However, Hull was on the ice and got an assist when Chico Maki broke the scoreless streak at 228 minutes, 55 seconds with a goal at 2:57 of the third period, cutting the deficit to 2-1. When Rangers defenseman Harry Howell was sent to the penalty box 68 seconds later, a ribbon of excitement rippled through the arena as Hull came back onto the ice.
Passes by Lou Angotti and Bill Hay put Hull alone, about 50 feet away from Rangers goaltender Cesare Maniago. Hull had plenty of time and space to step into a slap shot; with a little help from Eric Nesterenko's fly-by screen, the puck zipped past Maniago and into the NHL record book at 5:34.
As Hull's teammates raced to embrace him, fans tossed hats onto the ice and photographers scrambled to get a picture of the man who had just broken one of hockey's most prized records. Maniago, who had given up Bernie Geoffrion's 50th goal five years earlier, just stood and watched.
"It felt wonderful and certainly was a load off my back," Hull said later. "It was a thrill getting the goal, but the biggest thrill was that roar from the crowd."
After what seemed like an eternity, the game resumed and the Blackhawks scored twice more for a 4-2 victory. Hull, who had made history a few minutes earlier, had an assist on Maki's go-ahead goal.