Stanley Cup (1964)

Lore & Background

This series is famous for the courageous play of Bob Baun. In game six of the Final, he took a Gordie Howe slapshot on his ankle and had to leave play. He returned in overtime and scored the winning goal. He also played in game seven despite the pain and only after the series was over was it revealed that he had played on a fractured ankle. Until the 2008–09 Final, John MacMillan was the only player to play in back-to-back Finals with different teams in successive series that pitted the same teams against each other. MacMillan won the Cup with the 1963 Toronto Maple Leafs in a five-game decision over Detroit and then lost the 1964 Cup Final to the Leafs as a member of the Red Wings.

In Their Own Story

On April 23, 1964, Maple Leaf Gardens held its breath for Game 7. The air was thick with anticipation rather than noise; it was a low-scoring affair defined by defensive grit rather than offensive flair. In the locker room, focus replaced panic as Dave Keon prepared to face Detroit. When the puck dropped, Sawchuk and Bower stood immovable in net, turning aside everything thrown at them. Mahovlich clogged the neutral zone, drawing penalties and clearing the crease with a ferocity that defined the era. The game remained deadlocked until late, when Keon found the back of the net to seal a 2-1 victory. When the final buzzer sounded, the celebration was not just for a win, but for the survival of a dynasty on the brink.

Reader's Guide

Toronto defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4–3 to advance to the finals and Detroit defeated the Chicago Black Hawks 4–3. The 1964 Stanley Cup was presented to Maple Leafs captain George Armstrong by NHL President Clarence Campbell following the Maple Leafs 4–0 win over the Red Wings in game seven.

Did You Know?

• The Maple Leafs overcame a 3-2 series deficit to defeat the Red Wings in seven games for their third-straight championship.
• Bob Baun played game seven on a fractured ankle, which was only revealed after the series ended.
• John MacMillan was the only player to play in back-to-back Finals with different teams in successive series that pitted the same teams against each other until the 2008–09 Final.