Gordie Howe's final NHL goal gets a historic change 45 years later
Proponents of video review in hockey argue that they just want to get the call right, no matter how long it takes.
Those folks will be happy to know that the NHL's longest scoring review has finally reached a conclusion, and it looks like the league got this one right.
It just took 45 years.
The review in question was on the final goal — No. 801 — of Gordie Howe's legendary career.
Scored on April 9, 1980, for the Hartford Whalers against the Canadiens in the playoffs, Mr. Hockey took a pass from his son, Mark, and beat goaltender Denis Herron to cut Montreal's lead to 8-4.
The goal would go down as Howe from Howe. How romantic.
Only one problem. The scorer ignored the pass from Whalers goaltender John 'Cheech' Garrett to Mark Howe.
6 Gordie Howe controls the puck before his score.
@thirdeyeordie8226/YouTube
Garrett, who would play in 207 NHL games before an illustrious career as a broadcaster for the Canucks, didn't initially launch an appeal to the league, but he's been vocal about getting the assist added to his ledger for nearly half a century.
In an interview on Sportsnet's 'After Hours' in 2023, Garrett continued his appeal.
6 Goalie John Garrett didn't credit for an assist for 45 years.
@thirdeyeordie8226/YouTube
6 Moments before Howe scored.
@thirdeyeordie8226/YouTube
'That's a hard pass,' Garrett said in the interview. 'Mark takes it, Mark gives it to Gordie, Gordie scores this beautiful goal. How can I not get an assist on that? I phoned Benny Ercolani — he's now retired, but Benny was the statistician for the league.'
Garrett said he didn't complain immediately after the game because of how it would have looked after he conceded eight goals in a loss.
But as the years went on, the man known as 'Cheech' used his platform as a broadcaster to raise awareness for his cause.
He also had plenty of support from Canucks fans, who launched a social media campaign supporting Garrett's quest back in 2013.
6 John Garrett during a 1982 game.
Getty Images
All the lobbying has finally paid off.
During the second intermission of Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, 'Hockey Night in Canada' broadcaster Ron MacLean announced the league was finally awarding Garrett with an assist on Mr. Hockey's final goal.
'Colin Campbell of the NHL has begged all of you former NHLers, please do not be writing the league looking for credit on an assist,' joked MacLean. 'They are adding one to the record books, and this is a beauty.'
'John Garrett was denied official status for this assist. He moves the puck. In the record books, it just has Howe from Mark. It did not feature Cheech's assist. It will, forevermore.'
6 Gordie Howe #9 and Mark Howe #5 of the Hartford Whalers look on against the Montreal Canadiens.
NHLI via Getty Images
6 Gordie Howe #9 of the Hartford Whalers skates against the Montreal Canadiens in the 1980's at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
NHLI via Getty Images
He concluded: 'It's official, John Garrett, you have an assist on the last goal Mr. Hockey ever scored,' he concluded.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
After 2 overtime games, Panthers and Oilers relish days off as Stanley Cup Final shifts to Florida
Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) stops Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during the first overtime period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, Friday, June 6, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers with Jesper Boqvist (70) and Anton Lundell (15) during the second overtime period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Friday, June 6, 2025.(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers with Jesper Boqvist (70) and Anton Lundell (15) during the second overtime period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Friday, June 6, 2025.(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) stops Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during the first overtime period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, Friday, June 6, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers with Jesper Boqvist (70) and Anton Lundell (15) during the second overtime period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Friday, June 6, 2025.(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — After Brad Marchand scored the winning goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, he and Florida Panthers teammate Sam Bennett were asked how they kept their bodies going during another long and intense matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. 'I think (Marchand) grabbed a Blizzard … I think it was Oreo today,' Bennett quipped, referring to a viral moment during the Eastern Conference finals when Marchand joked that he enjoyed a chocolate chip cookie dough treat from Dairy Queen between periods — which was later revealed as a spoonful of honey. Advertisement 'Nice plug," Marchand responded with a chuckle. 