1973 Stanley Cup Finals

c9777666

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Aug 31, 2016
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This is a Cup Final we seemingly don't hear a lot. Esp. compared to the summit series that came before 1972-73.

The Chicago/Montreal series of 1971 had more well-known moments (Dryden's rookie magic culmination, Henri Richard vs Al MacNeil, Lemaire from the blueline, Pocket Rocket's clutch series winner, the end of an era for Beliveau).

It's interesting looking back on their 73 rematch that didn't have as many standout moments but is still an interesting series in its own way.

For one thing, it was the first of 10 Stanley Cups for Scotty Bowman as head coach.

Plus, the 73 Habs had 11 future hall of famers- the only other team to have as many HHOF'ers on a team at once were the legendary 2002 Red Wings. Even the 50s and late 70s Habs didn't have THAT many hall of famers at once.

Both teams had differences compared to prior and future years.

Montreal didn't have some of the veterans near the end in 71 (Beliveau, Ferguson) and the famous names of the 4 straight Cup teams weren't quite there yet (Guy LaFleur wasn't yet GUY LAFLEUR, Larry Robinson was a few years away from becoming dominant, Steve Shutt was a rookie.)

But even without some of the names of past lore or future dynasty, they still had an absurd 52-10-16 record for 120 points, 13 points ahead of BOS even with Orr/Espo going over 100 (MTL's only first place finish from 1970-1974)

Their 120 points were only 1 less point than 71 BOS despite the lack of individual superstar standout performance save for Dryden's first Vezina (which he still would have won under today's criteria.)

Chicago meanwhile was essentially the same team from the 1971 team that almost won the Cup minus Bobby Hull (this was after his famous departure for WPG) and had surprisingly swept a Ranger team that made the 72 Cup Final and almost made it back the following year.

If their 71 series was mostly close games (2-0, 3-2, 4-3, 2-1), this was the opposite.

The 73 series had scores of 8-3, 7-4, 6-4, and an outrageous 8-7 game at the Forum.

If the 1971 SCF standout offensive players were the Mahovlich brothers (big and little M), 73 was the Yvan Cournoyer show (6 games, 6 goals, 12 points).

Esposito/Dryden gave us some good goalie duels in 71, but here.......... anything but.

Outside of a 4-0 game 4 shutout, Dryden didn't exactly play like he had in the 71 Finals.

This Day in Hockey History – May 8, 1973 – Defense Drops Under Offense Onslaught

Your thoughts on the other CHI/MTL SCF of the 70s?
 
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Nerowoy nora tolad

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IIRC I thought I remembered reading a story from Dryden where Bowman had challenged him about thinking he was bigger than the team and Ken didnt see it that way. When the final buzzer went after that years playoffs (I think 1973) Ken brushed his coach off in the celebrations over that rift

I could be getting the wrong year though
 

DeysArena

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IIRC I thought I remembered reading a story from Dryden where Bowman had challenged him about thinking he was bigger than the team and Ken didnt see it that way. When the final buzzer went after that years playoffs (I think 1973) Ken brushed his coach off in the celebrations over that rift

I could be getting the wrong year though
It was 1973.
 
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Big Phil

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Nov 2, 2003
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It would have been interesting to hear the reaction of Scotty Bowman after Game 5. Funny thing, in those years Montreal coincidentally always won the Cup on the road, but they were poised to win it in Game 5 - actually had a 5-4 lead halfway through the game - before blowing it. I think a lot of people point to the 1973 Habs and suggest that perhaps the strong Bruins team in 1972 getting some of their core players plucked from the WHA played a factor, but keep in mind this was a 120 point team. Perhaps one of the deepest and most well rounded teams in NHL history. Where was their weakness?
 

Mandar

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Sep 27, 2013
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This is a Cup Final we seemingly don't hear a lot. Esp. compared to the summit series that came before 1972-73.

The Chicago/Montreal series of 1971 had more well-known moments (Dryden's rookie magic culmination, Henri Richard vs Al MacNeil, Lemaire from the blueline, Pocket Rocket's clutch series winner, the end of an era for Beliveau).

It's interesting looking back on their 73 rematch that didn't have as many standout moments but is still an interesting series in its own way.

For one thing, it was the first of 10 Stanley Cups for Scotty Bowman as head coach.

Plus, the 73 Habs had 11 future hall of famers- the only other team to have as many HHOF'ers on a team at once were the legendary 2002 Red Wings. Even the 50s and late 70s Habs didn't have THAT many hall of famers at once.

Both teams had differences compared to prior and future years.

Montreal didn't have some of the veterans near the end in 71 (Beliveau, Ferguson) and the famous names of the 4 straight Cup teams weren't quite there yet (Guy LaFleur wasn't yet GUY LAFLEUR, Larry Robinson was a few years away from becoming dominant, Steve Shutt was a rookie.)

But even without some of the names of past lore or future dynasty, they still had an absurd 52-10-16 record for 120 points, 13 points ahead of BOS even with Orr/Espo going over 100 (MTL's only first place finish from 1970-1974)

Their 120 points were only 1 less point than 71 BOS despite the lack of individual superstar standout performance save for Dryden's first Vezina (which he still would have won under today's criteria.)

