Let's Watch... (1965/4/1) Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs

[Theokritos]

In the first installment of this feature in the year 2018 we watch Game 1 from the 1965 Stanley Cup Semifinals between Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.

First installment 2017: (1960/4/7) Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Second installent 2017: (1963/4/18) Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings
Third installment 2017: (1963/12/7) Toronto Maple Leafs vs Chicago Black Hawks

A little reminder of the objective of this project:

The point is that many pairs of eyes see more than one pair. We got people of various backgrounds, some really knowledgable about this subject, others have extensively researched that topic, and others are really good at evaluating players and tactics. The purpose (...) is to channel and focus the attention and the knowledge of the community on one specific game and learn from the debate about it.

Looking forward to your comments and observations!

Click to read more...

 

[Theokritos]

This thread is dedicated to Game 1 of the 1965 Stanley Cup Semifinals between Toronto Maple Leafs (defending champions) and Montreal Canadiens. The game was played on April 1st, 1965, at the Forum in Montreal (attendance: 14,007).

Note that the first 14 and a half minutes of the game are not available on video. The footage starts with 5:30 left to play in the first period. Events during the first 14:30 of play:

0:04 – Pen Toronto (Dickie Moore 2 min)
2:30 – Pen Toronto (Bench 2 min, served by Pete Stemkowski)
4:39 – Pen Montreal (Jacques Laperriere 2 min)
6:09 – Pen Montreal (Ted Harris 2 min)
6:40 – Pen Toronto (Tim Horton major)
11:02 – Pen both (Kent Douglas match / Dave Balon 2 min)
11:02 – Goal Montreal: 1-0 Henri Richard (ass. Jean-Claude Termblay, Claude Larose)
14:30 – Pen Montreal (Jean-Guy Talbot 2 min)

The footage starts just as the penalty against Talbot is announced.



Overview over the further events: Click "spoiler" button below to view.

Spoiler

First Period:
14:34 – Goal Montreal: 2-0 Ralph Backstrom (SH)
18:00 – Pen both (Jean Béliveau & Dickie Moore, 2 min each)
19:30 – Pen Montreal (Jacques Laperrière 2 min)
Shots on goal: Montreal 15, Toronto 4

Second period:
1:52 – Pen Montreal (Ted Harris 2 min)
6:16 – Pen Toronto (Dickie Moore 2 min)
9:10 – Pen both (Frank Mahovlich major, Ted Harris major, Jimmy Roberts 10 min, John Ferguson 2 min, Ralph Backstrom 2 min / Pete Stemkowski major, Bob Baun 2 min)
16:03 – Pen both (Jacques Laperrière & Eddie Shack, 2 min each)
16:59 – Pen Toronto (Allan Stanley 2 min)
17:43 – Pen Toronto (Bob Baun 2 min)
Shots on goal: Montreal 12, Toronto 7

Third period:
8:04 – Goal Toronto: 2-1 Dickie Moore (ass. Carl Brewer, Red Kelly)
10:46 – Goal Toronto: 2-2 Carl Brewer
11:51 – Pen Toronto (Tim Horton 2 min)
12:29 – Goal Montreal: 3-2 Bobby Rousseau (PP, ass. Jean Béliveau, Claude Provost)
19:17 – Pen Montreal (Jacques Laperrière 2 min)
Shots on goal: Montreal 11, Toronto 15

 

[Theokritos]

For reference:
1964-1965 All-star voting
Game coverage in the Montreal Gazette (April 2nd)

Montreal Canadiens

Head coach: Toe Blake

Dick Duff (8) – Jean Béliveau (4) – Bobby Rousseau (15)
Dave Balon (20) – Henri Richard (16) – Claude Provost (14)
John Ferguson (22) – Ralph Backstrom (6) – Claude Larose (11)
Jimmy Roberts (26), Garry Peters, Yvan Cournoyer (12)

Jean-Claude Tremblay (3) – Jacques Lapèrriere (2)
Ted Harris (10) – Terry Harper (19)
Jean-Guy Talbot (17)