'I like that.' They were joking, of course, but there was a point in Friday night's double-overtime game that Marchand spent time between periods pedaling on an exercise bike to stay loose — as players from both teams shuffled their tired bodies on and off the ice for hours. The first two games of the Stanley Cup Final have gone to overtime, only the sixth time in NHL history that's happened and first since 2014. Game 1 went on until Leon Draisaitl's power-play goal 19:29 into the extra period. Marchand put Game 2 to an end with a breakaway goal 8:07 into the second overtime. With the series tied 1-1, both teams will embark on a cross-continent trip from Canada to Florida, enjoying an extra day's rest between games to recover after an intense start to their championship series. Game 3 is Monday night in Sunrise, Florida. Advertisement "Obviously a long game, a lot of back and forth," said Florida defenseman Seth Jones, who led the Panthers in ice time at 34 minutes, 35 seconds on Friday. Jones, who is averaging a team-high 25:45 on the ice in the postseason, played more than 30 minutes in both of the first two games of the series. He scored in the first period on Friday — his fourth goal of the postseason — and assisted on Dmitry Kulikov's goal in the second. 'We came here for a split and got it," Jones added, "and just going to recover now.' Panthers coach Paul Maurice said heading back to Florida with the series tied — instead of being down 0-2 — does make a minor mental difference, but one of his team's strengths is its tunnel vision approach. Advertisement 'It's mathematically significant," Maurice said. "I'd like to think that we'd be dragging here today, this morning, if we had lost that game having had the lead for so long. But I think we're really good at cutting it off. "It's the same morning this morning at the meal room as it was two days ago (after the Game 1 loss). It's just on to the next day. We understand how to leave our days — the good ones and the bad ones — in the past and handle the day we have right now.' The Oilers are moving forward in the series with an equally short memory after missed chances in Game 2. Corey Perry, whose goal with 17.8 seconds left in the third period forced overtime, said the back-and-forth nature of the series was to be expected from the two teams, but there's no use in getting hung up on 'what-ifs.' Advertisement 'What's it going to do?' Perry said. "It's not going to do anything for you now. Get on the plane tomorrow and get some rest and be ready for Game 3.' Few players have spent more time on the ice in the series than Connor McDavid. The Edmonton star played 31:12 in Game 1, and just over 35 minutes in Game 2 — more than anyone else in the game. That's nearly 10 minutes more than his postseason average of 24:22. McDavid's impact was certainly felt on Friday. He had three assists, including one in which he zipped through Florida's penalty kill to set up Draisaitl's power play goal in the first. Draisaitl noted after the game there's only one player in the world that can make such a highlight-reel play, but stressed the importance of using the two days off to recalibrate. Advertisement 'At this time of year, you've got to move on,' he said, 'There's not time thinking about it too long. Obviously it stings right now, but we have to move on.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
Associated Press
36 minutes ago
- Associated Press
After 2 overtime games, Panthers and Oilers relish days off as Stanley Cup Final shifts to Florida
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — After Brad Marchand scored the winning goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, he and Florida Panthers teammate Sam Bennett were asked how they kept their bodies going during another long and intense matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. 'I think (Marchand) grabbed a Blizzard … I think it was Oreo today,' Bennett quipped, referring to a viral moment during the Eastern Conference finals when Marchand joked that he enjoyed a chocolate chip cookie dough treat from Dairy Queen between periods — which was later revealed as a spoonful of honey. 'Nice plug,' Marchand responded with a chuckle. 'I like that.' They were joking, of course, but there was a point in Friday night's double-overtime game that Marchand spent time between periods pedaling on an exercise bike to stay loose — as players from both teams shuffled their tired bodies on and off the ice for hours. The first two games of the Stanley Cup Final have gone to overtime, only the sixth time in NHL history that's happened and first since 2014. Game 1 went on until Leon Draisaitl's power-play goal 19:29 into the extra period. Marchand put Game 2 to an end with a breakaway goal 8:07 into the second overtime. With the series tied 1-1, both teams will embark on a cross-continent trip from Canada to Florida, enjoying an extra day's rest between games to recover after an intense start to their championship series. Game 3 is Monday night in Sunrise, Florida. 