Hainsworth, Connell and Hall’s Records Will Likely Remain Unbeatable

Congratulations to Martin Brodeur, who tied Terry Sawchuk’s career shutout mark of 103 earlier this week.

Brodeur is showing no signs of slowing down, as he gobbles up NHL goaltending records, as the New Jersey Devils workhorse.

There are however a few records that not even Brodeur, or in all likelihood anyone, will ever break.

George Hainsworth has three of them.

Most Shutouts and Lowest GAA In a Season:

The legendary Hall of Fame goaltender notched 22 Shutouts as a member of the Montreal Canadiens in 1928-29 and set a single season GAA record of 0.92 along the way.

Hainsworth had shattered his own records of 14 Shutouts and 1.06 GAA that he had set in 1926-27.

The closest goalie to approach the shutout record, in last 30 years,  was Tony Esposito with 15 in 1969-70.

 

Consecutive Minutes Without Allowing a Goal (Playoffs):

In 1930 Hainsworth set an NHL record that still stands, going 270 minutes and 8 seconds without allowing a goal during the playoffs, leading the Canadiens to the first of two straight Stanley Cups.

As a member of the Habs, his 75 shutouts, career 1.78 GAA, 11-game consecutive winning streak and playing 343:05 without relinquishing a goal all remain team records.

Note (as of Dec. 8, 2009): Hainsworth had ten shutouts as a pro in the WHL. Combined with his 94 in the NHL, he still retains the most for a professional with 104.

Career Goals Against Average and Longest Shutout Streak:

Hainsworth’s career GAA of 1.93 is just a hair shy of Alex (or Alec)Connell, who holds the honour at 1.91 while playing for five teams in his career.

Connell also holds the NHL record for the longest shutout streak at 461:29, by recording six consecutive shutouts, from January 31 to February 18, 1928.

The argument for Hainsworth and Connell’s remarkable numbers can be handed to the NHL rules at the time.

All of the the top ten single season GAA marks all happened between 1925-26 and 1928-29, an era that disallowed forward passing in the attacking zone until 1929-30.

The list features Hainsworth and Connell, along with Hall of Famers Tiny Thompson, Clint Benedict and Rory Worters.

Note: Some sites have Hainsworth ahead of Connell in career GAA by 1/1000 of a goal, but all statistic sites, including the NHL, have Connell at 1.91 and Hainsworth at 1.93

Mr. Goalie’s 502 Consecutive Games:

The goaltending mark that clearly cannot be debated, regardless of the era or rule changes, goes to Glenn Hall

"Mr. Goalie" would get sick from stress before games but that wasn't enough to keep him out of the lineup.

Hall, who pretty much created the butterfly technique, appeared in every game from the end of the 1954-55 season with Detroit until a back injury, incurred during a game against Boston, sidelined him on November 7, 1963.

By then he was a member of the Blackhawks and considered one of the most accomplished netminders of his era.

It should be noted that he did not miss a single minute of play in those 502 games.

Hockey fans and historians will consider this hockey's most unbreakable record.

Considering today’s goalies are considered workhorses if they play 70-plus games a season, there's really no doubt.

Their lone NHL game was with the Bleu-Blanc et Rouge : M to Z

Part Three of my series on players who had their one career NHL game in a Montreal Canadiens uniform.

In total, 29 players saw their lone chance in the NHL as members of the Montreal Canadiens.

Whether it was part of a tryout, an injury substitution or a draft pick bust, they all have their place in Canadiens history.

A special thanks to Robert at Habs Eyes on the Prize for getting me a few of the photos featured in this series.

Previous posts:

Part One (A to E) Part Two (F to L)

Frank Mailley – D

The Canadiens picked up Mailey from the Washington Lions (AHL). He played his lone game against Chicago in Dec 1942.

Keith McCulley – D

Signed as a free agent on Oct 23, 1932, McCulley played in his sole NHL game, for the Canadiens, during the 1934-35 season.

Irv McGibbon – RW

A scoring star in his native Nova Scotia, McGibbon was signed in October 1941 but only managed a minor penalty in his lone game in the 1942-43 season.

Olivier Michaud – G

Michaud signed as a free agent in 2001 and saw 18 minutes of play, replacing an injured Jose Theodore on October 26, 2001.

Still only 25, he is currently playing in the LNAH for St. Jean and there’s always a chance he could return to the NHL (see Thomas, Tim).

Jean-Guy Morissette – G

Morissette got his shot between the pipes, replacing an injured Gump Worsley, for the Canadiens on Oct 30, 1963 and gave up four goals times in 34 minutes to take the loss.

He missed the remainder of the season after he suffered a broken cheekbone in practice the following day.

Hal Murphy - G

Jacques Plante was to replace the injured Gerry McNeil, but found himself injured as well. Hal Murphy was called up from the Montreal Royals and found himself starting on November 8, 1952.

Murphy took the win in a 6-4 victory over Chicago.

Mickey (Edward) Murray – G

Murray had great success with Providence (CAHL).

With George Hainsworth injured, Murray got his shot in Montreal on February 25, 1930. The New York Americans defeated Murray and the Canadiens 4-2.

Evariste Payer – C

Payer had played nine games over two seasons with the Canadiens in the NHA (1910-11, 1911-12)

After some time in the MCSHL and two years of military service during WW1, Payer signed back on as a free agent and played one last game for the now-NHL Canadiens in the 1917-18 season.

Clement Piché – position unknown

Piché is not recognized by the Canadiens historical roster, but his name is mentioned for playing a shift, by the Montreal Gazette, during a December 21, 1921 win over Hamilton

Morris “Moe” Robinson – D

Robinson was the Canadiens sixth pick (49th overall) in the 1977 draft and played his only game in the 1979-80 season.

His big brother, Larry, had a much more successful career with the Canadiens.

Lindsay Vallis – RW

The Canadiens first pick (13th overall) in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, Vallis got his chance after three seasons in the AHL in the 1993-94 season.

He found himself back in the AHL, with Worcester, the following season and was out of pro hockey by 2001.

His profile at Legends of Hockey