This Day in Hockey History – November 27, 1960s – Howe to Become Top Scorer

No one is surprised that Gordie “Mr. Hockey” Howe broke through numerous milestones. More interesting is that he set multiple records – for points, assists, and goals – on the same date, November 27, while playing for the Detroit Red Wings during the 1960s.

In 1960, during a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Howe became the first to reach 1,000 regular-season points and tied Maurice “Rocket” Richard’s record 1,091 total points. He reached the first milestone at 6:36 into the first period when he passed to Warren Godfrey who passed to Howie Glover who scored the goal. He had already received a souvenir puck from the game in Toronto the night before when one of his assists was erroneously announced as his 1,000th. Howe tied Richard with his second assist, having received a pass from his goalie, Terry Sawchuk, and skated it to the other end for Norm Ullman to score. According to the Detroit Free Press, “Howe drew rousing ovations for both assists.” He had assisted the only two goals of the game as the Red Wings shut out the Maple Leafs 2-0 for their sixth straight victory, the “longest Olympia winning streak since 1956-57.” Howe took fewer games (1,033) and seasons (15) to earn his 1,091 points (488G, 603A) than Richard had played (1,111 games) before retiring (after 18 seasons) with the same number of points (626G, 465A).

In 1965, Howe became the first in the NHL to score 600 regular-season goals. (Richard had only scored 544 during regular season.) The Red Wings arrived in Montreal “shaken up and bruised” after their bus was in an accident on the way to the hotel. That did not slow down Howe, who at 16:10 of the third period, sent in “a short jab from Worsley’s right for his 600th breaking a five-game scoring drought for the 37-year-old superstar, now in his 20th season.” As the Detroit Free Press claimed, “Gordie Howe brought down the house Saturday night but the Montreal Canadiens put the Red Wings in the basement.” Howe’s goal was an attempt to catch up, but the game ended with a 3-2 loss.

In 1969, Howe became the first NHL player to earn 1,700 points and then 1,701. For Howe’s 1,567th regular-season game, the Red Wings were playing their sixth and final straight away game in Los Angeles. His left wrist was giving him trouble due to arthritis, but he assisted on two goals to reach and surpass the milestone. At 6:05 in the second period, Howe came out of the penalty box in time to get the puck to Pete Stemkowski, who “scored on his own rebound.” Almost seven minutes later, Howe assisted Frank Mahovlich on his second goal of the night, “a 25-foot slap.” The Detroit Free Press crowed, “The Wings knocked the stuffing out of the Los Angeles Kings, 5-1, Thanksgiving night.” That was during Howe’s 24th season, and after another year in the NHL, he went on to play six seasons in the WHA and then a final season in the NHL.

 Additional Sources:

• Jack Berry, “Howe Ties Record – But Terry’s Hero,” Detroit Free Press, 28 Nov. 1960, p. 41.
• “Gordie Scores 600th Goal – Wings Lose,” Detroit Free Press, 28 Nov. 1965, p. 1E and 3E.
• Jack Berry, “Wings Blast Out of Slump, Wallop Kings,” Detroit Free Press, 28 Nov. 1969, p. 1D and 3D.