The 1944 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series between the
Chicago Black Hawks
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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and the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
. The Canadiens won the series 4–0 to win their first
Stanley Cup since they defeated Chicago in .
Paths to the Finals
Chicago defeated the
defending champion Detroit Red Wings in a best-of-seven 4–1 to advance to the Finals. Montreal defeated the
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...
in a best-of-seven 4–1 to advance to the Finals.
Game summaries
Maurice "Rocket" Richard made his Stanley Cup debut with a five-goal performance in the series, including a
hat trick in game two. The Punch Line of Richard,
Elmer Lach
Elmer James Lach (, January 22, 1918 – April 4, 2015) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 14 seasons for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL). A centre, he was a member of the Punch line, along with Ma ...
and
Toe Blake
Toes are the digits (fingers) of the foot of a tetrapod. Animal species such as cats that walk on their toes are described as being ''digitigrade''. Humans, and other animals that walk on the soles of their feet, are described as being ''plant ...
scored ten of the Canadiens' 16 goals. Blake scored the Cup winner in overtime. In the same overtime,
Bill Durnan
William Ronald Durnan (January 22, 1916 – October 31, 1972) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played seven seasons with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL). During his career he was one of the most domin ...
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
Norman Alexander Dutton (July 23, 1897 – March 15, 1987) was a Canadian ice hockey player, coach and executive. Commonly known as Red Dutton, and earlier by the nickname "Mervyn", he played for the Calgary Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey ...
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
*
1943–44 NHL season
*
1943–44 Chicago Black Hawks season
*
1943–44 Montreal Canadiens season
The 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 35th season, 27th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team would win the Stanley Cup for the fifth time. Bill Durnan would join the club as its new goaltender and he won the Vezina Trop ...
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
Stanley Cup Finals
Chicago Blackhawks games
Montreal Canadiens games
Stanley Cup Finals
April 1944 sports events
Sports competitions in Montreal
Sports competitions in Chicago
1944 in Quebec
1940s in Chicago
1940s in Montreal