# April 27 in Hockey History
April 27 has witnessed several significant milestones and standout individual performances throughout NHL history, showcasing the league's evolution across multiple decades. From career achievements to explosive scoring nights, this date reflects the diverse accomplishments that define professional hockey excellence.
Career Milestones in the Modern Era
The 1995 season marked a notable date for veteran achievement on April 27. Chris Chelios reached the 600-point plateau in his illustrious career, representing a significant milestone for one of hockey's most durable defensemen. That same evening, Murray Craven appeared in his 800th career game, underscoring the remarkable longevity required to maintain an extended presence in the NHL. Both accomplishments represent the sustained excellence and durability that characterize Hall of Fame-caliber careers.
These milestones occurred during an era when reaching such statistical benchmarks held particular weight—the 1995 season was compressed due to the labor lockout that delayed the start of play. The achievement of these career markers in such a shortened timeline makes them even more noteworthy from a historical perspective.
Draft History and Early Selection
The 1965 draft class produced two first-round selections on April 27. Andre Veilleux was selected first overall by the New York Rangers, followed by Andy Culligan at second overall to the Chicago Blackhawks. Both players came from junior hockey programs (Veilleux from Montreal Ranger Jr. B and Culligan from St. Michael's Jr. B), representing the era when junior leagues served as the primary pipeline for NHL talent development.
Multi-Goal Performance Trends
April 27 has proven to be a date favorable for explosive individual scoring nights. Three-goal performances have occurred multiple times on this date:
In 2013 alone, three different players each recorded three-goal games on this date: Radim Vrbata (Anaheim Ducks vs. Phoenix Coyotes, 4 points), James Neal (Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 4 points), and Nail Yakupov (Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks, 3 points). This clustering of high-output performances demonstrates the competitive intensity typical of playoff-adjacent games in late April.
Other three-goal performances include Brett Hull's effort in 2002 (Vancouver Canucks vs. Detroit Red Wings), Patrick Marleau's 2006 showing (San Jose Sharks vs. Nashville Predators), and Mike Gartner's 1992 performance (New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils).
Recent Scoring Excellence
Jonathan Huberdeau demonstrated the continuing tradition of April 27 scoring bursts with a five-point game in 2021 (2 goals, 3 assists). Most recently, Andrei Svechnikov recorded a three-goal performance on April 27, 2025, for the New Jersey Devils against the Carolina Hurricanes, continuing this historical pattern.
By the Numbers
**600**: Career points reached by Chris Chelios on April 27, 1995**800**: Career games played by Murray Craven on April 27, 1995**5**: Points recorded by Jonathan Huberdeau on April 27, 2021 (2G, 3A)**4**: Points achieved by both Radim Vrbata and James Neal in their respective three-goal games on April 27, 2013**60 years**: Span between the 1965 draft (Veilleux and Culligan selections) and modern performance records on this date