1946 Stanley Cup Final
Canadiens defeated Bruins four games to one.
The 1946 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven matchup between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens, with Montreal taking the series four games to one. The Bruins reached the Final by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4–1, while the Canadiens swept the Chicago Black Hawks 4–0. The Cup was awarded to Canadiens captain Toe Blake by NHL President Red Dutton after Montreal’s 6–3 win in game five.
- Series winner
- Montreal Canadiens
- Series loser
- Boston Bruins
- Games played
- 5
- Canadiens' path
- Defeated Chicago Black Hawks 4–0
- Bruins' path
- Defeated Detroit Red Wings 4–1
- Deciding game score
- Canadiens 6, Bruins 3
Lore & Background
The Canadiens were led by captain Toe Blake, who received the Stanley Cup from NHL President Red Dutton after Montreal's 6–3 win in game five.
Reader's Guide
The 1946 Stanley Cup Final marked the Montreal Canadiens' victory over the Boston Bruins in five games, a decisive outcome that underscored Montreal's dominance in that postseason. The series is notable for the sibling rivalry between Terry and Ken Reardon, who played on opposing teams and even fought each other, a rare occurrence in Finals history. The engraving of Joe Benoit's name in three different forms across the Cup's rings highlights the evolving record-keeping and presentation practices of the trophy. This final also represents the only Stanley Cup win for Benoit, whose name variations reflect changes in the Cup's physical rings over decades. The series itself was the culmination of the 1945–46 NHL season, with Montreal sweeping Chicago in the semifinals and Boston defeating Detroit. The Canadiens' captain Toe Blake received the Cup from NHL President Red Dutton, a traditional ceremony that continues to this day. The 1946 Final remains a benchmark for the Canadiens' early postwar success and the unique personal stories within the sport.
The Illegal Stick That Broke a Dynasty's Hopes
Late in the third period of Game Two, with Los Angeles holding a 2-1 lead and a 1-0 series advantage, Montreal head coach Jacques Demers made a call that would reshape the entire championship. He requested a measurement of Kings defenceman Marty McSorley's stick curve. The stick was found to be illegal, and McSorley was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for illegal equipment. With the series hanging in the balance and the prospect of falling behind two games to none looming, Demers pulled goaltender Patrick Roy, creating a 6-on-4 advantage. Eric Desjardins capitalized, scoring from the point to force overtime, then added his third goal of the game just 51 seconds into the extra period to seal the win. From that single penalty box entry, the Kings never won another postseason game for the remainder of the 20th century. They lost the next three games of the Final, failed to reach the playoffs in five of the following seven seasons, and were swept in the first round the other two times. Their next playoff victory would not arrive until 2001, against Detroit.
Two Roads to the Forum
Both finalists arrived through paths shaped by rivalries and upsets. Los Angeles, appearing in the Finals for the first time in their 26-year franchise history, overcame a mid-season slump and the absence of Wayne Gretzky from October through January due to injury. They defeated Calgary 4-2, Vancouver 4-2, and Toronto 4-3, becoming the only club to face Canadian opponents in every round without home ice advantage throughout. Montreal's journey was equally dramatic. After dropping their first two games to the Quebec Nordiques—prompting a hometown newspaper to suggest trading goaltender Patrick Roy and the Nordiques' coach declaring they had solved him—Montreal won four straight to eliminate them. They then swept Buffalo and took the first three games against New York, tying the record of 11 consecutive playoff wins. The playoffs also featured notable upsets: the top-seeded Blackhawks were swept by St. Louis, Boston eliminated their three-year nemesis the Canadiens, and the Islanders knocked off the two-time defending champions Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers, who had beaten Los Angeles in three consecutive prior playoff meetings, missed the postseason entirely for the first time since joining the NHL in 1979.
A Century of Firsts and Lasts
The 1993 Final carried a weight of historical significance that extended well beyond the ice. It marked the 100th anniversary of the Stanley Cup's first awarding in 1893, and it was the first championship series to begin in June. For Los Angeles, it was a west coast team's first appearance in the Final since 1920. For Montreal, it was their 34th trip to the championship round, their first since 1989. The Canadiens' victory in five games secured their 24th Cup and cemented a legacy that would endure for decades. To this day, the 1993 team remains the last Stanley Cup champion composed entirely of North American-born players, the most recent Canadian-based team to hoist the trophy, and the last Canadian club outside Toronto to win a title in any of the four major North American professional sports leagues. It was also the final Stanley Cup Final played at the Montreal Forum, and the last time Wayne Gretzky competed in a championship series. Montreal would not return to the Final until 2021, when they fell to Tampa Bay.
Five Games, One Champion
The five-game series showcased both teams at their best. In Game One at the Montreal Forum, Luc Robitaille struck twice on the power play, Jari Kurri added a marker off a Patrice Brisebois turnover, and Gretzky sealed a 4-1 victory with an empty-net goal. Notably, Ed Ronan's apparent equalizer in the first period was actually a Wayne Gretzky pass that deflected into his own net. Game Two became the series' defining contest, with Desjardins' overtime winner following the McSorley penalty. The Canadiens then closed out the series by winning Games Three, Four, and Five, completing a 4-1 sweep of the remaining contests. The Kings, who had built their season around Gretzky's return from injury, were ultimately outmatched over the full series. Montreal's goaltending, anchored by Roy, and their depth proved decisive when it mattered most, delivering the franchise its 24th championship and ending the Kings' first-ever Final appearance with a loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1946 Stanley Cup Final?
The Montreal Canadiens captured the championship by beating the Boston Bruins four games to one in the best-of-seven series.
What was the score of the deciding game in the 1946 Stanley Cup Final?
Montreal outscored Boston 6–3 in game five to close out the series and claim the Cup.
How did the Canadiens reach the 1946 Stanley Cup Final?
Montreal advanced by sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks four games to none in the preceding round.
Who was presented the Stanley Cup after the 1946 Final?
NHL President Red Dutton handed the trophy to Canadiens captain Toe Blake following the 6–3 victory in the fifth game.
How many games did the 1946 Stanley Cup Final last?
The series ended after five games, with Boston managing just a single win before Montreal sealed the championship.
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