Trivia

[GNick99]

Against which club was Ken Dryden's first playoff shutout?

[CentreHice]

May 6th, 1973?

Finals, Game 4. 4-0 over Chicago.

That's the first one I can find.

After winning the Cup, Dryden took the next year off to finish his law degree, article....something along that line. I was a very angry 14-year-old when it was announced.

In looking at the 72/73 playoffs, a memory came flying back from the semi-final series against Philly. The Flyers won Game 1 in Montreal in OT. Game 2 went to OT as well. I'm pretty sure rookie Larry Robinson scored the winner on a shot from the point. I remember him saying that Frank Mahovlich told him to shoot it.

Turning point of the series, as the Habs went on to win the next 3 games....and move on to the finals vs. Chicago.

I'll try to verify that memory.

[CentreHice]

Doesn't take long to find info anymore, does it?

My memory served me correctly. It was Robinson who scored that goal....but Frank didn't tell him to shoot. He told him to "keep going".

[GNick99]

Yeah, you guys can look everything up now. Kind of ruins trivia. Oh well.

I cheated a little also. I have some dvds I bought of old Habs and this week watched a few from '73 playoffs. Yeah, his first shut out was game 4 in Chicago. Dryden played a good game that game. But the previous game he played like he did in Game 1 of '72 Summit Series. He let in some soft ones. Hawks were up 5-0 at one point, Habs scored late in second period then in third put on an offensive show. It was 5-4 in final minute, Bowman pulled Dryden, Frank Mahovlich had an open net and shot the puck right thru the crease. It went in the corner and Dennis Hull slapped it down the ice into the Habs open net. Habs were that close to taking that game. It was a great comeback try though. I had forgotten how good a player Marc Tardif was. If he had stayed in NHL he would have been a hall of famer. He was playing with Lemaire and Cournoyer most of the time. Chuck Lefley was playing with the Mahovlich brothers. That Game 3 they were saying Henri Richard set the NHL record for 165 career playoff games.

[CentreHice]

We look back with much fondness at those years, but if this board had existed back then, imagine the uproar here when the Big M shot that puck through the crease....and the venom aimed at Dryden.

Those teams didn't romp through the league.....they still had to work their butts off. They earned every ounce of that silver, as every team wanted to knock off the Habs.

I find it interesting to read/hear the stories told from the other team's view. Here's one written from a Chicago perspective, re: the 1971 Cup Finals, in which the Hawks were up 3-2 in the series....and 2-0 at home in Game 7.

For Chicago Blackhawks' fans of a certain age, 1971 evokes bleak memories.
The story begins a decade before, when the young Blackhawks won the 1961 Stanley Cup. Bobby Hull was just 22 years old then. Stan Mikita was 20. Even the veterans, like goaltender Glenn Hall, were mostly under 30. This was a team with a brilliant future.

As expected, the Blackhawks were a contender throughout the sixties, with Hull and Mikita emerging as superstars. But playoff disappointment plagued the team, year after year.

In 1971, the Hawks put together another solid season and met the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final. Chicago opened the series by winning the first two games at home, scoring seven goals against a rookie goaltender named Ken Dryden. Surely, this was finally the Blackhawks' year.

But Montreal also proved unbeatable on home ice, and the series came down to Game Seven at Chicago Stadium. The home team jumped ahead 2-0, and carried that lead late into the second period. The Cup was within reach.

Blackhawks' coach Billy Reay takes up the story:

"I remember Hull hit the crossbar with a shot that would have made it 3-0. Then (Jacques) Lemaire scored on a long shot to make it 2-1. I thought that was the year we were going to win it, but that's the way things go in hockey."

Lemaire's goal was a weak one, a floating slapshot from center ice. "It must have dropped six inches," Stan Mikita recalled. "Tony (Esposito, the Chicago goalie) was notorious for not being able to see the puck from long distances. I was in the [penalty] box on that end when he took the shot. I might have had a better view than Tony."

It would not be fair to pin the loss on Esposito, but the goal appeared to deflate the Blackhawks. Henri Richard followed up with a pair of goals, giving the Canadiens a 3-2 victory and their third Stanley Cup in four years. For Chicago fans, it was another collapse by a great team that too often found a way to fall short when the games mattered most.


Here are clips from the '71 playoffs. Game 7 vs. Boston, Game 6 vs. Minnesota, and Game 7 vs. Chicago. First time I've seen the Lemaire goal since the night it happened 40 years ago.



