The Tampa Bay Lightning are well on their way to cruising to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final wins. Everything’s been clicking for Tampa Bay against the Montreal Canadiens in this series, from goal scoring to goaltending. Not only that, star defenseman Victor Hedman also broke quite an obscure record during Friday’s Game 3.
In the early goings of the first period, with the Lightning up 1-0 on the Canadiens, Hedman doubled Tampa Bay’s lead with a power play tally less than four minutes into the game. It was a blast from the top of the zone that Canadiens goaltender Carey Price just missed, but it’s also a historic goal in NHL history.
Why? Because with that tally, Hedman has now become the first NHL player to score a goal in each of the 12 calendar months.
ANOTHA ONE. 🚨#GoBolts extend their lead early in the first. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/ZoAlAE6puX
— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) July 3, 2021
Yes, you heard that right. It seems strange at first glance, but considering hockey is a sport that — in a normal year — would run from October to June, Hedman’s goal in July is quite a feat. Add in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs that ran in August to September due to the pandemic, which the Lightning played all the way through, and it makes even more sense.
Not only that, just moments earlier, Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta became the first player in NHL history to score a goal in the month of July.
Victor Hedman is the first player in #NHL history to score a goal in 12 different calendar months. 👀#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/NzMlhJZqXm
— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) July 3, 2021
Jan Rutta became the first player in NHL history to find the back of the net in the month of July. All 12 months have now witnessed at least one NHL goal (regular season or playoffs).#NHLStats: https://t.co/PzN49t8NdN pic.twitter.com/Ol6yx1KcdR
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) July 3, 2021
Given that the NHL will be returning to its regular schedule in the fall, it’s highly unlikely Hedman’s record will be broken unless the league has to shift games into the summer again. Quite the rare and unusual accomplishment, as not even Wayne Gretzky himself could come close to this mark.
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