NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Flyers @ Flames "The Story of the (Magic man) Kent Nilsson" by @Scrap-dog - Post Details
NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Flyers @ Flames "The Story of the (Magic man) Kent Nilsson"
Kent Åke Nilsson (born 31 August 1956) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Winnipeg Jets, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta and Calgary Flames, Minnesota North Stars and Edmonton Oilers, as well as teams across various European leagues. During his NHL career he was called "Mr. Magic" and "The Magic Man", referring to his exceptional puck skills. Wayne Gretzky commented on Nilsson's skills saying "Skills-wise he might have been the most skilled hockey player I ever saw in my entire career". Nilsson was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2006, the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Swedish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012. Nilsson began his career during the season of 1973–74, playing for Djurgårdens IF during his first of four seasons in Sweden. He then came to North America, and played for the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association (WHA) beginning in 1977. He scored two consecutive 100-point seasons in the WHA. He was claimed by the Atlanta Flames, and in his first season with the team he scored 93 points. The next season, 1980–81, the Flames moved to Calgary; Nilsson scored 131 points. Nilsson played with the Flames, wearing number 14, until 1984–85 when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars for a draft pick that the Flames used to draft Joe Nieuwendyk. Nilsson won his first and only Stanley Cup while playing with the Edmonton Oilers in 1987. He returned to Europe after that season, playing in Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, and Norway. In 1988–89, he was named player-of-the-year in Sweden. He returned to Edmonton for six games in 1995, which made him the last former Atlanta Flames player to play in the NHL. He then played briefly again in Europe until 1998. Nilsson holds the NHL record for the quickest goal scored during a season-opening game, at ten seconds in, while playing for the North Stars versus the Quebec Nordiques on October 11, 1986. Awards Medal record Representing Sweden Men's ice hockey European Junior Championships Gold medal – first place 1974 Switzerland Bronze medal – third place 1975 France World Junior Championships Bronze medal – third place 1975 Canada & USA Bronze medal – third place 1980 Finland Canada Cup Silver medal – second place 1984 Canada World Championships Silver medal – second place 1990 Switzerland World Hockey Association Won Lou Kaplan Trophy (WHA Rookie of the Year) (1978)[citation needed] Won Paul Daneau Trophy (WHA Most Gentlemanly Player) (1979)[citation needed] 1977-78 - WHA - Avco Cup (Winnipeg)[citation needed] 1978-79 - WHA - Avco Cup (Winnipeg)[citation needed] Inaugural member of the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame (2010)[3] National Hockey League Played in NHL All-Star Game (1980, 1981)[citation needed] 1986–87 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton)[citation needed] Sweden and International ice hockey Member of the Swedish World All-Star Team (1985, 1989, 1990)[citation needed] Named Swedish Player of the Year (1989)[citation needed] Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame (2006)[4][5] Inducted into the Swedish Hockey Hall of Fame (2012)[citation needed] Records Most points scored by a Swedish player in a single NHL season (131 in 1980–81)[citation needed] Calgary Flames team record for points in a single season (131 in 1980–81)[citation needed] Calgary Flames team record for assists in a single season (82 in 1980–81)[citation needed] Calgary Flames team record for shorthanded goals in a single season (9 in 1983–84)[citation needed] Post-playing career In 2006, he was featured on HCZ, a Swedish reality show as coach for a hockey team of non-athletes. After retiring, he worked as a European scout for the Florida Panthers.[citation needed] Personal life Nilsson has been married since 2005 to Swedish golfer Helen Alfredsson. He occasionally caddies for her in professional events. He is also the father of Robert Nilsson, a former Edmonton Oilers player, from an earlier marriage.
Similar Posts!
NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Oilers @ Canucks "2024 Western Conference Playoff" round 2 game 7 May 20
VANCOUVER Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist, and the Edmonton Oilers eliminated the Vancouver Canucks with ...
NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Blackhawks @ Redwings "The Bob Probert Story" #24 LW CHK line
Robert Alan Probert (June 5, 1965 – July 5, 2010) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. Probert played for the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. While a successful player by some measures, including being voted to the 1987–88 Campbell Conference all-star team, Probert was best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer, as well as being one half of the "Bruise Brothers" with then-Red Wing teammate Joey Kocur, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Probert was also known for his off-ice antics and legal problems. Playing career Prior to playing with the Detroit Red Wings, Probert was with the Brantford Alexanders of the Ontario Hockey League. After being drafted, he spent one more season with the Alexanders before spending his 1984–85 season with both the Hamilton Steelhawks and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL. Detroit Red Wings (1985–1994) Probert was drafted as the fourth pick in the third round (46th overall) in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, in which the Red Wings also selected Kocur and Steve Yzerman. During the 1985–1986 and 1986–1987 seasons, Probert spent the majority of his time with the Red Wings while occasionally playing for their minor league affiliate Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League. In the 1985–1986 season, he finished third on the team in penalty minutes behind Kocur and Randy Ladouceur, both of whom played more regular season games than Probert. In the 1986–1987 season, Probert accumulated only 24 points, but amassed 221 penalty minutes. The 1987–1988 season was the pinnacle of Probert's career. He cemented his reputation as an enforcer with a league-leading 398 penalty minutes, the sixth-highest single-season total in NHL history. He also tied for third on the team with 62 points, and played in his only NHL All-Star Game. In addition he contributed the most points during the Red Wings' playoff run, in which Yzerman missed all but the final three games with a knee injury. Chicago Blackhawks (1995–2002) Probert signed with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 23, 1994, but was placed on inactive status by commissioner Gary Bettman in September 1994 while Probert entered rehab following his July 15 crash and subsequent drunk-driving charge. As a result, Probert sat out the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season before joining the Blackhawks. Probert's first season with the Blackhawks was the last in which he accumulated over 40 points in a season. From then on, his points and penalty minutes gradually decreased. While he never returned to the levels of point production he achieved with the Red Wings, he remained a physical force on the ice and continued many long-term rivalries with other enforcers. Fighting Probert often saw it as his job to protect his teammates, especially Detroit captain Steve Yzerman. In a 2007 news story, he recalled a time that he sucker-punched enforcer Kevin Maguire of the Buffalo Sabres (December 23, 1987) after Maguire attacked Yzerman. Maguire then unsuccessfully attempted to avoid Probert. A long-standing rivalry with the Toronto Maple Leafs' Wendel Clark. Two long fights with Craig Coxe of the Vancouver Canucks in the mid-1980s. A career-spanning series of battles with Tie Domi of the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs. One of Probert's memorable confrontations was also the genesis of Domi's now-infamous belt gesture, where he gestured to the Madison Square Garden crowd as if he had a championship title belt around his waist, with Domi remarking it to reporters, "He's been heavyweight champ for a long time. I still respect him. I'd been wanting him for three years. I just hope he remembered what got him where he is." A career-spanning series of fights with longtime enforcer Stu Grimson, including a fight in December 1993 when the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim made their first visit ever to Detroit. A memorable fight on December 17, 1993, with former teammate Joey Kocur of the Rangers, during a brawl involving several players from both teams. Probert and Kocur had grabbed the nearest opposing player without realizing who it was, and continued trading punches even after they identified each other. Later on in Probert's career, he would face Kocur a few more times when he was with the Chicago Blackhawks. A fight on February 4, 1994, against Marty McSorley, then of the Pittsburgh Penguins, lasting nearly 100 seconds. Several bouts against Montreal and Vancouver enforcer Donald Brashear. In a game against the Colorado Avalanche on January 12, 1999, Scott Parker, an aspiring enforcer, skated up to Probert and bared his fists; challenging him to a fight. Parker was at this time heavier, taller and more than ten years younger than Probert. After circling around each other for several seconds the two grabbed each other's jerseys. However the fight was called off after just 11 seconds when Parker was nearly knocked unconscious from four right hands from Probert without throwing one of his own.
NHL '94 Game of the Night Stars @ Avalanche 2024 Western Conference Playoff round 2 game 6 May 17
DENVER Matt Duchene scored at 11:42 of the second overtime, and the Dallas Stars eliminated the Colorado Avalanche with a ...
