Today in Hockey History: December 19th marks several significant events in the world of hockey, spanning from the NHL's inaugural games to individual player milestones.

The NHL's Beginning

December 19, 1917, is a monumental day as it marks the beginning of the National Hockey League. The inaugural season commenced with two games: the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 7-4, and the Montreal Wanderers secured a 10-9 victory against the Toronto Arenas. Dave Ritchie of the Wanderers etched his name in history by scoring the first-ever NHL goal just one minute into the game. He also scored the game-winning goal in the third period. Harry Hyland contributed five goals for the Wanderers, while Reg Noble responded with four goals for Toronto.

Player Milestones

Several players have achieved notable milestones on this date. On December 19, 1974, Phil Esposito set a Boston Bruins team record with seven points, scoring three goals and four assists in an 11-3 win over the New York Rangers. Wayne Gretzky had a dominant performance on December 19, 1984, scoring two goals and adding four assists in the Edmonton Oilers' 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Ray Bourque scored his 300th career goal on December 19, 1993, leading the Bruins to a 2-1 win against the Florida Panthers. Michel Petit became the first player in NHL history to score a goal for nine different teams on December 19, 1997, during a 6-2 win for the Phoenix Coyotes over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Wade Redden marked his 500th career game with a goal and an assist on December 19, 2002, while playing for the Ottawa Senators. Phil Kessel played in his 500th consecutive game on December 19, 2015. Torey Krug played his 600th NHL game on December 19, 2021.

Other Notable Events

Hall of Fame defenseman Doug Harvey, considered one of the greatest defensemen in NHL history, was born on December 19, 1924. He played 151 games with the New York Rangers and was the first Ranger to win the Norris Trophy. In a game on December 19, 1945, the New York Rangers scored seven goals against the Boston Bruins but still lost 8-7. Harry Lumley became the youngest goalie to ever play in the NHL on December 19, 1943, at the age of 17 years, 36 days.

Recent Games

In recent NHL action on December 19, 2025, the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1, with Zachary Bolduc scoring twice. The Washington Capitals shut out the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0. The Minnesota Wild extended their win streak to six games with a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Los Angeles Kings secured a 2-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, ending a four-game winless streak. The Edmonton Oilers won against the Boston Bruins 3-1. The Ottawa Senators announced that Jacques Martin will be inducted into their Ring of Honour on January 24, 2026.