1950-51
The NHL to this point had become a 2 team league. Conn Smythe's powerful and nasty Leafs and the Red Wings lead by the Production line of Howe, Lindsay and Abel.
It was almost a given that the Wings and Leafs would meet in the finals again. The Wings had set a NHL record becoming the first team to finish with 100 points (44-13-13) Smythe's Leafs had finished 6 points behind.
However anyone that follows hockey knows that foregone conclusions rarely come through, and Toronto and Montreal ended up hooking up in a historic final.
Toronto made their way to the finals by dusting off the Boston Bruins. Meanwhile the Montreal Canadians who had finished 36 points behind the Wings pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NHL history. The Habs were lead by Maurice "Rocket" Richard that scored two ot winners including 1 in quadruple overtime in game 1.
It looked like the Habs would need luck and a miracle to upset the Leafs, but Toronto had all the luck in the world in the finals.
Game 1 went to overtime knotted at 2, but the Leafs ended it on a Sid Smith goal in the first ot.
Game 2 went to Overtime and the Habs tied the series when Richard beat Turk Broda at the 2:55 mark of the first overtime.
Stunningly game 3 went to Overtime as well but a controversial decision by Leaf's coach Joe Primeau had benched Turk Broda in favour of Al Rollins paid off as Rollins made multiple 5 bell saves in the first few minutes of OT allowing Leafs's Tod Sloan to score the winner at the 4:47 mark.
This was the first time in history that 4 straight playoff games had gone to overtime, but that record wasn't safe.
In game 4 the game went to overtime again and Toronto's Harry Watson scored at 5:15 of the extra session.
It looked like it was impossible that this series would go to 5 straight OT games. But Max Bentley set up Tod Sloan with the game tying goal with 32 seconds left in the game and the two teams went to their 5th overtime game. As with the other games in the series, this one ended quickly as Leaf's defenseman Bill Barilko scored at 2:53 to give the Leafs the Cup.
Tragically Bill Barilko and his dentist went on a fishing trip in Northern Quebec on Aug 26, 1951 and was never seen again. The Leafs would not win the cup again until his body was found in 1962.
Trivia
- The NHL rules that each team must provide an emergency goalie of every game for use by either team.
- The Hall of fame inducts 9 new members including Newsy Lalonde and Joe Malone.
- Detroit and Chicago complete a massive trade with Detroit sending goalie Harry Lunley, Al Dwsbury, Don Morrison and Pete Badando to Chicago for Haye Steward, Metro Prystai and Jim Henry.
- Jim Henry doesn't play a single game for Detroit as 21 year old rookie sensation Terry Sawchuk takes over the Detroit net.
- Al Rollins usurps Turk Broda as Toronto's starting goalie.
- Gerry McNeil takes over the starting job in Montreal after the retirement of Bill Durnan.
- NHL President Clarence Campbell fines Maurice Richard $500.00 for attacking referee Hugh McLean in a New York hotel lobby.
- Gordie Howe fully recovered from his terrifying skull fracture leads the league in goals with 43, assists with 43 and sets a points record with 83.
- Rookie Terry Sawchuk leads the league with a stingy 1.77 gaa.
- Ted Lindsay is fined $300 and suspended for 3 games after a stick fight with Boston's Bill Ezinicki.
- Red Kelly of the Red Wings leads all blueliners with 54 points.
- Game 2 of the Leafs Bruins semifinals is suspended because of Toronto's curfew and the game is declared a tie. But the Leafs reel off 4 straight games to put the Bruins away.
- Montreal upsets Detroit in 6 games in the other semi final.
- Toronto wins the Stanely Cup beating the Habs in 5 games as all games in the finals go to overtime.
- Boston's Milt Schmidt wins the Hart Trophy.
- Detroits Red Kelly wins the first of his 4 Lady Byng Trophies.
- Toronto goalie Al Rollins wins the Vezina.
- Terry Sawchuk of the Wings wins the Calder.
- Michigan wins its second straight NCAA championship blowing out Brown 7-1 in the finals
Last games
Debuts