Devoir de Philosophie

Richards Leads Canadiens to 1944 Stanley Cup.

Publié le 14/05/2013

Extrait du document

Richards Leads Canadiens to 1944 Stanley Cup. Montréal Canadiens hockey player Maurice Richard set a scoring record in the 1944 National Hockey League playoffs, netting five goals in a single game. Richard continued his scoring steak into the finals, propelling his team to the Stanley Cup victory. . Richard's 1944 Stanley Maurice "The Rocket" Richard was more than a sports hero in Québec, Canada; he was a provincial treasure. A star at right wing for the Montréal Canadiens hockey team from 1942 to 1960, he was a tough, working-class, skating dynamo who led the Canadiens to a string of Stanley Cup championships. "When he's worked up, his eyes gleam like headlights," Frank J. Selke, the managing director of the Canadiens, told Sports Illustrated in 1960. "Not a glow, but a piercing intensity. Goalies have said he's like a motorcar coming on you at night. He is terrifying. He is the greatest hockey player that ever lived. I can contradict myself by saying that 10 or 15 do the mechanics better. But it's results that count. Others play well, build up, eventually get a goal. He is like lightning." That description could sum up the way the young Richard performed in the 1944 National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs. After playing in the shadow of his more accomplished teammates, Richard cut loose for a playoff-record 5 goals in one game en route to a record-setting 12 goals and 17 points in two playoff series. It was hockey unlike anyone had ever played it before. Richard, at right wing, joined Elmer Lach at center and Hector "Toe" Blake at left wing to form what many observers say was the finest line in the history of the game. Richard was the best scorer of the three. A blazingly fast skater--hence his nickname "The Rocket"--he eluded defensive players with speed and agility, and he fired shots with uncanny wrist strength. Richard scored 32 goals in 1943-1944, 6 shy of league-leader Douglas Bentley of the Chicago Black Hawks. His efforts helped Montréal to a league-best record of 38 wins, 5 losses, and 7 ties. The Canadiens, who had won the 1943 Stanley Cup, opened the 1944 playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who had recorded 15 fewer wins in the regular season than the Canadiens. Toronto shocked the Canadiens in game one, winning 3-1. The loss was the first for the Canadiens in the Montréal Forum all season. The victory gave the Maple Leafs a leg up in the four-of-seven series. Then The Rocket blasted off. In game two, on March 23, 1944, in Montréal, Richard skated and shot his way to a performance unprecedented in professional hockey. With 1 minute 48 seconds expired in the second period, Richard hammered home the puck to break a scoreless tie. Just 17 seconds later he slammed in his second goal. Toronto tried to battle back, scoring a goal to bring the score to 2-1. But Richard turned the second period into his personal hat trick by scoring his third goal with 8 minutes 50 seconds gone in the period. A minute into the final period he struck again to bring the score to 4-1. He finished his output midway through the final frame with his fifth goal to give the Canadiens a 5-1 victory. The five goals set an individual scoring record for a playoff game. After Richard's five-goal game, he didn't net a goal in the next two games, which the Canadiens won, 2-1 and 4-1. In closing out the Leafs in game five, Richard contributed two goals and three assists in an 11-0 shellacking to propel Montréal into the Stanley Cup Finals against the Chicago Black Hawks. The Canadiens swept the Black Hawks in four games, with Richard continuing his outstanding play. He notched one assist as Montréal took game one, 5-1. In game two Richard scored all of his team's goals in a 3-0 win. In game three, a 3-2 Montréal victory, he added another assist to set a Stanley Cup scoring record with 15 points (a combination of 10 goals and 5 assists). Richard added to that total in game four with two goals--both scored late in the final period to tie the game at 4-4 at the end of regulation; Montréal won the game in overtime to capture the Stanley Cup championship. "Richard's first goal was a remarkable shot," the New York Times wrote. "Turned completely around 10 feet from the net as he skated in after taking Blake's pass, the young winger completed his spin and let fly a backhand shot that beat goalie Mike Karakas. When he scored a minute later the game was delayed while the ice was cleared of missiles tossed by fans." Richard's 1944 Stanley Cup performance established him as hockey's best player of the time. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

« overtime to capture the Stanley Cup championship.

“Richard's first goal was a remarkable shot,” the New York Times wrote.

“Turned completely around 10 feetfrom the net as he skated in after taking Blake's pass, the young winger completed his spin and let fly a backhand shot that beat goalie Mike Karakas.

When hescored a minute later the game was delayed while the ice was cleared of missiles tossed by fans.” Richard's 1944 Stanley Cup performance established him ashockey's best player of the time. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.

All rights reserved.. »

↓↓↓ APERÇU DU DOCUMENT ↓↓↓

Liens utiles