Game 614
Maple Leafs 6, Canadiens 2
Monday, October 17, 1988
Forum de Montréal, Montréal, Québec
It was supposed to be Daniel Marois’ homecoming. His friend and confidant Vincent Damphousse, however, stole the show.
Damphousse, who, like Marois, hails from the Montréal area and played his junior hockey in the vicinity, scored his first career hat trick as he led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 6-2 victory over the Montréal Canadiens.
He scored once in each period as he turned in the finest performance of his young career for the benefit of his family who were in the crowd of 16,224 at the Forum.
Like Marois, Damphousse went to Toronto with a limited knowledge of English a little over two years ago. Today, his English is much improved and he has used his experience to help Marois both on and off the ice.
Earlier, Damphousse had related how he gave up some of the tickets which he usually obtains for his family so that Marois could invite as many of his relatives as possible to his first National Hockey League appearance at the Forum.
“I remembered how I felt the first time I came back to play here,” said Damphousse. “It’s still exciting, but not as much. I was worried for Danny more than me.”
Marois didn’t exactly put on a shabby show, either.
He made a fine play on Damphousse’s second goal and came close to getting a goal or two himself.
And the line’s left winger, Toronto-born Dave Reid, acquitted himself well, too.
“I guess I’ll have to put an ‘oux’ on the end of my name,” he said laughing.
The trio has played well since being united at training camp.
“We just seem to complement each other,” said Damphousse. “Dave is such a hard worker, a solid two-way player.
“Danny, he just know how to get open. And he can pass pretty well, too.”
Reid suggested their success stemmed from the fact that “we’re just three guys fighting for jobs.”
“We can’t have any letups,” he said. “There are guys in wings waiting to take our jobs if we let up.”
Last night belonged to Damphousse, who was Leafs’ number one pick three years ago.
After struggling last year with just 12 goals after getting 21 as a rookie, he’s bounced back in grand fashion.
He has six goals and 11 points, tying him with Gary Leeman for the team scoring lead.
“It’s a thrill of a lifetime,” said Damphousse. “It’s something I always dreamed of doing. The first hat trick is always special; something I’ll be able to talk to my kids about.”
Derek Laxdal, Dan Daoust and Reid had the other Leaf goals. Claude Lemieux had both Montréal markers.
The Leafs shocked the Forum gathering by jumping into a 3-0 first-period lead despite being outshot 11-9.
Laxdal scored his fourth goal of the season just three minutes after the opening faceoff with a hard shot from outside the blue line.
Habs goalie Brian Hayward reached for the puck, which appeared to be going wide, and deflected it down into the net.
Strangely enough, all four of Laxdal’s goals this season have come from a considerable distance out.
Hayward headed for the bench immediately after the goal complaining that his catching glove was defective.
But he was told he couldn’t do so without sitting out for at least one stoppage in play. Roy replaced him for nine seconds.
Habs coach Pat Burns was probably wishing he’d kept Hayward on the bench.
When Reid scored between Hayward’s legs early in the second period to put Leafs ahead 4-0, Burns removed him again. This time for the balance of the game.
While Hayward was having his troubles, Leaf goalie Ken Wregget had another fine game, making several big saves.
Wregget was named the game’s second star behind Damphousse. Marois was the third star.
“That’s the biggest win we’ve had since I’ve come to Toronto,” exclaimed coach John Brophy. “I know it’s only October, but that was a great confidence builder.
“Our work ethic has been great since day one.”
NOTES: The Canadiens honoured former club owner and president Senator Hartland Molson before last night’s game to commemorate his retirement at age 83 from the Molson Companies. Involved in the ceremonies were for former Hab greats Elmer Lach, Toe Blake, Maurice “Rocket” Richard and Jean Béliveau…The Leafs sat out rookie left winger Scott Pearson and defencemen Todd Gill and Luke Richardson. Defenceman Rick Lanz also missed the game because of the flu…The Leafs still have not made a decision on sending Pearson and/or Richardson back to junior hockey. General manager Gord Stellick says any move won’t be made until next week. Pearson is still being hampered by his left wrist on which he had surgery last winter…Canadiens defenceman Petr Svoboda missed last night’s game while serving a suspension for receiving his second game misconduct for a stick foul this season. Also sitting out for the Canadiens last night were veteran winger Bob Gainey and tough guy John Kordic.
Story originally published in The Toronto Star, October 18, 1988
BOXSCORE
1st Period
TOR GOAL – 03:03 – Laxdal (Salming, Wregget)
TOR GOAL – 06:16 – Damphousse (Reid, Curran)
TOR GOAL – 14:17 – Daoust (Fergus, Laughlin)
TOR PEN – 19:16 – Iafrate, high sticking
2nd Period
TOR GOAL – 02:09 – Reid (Marois, Damphousse)
TOR PEN – 11:10 – Damphousse, interference
MTL GOAL – 16:22 – Lemieux (Skrudland, Chelios)
TOR GOAL – 19:35 – Damphousse (Marois, Marsh)
3rd Period
TOR GOAL – 02:48 – Damphousse (Reid)
MTL GOAL – 03:51 – Lemieux (Naslund, Robinson)
TOR PEN – 05:09 – Iafrate, high sticking
MTL PEN – 07:02 – Skrudland, hooking
TOR PEN – 13:09 – Leeman, slashing
MTL PEN – 13:09 – Corson, slashing
MTL PEN – 18:42 – Charbonneau, boarding
TOR PEN – 18:59 – Leeman, spearing major + game misconduct
MTL PEN – 18:59 – Keane, spearing major + game misconduct
GOALTENDERS
TOR – Wregget (W, 30-32)
MTL – Hayward (L, 6-10), Roy (12-14)
SHOTS ON GOAL
TOR – 9+8+7 = 24
MTL – 11+10+11 = 32
ROSTERS
TOR – Goaltenders: Ken Wregget. Defence: Brian Curran, Al Iafrate, Chris Kotsopoulos, Brad Marsh, Borje Salming (A), Darren Veitch. Forwards: Russ Courtnall, Vincent Damphousse, Dan Daoust, Tom Fergus, Craig Laughlin, Derek Laxdal, Gary Leeman, Daniel Marois, Ed Olczyk, Mark Osborne, Dave Reid, Al Secord.
MTL – Goaltenders: Brian Hayward, Patrick Roy. Defence: Chris Chelios, Éric Desjardins, Rick Green, Mike Lalor, Craig Ludwig, Larry Robinson (A). Forwards: Guy Carbonneau, José Charbonneau, Shayne Corson, Mike Keane, Claude Lemieux, Mike McPhee, Mats Naslund (A), Stéphane Richer, Brian Skrudland, Bobby Smith, Gilles Thibaudeau, Ryan Walter.
TEAM RECORDS
TOR – 4-3-0 (.571)
MTL – 2-4-0 (.333)
ATTENDANCE
16,224
Two Solitudes 