Home > Hockey > Stanley Cup History > Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings 1963 64

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings 1963-64

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 1963-64 championship played between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. Toronto Maple Leafs team won this Cup. For the first time since the NHL's six-team format was established in 1943, both semifinal series went seven games. The Toronto Maple Leafs outlasted the Montreal Canadiens in a see-saw series and advanced to their fifth Stanley Cup final in six years. Detroit upset the Chicago Blackhawks in the other matchup, forcing a rematch with the two-time defending champion Leafs in the finals.

The first championship series to go seven games since Montreal and Detroit met in 1955, it was a series of nail-biters, with five of the first six games decided by one goal. Toronto won Game 1 by a 3-2 margin as Bob Pulford picked off a pass and wristed a shot past Detroit goaltender Terry Sawchuk with just two seconds left on the clock. The Leafs took Game 4 as Toronto right winger Andy Bathgate, signed just before the playoffs from the New York Rangers, scored the game-winner halfway through the third period.

Howe and Eddie Joyal scored to give Detroit a 2-1 win in Game 5. One of hockey's legendary moments of heroism occurred in Game 5. Toronto's Bobby Baun left the ice on a stretcher after taking a slapshot to the ankle in the third period. The rugged defenseman then returned in overtime to score the winning goal at the 2 minutes 43 seconds mark. After the series, it was revealed that Braun had been playing on a fractured ankle. The Leafs rode the emotional high of the win to a decisive 4-0 triumph in the finale and their third consecutive Stanley Cup championship.

Back to Stanley Cup History