November 11th has been a memorable date in hockey history, filled with milestones, memorable performances, and moments of both triumph and tragedy.

On November 11, 1930, Philadelphia hosted its first-ever NHL game, with the Quakers losing 3-0 to the New York Rangers. However, the NHL wouldn't return to Philadelphia until the Flyers' debut in 1967. In 1943, Clint Smith of the Chicago Blackhawks etched his name in the record books by scoring the first empty-net goal in NHL history. This occurred after Boston Bruins' head coach Art Ross pulled goaltender Bert Gardiner in a 6-4 defeat.

The New York Rangers broke a long winless streak on this day in 1944, securing a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings after going 25 games without a win (0-21-4). Goaltender Terry Sawchuk achieved a significant milestone on November 11, 1962, becoming the first in his franchise to record 350 wins when the Red Wings defeated the Rangers 3-2. Alex Delvecchio contributed a pair of goals in that game.

In a high-scoring affair on November 11, 1981, the Minnesota North Stars set an NHL record with 11 different players finding the back of the net in a 15-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Bobby Smith had a remarkable performance, setting a team record with seven points (four goals and three assists). Before being drafted first overall by the North Stars in 1978, Smith played junior for the Ottawa 67’s and posted 69 goals and 123 assists in the 1977-78 season, relegating Wayne Gretzky to second place in OHA scoring.

Tragedy struck the hockey world on November 11, 1985, when Philadelphia Flyers' goaltender Pelle Lindbergh passed away a day after sustaining severe injuries in a car accident.

Several players have had memorable scoring performances on this date. Rick MacLeish recorded his 11th career hat trick and 550th NHL point on November 11, 1979, in a Philadelphia Flyers' 5-4 win against the Vancouver Canucks. Mike Bossy scored four goals for his 11th career hat trick on November 11, 1980, in a 6-6 tie between the New York Islanders and the North Stars. Three years later, on November 11, 1983, Bryan Trottier scored his 14th career hat trick in the Islanders' 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Other notable events on November 11 include: Calle Johansson becoming the second defenseman in Capitals history to record 300 assists on November 10, 1999; Jay Bouwmeester scoring his first NHL goal on November 11, 2002, in a game between the Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks; and Andy Greene scoring on an overtime penalty shot on November 11, 2016, to give the New Jersey Devils a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. In more recent history, Zach Hyman notched a first-period natural hat trick for the Edmonton Oilers in a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on November 11, 2023. Also on that day in 2023, Jacob Slavin became the Hurricanes/Whalers' all-time leader in assists.

Hall of Fame goaltender Harry Lumley was born on November 11, 1926. Lumley, who won the Vezina Trophy in 1954 and the Stanley Cup in 1950 with the Detroit Red Wings, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1980.