Jan. 5: NHL debuts on U.S. network television

THIS DATE IN HISTORY: Jan. 5
1957:An NHL game is shown
on network television in the United States for the first time
when CBS airs a Saturday afternoon match between the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks from Madison Square Garden.

Bud Palmer does play-by-play and Fred Cusick handles the color commentary and interviews during the
Rangers' 4-1 victory
. It's the first of a series of Saturday afternoon telecasts that extends through the 1959-60 season.
MORE MOMENTS
1974: At age 38,
Johnny Bucyk
of the Boston Bruins becomes the oldest NHL player to score four goals in a game. Bucyk's big night, plus one goal and three assists by teammate
Phil Esposito
, help the Bruins
defeat the New York Islanders 6-2
at Nassau Coliseum.

1982:
Joe Mullen
, playing his seventh NHL game, scores his first two goals eight seconds apart in the St. Louis Blues'
4-1 victory
against the Minnesota North Stars. Mullen banks his first NHL goal into the net off the back of goalie
Gilles Meloche
. After the Blues win the ensuing face-off, Mullen scores again by deflecting a pass by
Brian Sutter
behind Meloche. Mullen sets a Blues record for fastest two goals by one player.
Exactly seven years later, Mullen scores four goals and has two assists to lead the Calgary Flames to
an 8-6 win
against the visiting Los Angeles Kings.
1984:Each of the three Stastny brothers,
Peter
,
Anton
and
Marian
, scores a goal in the Quebec Nordiques'
8-3 victory
against the Boston Bruins at Boston Garden. Marian and Peter score 1:46 apart late in the second period against goalie
Mike Moffat
, then set up Anton's goal at 6:29 of the third.
1999:
Tom Barrasso
is credited with two assists in the Pittsburgh Penguins'
5-1 victory
against the Calgary Flames to become the highest-scoring goalie in NHL history. His 47th and 48th assists move him one point ahead of
Grant Fuhr
. Barrasso's 48 points remain No. 1 among goalies, with Fuhr and
Martin Brodeur
next with 47 points (two goals, 45 assists).

2003:
Brett Hull
scored the 250th power-play goal of his NHL career. He reaches the milestone when he scores at 12:33 of the third period during the Detroit Red Wings'
4-3 overtime victory
against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Hull later gets the tying goal and sets up
Jason Woolley
for the overtime goal. He finishes his career with 265 power-play goals, nine behind record-holder
Dave Andreychuk
's 274.
2019: The New York Islanders score four goals on 14 shots and
defeat the St. Louis Blues 4-3
at Enterprise Center for their sixth straight victory. The Blues drop to 16-19-4, last in the Western Conference. Before their next game two days later, the Blues recall goalie Jordan Binnington from the minors. The 25-year-old rookie goes 24-5-1 in 30 starts to get them into the playoffs, then wins 16 games during St. Louis' run to its first Stanley Cup championship since entering the NHL in 1967.