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The Greatest Individual Toronto Maple Leafs Performances of All-Time

By Brian Westland

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 14: Darryl Sittler #27 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Minnesota North Stars during NHL game action on October 14, 1981 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 14: Darryl Sittler #27 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Minnesota North Stars during NHL game action on October 14, 1981 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MARCH 2: Ian Turnbull #2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 2: Ian Turnbull #2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /

Number 4: Ian Turnbull’s Five Goals in a Game

Last February 2nd marked the 43rd anniversary of the greatest ever single-game goal scoring demonstration by an NHL defenceman. That demo was provided by none other than Ian Turnbull of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Back in the late 70s, Ian Turnbull was a cornerstone of perhaps the Toronto Maple Leafs  greatest ever starting five lineup along with Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald, Errol Thompson, and Borje Salming.

Turnbull was an offensively-minded rushing defenceman with a howitzer of a slapshot. Paired with partner Borje Salming, Turnbull was half of the most lethal defensive pairing in the National Hockey League.

Turnbull did not enjoy the longevity of Salming, but he still holds the Toronto Maple Leafs  records for goals in a season by a  defensemen with 22, and points in a season for a defenseman with 79.

Of Turnbull’s offensive accomplishments, none is more impressive then what he accomplished on the night of February, 2, 1977. On this night Turnbull set an NHL record that the greats of his position from Bobby Orr to Paul Coffey to Nicklas Lidstrom have been unable to equal.

In a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Maple Leaf Gardens, the Toronto Maple Leafs dismantled the Red Wings by a score of 9 to 1. During the contest, Turnbull had a total of 5 shots on goal. However, for every shot Turnbull fired, he scored, and by scoring five goals in the game, he established an NHL record that stand to today.

Turnbull was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1982 as the Toronto Maple Leafs were well into their 1980s slide into oblivion following the departures of Darryl Sittler and Lanny McDonald. Turnbull only played two more years before retiring in 1984.

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