Let's Watch III... (1963/12/7) Toronto Maple Leafs vs Chicago Black Hawks

[Theokritos]

In the third installment of this feature we look at a regular season game from the 1963-1964 season: Chicago Black Hawks at Toronto Maple Leafs. If you're wondering why we get to watch a Toronto game again, the answer is simple: because that's what happens to be available.

First installment: (1960/4/7) Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Second installent: (1963/4/18) Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings

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 a regular season game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Black Hawks. The game was played on December 7th, 1963, at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto (attendance: 14,325).

Part 1:


Part 2:


Events:
(click on the "spoiler" button below to view)

Spoiler

First Period:
7:10 – Pen Toronto (Eddie Shack, 2 min)
10:36 – Pen Chicago (Howie Young, 2 min)
11:30 – 1-0 George Armstrong (ass. Dave Keon, Larry Hillman)
14:43 – Pen Chicago (Pierre Pilote, 2 min)
17:36 – Pen Toronto (Tim Horton, 2 min)
19:14 – Pen Toronto (Bob Nevin, 2 min)
Shots on goal: Toronto 6, Chicago 9

Second Period:
4:21 – Pen Chicago (Bench penalty, 2 min)
5:40 – Pen Chicago (Eric Nesterenko, 2 min)
7:03 – 2-0 Frank Mahovlich (unassisted)
8:09 – Pen Toronto (Eddie Shack, 2 min)
13:19 – Pen Toronto (Tim Horton, 2 min)
Shots on goal: Toronto 8, Chicago 8

Third Period:
3:35 – 3-0 Eddie Shack (ass. Red Kelly)
8:07 – Pen both (Ron Stewart & Bobby Hull, 2 min each)
9:15 – Pen Toronto (Eddie Shack, 2 min)
10:41 – Pen Chicago (Stan Mikita, 2 min)
13:30 – Pen Chicago (Reg Fleming, 2 min)
16:57 – Brawl, the following penalties are called:
Toronto: Ron Stewart (5+10), Larry Hillman (5+10), Bob Baun (5+10+game misconduct)
Chicago: Wayne Hillman (5+10), Chico Maki (5+10), Stan Mikita (5+10), Murray Balfour (5+game misconduct), Reg Fleming (5+10+game misconduct)
Shots on goal: Toronto 13, Chicago 9

 

[Theokritos]

For reference: 1963-1964 Award & All-Star Voting

Toronto Maple Leafs

Head Coach: Punch Imlach

Don Simmons (24)

Larry Hillman (22)
Tim Horton (7) – Allan Stanley (26)
Bob Baun (21) – Carl Brewer (2)

Bob Nevin (11) – Bob Pulford (20) – Frank Mahovlich (27)
Ron Stewart (12) – Red Kelly (4) – Eddie Shack (23)
George Armstrong (10, C) – Dave Keon (14) – Dick Duff (9)

vs

Ab McDonald (14) – Stan Mikita (21) – Kenny Wharram (17)
Bobby Hull (9) – Bill Hay (11) – Murray Balfour (8)
Ron Murphy (10) – Eric Nesterenko (15) – Chicago Maki (16)

Elmer Vasko (4) – Pierre Pilote (3)
Al MacNeil (19) – Wayne Hillman (20)
Howie Young (2), Reg Fleming (6)

Glenn Hall (1)

Head coach: Billy Reay

Chicago Black Hawks​

 

[Johnny Engine]

Bummed that I missed the last video watch with laptop problems. Excited to watch Mikita and Hull in action!

 

[Killion]

^^^ yeah its a real trip for me, grew up watching these games from the Gardens. 12" black & white tv. Got all of 2 channels.

 

[Batis]

Once again very impressed with the Leafs. Especially the way they for the most part managed to contain Hull and Mikita.

And what a goal by Mahovlich. Really impressive. That play was definitely not Mikitas or Hulls finest moment though. Considering how great of a skater Hull was his effort in that specific situation could in my opinion be somewhat questioned. But a really great goal by Mahovlich no doubt about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBofYCEg9Fw&t=57m39s

 

[Batis]

I thought that it was very interesting to listen to Carl Brewer. From him talking about Punch Imlach in the beginning of the video to him saying that he never really recovered from the fight with Murray Balfour in this game. Considering that Brewer still managed to pick up two more second team all-star selections after this I found it very interesting. Brewer also played very well in this game in my opinion. Of the games I have watched with him (these 3 games plus the USSR-Canada game from the 1967 WHC) this is the one where he impressed me the most. Really a great defenceman.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Only watched the first period so far. This Leafs team is just so modern-looking, the way they built their game around strong defensive play and ugly north-south offense.

I agree that Brewer's comments are very interesting and worth the time to watch. He minces no words, basically says nobody liked Punch Imlach and kind of implies that the team really didn't need George Armstrong to lead them. At the same time, he calls Kent Douglas the best athlete he ever played with. Also toward the beginning, he talks about how the Leafs built their players up from age 12 with a winning mentality, so a Cup win in their 20s was just the culmination of a long term grooming process. Very interesting perspective.