'Obviously a long game, a lot of back and forth,' said Florida defenseman Seth Jones, who led the Panthers in ice time at 34 minutes, 35 seconds on Friday. Jones, who is averaging a team-high 25:45 on the ice in the postseason, played more than 30 minutes in both of the first two games of the series. He scored in the first period on Friday — his fourth goal of the postseason — and assisted on Dmitry Kulikov's goal in the second. 'We came here for a split and got it,' Jones added, 'and just going to recover now.' Panthers coach Paul Maurice said heading back to Florida with the series tied — instead of being down 0-2 — does make a minor mental difference, but one of his team's strengths is its tunnel vision approach. 'It's mathematically significant,' Maurice said. 'I'd like to think that we'd be dragging here today, this morning, if we had lost that game having had the lead for so long. But I think we're really good at cutting it off. 'It's the same morning this morning at the meal room as it was two days ago (after the Game 1 loss). It's just on to the next day. We understand how to leave our days — the good ones and the bad ones — in the past and handle the day we have right now.' The Oilers are moving forward in the series with an equally short memory after missed chances in Game 2. Corey Perry, whose goal with 17.8 seconds left in the third period forced overtime, said the back-and-forth nature of the series was to be expected from the two teams, but there's no use in getting hung up on 'what-ifs.' 'What's it going to do?' Perry said. 'It's not going to do anything for you now. Get on the plane tomorrow and get some rest and be ready for Game 3.' Few players have spent more time on the ice in the series than Connor McDavid. The Edmonton star played 31:12 in Game 1, and just over 35 minutes in Game 2 — more than anyone else in the game. That's nearly 10 minutes more than his postseason average of 24:22. McDavid's impact was certainly felt on Friday. He had three assists, including one in which he zipped through Florida's penalty kill to set up Draisaitl's power play goal in the first. Draisaitl noted after the game there's only one player in the world that can make such a highlight-reel play, but stressed the importance of using the two days off to recalibrate. 'At this time of year, you've got to move on,' he said, 'There's not time thinking about it too long. Obviously it stings right now, but we have to move on.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Oilers sign a top young attacker from Finland's top league
This in from the Oilers, news they have signed The forward Viljami Marjala to a two-year entry-level contract. 1. Marjala finished 14th overall in Liiga scoring in Finland. Top scorer Atro Leppanen had 63 points in 60 games. Marjala had 52 in 54, with 44 of the points coming on assists. The Oilers already signed Leppanen, a 26-year-old d-man, in late April. 2. In the summer of 2021, Greg Boysen of the Hockey Writers said of Marjala: 'While Marjala is a strong skater, he does not have game-changing speed by any means. Even though he didn't shoot as much with Quebec as he previously had, he still has a heavy and accurate shot. He prefers to shoot from in close than taking low-percentage shots. His playmaking is what turns heads. He uses his vision and enhanced instincts to create scoring chances for his teammates. Marjala plays a smart and responsible defensive game. He understands his role and positions himself well on the ice. He plays much better than his listed 178 pounds. He battles hard for pucks and uses his body well to establish positioning on defense and protecting the puck when it's in his possession.' But Bruce Curlock, the prospects expert at Oilers Nation, has his doubts about the player: I don't see this much more than an AHL roster spot. This is a very good playmaking forward with decent size, but his skating and change of pace are very slow. Smart no question. However I think he gets overwhelmed by AHL players with size and speed.' 3. Puckpedia reports his contract as follows: 'The Oilers signed 22 y/o UFA F Viljami Marjala to 2 year ELC: Salary 775K Signing Bonus 97.5K GP Bonus 102.5K Minors 85K Cap Hit 872.5K, AAV 975K' 4. Bowman has made a number of signings, scoring winger Quinn Hutson from Boston University, puck-moving d-man Damien Carfagna from Ohio State University: Leppanen, big skilled German forward Josh Samanski, 23, and and top-scoring Czech center David Tomasek, 29, from the Swedish league. The team will need a steady stream of inexpensive players who can work for the Oilers on the third and fourth lines and third d-man pairings. Will any of these players pan out. If one of them does, Bowman will have done his job.
