This Day In Hockey History - Oct 5th

1932 - The new name "Red Wings" (along with the new all red uniforms with the Winged Wheel) was introduced to Detroit hockey fans, after the franchise previously called the "Cougars" and then "Falcons" had played in the city for six seasons.

1972 - Following his success with the Team Canada series against the Russians, Harry Sinden returned to the Boston Bruins, as General Manager. Sinden had left the Bruins in 1970 to work in private business, and would remain the GM for 28 years.

1976 - The first regular season NHL game was played in Denver, Colorado, when the "Rockies" (newly transferred from Kansas City) beat the Maple Leafs 4-2, at the McNichols Sports Arena.

1979 - Buffalo Sabres traded right wing Rene Robert to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for defenseman John Van Boxmeer.

1981 - Winnipeg Jets claimed veteran defenseman Serge Savard from Montreal in the annual NHL Waiver Draft.

1982 - The "New Jersey Devils" played their first NHL game following the franchise's move from Colorado (where they were the "Rockies") and ended up with a 3-3 tie against the Penguins, at Meadowlands Arena. Don Lever scored the team's first goal.

1983 - On opening night of the 1983-84 NHL season, Marcel Dionne scored his 545th career goal to pass Maurice Richard for fifth place on the NHL's All Time goal scoring list, as the Kings tied the Minnesota North Stars, 3-3.

1983 - Detroit rookie Steve Yzerman scored the first goal of his NHL career, and added an assist in a 6-6 Red Wings' tie against the Jets, at Winnipeg.

1989 - Buffalo rookie Alexander Mogilny scored his first NHL goal on his first shot of his first shift :20 into his first game, to lead the Sabres to an opening night win, 4-3 over the visiting Quebec Nordiques.

Soviet hockey veteran Sergei Makarov made his NHL debut with a goal and two assists in the Calgary Flames' 10-7 win over Detroit.

1990 - Pittsburgh's Kevin Stevens had two goals and four assists, and John Cullen had five assists to lead the Penguins to 7-4 opening night win, at Washington. Stevens' six points set an NHL record for most points in a season opening game.

1993 - Dallas Stars (formerly the Minnesota North Stars) played their first NHL game, a 6-4 win over the Red Wings, in Dallas.

Happy Birthday to Mario Lemieux, Patrick Roy, Freddie Olausson, Lorne Chabot, Roy Conacher, Dean Prentice, Gary Edwards, Michael Grabner, Sven Baertschi and Jean Perron.