Imagine, winning the Stanley Cup, and your GM being cagey enough to ensure the #1 pick for the following draft: Guy Lafleur.

[GNick99]

Good find Center. I wonder if those broadcast are NBC or ABC or a another big American network or perhaps the Bruins broadcasters? I've tried hard to buy copy of those '71 games and every road I went down lead to they do not exist. The quality looked good in those clips.

[CentreHice]

Game 7 vs. the Bruins was on a Sunday afternoon on NBC. Dan Kelly doing the play-by-play. I remember going back into Grade 8 the next day and smiling at the Boston fans (all band-wagoners with the Bruins having re-written the record book that year.)

Game 6 vs. the North Stars was on CBC. And you can hear HNIC's Gallivan calling Game 7 vs. Chicago for the Cup.

Love his call on Lemaire's goal. What a nice play by Henri Richard for the winner. Catches Magnuson a little flat-footed. Takes 5 or 6 quick strides, cuts across, and makes the move on Tony O.

Rejean Houle figured into a lot of important goals in his time. And what a shadow. He was on Bobby Hull that whole series....as basically a rookie. He had nice hands around the net, too.

Too bad none of that magic transferred to GM duties.

[franko]

first 6 games: home team wins. a lot of people were expecting the same form game 7 but young franko would never believe it, never give up, always believe in his team [oh how times have changed] . . . there were a lot of unhappy anti-Hab fans and one smiling Hab fan at school the next day.

[CentreHice]

Nov 4, 2011 11:55:14 GMT -5 franko said:

first 6 games: home team wins. a lot of people were expecting the same form game 7 but young franko would never believe it, never give up, always believe in his team [oh how times have changed] . . . there were a lot of unhappy anti-Hab fans and one smiling Hab fan at school the next day.

I was 12 years old, watching the game with my grandfather, a life-long Habs' fan. The day and age where smoking in the house around children was just fine. He must've gone through half a pack of McDonald's Menthol that night. Born in 1900, he went with the year. He was 71 and had seen it all, Habs-wise....he'd even been to Detroit to see Joliat and Morenz. He watched Game 7 in what I thought was a very relaxed manner. I was frantic at 2-0 Chicago. He just smiled and said, "Doesn't look good, but the game's not over yet." Imagine my excitement building when Lemaire scored, then Richard, and Richard again. There were no hi-fives with a grandfather back then, it seemed. Too much respected "distance" engrained in those days. I was elated, but he took it in stride. Just another Montreal Stanley Cup for him. He'd been around for all 17. And he saw 5 more.

Cherished memory.

[GNick99]

Nov 4, 2011 11:19:14 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

Game 7 vs. the Bruins was on a Sunday afternoon on NBC. Dan Kelly doing the play-by-play. I remember going back into Grade 8 the next day and smiling at the Boston fans (all band-wagoners with the Bruins having re-written the record book that year.)

Game 6 vs. the North Stars was on CBC. And you can hear HNIC's Gallivan calling Game 7 vs. Chicago for the Cup.

Love his call on Lemaire's goal. What a nice play by Henri Richard for the winner. Catches Magnuson a little flat-footed. Takes 5 or 6 quick strides, cuts across, and makes the move on Tony O.

Rejean Houle figured into a lot of important goals in his time. And what a shadow. He was on Bobby Hull that whole series....as basically a rookie. He had nice hands around the net, too.

Too bad none of that magic transferred to GM duties.

I'd like get a copy of those games if you know anyway to get them? I have quite a library of games but always looking to add to it.

Watching those old Habs, one thing noticed was how much more room players had on the ice. Way more time to set up plays and be creative. Today players are 2 inches taller and 25 pounds heavier, all 10 skaters bigger makes the ice smaller.

[CentreHice]

I don't have access to them.

The website "habs eye on the prize" or something like that....has many clips. Maybe their admin knows how to get copies?

An interesting note on that Cup run. We did it without Serge Savard, possibly our best overall d-man at that time. One report says he broke bones in both legs in a game vs. Toronto on Jan. 30/71...the result of a Bob Baun hipcheck. And he had already broken a leg in 5 places a year earlier after crashing into the goalpost. I remember seeing that game. Those two injuries forced him to change his game...and he became the ultimate defensive dman.

Talk about depth on D. Terry Harper, J.C. Tremblay, Guy Lapointe, Jacques Laperriere, Pierre Bouchard.

