Billy Smith Biography

William John Smith, born on December 12, 1950, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in 1970, he played in the minor leagues for two seasons before making his professional debut in 1972, winning one of his five appearances. On November 28, 1979, during the 1979–80 season, he became the first goaltender in NHL history to be credited with scoring a goal. In 1980, he served as the starting goaltender in 20 playoff games, winning 15 of them as the New York Islanders captured their first Stanley Cup. During the 1987–88 season, he achieved his 300th career victory, becoming the ninth goaltender in NHL history to reach that milestone, and retired the following season. He recorded 88 wins in 132 Stanley Cup playoff starts, a record for most playoff wins by a goaltender upon his retirement. In 2017, he was recognized as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.