1951 Stanley Cup Finals

The 1951 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. The Maple Leafs won the series 4–1, with all five games going into overtime. It was the Toronto franchise's ninth Stanley Cup win and the last in a series of six wins starting in 1942. It was the first appearance in a string of ten consecutive appearances by the Canadiens.

1951 Stanley Cup Finals
12345 Total
Toronto Maple Leafs 3*2*2*3*3* 4
Montreal Canadiens 2*3*1*2*2* 1
* – Denotes overtime period(s)
Location(s)Toronto: Maple Leaf Gardens (1, 2, 5)
Montreal: Montreal Forum (3, 4)
CoachesToronto: Joe Primeau
Montreal: Dick Irvin
CaptainsToronto: Ted Kennedy
Montreal: Emile Bouchard
DatesApril 11–21, 1951
Series-winning goalBill Barilko (2:53, OT)
Hall of FamersMaple Leafs:
Max Bentley (1966)
Turk Broda (1967)
Fernie Flaman (1990)
Ted Kennedy (1966)
Harry Watson (1994)
Canadiens:
Emile Bouchard (1966)
Bernie Geoffrion (1972)
Doug Harvey (1973)
Tom Johnson (1970)
Elmer Lach (1966)
Bert Olmstead (1985)
Maurice Richard (1961)
Coaches:
Dick Irvin (1958, player)
Joe Primeau (1963, player)
← 1950 Stanley Cup Finals 1952 →

Paths to the Finals

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Toronto defeated the Boston Bruins 4–1 to reach the Finals. Montreal defeated the defending champion Detroit Red Wings 4–2 to reach the Finals.

Game summaries

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Every game went into overtime in this series. Bill Barilko scored the Cup-winning overtime goal, his last goal in the NHL as he would die in a plane crash during the summer.[1]


April 11 Montreal Canadiens 2–3 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Maurice Richard (5) - 15:27 First period 00:15 - Sid Smith (3)
15:42 - Tod Sloan (2)
Paul Masnick (1) - 4:02 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring First overtime period 5:51 - Sid Smith (4)
Gerry McNeil Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 14 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Paul Masnick (2) - 3:44 First period No scoring
Billy Reay (3) - 9:24 Second period 16:31 - pp - Sid Smith (5)
No scoring Third period 8:16 - pp - Ted Kennedy (3)
Maurice Richard (6) - 2:55 First overtime period No scoring
Gerry McNeil Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 17 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–1 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 2:18 - pp - Maurice Richard (7)
Sid Smith (6) - pp - 5:58 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Ted Kennedy (4) - 4:47 First overtime period No scoring
Turk Broda Goalie stats Gerry McNeil
April 19 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Sid Smith (7) - 00:38 First period 14:41 - Maurice Richard (8)
Howie Meeker (1) - 1:27 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 13:49 - Elmer Lach (2)
Harry Watson (1) - 5:15 First overtime period No scoring
Turk Broda Goalie stats Gerry McNeil
April 21 Montreal Canadiens 2–3 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Maurice Richard (9) - 8:56 Second period 12:00 - Tod Sloan (3)
Paul Meger (1) - 4:47 Third period 19:28 - Tod Sloan (4)
No scoring First overtime period 2:53 - Bill Barilko (3)
Gerry McNeil Goalie stats Turk Broda
Toronto won series 4–1


Stanley Cup engraving

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The 1951 Stanley Cup was presented to Maple Leafs captain Ted Kennedy by NHL President Clarence Campbell following the Maple Leafs 3–2 overtime win over the Canadiens in game five.

The following Maple Leafs players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup

1950–51 Toronto Maple Leafs

Players

Coaching and administrative staff

  • Conn Smythe (President/Manager/Owner), Clarence Hap Day (Asst. Manager)
  • George McGillach (Vice President), John Murdoch (Vice President)
  • Ed Bickle (Director/Owner), Jack Bickell (Director/Owner)
  • Tim Daly (Trainer), Ed Fitkin (Publicity Director)
  • Archie Campbell (Asst. Trainer), Tom Nayler (Asst. Trainer), George Walker (Chief Scout)
  • Joe Primeau (Coach), William MacBrien (Chairman/Owner)
  • Norman Delarue†, Robert Galloway†, Horance MacIntyre† (Team Doctors)

Stanley Cup engraving

  • † Included on the original ring in 1951. There was no room left for the 3 team doctors the way that the Toronto Maple Leafs 1951 members were engraved on the new ring during the 1957–58 season.
  • A played only 13 games, but the name is on the cup. B played only 12 games, but the name is on the cup. Both Hugh Bolton, and Bob Hassard did not play in the playoff and did not qualify to be on the cup.
  • Joe Primeau was the 7th NHL rookie coach to win the Stanley Cup.
  • ** John McCormack played 46 regular season games, he was sent to the minors to play in the playoffs. McCormack was still included on the Stanley Cup.
  • Joe Primeau (Coach), William MacBrien (Chairman/Owner) were listed last on the Stanley Cup. Tradition has them listed before the players.

Engraving mistakes

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Several mistakes happened in the engraving of the names:

  • Gus Mortson's last name was misspelled WORTSON with a "W" instead a "M".
  • Danny Lewicki's last name was misspelled LEWESKI, with a "S" instead of a "C".
  • Ted Kennedy's name was misspelled KENNEDYY with an extra "Y". His position as Captain was also left off the Stanley Cup.
  • William A. H. MacBrien's last name was misspelled as McBrien, missing an "A"
  • Elwin "Al" Rollins' first name was misspelled ELVIN with a "V" instead of a "W". The Rollins mistake was not corrected on the Replica Cup created in 1992–93. The other 4 mistakes were corrected on the Replica Cup.

Members of Toronto Maple Leafs that won 4 cups in 5 years 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951 dynasty

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Bill Barilko, Turk Broda, Ted Kennedy†, Joe Klukay, Howie Meeker, Gus Mortson, Jimmy Thomson, Harry Watson (8 players),

Ed Bickle†, John Bickell†, Conn Smythe†, John Mordoch†, William MacBrien†, Hap Day†, Tim Daly†, George Walker, Ed Finkin, Horance McIntre (10 non-players).

† also won the Stanley Cup in 1945.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Campigotto, Jesse (July 16, 2020). "The hockey card Gord Downie stole from". CBC Sports. CBC. Retrieved May 28, 2021.

References

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Preceded by Toronto Maple Leafs
Stanley Cup champions

1951
Succeeded by