Bobby Hull has that electric quality that reminds me of a prime-aged Bure or Ovechkin. Looks like the Hawks' strategy was for him to just get a head of steam through the neutral zone and either blow past everyone getting to the net, or draw a penalty trying. That being said, the Leafs seemed to have him fairly well in check in the bit I watched.

Dick Duff was really on his game here.

Other bits and pieces:

10:05 - Bobby Hull's speed, my goodness. You'd think everyone else was standing still.

14:10 - That touch pass by Mikitia

17:45 - Interesting bit of gamesmanship by Balfour which would surely have resulted in a scrum today.

 

[Killion]

Only watched the first period so far. This Leafs team is just so modern-looking, the way they built their game around strong defensive play and ugly north-south offense....

Interesting comments tarheel, always interesting to hear/read them from fans who werent around at the time and yes, the Leafs of the era under Imlach (and throughout their earlier history to varying degrees) were playing System Hockey, Trap. Total Team Defence.... And yes again with respect to Carl Brewers comments pursuant to early grooming. Some, far from all but some of the players had indeed either started playing together at Pee Wee, Bantam or Midget in the THL (nee MTHL, now called GTHL) for the Toronto Marlborough organization, then moving up to the Jr.B Markham Waxers followed by the Jr.A Marlies. Others, players from Northern Ontario etc, Scouted & recruited by the Leafs, offered scholarships to St.Mikes Catholic School which iced teams in the THL, Jr.B Buzzers & Jr.A Majors. In both cases, both organizations, groomed to play "Leafs Hockey" (defence 1st), doing so very successfully, winning at almost every level of play. Players recruited, selected, grabbed from other organizations often at very young ages.

Kent Douglas was an "outlier" from the usual Leaf mold, didnt even make the NHL until the age of 27 after years in the minors, WHL with Winnipeg & Vancouver, most notably with Springfield of the AHL under the guidance, mentoring & tutorship of Eddie Shore, Douglas one of the few players who actually got along with him. Leafs pulling a 5 player swap to get Douglas, and at 27, wins the Calder. He did burst onto the scene with quite the Bang (which no doubt mightily impressed Carl Brewer) however thereafter, extremely inconsistent spending a lot of time in Imlachs Doghouse. Odd, bit of a paradox as he got along famously with Eddie Shore who was a notoriously strict disciplinarian, much more so than Punch. When Douglas was "on", yes, he was absolutely outstanding. Not a big guy but he could fly. Used a big heavy stick. I remember him well. Left unprotected in the 67 Draft....

Heres more on him...mapleleafslegends.blogspot.ca/2007/02/kent-douglas.html

... as for Duff, Hull, Mikita & Balfour... yea, Tricky Dicky Duff was a terrific player, extremely well rounded & invaluable, great team guy, a real student-professor of the game, mentor to the younger players, ran a Hockey School for years in Ontario, clinics for the Marlboroughs from Atom~Midget & so on and as far as Im concerned a very worthy HHOF induction, and if anyone wants to argue that with me your talking to the hand.... Bobby Hull, well, what can you really say? He totally energized the NHL upon arrival, a league that really since Richards peak hadnt had a seriously exciting player amongst the ranks, all due respect to Beliveau. Absolutely incredible skater, excellent stickhandler, and of course; The Shot. The Slapshot like the Grandslam of Baseball. Guy was like Zeus unleashing lightning bolts, site to behold, the idol of millions Blackhawks fans or not. I find it strange that people forget or underestimate today just how big he was, the impact he had, arguably the Greatest Offensive Winger the game has ever seen. Had the stamina of a Dray Horse.... as for Mikita, again, highly entertaining player, hockey IQ right off the charts and the ability to put it all together & make the extremely difficult look easy. Deadly force to play against & much more so after he'd cleaned up his act.... Balfour? Instigator. Psychological terrorist essentially. A bit like Eddie Shack minus the Showboating and a lot meaner.

 

[Thegreatwar]

Imlach was having his defensemen take most of the faceoffs, anybody know why?

To me, it seemed like the Blackhawks were fond of taking the puck behind the net for a controlled breakout, especially if Hull was on the ice. A couple times it also looked like the Chicago forwards were trying to leak out of the zone early. Often when they tried to carry the puck through the neutral zone they massed their players for the rush, while the Leafs were more direct when they got the puck.

The Leafs didn't really use a hard forecheck, they seemed to prefer defending in the neutral zone instead.

Glenn Hall's agility was impressive, and Hull, Horton, and Mahovlich looked like the best players in the parts I watched (mid-1st to mid-2nd).

 

[Killion]

Imlach was having his defensemen take most of the faceoffs, anybody know why?

