This Week in Montreal Canadiens History: April 25th – May 1st

May 1st

Conn Beliveau

On this day, the year of our Lord 1965, the Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Jean Beliveau scored the fastest Stanley Cup winning goal, and Dick Duff, Yvan Cournoyer, and Henri Richard added first period goals and Gump Worsely was the second goalie to record a shutout in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Final.

Beliveau had a disappointing season in 1964-65, scoring just 43 points in 58 games, down from 78 the year before. But Beliveau stepped up his game in the playoffs, scoring 8 goals and 16 points in 13 playoff games.

It was good enough to lead the team in both categories, and win the very first Conn Smythe Trophy, as the most valuable player of the playoffs.

Shout Out to the Shutouts

On May 1st, 1969, the Montreal Canadiens beat the St. Louis Blues 4-0 in the third game of their Stanley Cup Final. Ironically, that was what the series would end at, as well as the series before.

Dick Duff scored 2 goals and had an assist to lead the Canadiens over the newly expanded Blues, and Rogie Vachon made 29 saves for his first NHL playoff shutout.

Exactly 6 years later, Ken Dryden and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 7-0. Guy Lafleur scored a shutout, included two goals in under a minute, and Dryden recorded 27 saves for his 3rd career Stanley Cup playoffs shutout.

Dryden would have 10 playoff shutouts, which ties him for 12th all time with Henrik Lundqvist. The only active player above Dryden is Marc-Andre Fleury, tied for 3rd with 16 shutouts with Curtis Joseph. The all time leader is Martin Brodeur at 24.