5 replies to this topic

[TuckerIntensity1]

QUOTE (Lafleurs Fries @ Jun 2 2009, 03:32 PM)

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All they need is Ken Dryden and they're set.

They wear the same number. That's pretty much where any stretch of a comparison ends.

[seventieslord]

Funny that you bring up the game 2 miracle. I just read that yesterday in Dick Irvin's book.

[Lafleurs_Guy]

QUOTE (History man @ Jun 2 2009, 03:22 PM)

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At this point, the Red Wings have a 2-0 series lead in the final. You may be hearing all day about how history is on their side. After all, in 31 times out of 32 when the home team has won the first two games of the final, they have gone on to win the Cup. There is only one exception, the 1971 Montreal Canadiens.

In 1970, Canada as a nation was embarassed. Both of its only two teams, the Canadiens and the last place Leafs had missed the playoffs. It was the first time ever that no Canadian team was in the playoffs.

In 1971, both teams were back. The fourth place Leafs of the East played the 2nd place New York Rangers in the first round and lost the series in six games. It was the Rangers' first playoff series victory in 21 years. It was a brawl-filled series that saw Leaf goalie Bernie Parent lose his mask when Vic Hadfield flung it into the crowd. The Leafs were forced to use back-up goalie Jacques Plante.

Meanwhile, the 3rd place Habs faced the Big Bad Bruins who finished miles ahead of everybody in the regular season. The Bruins had the top four point-getters in the League, including Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr. They were the defending Stanley Cup champions and they were even better than they were in 1970. They were awesome. The Bruins won Game 1 and were ahead 5-1 midway through Game 2. Then came the series turning point. As great as Bobby Orr was, he wasn't perfect. He came out of his end with the puck and was poke-checked by Henri Richard who went in alone and scored. It was the beginning of a miraculous comeback. The Canadiens won that game 7-5. They took the Bruin to seven games, but rookie goalie Ken Dryden stoned the Bruins which led a frustrated Phil Esposito to smash his his stick against the glass. The Habs won the Game 4-2 and the series - Miracle one was in the bag.

In the final, the Canadiens lost the first two games in Chicago. The Hawks, who had finished first in the West were no slouches. They had Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Vezina-winning Tony Esposito in net. The Habs tied the series with two wins in Montreal and then in Game 5, coach Al MacNeil started juggling lines. The Hawks won to take a 3-2 series lead. Henri Richard opened his mouth and has forever regretted what he said to the press. He called Al MacNeil incompetent. It was plastered all over every front page of every newspaper in Quebec. Somehow, it worked. The Habs rallied. Thanks to 3rd period goals, one each by the brothers Mahovlich, they took Game 6 by a score of 4-3. Back to Chicago for Game 7. No home team had lost the Final at home in Game 7 since 1945. A fearful Henri Richard took matters into his own hands and scored the 2-2 tying goal in the 2nd period and then the Cup-winner on a spectacular solo effort in the 3rd. Dryden was brilliant and took the Conn Smythe before winning the Calder trophy the following season. Miracle two was completed.

The Penguins will need a couple of miracles themselves to come back this year. The odds are against them, but it has happened before.

All they need is Ken Dryden and they're set.

[Lafleurs_Guy]

QUOTE (History man @ Jun 2 2009, 03:22 PM)

---

At this point, the Red Wings have a 2-0 series lead in the final. You may be hearing all day about how history is on their side. After all, in 31 times out of 32 when the home team has won the first two games of the final, they have gone on to win the Cup. There is only one exception, the 1971 Montreal Canadiens.

In 1970, Canada as a nation was embarassed. Both of its only two teams, the Canadiens and the last place Leafs had missed the playoffs. It was the first time ever that no Canadian team was in the playoffs.

In 1971, both teams were back. The fourth place Leafs of the East played the 2nd place New York Rangers in the first round and lost the series in six games. It was the Rangers' first playoff series victory in 21 years. It was a brawl-filled series that saw Leaf goalie Bernie Parent lose his mask when Vic Hadfield flung it into the crowd. The Leafs were forced to use back-up goalie Jacques Plante.