NHL '94 Game of the Night Panthers @ Bruins 2024 Eastern Conference Playoff round 2 game 6 May 17
BOSTON Gustav Forsling scored the go-ahead goal with 1:33 remaining when the Florida Panthers eliminated the Boston Bruins with a 2-1 win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at TD Garden on Friday. Forsling scored on a rebound of Anton Lundell's shot short side on Jeremy Swayman. "I'm not usually the guy that scores the game-winning goal," said Forsling, who has five goals in 48 Stanley Cup Playoff games. "I'm trying to defend out there most of the time, so it's fun to score and help your team win, but I'll stick to defense." Lundell had a goal and an assist, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves for Florida, the No. 1 seed from the Atlantic Division, which will play the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final. "This was an amazing series from behind the bench," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. "It was dirty on both sides … it was heavy, it was clean, it was brilliantly skilled at times. … It didn't feel in-control, it didn't feel methodical. Everybody had a plan, and then they spent the rest of the six games trying to punch each other in the face." Pavel Zacha scored his first NHL playoff goal in his 25th game, and Swayman made 26 saves for Boston, the No. 2 seed from the Atlantic. "I'm just overwhelmed with emotions," Swayman said. "It's not about me as an individual, it's about our team, and to see it all end so abruptly is something you never want to feel, and I'm just so proud of everyone and being here and setting the foundation for what's to come next." Zacha gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 19:07 of the first period on a partial breakaway, scoring with a backhand off a pass from Jake DeBrusk. The Bruins were held to two goals or fewer in each of final five games of the series, scoring a total of eight goals since a 5-1 win in Game 1. "It was an honor to coach them because of the hard work and the competitiveness that they brought throughout the year," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. "That was the biggest thing I wanted to get across, and that you're never happy when you don't win your last game of the year. And some players had tremendous growth this year, and they can be proud of that and in the end, we have to find ways to get better and win our last game of the year." Lundell tied it 1-1 at 12:44 of the second period. DeBrusk blocked Carter Verhaeghe's shot seconds prior, but Lundell corralled the loose puck off Bruins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon's stick and snapped it past Swayman. "I think our whole team was just waiting for that moment," Lundell said. "One goal that is going to bring us more energy and belief and [confidence] again. So it was huge to get that done, and I mean, it was a tight game, but we believed and we just kept going and never quit." Florida, which won all three of its road games in the series, defeated Boston in the playoffs for the second straight season; the Panthers defeated the Bruins in overtime in Game 7 in the first round last season. "We stay with the moment," Bobrovsky said. "We believe in each other and we work with each other. [It's] a great group of guys and it's a privilege to be part of this team." Forsling became the first defenseman in Panthers history to score a series-clinching goal. The last NHL defenseman to do so was Cody Ceci of the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the 2022 Western First Round against the Los Angeles Kings. … Bobrovsky earned his seventh series-clinching win, the fourth-most among active goalies. Only Marc-Andre Fleury (16), Andrei Vasilevskiy (13) and Jonathan Quick (10) have more. … The Panthers will face the Rangers in the playoffs for the second time; they lost to New York in five games in the 1997 Conference Quarterfinals. … Bruins forward Brad Marchand returned after missing two games with an upper-body injury. He had one shot on goal in 20:06 of ice time.
NHL '94 Game of the Night Rangers @ Hurricanes 2024 Eastern Conference Playoff round 2 game 6 May 1
RALEIGH, N.C. Chris Kreider scored a natural hat trick in the third period, and the New York Rangers rallied from down two goals ...
NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Canucks @ Oilers "Craig MacTavish" The Last Helmet Less NHL Player
Craig MacTavish (born August 15, 1958) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player, formerly an assistant ...
NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Canucks @ Oilers "2024 Western Conference Playoff" round 2 game 4 May 14
EDMONTON, Alberta — Evan Bouchard scored the game-winning goal with 38.1 seconds remaining and the Edmonton Oilers ...
NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Bruins @ Panthers "2024 Eastern Conference Playoff" round 2 game5 May 14
SUNRISE, Fla. The Florida Panthers knew they had no one to blame but themselves. The Panthers also credited the Boston ...