Charlie Hodge

Toronto Maple Leafs

Head coach: Punch Imlach

Dickie Moore (16) – Red Kelly (4) – Ron Stewart (12)
Don McKenney (17) – Dave Keon (14) – George Armstrong (10)
Frank Mahovlich (27) – Pete Stemkowski (25) – Ron Ellis (11)
Eddie Shack (23), Bob Pulford, Andy Bathgate (9)

Carl Brewer (2) – Bob Baun (21)
Allan Stanley (26) – Tim Horton (7)

Johnny Bower

Note: Tim Horton seems to have played forward until Kent Douglas got his match penalty.

 

[Crosstraffic]

That Gazette article is gold, Douglas looks like he went Dr. Hook on Balon. Then the claim by Imlach that Rocket Richard punched Douglas as he was leaving. 5'6" Charlie Hodge looks like a junior goalie in there, but gets the job done.

 

[overpass]

1964-65 had a significant increase in penalties, power plays, and power play scoring over the previous season. The Canadiens essentially won the 1965 Stanley Cup on the strength of their power play and penalty kill. They scored 21 PPG in 12 games and only allowed 7 -- one of the great playoff power play performances of all time. I haven't watched this yet but I'll be watching the special teams play closely.

Note: Tim Horton seems to have played forward until Kent Douglas got his match penalty.

The Leafs had a lot of injuries at wing that year and Horton spent some time on the wing during the season. After Ron Ellis went down on January 1 against Boston, Tim Horton had played 10 games at right wing, from January 2 to January 20, and scored 8 goals and 2 assists on a line with Red Kelly. I didn't realize he had played wing later in the season too but I guess he did.

 

[Batis]

I have only watched until the end of the second period so far but what a game this is. The first minute of the available footage really is something else when it comes to action and it does not slow down much from there on. The game was obviously very physical but also very high paced in general. Looking forward to watching the third period as well.

The performance of Henri Richard has really stood out to me so far. Such a great skater which makes most things he does appear to be very easy.

 

[Canadiens1958]

I have only watched until the end of the second period so far but what a game this is. The first minute of the available footage really is something else when it comes to action and it does not slow down much from there on. The game was obviously very physical but also very high paced in general. Looking forward to watching the third period as well.

The performance of Henri Richard has really stood out to me so far. Such a great skater which makes most things he does appear to be very easy.

Game is somewhat out of sync due to penalties but watch the Canadiens PK and who plays how much.

 

[Batis]

Just finished watching the game and the third period was really entertaining as well. Some really great plays in that period.



Bower with an incredible save on Beliveau.



Really great goal from Brewer.



Great combination from Rousseau and Beliveau on this goal.

 

[JackSlater]

I will watch this on the weekend. Expecting a good one, as I enjoy the variety hockey had before the mid 90s.

 

[Killion]

Pretty darn sure I watched that in real time over 50yrs ago.... I'd forgotten how awesome Horton & Stanley were, how creative Ron Ellis could be with the puck at times.... April 1st 65.... LBJ in the Whitehouse.... Tom Jones charting with Its Not Unusual...

 

[tinyzombies]

This is cool, I'm in. I've watched this before but not closely. I just drafted Beliveau and Duff in the ATD so this will be fun.

 

[SealsFan]

Most players still had straight blade sticks at this time. At 14:00 we see Tim Horton take a BACKHANDER from THE POINT. Once the curved blade came along, the player would have to stop and turn around to the forehand. In that extra second a defender could be on him.

 

[Killion]

Most players still had straight blade sticks at this time. At 14:00 we see Tim Horton take a BACKHANDER from THE POINT. Once the curved blade came along, the player would have to stop and turn around to the forehand. In that extra second a defender could be on him.

... yeah... a BACKHANDER from the frickin POINT!... Superman strikes again.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Most players still had straight blade sticks at this time. At 14:00 we see Tim Horton take a BACKHANDER from THE POINT. Once the curved blade came along, the player would have to stop and turn around to the forehand. In that extra second a defender could be on him.

