The
1944–45 NHL season was a record-setting one for Richard. He first set a new mark for points in one game when he made five goals and three assists in a 9–1 victory over the
Detroit Red Wings on December 28, 1944; his eight points broke the previous record of seven held by three players,
[31] and stood for 32 years until surpassed in 1976 by
Darryl Sittler.
[32] Richard achieved the feat despite arriving for the game exhausted from moving into his new home that afternoon.
[33] He continued scoring at an unprecedented rate, and by February 1945 was approaching
Joe Malone's NHL record of 44 goals in one season.
[34] Richard broke the record on February 25, 1945, in a 5–2 victory over Toronto. Malone was on hand to present Richard with the puck used to score the 45th goal.
[35]
As
Richard approached 50 goals for the season, opposition players resorted to increasingly violent efforts to prevent him from scoring. He had to fight past
slashes,
hooks, and even players who draped themselves across his back.
[33]Richard went eight games without scoring and began Montreal's final regular season game, March 18, on the road against the
Boston Bruins with 49 goals.
[33] He finally reached the milestone by scoring with 2:15 remaining in the game, a 4–2 Montreal win.
[37] He became the first player to score
50 goals in 50 games, a standard that remains one of the most celebrated achievements in NHL history.
[38] Richard finished the season with 73 points, seven behind Lach and six ahead of Blake, as the Punch line finished first, second and third in league scoring.
[39] Richard finished second in the voting for the Hart Trophy as league MVP behind Lach.
