1972: The Hockey Hall of Fame inducts perhaps its most star-studded class yet, even waiving its mandatory three-year waiting period for two of the inductees.

Video: Jean Beliveau's name is on Stanley Cup 17 times

Longtime rivals and friends Gordie Howe and Jean Beliveau are inducted after retiring from the NHL following the 1970-71 season. Howe leaves the Detroit Red Wings as the owner of the League records for games played, goals and points. Beliveau ends his career after helping the Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup 10 times; the last one comes is in 1971, when he leads all playoff scorers with 16 assists.

Howe and Beliveau are named to the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017, as is another inductee, Beliveau's Montreal teammate Bernie Geoffrion. Forward Hooley Smith and longtime Boston Bruins president Weston Adams are also inducted into the Hall.

Howe's status as a Hall of Famer doesn't prevent him returning as a player with the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association in 1973. He plays six seasons in the WHA before coming back to the NHL with the Hartford Whalers in 1979, becoming the first member of the Hall to play in the League after being inducted.

Video: Gordie Howe, 'Mr. Hockey,' enjoyed five-decade career

MORE MOMENTS

1980: In a day that changes the game and helps open the NHL to the world, brothers Peter Stastny and Anton Stastny defect while playing for their Czechoslovakian team in Innsbruck, Austria. Quebec Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut and director of player personnel Gilles Leger arrange an escape to Vienna after a game against the Soviet Union; one night later, Peter, Anton and Peter's wife Darina land in Montreal. The brothers sign with the Nordiques and enjoy instant success: Peter has 39 goals and 109 points in his first NHL season and wins the Calder Trophy as the League's top rookie, Anton also scores 39 goals and finishes with 85 points. Older brother Marian Stastny stays behind and is removed from the national team, but is able to come to North America and join the Nordiques for the 1981-82 season.

Video: Peter Stastny became first rookie to have 100 points

1987: Anze Kopitar is born in Jesenice, Slovenia. Kopitar is selected by the Los Angeles Kings with the No. 11 pick of the 2005 NHL Draft and becomes the first player from his country to skate in the NHL when he joins the Kings in 2006. Kopitar soon becomes one of the best two-way centers in hockey and helps the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014. He also wins the Lady Byng and Selke trophies in 2015-16, then wins the Selke again in 2017-18.

2020: Semyon Varlamov becomes the first New York Islanders goalie to have back-to-back shutouts in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Varlamov makes 29 saves in a 4-0 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. It comes four days after Varlamov makes 21 saves in a 4-0 series-clinching win against the Washington Capitals in the first round.