On This Date in Sports November 5, 1955: Beliveau 44-second Hat Trick

In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com

Jean Beliveau of the Montreal Canadiens scores three goals in 44 seconds in the second period. The three goals turn the game in Montreal’s favor as they began the period trailing the Boston Bruins 2-0. All three goals are on a 5-on-3 power play as players had to serve the entire two-minute penalty. Beliveau added another goal as the Habs won the game 4-2.

Jean Beliveau, born August 31, 1931, in Trois Rivieres, Quebec, was emerging as the new star for the Canadiens in 1955, becoming the team’s leading scorer out of the shadow of Maurice Richard. The 1955/56 season would be the finest of his career as he won the league’s scoring title and the Hart Trophy, given to the NHL MVP, with 47 goals and 41 assists.

In an early season home-and-home showdown with the Boston Bruins, the Canadiens coached by Toe Blake got off to a sluggish start, giving up two first period goals at the Montreal Forum. The game changed early in the second period; the Canadiens were already on a power play as Cal Gardner was in the penalty box for a foul committed at the end of the first period. Just 16 seconds into the man advantage, Hal Lacoye committed a second minor, giving Montreal a 5-on-3 advantage. At the time, players had to serve the entire two minutes of the power play.

The Canadiens cashed in on power play after 26 seconds as Jean Beliveau scored on a perfect setup by Bert Olmstead. Just 24 seconds later, it was déjà vu, as Beliveau put home another pass from Olmstead to tie game 2-2. With Lacote and Gardner still in the sin bin, Jean Beliveau completed the hat trick, scoring all three goals in 44 seconds to give Montreal a 3-2 advantage. Like the first two goals, Bert Olmstead had the primary assist. Only Bill Mosienko, with the Chicago Black Hawks, scored three goals in a quicker span, doing it in 42 seconds in 1952. Jean Beliveau would add another goal later in the game, as the Canadiens beat the Bruins to improve to 7-3-3 on the season.

The Canadiens would go on to finish the 1955/56 season with a record of 45-15-10 as they began a five-year dynasty of winning the Stanley Cup. Jean Beliveau’s 44-second hat trick would lead the NHL to make a significant rule change following the season, as penalties would not come to an end when a team scored a goal on a minor penalty.