1968 Stanley Cup Finals
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The 1968 Stanley Cup Finals were played from May 5 to May 11, 1968 between the Montreal Canadiens and the St. Louis Blues. The Canadiens would win the series 4–0.
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[edit] Paths to the Final
This was the first Stanley Cup championship after the 1967 expansion. Montreal defeated Boston and Chicago to advance to the finals as the East Division champion. St. Louis would defeat Philadelphia and Minnesota to advance to the finals as the West Division champion.
[edit] The series
[edit] Game three
Glenn Hall was sensational, especially in game three when the Blues were outshot 46 to 15. Wrote Red Burnett, the dean of hockey writers then: "A number of Hall's saves were seemingly impossible. Experts walked out of the Forum convinced no other goaltender had performed so brilliantly in a losing cause." In the overtime of game three, Hall made a spectacular save on Dick Duff and then, standing on his head, made another save. "It was a heartbreaker to see" said Burnett "After the saves on Duff, Bobby Rousseau came and batted home the second rebound." Hall's heroics won him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs.
[edit] Game four
However, Montreal was not to be denied and won the Stanley Cup in game four as J.C. Tremblay fired home the winning goal. When the game ended, the fans came on the ice to celebrate, and balloons, hats and programs were thrown from the stands. Jean Beliveau, in a cast and crutches from his broken ankle, with Ralph Backstrom accepted the Cup from NHL president Clarence Campbell and the players did a victory lap with the Cup.
[edit] Aftermath
Less than 30 minutes after the Canadiens won the Cup, Canadiens coach Toe Blake announced his retirement. He gave reason that it had been a hard season, but the real reason was that his wife was dying of cancer and he wanted to spend his time with her. The celebration turned to a mournful event with players paying tribute to Blake, many in tears.
| Date | Visitors | Score | Home | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5 | Montreal | 3 | St. Louis | 2 | OT |
| May 7 | Montreal | 1 | St. Louis | 0 | |
| May 9 | St. Louis | 3 | Montreal | 4 | OT |
| May 11 | St. Louis | 2 | Montreal | 3 |
Montreal wins the series 4–0.
[edit] Montreal Canadiens 1968 Stanley Cup champions
Jean Beliveau (C-Captain), Ralph Backstrom (C), Yvan Cournoyer (LW), Dick Duff (LW), John Ferguson Sr. (LW), Danny Grant (RW), Terry Harper (D), Ted Harris (D), Serge Savard (D), Jacques Laperriere (D), Claude Larose (RW), Jacques Lemaire (C), Claude Provost (RW), Mickey Redmond (RW), Henri Richard (C), Bobby Rousseau (RW), Gilles Trembley (LW), Jean-Claude Tremblay (D), Carol Vadnais (D), Rogatien Vachon (goal), Ernie Wakely (goal dressed for 2 playoff games, but did not play for Montreal), Gump Worsley (goal).
- Non Players
Hartland Molson (Chairman/Owner), David Molson (President) Sam Pollock (Vice President/General Manager), Toe Blake (Head Coach), Larry Aubut (Trainer), Eddie Palchak (Ass’t Trainer).
[edit] Stanley Cup engraving
- Ernie Wakely was engraved on the cup twice with Montreal in 1965, 1968, but did not play any games for Montreal both seasons. His first NHL games was in 1963, and his second NHL games was in 1969. He would lead the NHL with the best goals-against-average while playing with St. Louis in 1971.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- (2000) Total Stanley Cup. NHL.
- Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books, 12, 50. ISBN 1–55168–261–3.
| Preceded by Toronto Maple Leafs 1967 |
Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Champions 1968 |
Succeeded by Montreal Canadiens 1969 |
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