This Week in Centennial History

As part of the League's Centennial Celebration, NHL.com is taking a look back at memorable events each week.
Here are Centennial highlights for the week of Dec. 10-16:

Dec. 16, 2014:The
longest shootout in NHL history
finally ends when center Nick Bjugstad scores
in the bottom of the 20th round
to give the Florida Panthers a 2-1 victory against the Washington Capitals at BB&T Center. Bjugstad's goal ends a tiebreaker that takes 17:43. It comes on his second try in the shootout (each team uses all 18 skaters and has to start over again), and after Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo makes a save on Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin to begin the 20th round.

Dec. 15, 1925:
The NHL comes to the Big Apple
when the first-year New York Americans play their first home game at the brand-new Madison Square Garden. Promoter Tex Rickard insists the defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens must be the opponent; the NHL obliges. However, the Canadiens
spoil the night with a 3-1 victory
.
Dec. 14, 1968: Defenseman Bobby Orr scores three goals
for his first NHL hat trick
in the
Boston Bruins' 10-5 win
against the Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Garden. Orr, 20, scores twice in the first period and once in the second. Each of the three goals is set up by a lead pass from forward Ed Westfall, who also scores a goal.

Dec. 13, 1983: Center Wayne Gretzky
scores his 300th NHL goal
in the
Edmonton Oilers' 8-5 loss
to the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. He reaches the milestone by scoring during a power play late with 1:53 to play in his 350th game.
Dec. 12, 1953: Canadiens forward Maurice Richard
becomes the NHL's all-time leading scorer
with a goal and two assists
in a 7-2 victory
against the New York Rangers at the Forum. Richard scores in the second period and finishes the game with 611 points, one more than injured linemate Elmer Lach, who had held the record since February 1952.

Dec. 11, 1985: The Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks play one of the wildest games in modern NHL history,
combining for 21 goals
in
Edmonton's 12-9 victory
at Chicago Stadium. The 21 total goals are the most in one game since adoption of the red line in 1943, and the teams set a League record by combining for 12 goals in the second period. Forwards Glenn Anderson and Jari Kurri each score a hat trick for Edmonton, and centers Ken Yaremchuk and Troy Murray each score two goals for Chicago.
Dec. 10, 1986: Gretzky becomes the first player in NHL history
with 40 career hat tricks
when he scores three goals to lead the visiting
Edmonton Oilers to a 7-4 victory
against the Winnipeg Jets at Winnipeg Arena. Gretzky, playing in his eighth NHL season, scores twice in the first period and completes the milestone hat trick by beating Winnipeg goaltender Daniel Berthiaume 1:47 into the second. He finishes his career with 50, still the NHL record.