Orr considers Gordie Howe, the Detroit Red Wings Hall of Famer and six-time NHL Most Valuable Player, the best all-around player ever. Coincidentally, it was against Howe’s Red Wings that Orr made his NHL debut in 1966. Orr was so excited that he showed up at the Boston Garden at 1 o’clock for a 7:30 p.m. game. As much as he admired Howe, the two got “into it a bit.” At one point Howe, who was known for his physical play, decided to send a message to Orr, whom he flattened with a blindside hit as Orr took a split second to admire a pass he’d made. A scrum of bodies converged over the fallen rookie as several teammates came to Orr’s defense, but he looked up and said, “ It’s okay, guys, I deserved that.”
PETER SOUTHWICK/AP
