This Day in Hockey History
1996 - Messier hits 1,500 career points
Mark Messier becomes the fifth player in NHL history to reach the 1,500 career point mark.
He accomplishes the feat with two goals and two assists in a 7-3 New York Rangers win over the Florida Panthers.
Messier goes on to finish his career with 694 goals and 1,193 assists for a total of 1,887 points, ranking him second all-time behind Wayne Gretzky.
Amazingly, Gretzky would still rank first even if he had never scored a goal, having recorded 1,963 helpers in his career.
1997 - Bowman wins 200 games with 3rd NHL club
Legendary head coach Scotty Bowman wins his 200th game behind the Detroit Red Wings bench.
The 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins is even more significant as it marks the third NHL club Bowman has coached to 200 wins, having previously accomplished the feat with the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens.
Bowman ranks first among all head coaches in league history with 1,244 career victories, including stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues.
Bowman also won a record nine Stanley Cups as a head coach.
Birthdays
1954 - Ron Greschner
1972 - Kirk Maltby
1988 - Scott Darling