Maple Leafs honour Darryl Sittler's 10-point night in 1976 against the Bruins

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs honoured Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler on Thursday night, making the 40th anniversary of his historic 10-point night.

Sharing the bounty, the Maple Leafs had Dave Reece — who was in the Boston goal that night — on hand for the ceremony before Toronto took on the New Jersey Devils. Wearing a Bruins jersey, he got a nice round of applause.

The actual date of Sittler's heroics was Feb. 7, 1976, but the Leafs are headed off on a five-game road trip so Thursday was chosen to mark the record night.

Playing with linemates Lanny McDonald and Errol Thompson, Sittler scored six goals and added four assists in a 11-4 rout of the visiting Boston Bruins to break the record of eight points set by Maurice (Rocket) Richard in 1944.

Sittler's 10-point mark still stands.

McDonald, Reece, Borje Salming, Tiger Williams, then Leafs coach Red Kelly, broadcaster Brian McFarlane and Don Cherry, who was coach of Boston at the time, all offered their memories of that night in a video feature shown on the big screen.

"It's unbelievable. That could be a record for a lifetime," said McDonald.

Said Sittler: "People say is it ever going to be broken? Honestly, I hope not but it could be."

Eleven Leafs who lined up that night plus then-GM Jim Gregory joined Sittler on the ice in the pre-game ceremony. Sittler and Reece dropped the ceremonial first puck surround by the '76 Leafs.

Reece plans to donate the Bruins jersey he wore to the ceremony to charity, augmented with his and Sittler's autographs.

"He's got a big heart," said Sittler. "I'm so happy that he was here to share this evening."

Now 65, Sittler works with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in corporate and community relations. He is immortalized outside the Air Canada Centre in the Leafs' Legends Row. In 2003, his number 27 was raised to the ACC rafters.

Reece was a backup for the Bruins back in 1976. He was headed to the minors with the return of Gerry Cheevers from the WHA.

"It just wasn't my night and Darryl was pure magic," Reece is quoted on the Hockey Hall of Fame website. "The Leafs were going nuts, but I never realized he was doing all the scoring or going for a record. That's the fun of sports, but sometimes I wonder why I wasn't pulled after five or six goals."

Reece returned to the minors two days later, exiting the NHL with a record of 7-5-2 and a 3.32 goals-against average.

"I can only fault him on about two goals ... the rest were zingers," Cherry told Sportsnet radio on Thursday.

Cherry, who turns 82 Friday, said he had been saving Cheevers' return for a home game in Boston.

"Back then they didn't pull the goalies like they do now," said Sittler. "If you were having a tough night, they made you tough it out."

According to the league website, nine players including Wayne Gretzky (twice) and Mario Lemieux (three times) have since collected eight points in a game. The last to do it was Edmonton's Sam Gagner in February 2012.

No one has managed nine points.

Thursday's ceremony came on a night of Leaf milestones.

Coach Mike Babcock marked his 1,000 game in the NHL. It was also the 800th game for Dion Phaneuf, 700th for Joffrey Lupul and 300th for Nazem Kadri.

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