There’s little chance Mr. Hockey will ever be topped for that total, or have his record passed for most career Dec. 25 goals (12) and points (24). That’s eight points ahead of the 16 (10 goals, six assists) of second-ranked Frank Mahovlich, who with Toronto in his rookie season scored a hat trick with an assist on Dec. 25, 1957 — the 13th of 14 all-time Christmas hats — in a 5-4 home-ice win against the Canadiens.
Nor is it likely that Gilbertson, Hicke and Potvin and Meloche will be erased from the record books.
Article 16.5 (b) in the NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement states: “December 24, Christmas Day, and December 26 shall be off-days for all purposes, including travel, and no Club may request a Player’s consent to practice on such days for any reason, provided, however, if December 26 falls on a Saturday and the League has scheduled NHL Games on such date, December 23 may be substituted as an off-day for all purposes, including travel, instead of December 26.”
But for five decades, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were regular workdays in the NHL, the final Dec. 24 games played in 1972.
For late Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau, games in Montreal or on the road over the Christmas period created many indelible memories.
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