Glen Skov: Gordie Howe Hat Trick In Final Game Of 1950-51 NHL Season

It was a significant match with the Detroit Red Wings capping off a stellar 1950-51 NHL season with a 5-0 shutout at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens. It was significant in that Alex Delvecchio played his first National Hockey League game. But, the most significant thing that happened at Detroit Olympia on March 25, 1951 is that Glen Skov achieved the Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

Of course, the irony is that Gordie Howe was in the lineup as a star player for the Red Wings and the GHHT was certainly unheard of at the time.

The Goal

Glen Skov scored just his seventh goal of the 1950-51 season at 18:44 of the second period. The goal was unassisted and made the score 4-0 for Detroit. It was the young centre's 19th game of the campaign and just his 21st game in the National Hockey League. He had spent most of the season with the Omaha Knights in the USHL.

The Assist

The third goal of the game was scored by Ted Lindsay at 14:31 of the second period. The marker was assists by Skov and Lou Jankowski and was his 24th of the season. Jankowski was playing in his first National Hockey League game at the time. He would play just 129 more games in the NHL between 1952-53 and 1954-55 with the Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.

The Fight

In an odd skirmish at the start of the game and prior to the first puck drop, Glen duked it out with Bud MacPherson from the Canadiens. Several others were handed minor penalties. That was it for Skov as far as penalty minutes go but MacPherson would sit a double minor for another skirmish that broke out at the start of the second period.

Two other battles were fought during the game. Bert Olmstead and Ted Lindsay had it out in the third period while Marty Pavelich and Claude Robert dropped the gloves a while later.

Glen Skov

Glen Skov played 650 regular season and 53 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1949-50 and 1960-61 with the Red Wings, Blackhawks and Canadiens. He helped Detroit to consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 1953-54 and 1954-55.

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Gordie Howe Hat Trick

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