1958 Stanley Cup Final
Canadiens three-peat as Stanley Cup champions in 1958.
The 1958 Stanley Cup Final capped the NHL’s 1957–58 season and playoffs. It pitted the two-time defending champion Montreal Canadiens against the Boston Bruins, a rematch of the 1957 Finals. Montreal, making its eighth straight Finals appearance, beat Boston in six games to claim its third consecutive championship and the tenth in franchise history. With this win, the Canadiens became only the second team in NHL history to achieve a three-peat, following the Toronto Maple Leafs, who first accomplished the feat from 1947 to 1949.
Montreal reached the Finals by sweeping the Detroit Red Wings 4–0, while Boston advanced by defeating the New York Rangers 4–2.
Canadiens captain Maurice Richard led all playoff scorers with 11 goals. In Game 5, he scored his sixth career playoff overtime goal; three of those had come in this and the previous Finals.
In Game 1, Bernie Geoffrion opened the scoring on a first-period power play, but Allan Stanley tied it with a power-play goal of his own. Dickie Moore netted the game-winner on a power play with 6:04 left in the second period, and goaltender Jacques Plante made 28 saves as Montreal won 2–1 to take a 1–0 series lead.
Game 2 saw Norm Johnson score early in the first, Bronco Horvath tally twice, and Larry Regan record three points. The Bruins won 5–2 to even the series.
In Game 3, Maurice Richard scored twice, his brother Henri added two points, and Plante posted his first playoff shutout with 18 saves. Montreal won 3–0.
Game 4 featured two goals from Don McKenney and strong play from goaltender Don Simmons and the Boston defense. The Bruins won 3–1, tying the series again.
Game 5 went to overtime, where Maurice Richard scored the game-winner to give Montreal a 3–2 victory and a 3–2 series lead.
The Stanley Cup was presented to Canadiens captain Maurice Richard by NHL President Clarence Campbell after Montreal’s 5–3 win in Game 6.
While the 1958 Canadiens retained many players from the previous year, not every player engraved on the Cup in 1957 also appeared on the 1958 Cup—Floyd Curry, for example, was not on the 1958 version. Four new names were added for 1958: Charlie Hodge, Ab MacDonald, Marcel Bonin, and Albert Langlois. The owner’s name changed as well, with Hartland Molson taking over from William Northey and Donat Raymond.
- Series result
- Montreal Canadiens defeated Boston Bruins 4–2
- Game 1 score
- Montreal 2, Boston 1
- Game 2 score
- Boston 5, Montreal 2
- Game 3 score
- Montreal 3, Boston 0
- Game 4 score
- Boston 3, Montreal 1
- Game 5 score
- Montreal 3, Boston 2 (OT)
- Game 6 score
- Montreal 5, Boston 3
Lore & Background
Montreal defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4–0, and Boston defeated the New York Rangers 4–2, to reach the Finals. Montreal captain Maurice Richard led the playoff goal-scoring race with 11. In Game 5, he notched his sixth career playoff overtime goal (three of which occurred in this and previous Stanley Cup Finals). Game one saw Bernie Geoffrion score a power-play goal, but Allan Stanley tied it; Dickie Moore scored the game winner on a power-play, and Jacques Plante made 28 saves for a 2–1 Canadiens win. Game two featured Norm Johnson, Bronco Horvath (two goals), and Larry Regan (three points) as Boston won 5–2 to tie the series.
Reader's Guide
The 1958 Stanley Cup Final marked the Montreal Canadiens' third consecutive championship, a feat previously achieved only by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The series was a rematch of the 1957 Finals, with Boston again falling to Montreal in six games. Maurice Richard's overtime goal in Game 5 proved pivotal, giving the Canadiens a 3–2 series lead. The 1958 Stanley Cup was presented to Canadiens captain Maurice Richard by NHL President Clarence Campbell following the Canadiens 5–3 win over the Bruins in game six. Every player whose name was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1957 also appeared on the Cup in 1958, the only time this had occurred in NHL history for repeat champions. Four new players were added: Charlie Hodge, Ab MacDonald, Marcel Bonin and Albert Langlois. The 1958 Cup also featured a redesign of the trophy itself, with new rings and engravings that would remain unchanged until 1992.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1958 Stanley Cup Final?
The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Boston Bruins four games to two to capture the championship. It was a rematch of the 1957 series between the same two clubs.
Why is the 1958 Stanley Cup Final considered a historic milestone?
The win gave Montreal its third straight Cup, making them only the second franchise in NHL history to complete a three-peat. The Toronto Maple Leafs had first achieved that feat during the 1947-to-1949 stretch.
How did the 1958 Stanley Cup Final series unfold game by game?
Montreal opened with a 2-1 lead, Boston struck back with a 5-2 win, and the teams traded victories through Game 4. Montreal sealed the series with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 5 before closing it out in Game 6.
How many consecutive Stanley Cup Finals did the Canadiens appear in around 1958?
The 1958 matchup marked Montreal's eighth straight trip to the championship round. That run of back-to-back Finals appearances underscored how dominant the franchise was during that era.
What was the overall series record in the 1958 Stanley Cup Final?
Montreal finished the series 4-2, meaning the Bruins managed two wins across the six-game set. The Canadiens' two-time defending-champion status made the repeat especially notable for their loyal fanbase.
More in Montreal Canadiens games 1-24
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