Stories of Reg Leach

What follows are four stories from the NHL career of Reg Leach. Included are his five goal game against the Bruins in the 1976 playoffs, the game Leach became a 60 goal scorer, Reggie’s first game with the Golden Seals after being traded from the Bruins and a hat trick duel with Dennis Hull of the Chicago Blackhawks. Below are Leach’s career stats, a hockey card video and some Reg Leach focused trivia.

Reg Leach NHL Stats

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Reggie Leach [Video]

NHL Hockey Trivia: Reg Leach

Reg Leach Hockey Card Collection

Reg Leach Scores 5 In Game 5 To Eliminate Bruins In 1976

To say Reggie Leach was a thorn in his original team’s side in the 1976 Stanley Cup semi-final is an understatement. Over the five games against the Boston Bruins, Leach contributed nine goals for the Philadelphia Flyers. He had a goal in each of the first four games then exploded for five in the series clincher.

On May 6, 1976 at the Spectrum, Leach opened the scoring at 5:45 of the first period, putting his eleventh of the playoffs past Boston goalie Gilles Gilbert, assisted by Bill Barber. In the second period, Gregg Sheppard tied the game at 1-1 just 59 seconds into the frame. Reg responded with three straight goals to put the Flyers up 4-1 after 20. his fourth of the game would stand as the game winner in the 6-3 victory.

After Don Marcotte got one back for the Bruins in the third, Leach responded less than two minutes later with his fifth of the game. The teams traded goals to finish out the game. With seven shots on Gilbert, Reggie was responsible for a third of Philadelphia’s shots. Wayne Stephenson was slightly busier in net for the Flyers, stopping 25 of 28. Bobby Clarke came away with a three assist game.

Despite being swept in the final by the Montreal Canadiens, Leach continued to terrorize opposing goalies, adding four more goals in the losing cause. His 19 total over the 1976 playoffs remains an NHL record. Jari Kurri tied the mark in 1984-85 with the help of two more games. And, despite being swept, Leach was given the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

It Was No April Fool’s Prank: Reg Leach Becomes The Only 60 Goal Scorer In Philadelphia Flyers History

On April 1, 1976, the Flyers were nasty hosts to the Washington Capitals at the Spectrum. Philadelphia recorded their 50^th win of the 1975-76 NHL season in their 78^th game of the year. In the 11-2 blowout, Reg Leach scored two and assisted on three for a five point night.

More importantly, Leach’s second goal of the game, the only goal scored in the second period, was his 60^th of the season. Reggie scored at 10:06 of the second on Capitals goalie Ron Low, assisted by Bill Barber and Jimmy Watson. Nearly 50 years later, he remains the only Flyer to reach the 60 goal plateau. He scored one more two nights later against the Buffalo Sabres to finish with 61.

The Flyers were relentless that night, firing 62 shots on Low. Bill Barber led the way with eleven shots, scoring on three, his 47^th, 48^th and 49^th. He would score number 50 against the Sabres two nights later. Leach was next in line with eight shots while Bobby Clarke came away with five assists. Gary Inness turned away 21 of 23 for Philly.

Tim Kerr would come close on more than one occasion. In a string of four seasons from 1983-84 to 1986-87, he scored 54 twice and 58 twice. As for Reggie Leach, he would hit the 50 goal plateau once more with exactly 50 in 1979-80.

Orr, Stanfield and Esposito Ruin Reggie Leach’s Debut With The Golden Seals

On February 23, 1972, the Boston Bruins traded Reg Leach, Bob Stewart and Rick Smith to the California Golden Seals for Carol Vadnais and Don O’Donoghue. That same day, the Seals hosted the Bruins at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. All but O’Donoghue were in the lineup with their new teams.

Leach got on the board at 19:52 of the first period, assisting on Gary Croteau’s first of two goals in the game. That marker on Boston goalie Ed Johnston put the Seals up 3-1 after one. It would be Leach’s only point in the match.

After two periods, California held a hefty 6-3 lead over the much stronger Bruins. However, the inevitable collapse came in the third. Boston scored five in the final period (added to two in the second for seven unanswered) to win the game 8-6. Phil Esposito scored his 53^rd of the 1971-72 NHL season at 14:31 of the third to tie the game at 6-6. At 17:11, he put his second of the game past Seals goalie Gilles Meloche for the game winner.

