Turnbull's 22 goals have since been matched by Al Iafrate, but has never been bested by a Leafs defender. |
1977 - Ian Turnbull scores five goals in one game, setting an NHL record for defensemen. The Montreal native set a number of marks in perhaps his best game of what turned out to be a career season, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a decisive 9-1 win over the visiting Detroit Red Wings.
Not only did the blue-liner score all five markers in the first 40 minutes (there was somehow no scoring by wither side in the final frame), but each one came at even strength. Even more impressively, he only fired five shots on goal, making him the first ever to score five times on as many shots.
Turnbull would finish the 1976-77 campaign with 22 goals, 57 assists, and a plus-47 rating. Those 79 points not only meant he scored at almost a point-per-game pace--as a defenseman, no less--but also still stand today as the franchise mark.
Todd Bertuzzi (VAN,FLA,DET,ANA,CGY), who turns 35
Ilja Byakin (EDM), who turns 47
Ed Courtenay (SJ), who turns 42
Kjell Dahlin (MTL), who turns 47
Dave Donnelly (BOS,CHI,EDM), who turns 48
Gary Dornhoefer (BOS,PHI), who turns 67
Chris Govedaris (HFD,TOR), who turns 40
Jean-Luc Grand Pierre (BUF,CBJ,ATL,WSH), who turns 33
Triston Grant (PHI,NSH), who turns 26
Wayne Groulx (TOR), who turns 45
Jody Hull (HFD,NYR,OTT,FLA,PHI), who turns 41
Arturs Irbe (SJ,CAR), who turns 43
Dustin Kohn (NYI), who turns 23
Don Kozak (LA,VAN), who turns 58
Jiri Latal (PHI), who turns 43
Lee Norwood (QUE,WSH,STL,DET,NJ,HFD,CGY), who turns 50
Mark Parrish (FLA,NYI,LA,MIN,DAL), who turns 33
Steve Penney (MTL,WPG), who turns 49
Jean-Marc Routhier (QUE), who turns 42
Jordin Tootoo (NSH), who turns 27
