What a bizarre game that was too. Anytime we complain about the format the NHL has now you can always point at a time where I don't think it was more bizarre. For starters, the Habs were a good team in 1970. I believe it was 2-3 games prior that they were mathematically still in reach for 1st overall in points. The way the format went with the top 4 in each division going on and the expansion division being just horrible that year made it even more bizarre. But the tiebreaker being goals for............well, that just seems silly in retrospect doesn't it? Goal differential, or head to head matches you can see.
I remember those games.
The writer said "Montreal could lose against Chicago 20-5 and still make the playoffs as long as they scored 5 goals."
I would presume that the only reason the Canadiens didn't
start the game with six skaters was that they had a better chance trying to win or tie the game, however low the score.
However, once Chicago had 5 goals, their objectives merged, and the focus became score five, no matter what the final score.