Nice story about OUR Mats

[Willie Dog]

A lot of tidbits of info I was not aware of.

www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=1469&PHPSESSID=4f865aed4ac5ae560c48eaa581919e14

[oldhabsfan]

My dominating memory of Mats Naslund is of his performance in the 1984 Canada Cup.

In Canada's last game of that series they were up against Team Sweden. It looked like just a formality to begin with, even more so at the end of the first period when Canada was leading 5-1. All the Swedish players seemed to have given up - except Mats Naslund. He kept skating and playing hard. Gradually, one by one, his teammates began to follow his example. Team Canada did finally win that game, 6-5, by the skin of their teeth, and they were lucky to do it.

That was the greatest individual performance by a hockey player that I can remember seeing.

[CentreHice]

oldhabsfan said:

My dominating memory of Mats Naslund is of his performance in the 1984 Canada Cup.

In Canada's last game of that series they were up against Team Sweden. It looked like just a formality to begin with, even more so at the end of the first period when Canada was leading 5-1. All the Swedish players seemed to have given up - except Mats Naslund. He kept skating and playing hard. Gradually, one by one, his teammates began to follow his example. Team Canada did finally win that game, 6-5, by the skin of their teeth, and they were lucky to do it.

That was the greatest individual performance by a hockey player that I can remember seeing.

Thanks for tweaking that memory. Mats was always one of my favourites.

In that 84 Cup semi-finals, I remember Coffey breaking up a Soviet 2-on-1 in OT....then rushing back up the ice and firing it on goal...and I think it was Bossy who deflected it in for the winner.

I'd love to see that whole play again.

[oldhabsfan]

centrehice said:

In that 84 Cup semi-finals, I remember Coffey breaking up a Soviet 2-on-1 in OT....then rushing back up the ice and firing it on goal...and I think it was Bossy who deflected it in for the winner.

I'd love to see that whole play again.

You're right, it was Mike Bossy. That was gorgeous. It's also one of my favourite memories.

[SiR]

Mats was by far my favourite Hab. He came into his prime right when I was old enough to pay attention to hockey. I remember I started playing hockey during that 85/86 season and I wore #26 throughout my childhood playing days. I was always Mats Naslund when we'd play street hockey too. I met him at an autograph session at Sports Experts when I was a kid and he signed 4 posters for me including a caricature I had an artist make of me wearing a Naslund jersey. I remember him being very amused by it and talking to me about hockey etc. He was the first hockey star I had ever met and was my absolute idol. I remember him being very kind and humble and it really left a lasting impression on me throughout my youth. I was very sad when he retired.

[jkr]

Just looked up his stats because I remember him scoring over 100 points once - 85/86 - 110 points. Has a Habs playe done that since? And he won the Lady Byng in 87/88. I had forgotten about that.

I remember Martin St. Louis saying he wore 26 because of Naslund. He was inspired that such a small player could be so successful.