Game 178
Canadiens 2, Maple Leafs 1 (OT)
Thursday, December 11, 1941
Forum de Montréal, Montréal, Québec
Gerry Heffernan’s overtime goal ended the Canadiens’ National Hockey League losing streak here tonight, when the Habitants defeated the second place Toronto Maple Leafs 2 to 1 before a crowd estimated at more than 7,000.
Clashing in their first appearance before Montréal fans this season, both clubs put on a typical Toronto-Canadien tussle, with the Canadiens’ razzle dazzle line of Morin, Heffernan and O’Connor coming through with the two goals that spoiled the Leafs’ chances of moving into sole possession of first place ahead of the idle Boston Bruins.
The Maple Leafs had gone into a second period lead on a goal by Hank Goldup, but Pete Morin evened the count in the third period while Bob Davidson was on the penalty bench, sending play overtime.
Although it was a tough defeat for the Leafs, the Canadiens maintained constant pressure against the Toronto net, and only some sensational saves held the Canadiens from scoring before the third period. The Leafs’ power play had the Canadiens playing throughout most of the first period in their own end, but Paul Bibeault, replacing Bert Gardiner in the nets, was sensational in holding out.
Play was only 9:12 old in the second period when Langelle stole the puck from Murph Chamberlain and passed to Goldup, who slipped the puck under the prone Bibeault.
Morin got the equalizer from a scramble in front of the net. Terry Reardon picked up a loose puck to the right of the Toronto net and shot a short pass to Heffernan, who relayed it to Morin, who was parked in front of Broda. The Turk had practically no chance on the tally.
Syl Apps missed a pair of scoring chances near the end of the regular time, but Bibeault handled both shots neatly to send play into overtime.
Toronto seemed content to let the Canadiens carry the play in the extra session, and the razzle dazzle boys broke away on a neat combination play, with O’Connor slipping the pass to Heffernan for his payoff tally. The time was 6:50. The Leafs tried vainly to get the equalizer over the remaining minutes, but the Canadiens held.
Story originally published in The Globe & Mail, December 12, 1941
BOXSCORE
1st Period
MTL PEN – 04:00 – Goupille
TOR PEN – 06:10 – McDonald
TOR PEN – 08:49 – Church
MTL PEN – 13:05 – Heffernan
2nd Period
MTL PEN – 02:05 – Quilty
TOR PEN – 12:52 – Kampman
TOR GOAL – 19:12 – Goldup (Langelle)
TOR PEN – 19:26 – Davidson
3rd Period
TOR PEN – 05:53 – Davidson
MTL PP GOAL – 07:46 – Morin (T. Reardon, Heffernan)
MTL PEN – 14:46 – K. Reardon
MTL PEN – 19:29 – Portland
TOR PEN – 19:29 – Schriner
Overtime
MTL GOAL – 06:50 – Heffernan (Morin, O’Connor)
GOALTENDERS
MTL – Bibeault (W)
TOR – Broda (L)
ROSTERS
MTL – Goaltenders: Paul Bibeault. Defence: Red Goupille, Jack Portland, Ken Reardon. Forwards: Joe Benoit, Toe Blake (C), Murph Chamberlain, Ray Getliffe, Tony Graboski, Gerry Heffernan, Pete Morin, Buddy O’Connor, John Quilty, Terry Reardon, Charlie Sands.
TOR – Goaltenders: Turk Broda. Defence: Jack Church, Reg Hamilton, Bingo Kampman, Bucko McDonald. Forwards: Syl Apps (C), Lorne Carr, Bob Davidson, Gordie Drillon, Hank Goldup, Pete Langelle, John McCreedy, Nick Metz, Sweeney Schriner, Billy Taylor.
TEAM RECORDS
MTL – 2-10-1 (.192)
TOR – 9-4-0 (.692)
Two Solitudes 