In the early days of the Penguins franchise, the team often played games on Christmas Day. Unlike today’s NHLers who enjoy a nice three-day break, players back in the day had to work on December 25th. In the late sixties and early seventies, team owners still called the majority of the shots and if they wanted their products on the ice on December 25 there was no players union powerful enough to say different.
The Pens played four Christmas games in their first five years – and did quite well. Here’s a recap of their holiday hockey playing:
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| Jean Pronovost chases Gordie Howe, Christmas Day 1968. |
- In the Penguins’ first season, 1967-68, they met the Los Angeles Kings at the Civic Arena and came out on top 4-3 thanks to a pair of goals each from Andy Bathgate and Gene Ubriaco. It was their first win in five tries against their expansion brethren from Southern California.
- The following year, before the smallest home crowd to that date to see a Pens game (2,420), the home team stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Gordie Howe and the Red Wings 6-3. Keith McCreary was the hero, scoring both the tying and winning goals.
- Two years later, the Penguins ran into the most powerful line in hockey when they visited Boston Garden. Wayne Cashman, Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge accounted for four goals en route to an 8-4 pasting of the Pens. Esposito alone had 13 shots. “That’s more shots than my whole team gets sometimes,” quipped Pittsburgh coach Red Kelly afterward. The Penguins did exact some revenge the next night when they beat the Bruins 4-2 back at the Igloo.
- In 1971, with the Pens struggling through an eight-game winless streak, the high-flying Montreal Canadiens came to town. Mercifully for the Penguins, the Habs opted to start backup goalie Denis DeJordy over Ken Dryden. Pittsburgh burned him for four goals and the Penguins had their first win since December 4, coming out on top 4-2.
That day marked the end of Christmas hockey in the NHL. The league stopped the practice, and a year later phased out Christmas Eve games as well. The Penguins finished with a 3-1 mark, including two wins against established teams – not too bad for a fledgling expansion club.