Meanwhile, the 3rd place Habs faced the Big Bad Bruins who finished miles ahead of everybody in the regular season. The Bruins had the top four point-getters in the League, including Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr. They were the defending Stanley Cup champions and they were even better than they were in 1970. They were awesome. The Bruins won Game 1 and were ahead 5-1 midway through Game 2. Then came the series turning point. As great as Bobby Orr was, he wasn't perfect. He came out of his end with the puck and was poke-checked by Henri Richard who went in alone and scored. It was the beginning of a miraculous comeback. The Canadiens won that game 7-5. They took the Bruin to seven games, but rookie goalie Ken Dryden stoned the Bruins which led a frustrated Phil Esposito to smash his his stick against the glass. The Habs won the Game 4-2 and the series - Miracle one was in the bag.

In the final, the Canadiens lost the first two games in Chicago. The Hawks, who had finished first in the West were no slouches. They had Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Vezina-winning Tony Esposito in net. The Habs tied the series with two wins in Montreal and then in Game 5, coach Al MacNeil started juggling lines. The Hawks won to take a 3-2 series lead. Henri Richard opened his mouth and has forever regretted what he said to the press. He called Al MacNeil incompetent. It was plastered all over every front page of every newspaper in Quebec. Somehow, it worked. The Habs rallied. Thanks to 3rd period goals, one each by the brothers Mahovlich, they took Game 6 by a score of 4-3. Back to Chicago for Game 7. No home team had lost the Final at home in Game 7 since 1945. A fearful Henri Richard took matters into his own hands and scored the 2-2 tying goal in the 2nd period and then the Cup-winner on a spectacular solo effort in the 3rd. Dryden was brilliant and took the Conn Smythe before winning the Calder trophy the following season. Miracle two was completed.

The Penguins will need a couple of miracles themselves to come back this year. The odds are against them, but it has happened before.

All they need is Ken Dryden and they're set.

[History_man]

QUOTE (seventieslord @ Jun 2 2009, 02:43 PM)

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Funny that you bring up the game 2 miracle. I just read that yesterday in Dick Irvin's book.

Pure coincidence. I didn't get it from **** Irvin's book.

[History_man]

At this point, the Red Wings have a 2-0 series lead in the final. You may be hearing all day about how history is on their side. After all, in 31 times out of 32 when the home team has won the first two games of the final, they have gone on to win the Cup. There is only one exception, the 1971 Montreal Canadiens.

In 1970, Canada as a nation was embarassed. Both of its only two teams, the Canadiens and the last place Leafs had missed the playoffs. It was the first time ever that no Canadian team was in the playoffs.

In 1971, both teams were back. The fourth place Leafs of the East played the 2nd place New York Rangers in the first round and lost the series in six games. It was the Rangers' first playoff series victory in 21 years. It was a brawl-filled series that saw Leaf goalie Bernie Parent lose his mask when Vic Hadfield flung it into the crowd. The Leafs were forced to use back-up goalie Jacques Plante.

Meanwhile, the 3rd place Habs faced the Big Bad Bruins who finished miles ahead of everybody in the regular season. The Bruins had the top four point-getters in the League, including Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr. They were the defending Stanley Cup champions and they were even better than they were in 1970. They were awesome. The Bruins won Game 1 and were ahead 5-1 midway through Game 2. Then came the series turning point. As great as Bobby Orr was, he wasn't perfect. He came out of his end with the puck and was poke-checked by Henri Richard who went in alone and scored. It was the beginning of a miraculous comeback. The Canadiens won that game 7-5. They took the Bruin to seven games, but rookie goalie Ken Dryden stoned the Bruins which led a frustrated Phil Esposito to smash his his stick against the glass. The Habs won the Game 4-2 and the series - Miracle one was in the bag.

In the final, the Canadiens lost the first two games in Chicago. The Hawks, who had finished first in the West were no slouches. They had Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Vezina-winning Tony Esposito in net. The Habs tied the series with two wins in Montreal and then in Game 5, coach Al MacNeil started juggling lines. The Hawks won to take a 3-2 series lead. Henri Richard opened his mouth and has forever regretted what he said to the press. He called Al MacNeil incompetent. It was plastered all over every front page of every newspaper in Quebec. Somehow, it worked. The Habs rallied. Thanks to 3rd period goals, one each by the brothers Mahovlich, they took Game 6 by a score of 4-3. Back to Chicago for Game 7. No home team had lost the Final at home in Game 7 since 1945. A fearful Henri Richard took matters into his own hands and scored the 2-2 tying goal in the 2nd period and then the Cup-winner on a spectacular solo effort in the 3rd. Dryden was brilliant and took the Conn Smythe before winning the Calder trophy the following season. Miracle two was completed.

The Penguins will need a couple of miracles themselves to come back this year. The odds are against them, but it has happened before.