[GNick99]

Yeah, I always like the defense as deep and talented as it can get for the playoffs. Lapointe and Lapierriere are hall of fame, JC Tremblay would be if he didn't jump to WHA. He was top 2-3 defenseman in the game when he left. I remember Harper playing some of his best hockey in that playoffs.

[GNick99]

Who is only GM in NHL history to win a Cup as GM of two different teams?

[CentreHice]

In going to WWII, did Conn Smythe name Frank Selke GM of the Leafs?

If so, that's who it is.

If not...that's not who it is.

[seventeen]

I believe you're right, CH. Obviously Selke won several with Montreal and he probably won one with TO. If not, then I vote for Lester Patrick, Leafs and Rangers. Maybe. I hope.

I say that because I'm not looking anything up. No time.

[GNick99]

Nov 16, 2011 22:44:55 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

In going to WWII, did Conn Smythe name Frank Selke GM of the Leafs?

If so, that's who it is.

If not...that's not who it is.

I doubt Selke was technically the GM in Toronto. I got this from author of book "Behind the moves", he was on FAN590 yesterday. Unless the author made a mistake.

The answer is Tommy Gorman who won Cups with 4 different teams. As GM

www.nhlgms.com/

[CentreHice]

Your question asked who was only GM to win with two different teams....not four.

Tricky.....

[jkr]

Nov 17, 2011 8:52:05 GMT -5 GNick99 said:

Nov 16, 2011 22:44:55 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

In going to WWII, did Conn Smythe name Frank Selke GM of the Leafs?

If so, that's who it is.

If not...that's not who it is.

I doubt Selke was technically the GM in Toronto. I got this from author of book "Behind the moves", he was on FAN590 yesterday. Unless the author made a mistake.

The answer is Tommy Gorman who won Cups with 4 different teams. As GM

www.nhlgms.com/

you must of heard this on the FAN last night too.

That book they talked about ( with the link you have provided) looks like a great read when it comes to GMs. Too bad it's only available in digital format. I think the author said it was $93.00

[GNick99]

Nov 17, 2011 16:34:59 GMT -5 jkr said:

Nov 17, 2011 8:52:05 GMT -5 GNick99 said:

I doubt Selke was technically the GM in Toronto. I got this from author of book "Behind the moves", he was on FAN590 yesterday. Unless the author made a mistake.

The answer is Tommy Gorman who won Cups with 4 different teams. As GM

www.nhlgms.com/

you must of heard this on the FAN last night too.

That book they talked about ( with the link you have provided) looks like a great read when it comes to GMs. Too bad it's only available in digital format. I think the author said it was $93.00

The way I took it there are 2 different prices. $99 for the basic copy and $129 for another. Not sure what extra it has in it. Hope Santa thinks it is a good gift for me this Christmas season. I usualy get a gift for roughly that much that I don't end up using. At least this time it would make good reading

[GNick99]

Who was youngest Hab to win a Cup?

[Skilly]

I've heard this before, someone tried to tell me it was Mario Tremblay, but I believe it was Ralph Backstrom.

[GNick99]

Mar 1, 2014 14:44:51 GMT -5 Skilly said:

I've heard this before, someone tried to tell me it was Mario Tremblay, but I believe it was Ralph Backstrom.

Said yesterday on FAN690 it was Mario Tremblay in 1976. During Pierre McGuire interview

[CentreHice]

According to hockeydb.

Backstrom was born on Sept. 18. 1937.

His first Cup with the Habs was won on Apr. 18, 1959.

Which would have made him 21 years, 7 months.


There were a few younger than Backstrom. John Korkic was 21 years, 2 months and Momesso and Roy were 20 when the Habs won the Cup on May 24, 1986. Petr Svoboda was 20 years, 2 months. Claude Lemieux was 20 years, 10 months.

Stephane Richer was the youngest Hab on that Cup winning team....at 19 years, 11.5 months.


Mario Tremblay, again from hockeydb, was born on Sept. 2, 1956....won his first Cup on May 16, 1976. 19 years, approx. 8.5 months. So Tremblay is the youngest in my search so far.

Richer might clock in at second youngest.

[Skilly]

Mar 1, 2014 18:13:24 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

According to hockeydb.

Backstrom was born on Sept. 18. 1937.

His first Cup with the Habs was won on Apr. 18, 1959.

Which would have made him 21 years, 7 months.


