The 1944 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series between the
Chicago Black Hawks and the
Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens won the series 4–0 to win their first
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
since they defeated Chicago in .
Paths to the Finals
Chicago defeated the
defending champion Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
in a best-of-seven 4–1 to advance to the Finals. Montreal defeated the
Toronto Maple Leafs in a best-of-seven 4–1 to advance to the Finals.
Game summaries
Maurice "Rocket" Richard
Joseph Henri Maurice "Rocket" Richard (; ; August 4, 1921 – May 27, 2000) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens. He was the first player in NHL hist ...
made his Stanley Cup debut with a five-goal performance in the series, including a
hat trick
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
in game two. The Punch Line of Richard,
Elmer Lach and
Toe Blake scored ten of the Canadiens' 16 goals. Blake scored the Cup winner in overtime. In the same overtime,
Bill Durnan stopped the first penalty shot awarded in the Finals, awarded to
Virgil Johnson.
Stanley Cup engraving
The 1944 Stanley Cup was presented to Canadiens captain Toe Blake by
NHL President Red Dutton following the Canadiens 5–4 overtime win over the Black Hawks in game four.
The following Canadiens players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup
1943–44 Montreal Canadiens
See also
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1943–44 NHL season
The 1943–44 NHL season was the 27th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams played 50 games each. The Montreal Canadiens were the top team of the regular season and followed it up with the team's fifth Stanley Cup championship.
League ...
*
1943–44 Chicago Black Hawks season
The 1943–44 Chicago Black Hawks season was the team's 18th season in the NHL, and they were coming off a 5th-place finish in 1942–43, failing to qualify for the playoffs.
The Black Hawks would once again finish just under .500, with a 22â ...
*
1943–44 Montreal Canadiens season
The 1943–44 NHL season, 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's Montreal Canadiens seasons, 35th Season (sports), season, 27th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team would win the Stanley Cup for the fifth time. Bill Durnan wou ...
References and notes
*
* Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). ''Lord Stanley's Cup''. Bolton, Ont.: Fenn Pub. pp 12, 50.
{{Montreal Canadiens
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
Stanley Cup Finals
Chicago Blackhawks games
Montreal Canadiens games
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media, french: Finale de la Coupe Stanley) is the National Hockey League's (NHL) championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, North America ...
April 1944 sports events
Sports competitions in Montreal
Sports competitions in Chicago
1944 in Quebec
1940s in Chicago
1940s in Montreal