Montreal Canadiens win Stanley Cup

The spring of 1977 had a sense of deja vu to it. The Blues fared no better than the Blackhawks had a year earlier, as Montreal cruised to the semis in just four games, outscoring the Blues 19-4.

Like a year earlier, the only bumps on Montreal’s road to Lord Stanley’s Cup came courtesy of the New York Islanders, a youthful team on the rise led by youngsters Denis Potvin and Bryan Trottier.

Montreal took an early lead with 4-3 and 3-0 wins before dropping game three on Long Island. Momentum shifted to the visitors for the rest of the series with Dryden’s second shutout of the semis, the 4-0 victory putting Montreal a game away from the Finals.

The Isles briefly postponed the inevitable with a 4-3 overtime victory, but Montreal won last game of the series 2-1 to go on to the Finals against the Boston Bruins.

Opening with a 7-3 win, Montreal reverted to defense to take the second game, and Ken Dryden closed the door to post his third playoff shutout in a 3-0 whitewashing.

Playing at home didn’t change the Bruins’ fortunes. Allowing their guests a three-goal lead before replying, they ended the night on the losing end of a 4-2 decision in Game 3.

Boston took the fourth game into overtime with the teams tied at a goal apiece. Four and a half minutes later, Jacques Lemaire ended the series with his third game-winning goal of the postseason as the Montreal Canadiens hoisted a second Stanley Cup in as many years to cap their dream season.

http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/season/1976-1977