Chicago meanwhile was essentially the same team from the 1971 team that almost won the Cup minus Bobby Hull (this was after his famous departure for WPG) and had surprisingly swept a Ranger team that made the 72 Cup Final and almost made it back the following year.

If their 71 series was mostly close games (2-0, 3-2, 4-3, 2-1), this was the opposite.

The 73 series had scores of 8-3, 7-4, 6-4, and an outrageous 8-7 game at the Forum.

If the 1971 SCF standout offensive players were the Mahovlich brothers (big and little M), 73 was the Yvan Cournoyer show (6 games, 6 goals, 12 points).

Esposito/Dryden gave us some good goalie duels in 71, but here.......... anything but.

Outside of a 4-0 game 4 shutout, Dryden didn't exactly play like he had in the 71 Finals.

This Day in Hockey History – May 8, 1973 – Defense Drops Under Offense Onslaught

Your thoughts on the other CHI/MTL SCF of the 70s?
The Hawks didn’t sweep the Rangers in ‘73.....they did win 4 straight after the Rangers took game 1. I remember that series...even though it only went 5 games, the Rangers probably had the edge overall....Tony Esposito was the clear difference. A Rangers/Canadiens final would have been interesting, as they beat the Habs in the playoffs both the year prior and the year after ‘73.

The finals were fun that year, with the 8-7 game being pretty memorable.
 

c9777666

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Aug 31, 2016
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I think a lot of people point to the 1973 Habs and suggest that perhaps the strong Bruins team in 1972 getting some of their core players plucked from the WHA played a factor, but keep in mind this was a 120 point team. Perhaps one of the deepest and most well rounded teams in NHL history. Where was their weakness?

73 Habs are an interesting team. They were deep and well-rounded, but they aren't as mentioned among the great Hab teams ala the 1956 or 1977 squads despite having more HHOF'ers on the same MTL squad than those versions.

Also, even with BOS having core players plucked by the WHA, they still won only one less game (52-51)

The stars of the 4 straight Cups later on weren't quite at peak form yet- Guy wasn't GUY yet, Steve Shutt was a rookie, Larry Robinson was in his 2nd year, Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe weren't at peak form, Dryden was very good but not quite the unbeatable form of a few seasons later.

Jacques Lemaire did have a career year- led the team in goals and points.

Although the Big Three defenseman were a few years away from peaking, this Habs team wasn't far off defensively goals allowed from the 60-win squad of 77 (184-171)

They also had a mix of some of the 60s era guys still there (Cournoyer, The Big M, Henri Richard)

One thing I'll note is that East Division of 73 was tougher than the Norris of 77: The 77 Norris runner up- LA with 83 points- had fewer points than 5th place 73 East team Detroit.

Playoff path in terms of opponent quality?

1973 BUF > 1977 STL

1977 NYI and 1973 PHI is a tossup

1977 BOS and 1973 CHI are close, but MTL beat a better CHI team in 71 and a better BOS team in 78
 
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Staniowski

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73 Habs are an interesting team. They were deep and well-rounded, but they aren't as mentioned among the great Hab teams ala the 1956 or 1977 squads despite having more HHOF'ers on the same MTL squad than those versions.

The stars of the 4 straight Cups later on weren't quite at peak form yet- Guy wasn't GUY yet, Steve Shutt was a rookie, Larry Robinson was in his 2nd year, Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe weren't at peak form, Dryden was very good but not quite the unbeatable form of a few seasons later.

Jacques Lemaire did have a career year- led the team in goals and points.

Although the Big Three defenseman were a few years away from peaking, this Habs team wasn't far off defensively goals allowed from the 60-win squad of 77 (184-171)

They also had a mix of some of the 60s era guys still there (Cournoyer, The Big M, Henri Richard)

One thing I'll note is that East Division of 73 was tougher than the Norris of 77.

2 Los Angeles Kings 34 31 15 271 241 83
3 Pittsburgh Penguins 80 34 33 13 240 252 81
4 Washington Capitals 80 24 42 14 221 307 62
5 Detroit Red Wings 80 16 55 9 183 309 41

2 Boston Bruins 51 22 5 330 235 107
3 New York Rangers 47 23 8 297 208 102
4 Buffalo Sabres 37 27 14 257 219 88
5 Detroit Red Wings 37 29 12 265 243 86
Yeah, of the Habs' 8 most recent Cup winners ('93, '86, the 6 from the '70s), this '73 team is probably the least remembered.

But, the Mahovlich brothers were both very good (Peter was probably near peak form), Cournoyer and Lemaire were both at or near their best....as were Lapointe and Dryden. The Habs of that period had a lot of good players. Very good depth.
 
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Big Phil

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Nov 2, 2003
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The way it went back then was that the Bruins and Habs missed out on playing against each other a lot. Just for a few years though. 1970 the Bruins win but the Habs miss the playoffs. 1972 Bruins win but the Habs get knocked out first round by the Rangers. 1973 Habs win but the Rangers knock out the Bruins. 1974 Rangers knock out the Habs and the Bruins go to the Cup final. Just once in 1971 did they meet. They always seemed to avoid each other in those years. But I think that is better for Boston because they were in the middle of a 45 year drought of losing to the Habs in every playoff meeting.
 

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