Bobby Orr had a goal and four assists for a five point game while Fred Stanfield had a hat trick. Esposito led all skaters with nine of the 36 shots put on Meloche in the game. Dick Redmond led the Golden Seals with two goals on seven shots.

Despite the loss, Leach had the break he needed to become an NHL regular. In 17 games with the Seals in 1971-72, he scored six goals, just one less than the seven he scored for the Bruins over 56 games to start the campaign. The following year, he would start a string of ten consecutive seasons scoring at least 22 goals.

Reg Leach and Dennis Hull Trade Hat Tricks in a 1974 9-4 Blackhawks Win Over The Golden Seals

In the early 1970’s, games against the California Golden Seals often were a chance to pad the stats. On January 6, 1974, Dennis Hull did just that as the Blackhawks beat their guests 9-4 at Chicago Stadium. However, Reggie Leach wanted a bit of the spotlight, too, despite the score.

Leach was the first to score in the game, putting one past Chicago goalie Mike Veisor at 2:15 of the first, with help from Walt McKechnie and Brent Meeke. Hull responded about five minutes later with his 17^th of the year from Pit Martin and Bill White. By the end of the first, Hull had his second of the game on Seals goalie Bob Champoux and the Hawks were up 3-2.

Just 1:17 into the second, Dennis had his hat trick goal. It took Reggie a little longer, scoring his second of the game at 12:07 of the second and third at 11:11 of the third. Hull added two third period assists for a five point night. Each player led their respective teams with six shots each.

As for California goalie Bob Champoux, he would play 17 regular season games for the Seals that year. Except for a playoff game with the Detroit Red Wings in 1963-64, this was his only NHL action. His 55 minutes that game came in relief of Terry Sawchuk who was injured early in the match. Over his 17 games, he posted a 5.21 goals against average and a .848 save percentage.

Reg Leach NHL Career Stats

Regular Season

Year	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970-71	Boston Bruins	23	2	4	6	0
1971-72	Boston Bruins	56	7	13	20	12
1971-72	California Golden Seals	17	6	7	13	7
1972-73	California Golden Seals	76	23	12	35	45
1973-74	California Golden Seals	78	22	24	46	34
1974-75	Philadelphia Flyers	80	45	33	78	63
1975-76	Philadelphia Flyers	80	61	30	91	41
1976-77	Philadelphia Flyers	77	32	14	46	23
1977-78	Philadelphia Flyers	72	24	28	52	24
1978-79	Philadelphia Flyers	76	34	20	54	20
1979-80	Philadelphia Flyers	76	50	26	76	28
1980-81	Philadelphia Flyers	79	34	36	70	59
1981-82	Philadelphia Flyers	66	26	21	47	18
1982-83	Detroit Red Wings	78	15	17	32	13
	Totals	934	381	285	666	387

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970-71	Boston Bruins	3	0	0	0	0
1971-72	Boston Bruins	0	0	0	0	0
1971-72	California Golden Seals	0	0	0	0	0
1972-73	California Golden Seals	0	0	0	0	0
1973-74	California Golden Seals	0	0	0	0	0
1974-75	Philadelphia Flyers	17	8	2	10	6
1975-76	Philadelphia Flyers	16	19	5	24	8
1976-77	Philadelphia Flyers	10	4	5	9	0
1977-78	Philadelphia Flyers	12	2	2	4	0
1978-79	Philadelphia Flyers	8	5	1	6	0
1979-80	Philadelphia Flyers	19	9	7	16	6
1980-81	Philadelphia Flyers	9	0	0	0	2
1981-82	Philadelphia Flyers	0	0	0	0	0
1982-83	Detroit Red Wings	0	0	0	0	0
	Totals	94	47	22	69	22

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Reggie Leach [Video]

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Reg Leach

Reg Leach Hockey Card Collection

1971-72 O-Pee-Chee

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee

1974-75 O-Pee-Chee

1975-76 O-Pee-Chee

1976-77 O-Pee-Chee

1982-83 O-Pee-Chee