This Day in Minnesota Hockey History: March 5

1984: The North Stars dispatched the Red Wings 5-1 at Met Center but that fine defensive effort was far from the minds of those involved after the final horn. That's because 3 minutes, 19 seconds before the game ended, Detroit's Eddie Johnstone lifted his stick to the face of Curt Giles during a rush up ice. The move incited a bench-clearing brawl, and sent Giles to the dentist's chair.

North Stars coach Bill Mahoney called Johnstone's check, "unbelievable."

"A two-hander right to the face," Mahoney cackled to reporters after the game. "Incredible."

Then, Mahoney was told that Red Wings coach Nick Polano accused him of sending players Dave Richter and Brad Maxwell off the bench to have a go.

"That's not surprising coming from Nick," said Mahoney, who coached in Detroit's system.

Richter, who received a three-game suspension, said he went on his own.

"As soon as I saw [the check on Giles] happen, I was over the boards. I was racing the other guys to get over."

1974: Goals from Joe Micheletti, Buzzy Schneider, Mike Polich, Warren Miller and Robby Harris lead the Gophers to a 5-1 victory in a two-game, total goals WCHA playoff series victory over Michigan.

1989: Denver goalie Lucien Carignan stops 42 shots as Denver, losers of all four games to Minnesota during the regular season, stuns the league champion Gophers 2-1 in the WCHA semifinals at the Civic Center.

1994: Moorhead beats Elk River 4-3 in four overtimes to win the Class 2A, Section 8 title.

1999: Wisconsin ends a 10-game losing streak at Minnesota, defeating the Gophers 6-4. It's the Badgers' first win at the "new" Mariucci Arena.

1999: Final scores from Target Center in the boys' hockey state semifinals: Class 1A: East Grand Forks 2, Blake School 0; Benilde-St. Margaret's 6, Fergus Falls 0. Class 2A Roseau 6, Holy Angels 2; Hastings 2, Elk River 1 (OT).