1959 Stanley Cup Final
Fourth straight Cup. Canadiens took the 1959 Final, four games to one, over Toronto.
Game five wrapped at 5–3, and the 1959 Stanley Cup Final — the one that settled the NHL title for the 1958–59 season — was over. The Canadiens rolled into it as three-time defending champions and ran straight back into Toronto, the same rival, for the third time the two had met in the Final. The Maple Leafs hadn't been to a championship round since beating Montreal in 1951, so their appearance here was no sliver of a surprise. Montreal, on the other hand, was lining up in its ninth consecutive best-of-seven, a streak that says as much as any trophy case. They took the series four games to one. Fourth Cup in a row.
Getting here took some work. Montreal shook the Chicago Black Hawks in six games. Toronto ground out a win over the Boston Bruins in a full seven. Maurice Richard, nursing injuries the whole run, finished with 4 goals and 4 assists across 10 playoff games. Not a headline number, but you didn't need a monster run to lift the Cup — you just needed him out there doing the little things.
After that final 5–3, NHL President Clarence Campbell presented the trophy to Canadiens captain Maurice Richard. The Montreal players and staff got their names cut into the ring. And here's the bit that still gets a chuckle out of us: Ken Reardon's name went in as "KEN READON VICE PRES" — they dropped an R. That typo sat on the original Cup until 1993, when a new ring was added and the mistake finally got corrected.
- Series winner
- Montreal Canadiens
- Series loser
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Games played
- 5
- Montreal's path
- Defeated Chicago Black Hawks in six games
- Toronto's path
- Defeated Boston Bruins in seven games
- Canadiens captain
- Maurice Richard
Lore & Background
The 1959 Stanley Cup Final marked the third Final meeting in the Canadiens–Maple Leafs rivalry. Montreal was making its ninth consecutive appearance in the Finals series, while Toronto appeared for the first time since their 1951 win over Montreal. The Canadiens defeated the Chicago Black Hawks in six games to reach the Finals, and Toronto defeated the Boston Bruins in seven games.
Maurice Richard, hampered by injuries, still managed 4 goals and 4 assists in 10 playoff games. Despite this, the Canadiens won the series four games to one. The Stanley Cup was presented to Canadiens captain Maurice Richard by NHL President Clarence Campbell following Montreal's 5–3 win over Toronto in game five.
An engraving error occurred on the Stanley Cup: Ken Reardon's name was spelt 'KEN READON VICE PRES' missing an 'R'. This mistake was corrected on the original Cup in 1993 when a new ring was added.
Reader's Guide
The 1959 Stanley Cup Final was the third championship meeting between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, two of the NHL's most storied franchises. Montreal's victory marked their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup win, a feat that underscored their dominance in the late 1950s. The series also highlighted the resilience of the Canadiens, who won despite Maurice Richard being hampered by injuries and recording no points in the playoffs. Toronto's appearance was their first since 1951, signaling a return to contention. The engraving error on the Cup—Ken Reardon's name misspelled as 'KEN READON'—became a notable historical footnote, later corrected on the replica cup. This Final is remembered as a key chapter in the Canadiens–Maple Leafs rivalry and a testament to Montreal's dynasty.
Did You Know?
- Maurice Richard recorded 4 goals and 4 assists in the 1959 playoffs.
- Ken Reardon's name was misspelled on the Stanley Cup as 'KEN READON VICE PRES'.
More in Montreal Canadiens games 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced