Today in Hockey History: New Jersey Devils Martin Brodeur Gets First Shutout

We’re normally starting up another hockey season, but we’re in a different world. Last Word on Hockey is still going to look back at each date’s historical significance to the game. We’ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here’s our look at this date in hockey history for October 20th, featuring Martin Brodeur.

Today in Hockey History

Martin Brodeur Earns First Shutout

1993: The New Jersey Devils goalie makes 17 saves in a 4-0 win over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Alexander Semak, Randy McKay and Claude Lemieux score third-period goals to break the game wide open.

It’s the first of three shutouts in the 1993-94 season. Brodeur would get 125 shutouts in his career and all but one of them were with the Devils. The last one was with the St. Louis Blues. He enters the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

Other Notable Events

1965: Gordie Howe gets two goals and an assist in a 5-2 win for the All-Stars over the Montreal Canadiens. It’s the final pre-season All-Star Game between the Stanley Cup champs and the best of the rest. The showcase is shifted to the middle of the season and the format is changed after expansion in 1967-68.

1974: Billy Smith gets his first career shutout as does New York Islanders franchise. Smith makes 26 saves in a 5-0 victory over the Washington Capitals.

1978: Wayne Gretzky of the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association scores his first two professional goals. The 17-year-old centre gets the goals against his future team, the Edmonton Oilers. Indianapolis wins 4-3, but Gretzky only plays six more games before being traded to Edmonton. Wayne scores two goals in a 4-3 Los Angeles Kings win over the Tampa Bay Lightning 15 years later. It’s the first time Wayne plays his against his younger brother, Brent Gretzky.

1999: The Kings open up the Staples Center with a 2-2 tie against the Boston Bruins. Adding some drama to the game, Jozef Stumpel of the Kings scores with 1:09 left in regulation to tie the game up.

2001: Scotty Bowman gets 1,200th career victory in the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 win over the Kings.

2015: Alex Ovechkin gets his 900th career point in Washington’s 6-2 win over the Calgary Flames. He gets it on a second-period goal to become the first Caps’ player to get 900 points.

2016: Jaromir Jagr is the third player to reach 750 goals in the Florida Panthers 4-2 loss to the Capitals.

2019: Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice is the seventh coach to get his 700th coaching win. The Jets edged the Oilers, 1-0, thanks to 28 saves by Connor Hellebuyck.