Today in Hockey History marks several memorable moments, showcasing the evolution and excitement of the sport.

Early NHL History and Milestones

On December 3, 1924, the Boston Bruins, just two days after their NHL debut, played their first road game, facing the Toronto Maple Leafs and losing 5-3. In 1929, the Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-1, beginning a 14-game winning streak that set an NHL record. This underscores the Bruins' early impact on the league.

Individual Achievements

Frank Mahovlich reached a significant milestone on December 3, 1970, scoring his 400th career goal while playing for the Detroit Red Wings, becoming only the sixth NHL player to achieve this. This goal came during a game against the Los Angeles Kings. Mahovlich found individual success in Detroit, scoring a career high 49 goals in 1967-68, and 38 goals in 1968-69. Bobby Clarke, a Philadelphia Flyers legend, scored his 350th goal as a Flyer on December 3, 1983, in a 6-3 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kevin Dineen of the Ottawa Senators became the fifth player in NHL history to score 300 career goals and record 2,000 penalty minutes on December 3, 1999.

Team Successes and Anniversaries

The New York Islanders achieved their 500th franchise victory on December 3, 1984, with a 5-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks. This milestone was reached in their 980th game, second only to the Boston Bruins who did it in 976 games. The San Jose Sharks secured their first-ever overtime win on December 3, 1991, with Brian Mullen scoring in extra time for a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Celebrating Legends

Phil Esposito's No. 7 was retired by the Boston Bruins on December 3, 1987. In a memorable moment, Ray Bourque, who had worn No. 7 since his rookie season, removed his jersey to reveal he had switched to No. 77. Bourque then contributed an assist in a 4-3 win against the New York Rangers; Esposito was the general manager at the time. George Armstrong, who debuted for the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 3, 1949, played a team-record 1,188 games over 21 seasons, amassing 296 goals and 713 points. He captained the Leafs' four Stanley Cup-winning teams in the 1960s.

Ovechkin's and Quick's Milestones

Alex Ovechkin played his 1,300th NHL game on December 3, 2022, becoming the 14th player in NHL history to reach that milestone with one franchise and the second first-overall pick to do so with the team that drafted him. Jonathan Quick became the first goalie in Rangers history to record a point in each of his first eight starts with the team on December 3, 2023.

Crosby Approaching a Franchise Record

As of today, December 3, 2025, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins is close to breaking Mario Lemieux's franchise record for the most regular-season points. Crosby is only seven points away from tying Lemieux's 1,723 points and eight points away from surpassing him.