Blackhawks: Remembering the St. Patrick’s Day Massacre

Taking a look back in Chicago Blackhawks history helps us remember the insane St. Patrick’s Day Massacre that happened between Chicago and St. Louis in 1991.

Every day journalists break the newest “will they, or won’t they?” stories about whether or not the NHL resume this year. For fans though, this can be a bit boring since nothing is happening. To solve that now seems like as good a time as any to look back on one of the more outrageous from Chicago Blackhawks history.

We’re going to go back in time to March 17th, 1991, when the Blackhawks took on the St. Louis Blues. It was a 6-4 win for Chicago, but the day would become known as the St. Patrick’s Day Massacre.

The Blues are a rival. Pretty much always have been, and likely always will be. On that night, something boiled over and the game became rougher than anyone would have expected.

It was brutal. The game featured 278 penalty minutes (24 minors, 12 majors and, 17 misconduct penalties)! Let’s not forget that multiple players were ejected from the game, as well as suspended for all this. (Full list of penalties below)

So what happened? It’s not clear how it degenerated the way it did. Nothing stands out about the play itself to offer a reason for things soured on the ice.

In a nutshell, there was a hit, players took exception, and a brawl ensued-some apparently leaving the bench to participate And it just kept going, and going…the video (below) shows how out of hand things became.

This game though showed just how intense the hate could run between Chicago and St. Louis. Do these teams still have that same nasty streak between them? Definitely, but it doesn’t come out like this anymore. This (probably) won’t ever happen again, but it stands the test of time as an infamous meeting between these two teams.

Penalty Summary

02:12 STL Rod Brind’Amour Boarding 2 min
05:52 STL Darin Kimble Game misconduct 10 min
05:52 CHI Trent Yawney Game misconduct 10 min
05:52 CHI Trent Yawney Fighting 5 min
05:52 STL Harold Snepsts Game misconduct 10 min
05:52 STL Harold Snepsts Fighting 5 min
05:52 CHI Jeremy Roenick Roughing 2 min
05:52 CHI Steve Larmer Misconduct 10 min
05:52 STL Darin Kimble Fighting 5 min
05:52 CHI Michel Goulet Game misconduct 10 min
05:52 CHI Michel Goulet Fighting 5 min
05:52 STL Glen Featherstone Fighting 5 min
05:52 STL Kelly Chase Game misconduct 10 min
05:52 STL Rod Brind’Amour Game misconduct 10 min
05:52 CHI Keith Brown Fighting 5 min
05:52 STL Kelly Chase Fighting 5 min
05:52 STL Gino Cavallini Misconduct 10 min
06:46 CHI Chris Chelios Misconduct 10 min
06:46 CHI Dirk Graham Elbowing 2 min
12:54 CHI Stu Grimson Cross checking 2 min
12:54 CHI Stu Grimson Slashing 2 min
17:38 STL Bob Bassen Cross checking 2 min
17:38 CHI Steve Thomas Unsportsmanlike conduct 2 min
17:38 CHI Steve Thomas Spearing – double minor 4 min
17:38 STL Garth Butcher Unsportsmanlike conduct 2 min
17:38 CHI Paul Gillis Misconduct 10 min
20:00 CHI Steve Larmer Roughing 2 min
20:00 CHI Greg Gilbert Roughing 2 min
20:00 STL Dave Lowry Roughing 2 min
20:00 STL Scott Stevens Roughing 2 min
20:00 STL Scott Stevens Roughing 2 min
06:31 CHI Mike Peluso Game misconduct 10 min
06:31 STL Glen Featherstone Fighting 5 min
06:31 STL Glen Featherstone Game misconduct 10 min
06:31 CHI Steve Thomas Roughing 2 min
06:31 STL Scott Stevens Game misconduct 10 min
06:31 STL Scott Stevens Fighting 5 min
06:31 CHI Stu Grimson Game misconduct 10 min
06:31 CHI Mike Peluso Game misconduct 10 min
06:31 CHI Mike Peluso Fighting 5 min
06:31 CHI Dave Manson Game misconduct 10 min
06:31 CHI Dave Manson Fighting 5 min
06:31 CHI Steve Larmer Game misconduct 10 min
06:31 CHI Steve Larmer High sticking 5 min
06:31 STL Garth Butcher Roughing 2 min
10:03 STL Jeff Brown Hooking 2 min
03:09 CHI Bench Too many men on ice 2 min
06:36 STL Garth Butcher Roughing 2 min
06:36 CHI Troy Murray Slashing 2 min
11:56 CHI Greg Gilbert Holding 2 min
15:49 CHI Bob McGill Cross checking 2 min
15:49 STL Dave Lowry Slashing 2 min

Provided by Hockey-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/15/2020.

The result is fairly outrageous, as you’ve seen from scrolling through all that mess. My heart goes out to the officials that were responsible for keeping track of it all.

The “massacre” itself.

Classic Blackhawks-Blues hockey.