This Day in Hockey History

1980 - The 'Impossible Dream' comes true

The United States Olympic men's hockey team completes "The Impossible Dream," defeating Finland 4-2 to clinch the gold medal.

One game earlier, Team USA stunned the heavily favored Soviet Union 4-3 in the "Miracle on Ice."

1982 - The Great One breaks the goal-scoring record

Wayne Gretzky scores his 77th goal of the season, breaking the NHL record of 76 previously held by Phil Esposito. 

Gretzky went on to score a hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres in that game and finished with 92 goals on the season.

1990 - 'Stevie Y' hits the 50-goal plateau again

Steve Yzerman scores his 50th goal of the season in a 3-3 tie with the New York Islanders, marking the third straight year the Detroit Red Wings forward has accomplished the feat.

Yzerman would tally 62 goals in 1989-90. He hit the 50-goal mark two more times, doing so the following season (51) and then again in '92-'93 (58).

Birthdays 

1919 - Doug McCaig
1963 - Mike Vernon
1971 - Brian Savage
1973 - Alexei Kovalev
1986 - Wojtek Wolski