Game 024
Canadiens 6, St. Pats 5
Wednesday, February 4, 1920
Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario
All the excitement in last night’s game between the St. Patricks and Canadiens was crowded into the last five minutes, and it finished with the Canadiens on the long end of a 6 to 5 score.
Going into the last period the St. Pats were behind 5 to 2, and when Cleghorn notched another in the first five minutes, it appeared to be all over but the shouting. After ten minutes of play, Dye was injected into the game for his second appearance of the night, and matters began to ginger up, with the result that goals started to come for the Irish.
The Canadiens were lucky to keep the count from being tied in the dying moments. They were obliged to resort to the old trick of shooting the puck down the ice to kill time, as the whole St. Pats’ were on the line, and had them well bottled up and peppering the life out of Vézina.
From the start, it was quite evident that the St. Patricks were without their usual “pep,” and they did not come to life until they were a beaten team. After all the hullabaloo about Noble, the start of the game found him in his usual position at right wing. Inquiry elicited the information that he had been suspended sure enough, but the other players got together and made a request to the management that as he was in good condition, he should be allowed to take his place. The executives were divided on the subject, but Noble was allowed to don his togs, and he jumped into the game right at the start. He played a wonderful game for two periods, and was the best man on the ice.
Randall got his opportunity too, but his showing was mediocre. Randall, it is reported, was promised to Québec for the second series, but according to George Kennedy of the Canadiens, the local club would not back up their promise with delivery. Kennedy suggests that a very stiff fine be imposed on the St. Patricks for using him in last night’s game.
The dash that usually characterized the St. Patricks’ home play was missing, although Noble seemed to be right on his toes. The others were spasmodic in their efforts. Denneny was far from his usual form, and the remainder were just as bad. Prodgers and Wilson appeared to be the only ones whose heart was in the game. They kept trying all evening, the “sorrel top” taking to the wing line in the last period.
Dye was not let on the ice until the game was half over, but he was taken off, and did not appear again until the final ten minutes. Again matters began to liven up, and the onslaught on the Canadiens’ goal started. He was all over the ice, and laid shot after shot on Vézina. Several times he came from the back of the net, and only ill luck prevented him from getting a couple of counters.
Arbour was the shining light for the Canadiens, and gave a performance that has seldom been equalled here. He was in on every rush, evaded his check in front of the net a couple of times to land a score, and backchecked like a fiend. The wonderful “Newsy” Lalonde was much in evidence, and three of the Canadiens’ counters came from his stick.
Vézina has yet to turn in a poor performance in Toronto, and last night played to his previous form. Corbeau played his usual steady game on the defence. When the Canadiens broke up a rush they broke fast and three abreast, and had an easy time with the St. Pats’ defence.
Therein lies the answer to the St. Patricks’ defeat. Cameron was used considerably at right wing, but he is not as flashy in that position as he is when on the defence, when his rushing shows to better advantage.
The St. Patricks started out playing a nice combination game, and only ill luck was responsible for their failure to land a couple of counters early in the contest, but the period ended 2 to 2. The Canadiens put the game on ice in the second frame, gathering three while the locals went scoreless. The St. Patricks were all over the Canadiens in the last stanza, landed three of the four goals, and were pressing hard when the gong rang.
Story originally published in The Globe, February 5, 1920
BOXSCORE
1st Period
TOR GOAL – 02:00 – Noble
MTL GOAL – 07:00 – Arbour (Cameron)
TOR GOAL – 09:00 – Denneny (Wilson)
MTL SH GOAL – 13:00 – Lalonde
2nd Period
MTL GOAL – 03:00 – Lalonde
MTL GOAL – 08:00 – Lalonde
MTL GOAL – 14:00 – Arbour (Cameron)
3rd Period
MTL GOAL – 05:00 – Cleghorn (Cameron)
TOR GOAL – 15:00 – Wilson
TOR GOAL – 16:00 – Matte (Wilson)
TOR GOAL – 18:00 – Dye (Wilson)
Penalties
MTL – Cleghorn (major), Berlinquette (2), Corbeau
TOR – Denneny, Prodgers, Wilson
GOALTENDERS
MTL – Vézina (W)
TOR – Mitchell (L)
ROSTERS
MTL – Goaltenders: Georges Vézina. Defence: Harry Cameron, Bert Corbeau, Howard McNamara. Forwards: Amos Arbour, Louis Berlinquette, Odie Cleghorn, Newsy Lalonde (C), Didier Pitre, Don Smith.
TOR – Goaltenders: Ivan Mitchell. Defence: Frank Heffernan, Joe Matte. Forwards: Corb Denneny, Babe Dye, Reg Noble, Goldie Prodgers, Ken Randall, Mickey Roach, Cully Wilson.
TEAM RECORDS
MTL – 9-4-0 (.692)
TOR – 5-8-0 (.385)
Two Solitudes 