If a player's first game in the NHL was a true reflection of his career, Al Hill would be in the Hall of Fame by now. He isn't, which should tell you how much stock to put in someone's debut.

Hill wasn't much of a prospect when he finished playing junior in 1976, and got a chance to play professional hockey only because the Philadelphia Flyers signed him as free agent before the following season began.

The left winger was assigned to the American Hockey League, but was recalled a couple of weeks after the All-Star break when the Flyers suddenly were hit with some injuries. Hill made the most of the opportunity.

Taking the ice for a nationally-televised home game against the St. Louis Blues, Hill scored his first goal just 36 seconds after the opening faceoff. He added one more goal and three assists for five points, the highest total ever by a rookie in their first game.

Hill played in just eight more games that season, and in a total of 221 over the next 10 years with Philadelphia, the only NHL team with which he ever saw action. He wouldn't score another NHL goal for two seasons, and finished his career with just 40.

Still he remains in the record books and in the hearts of Philadelphia fans for his five-point debut on Valentine's Day in 1977, one of the great moments in hockey history that took place during the week of Feb. 14 - 20.

February 14

Eddie Shore's aggressive play led to the first All-Star game.

The NHL recently held its 50th All-Star Game in Toronto, the site of the first "unofficial" All-Star contest held on this date way back in 1934. That game was staged as a benefit on behalf of Irvin "Ace" Bailey, a rugged Maple Leafs forward whose career ended earlier that season because of a skull fracture sustained from a check by Boston's Eddie Shore. Toronto beat the All-Stars 7-3, but the most memorable event took place before the game when Bailey and Shore shook hands at center ice.

February 15

Wayne Gretzky showed his playmaking talent early on.(Allsport)

Wayne Gretzky retired from hockey last year sharing or owning 61 NHL records. One of the records he shares came in his very first season in the NHL as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. On this date in 1980, Gretzky assisted on seven goals to help the Oilers whip the Washington Capitals 8-2. The performance enabled Gretzky to tie Billy Taylor all-time record for assists in one game. Taylor accomplished the feat in 1947 while a member of the Detroit Red Wings.

February 16

Alex Delvecchio was Detroit's captain for 12 years.

No one in NHL history has played more games with one team than Alex Delvecchio. A Detroit Red Wing for his entire 24-season career, Delvecchio played 1,549 regular season games and replaced Sid Abel as the pivot on the famed "Production Line" with Ted Lindsay and Gordie How. Delvecchio was a prolific scorer as well, and on this date in 1969, he assisted on a goal that helped Detroit beat the Los Angeles Kings 8-3. The point was No. 1,000 for Delvecchio and it made him only the third player in history to reach that plateau.

February 17

Cy Denneny was one of hockey's best scorers.

Cy Denneny did not look like much of a hockey player. He was short, stocky and not too quick on his skates, but he had a knack for putting the puck in the net when he played. Denneny was with the Ottawa Senators when the team became a founding NHL franchise in 1917, and along with Joe Malone and Newsy Lalonde, was an elite scorer in the first few seasons of the new league. On this day in 1923, he scored against the Montreal Canadiens, giving him 143 goals for his career. That made him the NHL's leading career scorer, a distinction that would remain his for another decade.

February 18

Alex Connell's knit cap was his trademark.

Alex Connell had an off-ice job with a fire department, but he became known as the "Ottawa fireman" after he began regularly dousing opponent's rallies with his brilliant goaltending. Connell played 12 NHL seasons and finished with a lifetime goals-against average of 1.91, tying Georges Hainsworth for the all-time record. He had many highlights during his career, but none were greater than the one that took place on this date in 1928. Playing for the Ottawa Senators, Connell blanked the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 for his sixth consecutive shutout, a record that has never been approached by another netminder.

February 19

Mike Bossy averaged more than 57 goals a season.

Mike Bossy didn't waste much time establishing himself as one of purest scorers the NHL had ever seen. He became the first player to score 50 goals in his rookie season and tallied less than that total only once in his 10-year career with the Islanders. On this date in 1979, Bossy scored in an 8-3 New York victory over Los Angeles, giving him 100 goals for his career. It was his 129th career game, making him the fastest player in NHL history to reach the century mark in scoring.

February 20
Mike Karakas, Chicago's goalie that night, was the U.S.Hockey Hall of Fame's first inductee in 1973.	You don't have to be a hockey purist to appreciate the game played between the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs on this date in 1944. It was clean, action-packed and above all, it was fast, taking only one hour and 55 minutes to play. The reason? Nobody scored and nobody took any penalties, making it the only scoreless, penalty-free game in NHL history.

Historical photos courtesy of Hockeyonline.com