Middleton's 25 shorthanded goals had stood as a testament to his prowess for over three decades until Marchand's exceptional performance in the 2018-19 season, where he notched an impressive three shorthanded goals, pushing his tally to 26 and surpassing Middleton.
Today, Marchand reigns supreme atop the Bruins' record book with an astonishing 33 shorthanded goals to his name, leaving Middleton in awe of the accomplishment.
Speaking to NESN.com, Middleton expressed his admiration, saying, "It's pretty incredible. It's mainly because they didn't have anybody who spent more than maybe five or six years there. It's hard to put up big numbers unless you're there for a while. So, (Patrice Bergeron) and Marchand were the next two guys to spend any long term there. Marchand, he's still going, and I said, 'Keep it going. You can get to 50. Nobody will break your record.'"
Middleton's astute observation highlights the significance of longevity in establishing records and the remarkable achievement Marchand has accomplished by surpassing Middleton's enduring mark. Comparing Marchand's feat to the records held by the legendary Wayne Gretzky, Middleton adds, "You look at all the records Gretzky does hold, and that's not one of them."
Another exceptional record that stands unbroken in NHL history belongs to Rick Middleton himself. During the 1982-83 postseason, Middleton delivered an extraordinary performance, amassing an astounding 19 points in the Adams Division Finals against the Buffalo Sabres. No other player in the league's storied history has achieved such a remarkable feat in a single playoff series. Notably, even the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have yet to eclipse Middleton's record, with McDavid accumulating 14 points and Draisaitl reaching 17.
Reflecting on this unique accomplishment, Middleton humorously remarks,
Nicknamed "Nifty" due to his exceptional offensive moves, Middleton established himself as one of the most formidable goal scorers of the 1970s and 1980s. His remarkable achievements include joining an elite group of only six Bruins players to achieve the remarkable feat of scoring 50 goals in a single season.
Amongst the ranks of Phil Esposito, Cam Neely, Johnny Bucyk, Ken Hodge, and David Pastrnak, Middleton reflects,
Source: Nesn
POLL | ||
JUIN 18 | 77 ANSWERS Bruins Alumni Holds A Record 40 years Later That Not Even Gretzky Could Break Should Middleton be in the Hall of Fame? | ||
Yes he got robbed | 69 | 89.6 % |
No I don't think so | 8 | 10.4 % |
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