Roger Godin came up with an interesting newspaper clipping detailing a
NHL hockey game between Boston and Montreal on Feb. 29, 1940. In the
nets for the Bruins was Frankie Brimsek. The Montreal goalie was Mike
Karakas. (Bruins won 4-2.) This was one of only five games in which
Karakas appeared in goal for the Rangers that season. A

I seem to recall a posting in which it was stated that at one time in
the history of the game the three best goaltenders in the league
hailed from Eveleth, Minn. The apparent implication was that Brimsek,
Karakas, and Sam Lopresti were dazzling the NHL in the nets at the
same time in league history. (Brimsek with Boston, Karakas with
Montreal, and Lopresti with Chicago.) That season would have to have
been 1939-40, which coincides with the clip that Roger found.
However, Lopresti did not appear on the NHL scene until the 1940-41
season. By this time, Karakas is in the AHL with Providence. Lopresti
departs the NHL following the 1941-42 season, never to return.
Karakas, however makes it back to the league in the 1943-44 season
when Brimsek is in the Coast Guard. Karakas is in goal for the
Chicago Black Hawks in the 1945-46 season when Brimsek returns from
the service. However, he is back in Providence for the 1946-47 season
and never returns to the NHL. Brimsek continues to play until 1950.

For the record, Karakas was born in Aurora, Minn., and Lopresti was
born in Virginia, Minn. Only Mister Zero was born in Eveleth.
GEO