Grand moments
April 5th, 1975
LAPOINTE SETS BLUE LINE RECORD
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Playing in Washington against the Capitals on April 5, 1975, Guy Lapointe closed out what can only be described as a dream season.
Earlier in the campaign, Lapointe, a member of Montreal’s famous “Big Three”, had become only the fourth defenseman in NHL history – after Bobby Orr (Bruins), Brad Park (Rangers) and Carol Vadnais (Seals) – to score 20 times in a season, beating the team record of 19 he set in 1972-73.
With two assists already in hand and the Habs leading 9-2 with less than five minutes to play in the third period, Lapointe powered the puck past Terry Adams to record his 28th goal of the season, setting a team record he holds to this day.
“Pointu” would reach the 20-goal plateau in each of the next two seasons and is still the only Canadiens defenseman to enjoy more than one such season. Lapointe is also one of only nine NHL rearguards to put up three or more 20-goal campaigns, a group that includes Orr as well as the five top-scoring NHL blueliners of all time – Raymond Bourque, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis, Phil Housley and Denis Potvin.
Earlier in the campaign, Lapointe, a member of Montreal’s famous “Big Three”, had become only the fourth defenseman in NHL history – after Bobby Orr (Bruins), Brad Park (Rangers) and Carol Vadnais (Seals) – to score 20 times in a season, beating the team record of 19 he set in 1972-73.
With two assists already in hand and the Habs leading 9-2 with less than five minutes to play in the third period, Lapointe powered the puck past Terry Adams to record his 28th goal of the season, setting a team record he holds to this day.
“Pointu” would reach the 20-goal plateau in each of the next two seasons and is still the only Canadiens defenseman to enjoy more than one such season. Lapointe is also one of only nine NHL rearguards to put up three or more 20-goal campaigns, a group that includes Orr as well as the five top-scoring NHL blueliners of all time – Raymond Bourque, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis, Phil Housley and Denis Potvin.