1956 Stanley Cup Final
Canadiens defeat Red Wings in five games.
The 1956 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's 1955–56 season, contested between the Montreal Canadiens and the two-time defending champion Detroit Red Wings. It marked the fourth Detroit-Montreal series in the 1950s, with Detroit having won all three previous meetings. The Canadiens avenged those losses by defeating the Red Wings in five games to win their second Stanley Cup in four years, denying Detroit a three-peat.
- Series winning goal
- Jean Beliveau (game five)
Lore & Background
The Canadiens reached the Final by defeating the New York Rangers 4–1, while Detroit eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1. In game one, Montreal trailed 4–2 after two periods but scored four unanswered goals in a 5:29 span of the third period to win 6–4. Game two saw Montreal take a 2–0 series lead with a 5–1 victory, featuring goals from Henri Richard, Bernie Geoffrion, Jean Beliveau, and Maurice Richard. Detroit won game three 3–1 at home, with goals from Red Kelly, Ted Lindsay, and Gordie Howe. Jacques Plante recorded a shutout in game four, stopping all 24 shots, and Jean Beliveau scored twice in a 3–0 win. In game five, Montreal won 3–1 at home, with Beliveau contributing a goal and two assists, and Plante making 25 saves.
Reader's Guide
The 1956 Stanley Cup Final is significant as the start of a 16-year streak in which Canadian-based teams defeated American-based teams for the Stanley Cup, a streak that lasted until the New York Islanders broke it in 1982. The series also marked the first Final for Henri Richard and the first as coach for Toe Blake, who became the last person to win the Stanley Cup as both a player and coach for the same team until Rod Brind'Amour did so in 2026. The Canadiens' victory denied the Red Wings a three-peat and gave Montreal its eighth Stanley Cup. The series featured notable performances by Jacques Plante, who held Detroit to nine goals over five games, and Jean Beliveau, who starred in the clinching game.
Did You Know?
- Jacques Plante held the Red Wings to just 9 goals in the five-game series.
- Three engraving mistakes were made on the Stanley Cup for the 1956 Canadiens, including Claude Provost's name misspelled as C. PREVOST.
- The 1956 Montreal Canadiens filled the last spot on the Stanley Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1956 Stanley Cup Final?
The Montreal Canadiens claimed the championship by sweeping past the Detroit Red Wings in five games. This gave Montreal their second Cup title within a four-year span.
Who scored the series-winning goal in Game 5 of the 1956 Stanley Cup Final?
Jean Beliveau put the puck in the net to seal the decisive Game 5 victory for the Canadiens.
How many games did the 1956 Stanley Cup Final last?
The series stretched to five games, with the Canadiens taking the clinching win in Game 5 to end the contest.
Why was the 1956 Stanley Cup Final so important for the Montreal Canadiens?
Detroit had dominated the previous three matchups between the two clubs in the 1950s, so this victory served as a long-overdue revenge for the Habs. It also blocked the Red Wings from capturing a third consecutive title.
What was the Detroit–Montreal rivalry context heading into the 1956 Stanley Cup Final?
It was the fourth time in the decade that these two teams met in the Cup Final, with Detroit holding a 3-0 series record against Montreal. The Canadiens finally broke that streak by winning the 1956 matchup in five games.
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