fired his way.

The Assist

In the City of Brotherly Love, it was only fitting that Denis would assist on his brother's second period goal. Jean Potvin scored New York's first goal of the game at 6:17 of the second on the powerplay. Billy Harris also had a helper. For Jean, it was his fourth of the season.

The Fight

Sixteen seconds after Dave "The Hammer" Schultz got out of the penalty box after serving a minor for charging, he was dropping the gloves with Denis. The two went to battle at 13:31 of the first period and both received the customary five minute major for fighting.

Again with the brotherly love, Jean Potvin joined his brother just 23 seconds later when he was called for holding.

Denis Potvin

Potvin would finish up the 1974-75 National Hockey League season with 21 goals and 55 assists for 76 points. He finished second in that year's voting for the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman. Bobby Orr took the award for the last of eight consecutive wins. Denis would win the Norris the following year. In 1974-75, Potvin was also in the running for the Hart Trophy, finishing seventh in voting.

Between 1973-74 and 1987-88, Potvin appeared in 1,060 regular season and 185 playoff games in the National Hockey League, all with the Islanders. He helped the team to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

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Gordie Howe Hat Trick

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