Game 106
Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 1
Thursday, January 21, 1932
Forum de Montréal, Montréal, Québec
In their eagerness to score a goal that would tie the score, the Toronto Maple Leafs took Lorne Chabot out of the goal cage and put six forwards on the ice with twelve seconds to go in their game with the Canadiens here tonight. Aurèle Joliat plugged a shot into the vacant cage and gave the Canadiens a 3-1 win.
It was a surprise finish to a fast and clean National Hockey League game. Only five penalties were awarded. The Leafs started well, but faded as the Canadiens struck a terrific pace in the third period, and drew out from a 1-1 tie on Sylvio Mantha’s goal to take a 2-1 lead.
The hockey was fast from the start, and the Leafs hit a scoring gait in the first period. King Clancy fooled Hainsworth with a bullet like drive from the blue line that glanced off the goalkeeper’s arm into the twine.
In the second period, the Canadiens tied it up when Mondou netted Larochelle’s pass from inside the Toronto defence. Sylvio Mantha went down alone to score in the third period, and the Canadiens were ahead.
Confident that they could tie the score in the last minute, the Leafs called Chabot out of the net. Joliat hook-checked the puck away from Horner and shot it into the empty cage from a few feet out. Morenz nearly repeated just before the bell rang. It was a close fought game, and the Leafs “kid” forwards were dangerous all the time they were on the ice, though they failed to score. The good work of Chabot in the Toronto net was a feature of the game.
It was fast hockey from the outset. Howie Morenz got two quick shots at Chabot from close in after Charlie Conacher had lifted a long drive from the blue line. The Canadiens were getting through the Clancy-Horner defence and Chabot had a couple of close calls. The pace was maintained with relief lines on the ice.
King Clancy shot wide from outside the Canadiens’ defence. Lépine’s poke check held the Leafs at centre ice. A wild skirmish inside the Leafs’ defence gave the fans a thrill. King Clancy got the puck out of the melee and raced down the left wing. He shot from the blue line, and the puck glanced off George Hainsworth’s elbow into the cage.
A tripping penalty to Leivnsky left the Leafs shorthanded, and Morenz, Joliat and Gagnon came in close. Gagnon sent a hot drive, glancing off Chabot’s leg, and Morenz missed another one. Joliat stickhandled through “Happy” Day’s side of the Toronto defence, and his wicked wrist shot clicked the side of the goalpost. Lesieur was chased and the Canadiens were one man short. Hainsworth made three smart saves in succession as Toronto’s “Kid” line rushed the defence. Charlie Conacher drew a penalty for high sticking.
The Leafs were playing carefully behind their lead, while the Red Shirts opened out with a series of fast raids. Their shooting was too heavy and spoiled their best attacks. The Leafs were breaking through on Hainsworth without much trouble, and George was a busy man. He kept off shots that whizzed in from all angles as the Leafs finished the period with a burst of speed and worked inside the Canadiens’ bulwarks.
Morenz got a good drive at Chabot off Burke’s pass, but the goalkeeper hit it with his stick. The Toronto “Kid” line tried to get to close quarters, but Mantha and Burke ruined two plays. Chabot made a great save on Howie Morenz’s hard drive from inside the blue line. Morenz made a hurtling rush, swinging clear across the rink, but Horner stepped into him at the defence.
Conacher got a shot at Hainsworth from the boards. Mondou took the puck up from the defence, passing to Larochelle. Mondou got the puck again as he cut across the front of the cage, and he jabbed it into the net for the tying goal.
Blair took a penalty for tripping Georges Mantha. Cotton was sent off for holding Gagnon’s stick. Gagnon missed a sitting shot on Sylvio Mantha’s pass. Joliat flipped a shot to the corner and Chabot saved. Blair came back and eased the pressure.
Hainsworth had to save off Blair and then off “Happy” Day. The pace was still brisk, and lines changed frequently. Larochelle nearly counted from close in on a pass from Lépine. Sylvio Mantha skated Day into a corner as he rushed with Conacher and Jakcson. The Canadiens were improving as they got warmed up. Harold Cotton got off a drive from the wing just before the bell ended the period.
Gagnon took a beautiful pass from Morenz as the Stratford flash swung around the Toronto defence. Gagnon’s shot struck Chabot’s prostrate body, and Joliat’s swing at the rebound met the same fate. “Red” Horner made a nice run down right wing, but Hainsworth handled his shot safely. He stopped a hard one from Jackson a moment later.
Morenz broke through on Chabot, but the Leafs’ goalkeeper dived and smothered the puck. Mondou and Larochelle also broke through on Chabot, but he saved in spectacular style. Larochelle picked up a loose puck in a corner, and Chabot was lucky enough to put his hand to the puck. Lépine missed with a nice pass from Mondou.
The Canadiens were in hard luck. The sensational goaltending of Chabot proved a lifesaver for the Leafs, who rarely got possession of the puck. It was evident that the Canadiens were going to score sooner or later. Sylvio Mantha turned the trick with a weaving solo rush that carried him warily through the Leafs’ defence to score on Chabot from a few feet out.
It was clean hockey, with little evidence of hard feeling. The Leafs put on the Jackson-Primeau-Conacher line after a long rest. They pressed with determination with only five minutes left to play.
The Leafs forced a hot struggle inside the Canadiens’ defence, and George Hainsworth saved twice with his outstretched leg. The Canadiens were forced to the defensive as the Toronto team made a last desperate effort to knot the count. The pokecheck of “Pit” Lépine, sweeping the centre ice area, was effective in breaking up those dangerous rushes of the Leafs.
Johnny Gagnon heaved the puck up the ice. It was the first time it was done during the game. The Leafs pulled their goalkeeper off with less than a minute to go. Even six forwards failed to help them. Aurèle Joliat snared the puck off “Red” Horner at the Toronto blue line and plugged an easy shot into the empty cage.
Story originally published in The Globe, January 22, 1932
BOXSCORE
1st Period
TOR GOAL – 07:07 – Clancy
MTL PEN – Lesieur
TOR PENS – Conacher, Levinsky
2nd Period
MTL GOAL – 08:25 – Mondou (Larochelle)
TOR PENS – Blair, Cotton
3rd Period
MTL GOAL – 08:25 – Joliat (Morenz)
MTL GOAL – 11:23 – S. Mantha
GOALTENDERS
MTL – Hainsworth (W, 22-23)
TOR – Chabot (L, 28-31)
SHOTS ON GOAL
MTL – 7+9+15 = 31
TOR – 9+6+8 = 23
ROSTERS
MTL – Goaltenders: George Hainsworth. Defence: Marty Burke, Art Lesieur, Georges Mantha, Sylvio Mantha (C), Dunc Munro. Forwards: Johnny Gagnon, Aurèle Joliat, Wildor Larochelle, Pit Lépine, Armand Mondou, Howie Morenz, Nick Wasnie.
TOR – Goaltenders: Lorne Chabot. Defence: King Clancy, Hap Day (C), Red Horner, Alex Levinsky. Forwards: Andy Blair, Charlie Conacher, Baldy Cotton, Harold Darragh, Frank Finnigan, Bob Gracie, Busher Jackson, Joe Primeau.
TEAM RECORDS
MTL – 11-11-4 (.500)
TOR – 12-10-5 (.537)
Two Solitudes 