This Day in Hockey History
1995 - Milestone for Messier
New York Rangers captain Mark Messier scores the 500th goal of his career in a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at Madison Square Garden.
It's Messier's third goal of the game, and it comes on a slap shot that beats Flames goaltender Rick Tabaracci. The hat trick is the 21st of Messier's career, and first since Game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinal against the New Jersey Devils (before which he infamously guaranteed a win).
Messier becomes the 21st player in NHL history to reach the 500-goal plateau.
He finishes his career with 694 goals (eighth all-time) and 1,193 assists (third), for 1,887 points, which ranks him second behind Wayne Gretzky for the all-time lead.
2011 - Blues relieve Payne, hire Hitchcock
The St. Louis Blues fire head coach Davis Payne and hire Ken Hitchcock after a 6-7-0 start to the season.
Hitchcock guides the Blues to their first playoff berth since 2008-09, and their first Central Division title since 1999-2000.
St. Louis goes 43-15-11 after Hitchcock takes over, and the Stanley Cup-winner adds another honor at season's end, earning the Jack Adams Award as the league's top coach.
Birthdays
1978 - Erik Cole
1978 - Keith Aucoin
1979 - Brad Stuart
1995 - Sam Reinhart