Hockey History Photo of the Day: Bobby Orr as a North Star?!

Bobby Orr in a Minnesota North Stars jersey? What blasphemy is this?! This is actually from an alumni sometime in the 1980s. Orr swapped jerseys for at least part of the game, leading to this rare photo.

1981: Cinderella North Stars Can't Upset Islanders

The year is 1981. The New York Islanders successfully defend their first Stanley Cup championship, knocking off the Minnesota North Stars 4 games to 1.

The North Stars were an interesting team blessed with talent that, for whatever reason, never really had much success. But the stars were aligned for them in 1981, as their playoff road was smooth until meeting the Islanders in the finals.

The North Stars are led by Bobby Smith, Al MacAdam and the surprising Steve Payne. Payne equals the Islanders' Mike Bossy with 17 goals in just 19 games, the second best total in NHL history. Payne would finish second to Bossy in the point scoring derby, with 29 compared to 35.

Another key Minnesota North Star is rookie winger Dino Ciccarelli. While Dino would become one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history, in 1981 he was an undrafted rookie coming off of a badly shattered leg injury in junior. This spring he would prove he could play, setting NHL rookie playoff records with 17 goals and 21 points.

Goalie Gilles Meloche would prove to be no match for the Islanders net keeper Billy Smith, as the Islanders outscored the North Stars 26-16 in the 5 game finals. Butch Goring would lead the Islanders with 5 goals in the finals, enough to earn him the Conn Smythe Trophy.

By the way, the Stanley Cup engravers badly misspelled the championship entry, referring to them as the "New York Ilanders."

Introducing Pittsburgh Penguins Legends and Minnesota North Stars Legends

The Legends of Hockey Network would like to officially welcome the legends of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota North Stars to their new home.

There has been a lot of talk over the years about the Penguins extinction, and it is starting to sound more and more as though Kansas City will be the new home for Sidney Crosby and all. Regardless if that happens or not, I wanted to honor the great players and characters of the Pittsburgh Penguins over the past 40 years

Syl Apps Jr. - Hockey has many great families. The Apps family has to be near the top of the list, with three generations of dominant hockey players.

	Les Binkley - A long time minor league goalie finally got his chance thanks to 1967 expansion. He was one of the early fan favorites.
	Tom Barrasso - Right out of high school, Tom Barrasso turned in one of the most amazing rookie seasons in NHL history. He would continue on to have a stellar career complete with 2 Stanley Cups.

	Michel Briere - The Pittsburgh Penguins have always looked to the Quebec leagues for star players. Before Lemieux and Crosby there was Michel Briere. Unfortunately tragedy struck.
	Mario Lemieux - Magnificent is the perfect word to describe Mario Lemieux. Number 66 is the most gift player to ever play the game of hockey.
	Gilles Meloche - In the 1970s and 1980s he played for the Seals, Barons, North Stars and Penguins. No wonder why his 351 career losses is only 1 loss off of the all time record.

Joey Mullen - One of the greatest American born players in hockey history, Mullen helped the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins win Stanley Cups..

	Ron Schock - One of the forgotten Penguins of the 1970s, Schock has some interesting insight into life before and after expansion in 1967.
	Bryan Trottier - The best two way player of his generation, Hall of Famer Trottier was slightly overshadowed by line mate Bossy but forever appreciated.

Flying just a bit under most people's radar, the Dallas Stars are having a fine NHL campaign. It'll soon be 14 years since the Minnesota North Stars went south to the Lone Star State. The big money era may have brought the Stanley Cup to Texas, but Minnesota will always be the State of Hockey.

Here's a look back at a few Legends of the Minnesota North Stars:

	Cesare Maniago - Post-1967 expansion fans in Minnesota and Vancouver loved to Hail Cesare!
	Dennis Maruk - Dennis Maruk was a feisty but talented little player who played good hockey for some of hockey's baddest teams.
	Brad Maxwell - An aggressive, skilled defender who had his career cut short by injuries, Brad Maxwell is a candidate for best North Stars defenseman ever.
	Gilles Meloche - In the 1970s and 1980s he played for the Seals, Barons, North Stars and Penguins. No wonder why his 351 career losses is only 1 loss off of the all time record.
	Bobby Smith - The former junior hockey and Minnesota North Stars legend helped the Habs win a surprise Stanley Cup in 1986..
	Tim Young - A tremendous passer with an above-average understanding of the game, Tim Young is now as forgotten as the Minnesota North Stars.