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Kevin McClelland: Two Fights, A Goal And Assist Overshadowed By Paul Coffey's Record Night (March 14, 1986)

It was a meaningless game in the standings near the end of the 1985-86 NHL season. The Edmonton Oilers had first place overall clinched and the Detroit Red Wings had last place overall all wrapped up. Still, the game between the two clubs on March 14, 1986 at Northlands Coliseum was quite significant (for the Oilers).

The game was a blowout. Edmonton won 12-3, leading 5-2 after the first period and 8-2 after the second. It was the 50th win of the season for the Oilers. Paul Coffey tied two records for scoring in a single NHL game, records that still stand today. Coffey also scored his 42nd and 43rd goals of the season. He would total 48 in 1985-86, the most by any blue liner in the history of the National Hockey League.

Along with the two goals, Paul added six assists for eight points. His point total tied Tom Bladon for the most in a game by a defenseman. His six assists still has him tied for the most in a game by a blue liner. The mark was also equaled by Gary Suter, Ron Stackhouse, Bobby Orr, Pat Stapleton and Babe Pratt.

But, this is a website about the Gordie Howe Hat Trick and the star of the game for us was Kevin McClelland from Edmonton. Kevin scored a goal and added an assist along with not one but two third period fights.

The Goal

Right in between his two third period fights, McClelland scored his tenth goal of the season at 17:26. It was also Edmonton's tenth goal of the game. Assists went to Marty McSorley and Charlie Huddy. The goal was scored by former Oiler goalie Eddie Mio. Mio was in relief of Red Wings starter Greg Stefan.

McClelland would score one more before the end of the season for a total of eleven, his best season in the NHL to date. The following year, he would have a career year with 12 goals.

The Assist

The Red Wings did well to hold the score at 5-2 through more than half of the second period. However, at 11:10, the Oilers added to their total. Esa Tikkanen scored his fourth of the season with assists going to Kevin and Coffey. It was one of 25 assists for McClelland on the season, a career high. This led to a 36 point season, also a career best.

The Fights

At 5:34 of the third period, McClelland did battle with one of the best. After dropping the gloves with Detroit's Joey Kocur, the two each sat an even five minutes.

40 seconds after Kevin's goal, McClelland took on one of the league's old dogs in Harold Snepsts. Both received five for fight and ten minute misconducts. On the same play, Marty McSorley and Joe Kocur both received two minute minors and ten minute misconducts. 

In total in the game, McClelland received 20 minutes in penalties. This helped him push his total that would eventually reach 266 before the end of the season. That PIM total would place him ninth in the NHL, just one minute more than McSorley and Dale Hunter but a distant 111 PIM behind the leader Kocur.

Kevin McClelland

He was a fourth round pick by the Hartford Whalers at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft after just a single season of major junior with the Niagara Falls Flyers. He would spent two more years with the Flyers, putting up excellent offensive numbers. 

Prior to the 1981-82 season, before ever playing a game with the Whalers, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins with Pat Boutette for Greg Millen. McClelland played ten regular season and five playoff games for the Penguins in 1981-82 while spending most of the season with Niagara Falls.

Between 1981-82 and 1993-94, Kevin played in 588 regular season and 98 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Penguins, Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets. He amassed 1,672 regular season PIM with 281 more in the playoffs.


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