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Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks 1964-65

The Stanley Cup is one of the most-recognized symbols in North American sports. It is the championship trophy of the NHL, National Hockey League which is won by one of the teams that have qualified for the championship finals after playing a series of playoff matches. It is the only trophy in professional sports that has the name of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved upon it. The Cup winners keep it until the new champion is crowned. NHL, the National Hockey League is a premier professional North American Sports League played in indoor stadiums.

In 1964-65 championship played between the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks. Montreal Canadiens team won this Cup. Bitter rivals Toronto and Montreal faced off in the semifinals in 1965. But the Maple Leafs, trying to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup, couldn't handle the more muscular Canadiens. The Habs won the first two games at home, lost two in Toronto, then knocked out the defending champs with 3-1 and 4-2 wins. Chicago edged Detroit in seven games, setting up a rematch of the 1961 Blackhawks Canadiens semifinal series. Hector Toe Blake played a role of coach of the winner team.

Montreal won Game 1 on Yvan Cournoyer's late goal. Defense and special teams keyed Montreal's 2-0 shutout in Game 2. Chicago then posted two home wins by scores of 3-1 and 5-1 to draw even in the series. Chicago's Bobby Hull had two goals in Game 4, including the game-winner on a 70-foot slapshot.

The Canadiens rebounded in Game 5, shelling Blackhawks goaltender Glenn Hall 6-0 as Jean Beliveau produced two goals and two assists. Ralph Backstrom gave the Habs a second-period lead in Game 6, but Moose Vasko and Doug Mohns scored third-period goals two minutes apart to give Chicago a 2-1 win and tie the series at 3-3. Beliveau scored fourteen seconds into Game 7, and goaltender Gump Worsley tossed a shutout as the Habs won the game 4-0 their 12th Stanley Cup championship. Beliveau became the first recipient of the Conn Symthe Trophy, awarded to the postseason MVP, Most Valuable Player.

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