When did the "playoff beard" tradition become common in the NHL?

The Stanley Cup playoff beard has been an NHL tradition since the early 1980s, when the shaggy New York Islanders won four straight championships. It represents the players' singular focus, as if even personal hygiene is sacrificed in pursuit of hockey's holy grail. It suggests the rugged doggedness that's synonymous with the NHL's postseason tournament, with its grueling series and marathon overtimes.

The 1984-85 Detroit Red Wings were the first team documented to wear them. Wings forwards Ivan Boldirev and Danny Gare began the practice in Jan. 1985, trying to inspire the team to win four straight games. Defenseman Brad Park called it his "playoff beard" - thus coining the phrase.

Although you won't find it in the National Hockey League Record Book there is ample evidence that the Islanders invented the "playoff beard" tradition.

Bryan Trottier suggested that the playoff beard tradition originally began in 1975 when the club rebounded from 0-3 deficits against both the Penguins and Flyers. Fair enough but nothing like a beard bonanza was ignited at that time.

Fast forward to 1980 and the popularization - and pluralization - of playoff beards began to take hold with defenseman Ken Morrow. It started rather innocently with the long-haired Morrow and, soon, teammates followed on his beard wagon.

"Not that I meant to (invent any tradition), but I had worn a beard going all the way back to my college hockey days," Morrow said.