There were a few younger than Backstrom. John Korkic was 21 years, 2 months and Momesso and Roy were 20 when the Habs won the Cup on May 24, 1986. Petr Svoboda was 20 years, 2 months. Claude Lemieux was 20 years, 10 months.

Stephane Richer was the youngest Hab on that Cup winning team....at 19 years, 11.5 months.


Mario Tremblay, again from hockeydb, was born on Sept. 2, 1956....won his first Cup on May 16, 1976. 19 years, approx. 8.5 months. So Tremblay is the youngest in my search so far.

Richer might clock in at second youngest.

Hockey reference has Backstrom listed on the 1957 Cup roster, but only playing 3 games. I thought they were three playoff games, but they are regular season games so he wouldn't have his name on the Cup. Guess I should google my answers

[Skilly]

Mar 1, 2014 18:13:24 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

According to hockeydb.

Backstrom was born on Sept. 18. 1937.

His first Cup with the Habs was won on Apr. 18, 1959.

Which would have made him 21 years, 7 months.


There were a few younger than Backstrom. John Korkic was 21 years, 2 months and Momesso and Roy were 20 when the Habs won the Cup on May 24, 1986. Petr Svoboda was 20 years, 2 months. Claude Lemieux was 20 years, 10 months.

Stephane Richer was the youngest Hab on that Cup winning team....at 19 years, 11.5 months.


Mario Tremblay, again from hockeydb, was born on Sept. 2, 1956....won his first Cup on May 16, 1976. 19 years, approx. 8.5 months. So Tremblay is the youngest in my search so far.

Richer might clock in at second youngest.

Shane Corson was younger than Richer I believe, but I'll have to look that up

Richer , June 7, 1966
Corson, August 13 1966

[GNick99]

Mar 1, 2014 18:13:24 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

According to hockeydb.

Backstrom was born on Sept. 18. 1937.

His first Cup with the Habs was won on Apr. 18, 1959.

Which would have made him 21 years, 7 months.


There were a few younger than Backstrom. John Korkic was 21 years, 2 months and Momesso and Roy were 20 when the Habs won the Cup on May 24, 1986. Petr Svoboda was 20 years, 2 months. Claude Lemieux was 20 years, 10 months.

Stephane Richer was the youngest Hab on that Cup winning team....at 19 years, 11.5 months.


Mario Tremblay, again from hockeydb, was born on Sept. 2, 1956....won his first Cup on May 16, 1976. 19 years, approx. 8.5 months. So Tremblay is the youngest in my search so far.

Richer might clock in at second youngest.

Doubt it would be before the draft because very rare for teenager to be in NHL back then. The only 18 year old draft was in 1974. Draft went to 18 years old in 1980, but we only won cups in '86 and '93.

[CentreHice]

I saw Corson on the 86 roster, but on hockeydb he's listed as playing no playoff games. That's why I left him off.

[GNick99]

How many Canadiens played on all 4 Cup teams from '76-79?

[CentreHice]

15 players, according to hockey.db.

Lafleur, Shutt, Lapointe, Cournoyer, Lambert, Lemaire, Savard, Risebrough, Robinson, Jarvis, Gainey, Tremblay, Chartraw, Dryden, and Larocque.

Cournoyer played only 15 games in 78/79…and none in the playoffs. But I'm pretty sure his name is on the Cup.

9 of the 15 are in the HHOF.

7 are in the rafters (after Lapointe goes up).

I had forgotten that Chartraw was there for all 4. What a rugged dman he was. Tough as nails.

Bowman also used him on the fourth line, IIRC.

Thanks for the trip down research memory lane, gnick!

[GNick99]

Jun 19, 2014 20:13:34 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

15 players, according to hockey.db.

Lafleur, Shutt, Lapointe, Cournoyer, Lambert, Lemaire, Savard, Risebrough, Robinson, Jarvis, Gainey, Tremblay, Chartraw, Dryden, and Larocque.

Cournoyer played only 15 games in 78/79…and none in the playoffs. But I'm pretty sure his name is on the Cup.

9 of the 15 are in the HHOF.

7 are in the rafters (after Lapointe goes up).

I had forgotten that Chartraw was there for all 4. What a rugged dman he was. Tough as nails.

Bowman also used him on the fourth line, IIRC.

Thanks for the trip down research memory lane, gnick!

Watching a game from playoffs '93 other night, Dick Irvin said 14, but he may have been wrong.