Just count the shots never taken in a modern game because the potential shooter is not on his forehand and does not have the skill to backhand.

 

[tinyzombies]

Just count the shots never taken in a modern game because the potential shooter is not on his forehand and does not have the skill to backhand.

Look at the Kings' puck possession game a few years ago. They just threw every puck at the net - not even a shot. And had traffic. Worked pretty well for them for a while.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Look at the Kings' puck possession game a few years ago. They just threw every puck at the net - not even a shot. And had traffic. Worked pretty well for them for a while.

Bottom half in scoring with a burp to 9th one year.

 

[tinyzombies]

Corsi For % used to be the best predictor- now they say SCF% is the best predictor of future goals (also xgf). Although CF% is a better predictor of future goals against.

If there is a lopsided CF that must automatically reduce CA, if you have a team that wins puck battles esp.

This might have also been the case in the 60s. Throw pucks on net was the rule.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Corsi For % used to be a good predictor- now they say SCF% is the best predictor of future goals (also chef). Although CF% is a better predictor of future goals against.

If there is a lopsided CF that must automatically reduce CA, if you have a team that wins puck battles esp.

This might have also been the case in the 60s. Throw pucks on net was the rule.

Play for a deflection. Virtually all the forwards were adept at the art of deflecting the puck on net. Regular part of practice.

Today it is a lost art. Deflections happen by chance.

 

[tinyzombies]

Play for a deflection. Virtually all the forwards were adept at the art of deflecting the puck on net. Regular part of practice.

Today it is a lost art. Deflections happen by chance.

They also blindly threw it out front over and over .

 

[Canadiens1958]

They also blindly threw it out front over and over .

Unless anchored like on the modern PP, passes are or were made to where a player should be not where he is.Gretzky clearly explained this when he said to the effect go where the puck will be.

Out front is prime scoring area. That is where the offence wants to get the puck for a prime scoring chance. The defence tries to keep the offence from getting players out front.

 

[tinyzombies]

It was too predictable. Hockey became stagnant in the 60s.

 

[Canadiens1958]

It was too predictable. Hockey became stagnant in the 60s.

Hockey was never more dynamic and fluid than in the second half of the O6 era. Played by craftsmen, adjusting from game to game, shift to shift and within shifts. Players who knew how to play with and without the puck, who appreciated the inner game.

Watch the game and see how well Claude Provost plays without the puck compared to Max Pacioretty or Gallagher or any wingers today.

 

[tinyzombies]

Hockey was never more dynamic and fluid than in the second half of the O6 era. Played by craftsmen, adjusting from game to game, shift to shift and within shifts. Players who knew how to play with and without the puck, who appreciated the inner game.

Watch the game and see how well Claude Provost plays without the puck compared to Max Pacioretty or Gallagher or any wingers today.

There’s a video talking about it. Other than the Hawks the 60s was stagnant defensive hockey leading into watered down expansion. The rivalries were great but the hockey was predictable. On offense too. Bowman said it the 90s too when talking about the trap.

 

[Canadiens1958]

There’s a video talking about it. Other than the Hawks the 60s was stagnant defensive hockey leading into watered down expansion. The rivalries were great but the hockey was predictable. On offense too. Bowman said it the 90s too when talking about the trap.

TG/G last five O6 seasons 5.95/5.55/5.75/6.08/5.96 vs last fiveseasons with the benefit of RS OT 5.49/5.46/5.42/5.53/5.90(present unfinished season).

Modern seems more predictable, stagnant, while the O6 is fluid reflecting change and adjustments.

Hawks were rather stagnant 1960 to 1967. Get the puck to a flying Bobby Hull or set-up with Stan Mikita in the offensive zone. Nothing else.

Still Hull without the puck was a much better player than Ovechkin. Also Hull was an offensive threat from both wings and up the middle.

 

[tinyzombies]

I will keep this in mind when watching