Game 096
Canadiens 2, Maple Leafs 1
Tuesday, December 9, 1930
Forum de Montréal, Montréal, Québec
The Canadian section of the National Hockey League had a new leader tonight, the Montréal Canadiens, world champions, taking a 2 to 1 last period victory over the crippled Toronto Maple Leafs here to go into the top berth.
The Leafs, but with two forward line spares in action, played magnificently for over two periods, but were forced to bow to the speed the Canadiens were able to turn on at the end. A penalty sustained when they were defending their one goal lead also played a big part in the loss.
Toronto scored in the second period, King Clancy completing a Bailey-Jackson rush with a short rising shot. Jackson’s playmaking on this goal was superb.
In the third period, Cotton was benched for packing the defence, and Georges Mantha fought his way in around the net, passing out to Lépine, who scored. The winning goal, as has happened many times this season, went to the bullet shot of Howie Morenz, speed king supreme, who flashed up left wing and sent a burning drive that young Benny Grant did not see. The victory was the Canadiens’ fifth straight, and maintained their season’s undefeated record on Montréal ice. They have won seven games, two away and five at home, out of ten played.
Toronto used only Jackson and Jenkins as spares in the forward division, and “Red” Horner on defence, and were out on their feet at the finish. Hainsworth and Jackson suffered minor injuries, but returned to the game.
The Canadiens’ invalids, Mondou and Larochelle, were back in the game, but Toronto was shorthanded with Primeau and Conacher out with broken wrists. Jenkins and Hamel, former minor league players, turned out with the Leafs.
The game opened at a fast clip, Clancy and Harold Cotton leading Toronto’s attack, and Morenz and Joliat replying for the Habitants.
They held at pretty even terms in the first five minutes, with many of the shots being long and easy for the goalkeepers. The game was about six minutes old when George Hainsworth, the goalkeeper for the Canadiens, was struck on the face by a high shot from Bailey. Hainsworth retired for repairs, but was not seriously hurt. Hainsworth took the customary ten minutes and returned.
Conny Smythe sent on a composite line of Bailey at centre, Jenkins and Jackson at wings, and Horner and Day on the defence. The Canadiens backed this line up against the wall, but found Grant good and the defence steady. Jackson’s penalty for tripping gave the Canadiens a further chance to press, but the Leafs held tight. Blair and Clancy gave Hainsworth a scare from close in, and a minute later Hainsworth made a great stop off Bailey, who raced in to pick up a rebound and get away a hard shot.
The Leaf regulars began carrying the play to the Canadiens, forcing a couple of dangerous looking scrimmages in the goalmouth and splitting the Canadiens’ defence wide open.
Howie Morenz resented a heavy check by “Red” Horner and drove the big defenceman right into the boards, taking a penalty.
Jenkins went off for dropping Joliat, and the teams were equal. Toronto was worried by Morenz and Joliat as the period ended with King Clancy leading a couple of hard sallies at the Canadiens’ goal.
Jenkins’ penalty ended a few seconds after the second period started, and he was succeeded in the box by Gagnon, who dropped Clancy in front of the Canadien nets, rapidly followed by Cotton, who cut down Morenz. The play was slow while they were shorthanded, but picked up shortly afterward. Both defences were fighting out the forwards, and checking was gruelling. Most of the shots were coming from far out.
Blair and Jenkins were robbed when the puck took an unlucky bounce. Blair, at centre for the Leafs, was playing a great game, beating Howie Morenz to the puck in the centre ice area.
Harvey Jackson, the only survivor of Toronto’s “Kid” line, engineered the play which resulted in “King” Clancy blazing in a short rising shot. Jackson took a pass from Bailey, circled right defence and shot from an angle. The puck bounded out to “King” Clancy, who made no mistake with the drive.
The score stung the Canucks, and for five minutes they pressed Toronto steadily back, but could not penetrate the Clancy-Day defence, which was at its peak. Jackson ran in around the Canadiens’ right wing on a similar play to the one which scored, but lost control of the puck and Hainsworth brushed it aside.
The third period opened with Toronto not bothering much about attacking, but presenting a perfect five man defence to all the Canadiens’ rushes. Toronto’s defensive work proved their undoing. Cotton was benched for breaking the three men defence rule, and Georges Mantha swept in around the net. He persisted in the effort and robbed Bailey of the puck, passing out to Lépine, who netted a pretty shot.
Jackson was heavily checked by McCaffrey and knocked out. He was carried to the dressing room and given medical attention. Word came out from the room that he was not seriously injured.
The Canadiens’ superior manpower began to show on every play. Art Duncan was only using two front lines, and was cut to but one with Jackson’s injury. Hamel did not get into the game. Howie Morenz’s bullet drive from left wing put the Canadiens ahead of the thoroughly jaded Toronto team. Jackson returned to the ice with three minutes to go. The Maple Leafs tried hard for the remaining time, but could not get through.
Story originally published in The Globe, December 10, 1930
BOXSCORE
1st Period
MTL PEN – Morenz
TOR PENS – Jackson, Jenkins
2nd Period
TOR GOAL – 11:20 – Clancy (Bailey, Jackson)
MTL PENS – Gagnon, Leduc, Lépine, S. Mantha
TOR PENS – Blair, Cotton, Horner, Jenkins
3rd Period
MTL PP GOAL – 07:25 – Lépine (G. Mantha)
MTL GOAL – 15:20 – Morenz
MTL PENS – Joliat, Leduc
TOR PEN – Cotton
GOALTENDERS
MTL – Hainsworth (W)
TOR – Grant (L)
ROSTERS
MTL – Goaltenders: George Hainsworth. Defence: Marty Burke, Albert Leduc, Georges Mantha, Sylvio Mantha (C). Forwards: Johnny Gagnon, Aurèle Joliat, Wildor Larochelle, Pit Lépine, Bert McCaffrey, Armand Mondou, Howie Morenz, Gus Rivers, Nick Wasnie.
TOR – Goaltenders: Benny Grant. Defence: King Clancy, Hap Day (C), Red Horner. Forwards: Ace Bailey, Andy Blair, Baldy Cotton, Busher Jackson, Roger Jenkins.
TEAM RECORDS
MTL – 7-3-0 (.700)
TOR – 5-3-2 (.600)
Two Solitudes 