Toronto Maple Leafs win Stanley Cup
The 1951 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens.
The Maple Leafs would win the series 4–1. It was the Toronto franchise's ninth Stanley Cup win and the last in a series of six wins starting in 1942. It was the first appearance in a string of ten consecutive appearances by the Canadiens.
Toronto defeated the Boston Bruins 4–1 to reach the final. Montreal defeated the defending champion Detroit Red Wings 4–2 to reach the final.
Every game went into overtime in this series. Bill Barilko scored the Cup-winning goal, his last goal in the NHL as he would die in a plane crash during the summer.
Every game that was played between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens in this final went into overtime. In game one, Toronto beat Montreal 3-2. Montreal came back to beat Toronto 3-2 in game 2. But Toronto won the next three games?2-1, 3-2 and, in game five, 3-2. That final win is the most famous game in Toronto's legendary history. Defenseman Bill Barilko scored Toronto's overtime goal against Montreal netminder Gerry McNeil to win the Stanley Cup. It was the fourth Cup celebration of Barilko's brief five-season NHL career. But it would also be his last. Tragically, he died in a plane crash while on a fishing trip in Northern Ontario over the summer. Toronto would not win a Cup for another 11 years. Ironically, they would win their next Stanley Cup in 1962, the year Barilko's remains were discovered.
The 1950–51 Toronto Maple Leafs season involved winning the Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup was famous for Bill Barilko scoring the winning goal.
Every game went into overtime in this series. Bill Barilko scored the Cup-winning goal, his last goal in the NHL as he would die in a plane crash during the summer.
Toronto wins best-of-seven series four games to one.
[1951 Toronto Maple Leafs:
Turk Broda, Al Rollins, Jimmy Thomson, Gus Mortson, Bill Barilko, Bill Juzda, Fern Flaman, Hugh Bolton, Ted Kennedy (captain), Sid Smith, Tod Sloan, Cal Gardner, Howie Meeker, Harry Watson, Max Bentley, Joe Klukay, Danny Lewicki, Ray Timgren, Fleming Mackell, Johnny McCormack, Bob Hassard, Conn Smythe (manager), Joe Primeau (coach), Tim Daly (trainer)
