Nitzy's Hockey Den

Dorhoefer Puts Flyers In Cup Finals read the Associated Press headline in May 6, 1974. This game was the last time the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers played a game seven, until this evening. After sweeping the Atlanta Flames, the victory put the Flyers into their first ever Stanley Cup final against the Boston Bruins. The Rangers had beaten Montreal in six games before bowing out almost 40 years ago today. In 1973/74 Gary Dornhoefer was a 30 year old veteran among up and coming stars Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber and Rick MacLeish. In this seventh game the Rangers Bill Fairbairn opened the scoring before MacLeish tied it at one with just over five minutes remaining in the first period. The goal was amazingly the 11th in 11 playoff games for MacLeish who would end up with 13 in 17 games overall. Orest Kindrachuk put the Flyers ahead for good early in the second before Dornhoefer made it 3-1. Steve Vickers made it 3-1 early in the third ahead of Dornhoefer's eventual ...

"That fluke goal by Baun Thursday night in overtime is what killed us," lamented Gordie Howe after Toronto defeated Detroit in game seven of the 1964 Stanley Cup finals. Howe continued, "I can't remember the last time I was this tired. These playoffs were really tough, especially on an old guy like me." Detroit coach Sid Abel added his analysis of the final game, "That second goal by Keon in the final period finished us." Toronto had held a 1-0 lead since Andy Bathgate scored 3:04 into the game when Dave Keon scored in the fifth minute of the third. Punch Imlach said of his team, "They acted like champions and they played like champions. Three of them went out there with their legs frozen. What more can I say - what more could I ask?" Along with Baun's broken leg, Carl Brewer had his ribs and leg frozen and Red Kelly suffered damaged knee ligaments in game six. After game seven he was taken to hospital in a wheelchair. Inside the c...

"Goal Made Ankle Feel Better" That was the headline by the Canadian Press fifty years ago today after Toronto Maple Leaf, Bobby Baun scored the overtime winning goal in game six of the Stanley Cup finals. "The puck came back to me on the bounce just inside the line. It was on edge, I swung and saw it take a big hop into the net," Baun was quoted after the game. The goal, at 1:43 of overtime at Detroit's Olympia equaled the Stanley Cup final at three games apiece. Baun, of course had been carried off the ice on a stretcher in the second period after collapsing in front of Johnny Bower while taking a faceoff. Baun had earlier been hit on the outside of his right leg by a Gordie Howe shot and continued playing. It was on the ensuing faceoff, as he spun on that right leg did he fall to the ice in pain. Baun being carted off in the 2nd period Baun would return before the period was over and after the game speculated he had suffered a pinched nerve, "L...

Dec 2, 1967 I found these old photos in a Toronto archive website, some great forty-plus year old action shots. The first one is of the first year Oakland Seals visiting Maple Leaf Gardens. Toronto won this game 3-0, out-shooting  Oakland 49 to 38. Leaf Jim Pappin and Seals goalie Charlie Hodge are shown trying to track the flight of the puck. Ron Ellis potted his 10th and 11th of the season, Mike Walton had his 14th, Tim Horton collected two assists and Johnny Bower notched the win. April 18, 1967 This one is the sixth and final game of the semi-finals from the previous season. Toronto beat Chicago 3-1 to advance to the Cup Finals, out-shooting the Hawks 37-35. Leaf defenders Larry Hillman (2) and Marcel Pronovost (3) are watching Terry Sawchuk kick out a shot as Lou Angotti looks to pounce. Brian Conacher and Pete Stemkowski beat Glenn Hall for goals while Pat Stapleton scored for the Hawks. April 29, 1967 Ron Ellis (8) gobbles up the lose puck as Terry Saw...

Some cool photos from the Montreal Gazette newspaper after the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Canadiens in game seven of the 1964 Stanley Cup semi-finals. Above is Dave Keon scoring the winning goal with 15 seconds left in the third period to complete his hat-trick.

Another batch of John Collins' hockey cartoons about the 1949/50 NHL season from the Montreal Gazette.

Here's a few more fantastic hockey themed cartoons from the pen of John Collins. They appeared in the Montreal Gazette in November and December of 1949.

In my time spent on google newspaper archives, I have come across some terrific sports themed cartoons in the old Montreal Gazette paper. These fantastic pieces of artwork were done by John Collins. Collins was one of Canada's greatest cartoonists and from 1941 to 1973 was the official cartoonist of The Gazette. As well as sports themed subjects he tackled all matter of national and international political events. During the hockey season, he did a hockey themed editorial cartoon every second day or so.  These ones are from the first few months of the 1949/50 NHL season and commonly depict the angle from a Montreal Canadiens view and their quest to supplant Toronto as the top team in the league.