Yeah, that was a patented Imlach strategy. Hillman, Horton, Pronovost & Stanley taking Defensive Zone Face-Offs. He did that as the Defenceman
was expected to essentially "Mug" the opposing Center, tie him up allowing for the Leaf Center or one of the forwards to dash in & grab the puck.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Imlach was having his defensemen take most of the faceoffs, anybody know why?

This was discussed in the 4/18/63 thread linked in the OP. Bob Nevin actually talks about it in the OP video of that thread.

 

[BayStreetBully]

This is a really great idea. I haven't read the comments because I want to watch the game first. I'll get around to it this week but I can't wait.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Watched the second period.

46:35 and 49:25 - Just one of those little things, but Simmonds twice shot the puck right out of play. At some point, I have the impression it was during the 1970s, that became an automatic penalty for a goalie. Certainly seems the Hawks wanted one called there.

Also, just before that second incident, Bobby Hull just skated the puck up and ripped a slapshot right from the red line. Like he had confidence it would go in.

57:45 - Mahovlich was a runaway freight train when he got a head of steam. Saw this in the playoff game we watched as well. A bull in a china shop.

59:15 - Hull is just unbelievable. It's like he's playing in fast-forward compared to everyone else. It must have been butt-clinchingly intimidating to see that guy come at you.

1:00:07 - Crowd shot... there's very close to zero empty seats in this fairly wide shot of the lower level.

Can't get used to seeing the 2-line pass again. I never did like that rule.

1:15:10 - Nice hipcheck by Brewer on Nesterenko.

 

[Batis]

If you're wondering why we get to watch a Toronto game again, the answer is simple: because that's what happens to be available.

There is at least one available NHL game from the 60s where Toronto does not play though. Game 7 of the 1965 Stanley Cup semifinals between Chicago and Detroit. I just watched that game yesterday (inspired by watching these games) and it was probably one of the most entertaining games that I have ever watched. Gordie Howe was incredible during the first period and then Stan Mikita and especially Bobby Hull really took over the game during the final two periods.

Just to be clear I am by no means complaining about watching too much of the 60s Leafs as I have enjoyed it very much and been very impressed with them but I just wanted to point this out.

 

[Theokritos]

There is at least one available NHL game from the 60s where Toronto does not play though. Game 7 of the 1965 Stanley Cup semifinals between Chicago and Detroit.

Sure, we'll get to that game as we're proceeding in chronological order. What I meant is that this is the third Toronto game in a row and it's not because I like that team more than the others.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Just to be clear I am by no means complaining about watching too much of the 60s Leafs as I have enjoyed it very much and been very impressed with them but I just wanted to point this out.

Yeah, it's kind of interesting to see the same team multiple times because you get some familiarity with the lines and the players' personalities. But then again, it's also really great to get to see a variety of different teams and matchups. I'm honestly not sure which I'd enjoy more, but I'm surprised how much I liked seeing a second Toronto game from the same season.

 

[Canadiens1958]

1965 SC Final Game 7

There is at least one available NHL game from the 60s where Toronto does not play though. Game 7 of the 1965 Stanley Cup semifinals between Chicago and Detroit. I just watched that game yesterday (inspired by watching these games) and it was probably one of the most entertaining games that I have ever watched. Gordie Howe was incredible during the first period and then Stan Mikita and especially Bobby Hull really took over the game during the final two periods.

Just to be clear I am by no means complaining about watching too much of the 60s Leafs as I have enjoyed it very much and been very impressed with them but I just wanted to point this out.

1965 SC final Game 7 Chicago at Montreal is also available on the net.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Finally got a chance to watch the final period, which of course has a little bit of everything. But the highlight for me was really the interviews with Carl Brewer. Especially the segment around 15:00 of the second clip, where he says he was never the same player, "psychologically destroyed" after this game. You can tell that it takes the interviewer off guard and he takes a moment to search for words. Also interesting to get the real story behind the fan who punched Murray Balfour on the bench.

Likewise, Brewer's commentary on the Bathgate trade and its effect on the makeup of that Leafs team is well worth a listen.

Other little observations:

- The Leafs just choked the life out of Chicago defensively, which is the more impressive when you can easily see the high skill level on the Hawks side. But the total team defensive effort just gave them no space whatsoever.

- Eddie Shack always seems to come as advertised, but this period especially showed off the different facets of his game (for better and worse).

- Funny to see a reporter walking around the ice during the brawl aftermath, like he's shooting for a documentary.

- That Boston/NY scoreline became a real sideshow.

- Speaking of sideshows, too bad that at 9:25 of the second clip the cameras didn't catch the fan who grabbed a Leaf stick and tried to take a shot on goal.

- Basic theatrical sense says you should announce the stars 3-2-1, not 1-2-3. Also, it's interesting to see Bobby Hull skate out to acknowledge his star and take the boos in stride. That's something you rarely see anymore unless someone's doing it sarcastically, which Hull clearly was not.