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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens 1950-51

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.

The Detroit Red Wings finished the 1950-51 regular season with a league-record 101 points, six better than the Toronto Maple Leafs and 36 ahead of the third-place Canadiens. Understandably, Montreal wasn't given much of a chance against the Red Wings in the semifinals, but the Habs' Maurice Richard dispatched Detroit and Triple Crown winner Gordie Howe almost single-handedly. The Rocket beat Wings goaltender Terry Sawchuk the fourth overtime to win game 1, netted the winner again in triple overtime of Game 2 and led the Canadiens to the finals in six games. In the other semifinal, Toronto outscored the Boston Bruins 17-4 and takes the series in five games.

The Finals featured five consecutive overtime thrillers, the only time every game in a Stanley Cup final went into overtime. Toronto won game 1 3-2 when Sid Smith scored in the extra period. In game 2, Richard reprised his heroics, beating Ted Broda for his third overtime goal of the playoffs. In Montreal, Ted Kennedy won game 3 with an overtime goal that gave the Leafs a 3-1 Series lead. But the final game in Toronto proved to be the most exciting of all.

The Habs led 2-1 late in the third period when Toronto coach Joe Primeau pulled his goaltender and inserted Max Bentley as an extra attacker. Toronto's Tod Sloan then tied it up with just 32 seconds remaining in regulation. Leafs defenseman Bill Barilko took a pass from Howie Meeker and beat Gerry McNeil in overtime, winning the Cup for Toronto. This match between Toronto Maple Leafs versus Montreal Canadiens is known to be one of the best matches in the history of hockey, to be ever played, in which sheer determination, fighting spirit and clean game could be seen throughout the game.

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