Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings scored the 545th goal of his carear Sunday night against Montreal to become the highest scorer in National Hockey League history. The old record was held by an ex-Canadian, Maurice Richard. It was Howe's 1,132nd game in the NHL. Richard had needed only 978 games to score his 544 goals.

Else where in the NHL, Chicago has gotten off to its best start ever and leads the league by five points. Stan Mikita's league-leading nine goals and Bobby Hull's seven were crucial in the Black Hawks' undefeated streak of 11 games, longest in the team's history. Goalie Glenn Hall has allowed only 29 goals in 14 games.

Montreal, Toronto, and Detroit, separated by only two points, occupy the next three positions. The Canadiens lead the other two clubs largely through the efforts of captain Jean Beliveau, who has either scored or assisted 22 of Montreal's goals, only one less than the entire Boston team has scored all year. His 23 points put him five ahead of runner ups Mikita and Hull. Hodge has done a more than satisfactory job filling in for Worsley in the goal, allowing only 11 goals in five games.

Toronto, as usual, is maintaining its position through balance rather than a single high scoring line. Four men have at least four goals, but none has more than six. Howe's five goals have kept Detroit ever with the Maple Leafs. The Red Wings, specially Howe, were tired and slow against Montreal and Boston last weekend, but may pick up now that the pressure is off Howe.

New York, after a fair start, has lost five in a row and is five points out of fourth place. Even with their great goalie, Jacques Plante, the Rangers' defense has allowed more goals than any other.

Boston has suddenly come to life, and trails New York by only a single point. The whole team has been checking hard for the last two weeks, with the result that they broke Chicago's undefeated streak Sunday. The new first line of Murray Oliver, Tommy Williams and Dean Prentice has been particularly effective.