Game 082
Canadiens 0, Maple Leafs 0
Tuesday, February 21, 1928
Forum de Montréal, Montréal, Québec
Seventy minutes of hockey at the Forum tonight failed to produce one goal, and the Canadiens and Toronto Leafs left the ice with another goalless draw being chalked up in the National Hockey League standing. The game was another of those gruelling encounters, with tight defensive work and marvellous goaltending featuring.
The Canadiens had enough of the territorial play to win any hockey game, but the barrier thrown in front of the Toronto net by big Art Duncan, aided by Beattie Ramsay and the three forwards, backed by John Ross Roach’s brilliant work between the posts, kept the fast skating opposition at bay.
In the third period especially did Roach turn in marvellous work. At one time during this session, Art Duncan was lost to the Leafs’ defence through a penalty. The Canucks took full advantage of the fact to swarm around the Toronto net. Roach, however, rose to the heights and turned back the tide.
The Canadiens had slightly the better of the opening exchanges, but could not fathom a rugged Toronto defence. Bailey went off for roughing Joliat, but returned before the Canucks would take advantage of the extra man. The visitors were showing nothing in the way of a real offensive threat, the majority of their rushes breaking around the local blue line.
Joliat and Bailey exchanged bumps and were chased. Rodden joined them, and the Canadiens had five men to four for the Leafs. With Morenz in the van, the locals pressed. They could do nothing, however, with the stubborn Toronto defence. Just before the bell, Joliat went off for roughing Lowrey.
With Joliat still in the penalty box to start the second session, the Leafs forced with the one man advantage. Hainsworth had several burning drives to handle, but they were from outside the defence. Upon Joliat’s return, the locals took up the attack. The Leafs were not out of the picture, however, and the pace was extremely fast.
Gaudreault drew a minor, but the Leafs could do nothing with the extra man. The home team centre returned, and his place in the coop was taken by Rodden. The Canadiens pressed, but invulnerable defensive work by the Leafs kept the Red Shirts at bay. As the end of the period neared, the Canadiens redoubled their scoring efforts, but Roach proved invincible.
Both nets were under fire to tart the third period. Duncan drew a minor penalty a few moments later, and his services were sadly missed on the Leaf rearguard. The Canadiens pressed and swarmed around the visitors’ net. Roach proved invulnerable, however. Duncan returned and Roach had a breathing spell. As time wore on, tight defensive play was indulged in by the teams. Offensive threats, however, were still fairly frequent, with the Canadiens holding an edge while on attack. The Leafs held on, and the game was forced into overtime.
Duncan went off just after the extra session opened. The Blue Shirts stalled around, however, until his return. Roach had several close calls, but was equal to the occasion. After Duncan’s return, the Leafs got in several long shots, but Hainsworth had no trouble in blocking the Toronto scoring threats. Just after the five minute changeover, Herbert all but beat Hainsworth on a bullet like drive from the side. Joliat returned the compliment a moment later.
Leduc cracked Keeling over the head and drew a minor. Ramsay followed him to the bench for holding just before the game ended.
Story originally published in The Globe, February 22, 1928
BOXSCORE
1st Period
MTL PENS – Joliat (2)
TOR PENS – Bailey (2), Herbert, Rodden
2nd Period
MTL PEN – Gaudreault
TOR PEN – Rodden
3rd Period
TOR PEN – Duncan
Overtime
MTL PEN – Leduc
TOR PENS – Duncan, Ramsay
GOALTENDERS
MTL – Hainsworth (T + SO)
TOR – Roach (T + SO)
ROSTERS
MTL – Goaltenders: George Hainsworth. Defence: Herb Gardiner, Albert Leduc, Sylvio Mantha (C). Forwards: Art Gagné, Leo Gaudreault, Gizzy Hart, Aurèle Joliat, Charlie Langlois, Wildor Larochelle, Howie Morenz, George Patterson.
TOR – Goaltenders: John Ross Roach. Defence: Art Duncan, Beattie Ramsay, Art Smith. Forwards: Ace Bailey, Danny Cox, Jimmy Herbert, Butch Keeling, Gerry Lowrey, Eddie Rodden.
TEAM RECORDS
MTL – 19-7-7 (.682)
TOR – 15-14-5 (.515)
Two Solitudes 