George Armstrong’s Double-OT Goal Gave Toronto Its Only Win in the 1961 Playoffs

George Armstrong gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a dramatic start to the 1961 Stanley Cup playoffs, scoring in double overtime to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 at Maple Leaf Gardens. It would be Toronto’s only victory of the postseason. The Leafs had finished second overall in 1960-61, 24 points ahead of fourth-place Detroit, but that regular-season advantage meant little once the semifinal series began.

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Highlights

• Toronto finished 24 points ahead of Detroit in the 1960-61 standings.

• Alex Delvecchio opened Game 1’s scoring just 14 seconds into play.

• Ron Stewart’s late third-period goal forced overtime.

• George Armstrong scored at 4:51 of double overtime for a 3-2 Toronto win.

• Dick Duff and Allan Stanley assisted on the winner.

• Cesare Maniago made 37 saves in his NHL playoff debut.

• Detroit won the next four games, outscoring Toronto 13-5.

• Both Toronto and first-place Montreal were eliminated in the semifinals.

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Toronto never led during regulation in Game 1. Alex Delvecchio beat Cesare Maniago just 14 seconds after the opening faceoff, with Gordie Howe assisting. Bob Nevin pulled the Maple Leafs even with the second period’s only goal, but Howie Young restored Detroit’s lead early in the third. Ron Stewart kept Toronto alive, making it 2-2 with just over five and a half minutes remaining.

The Red Wings survived a dangerous stretch in the first overtime after Young received a slashing minor at 12:09. Toronto couldn’t capitalize on the power play, and the teams needed a second extra period to settle things. At 4:51, Armstrong finally beat Terry Sawchuk, with Dick Duff and Allan Stanley assisting on the winner.

Making his NHL playoff debut, Maniago stopped 37 of 39 shots to earn the victory. For Armstrong, the overtime winner would stand as his only goal of the playoffs. It was a memorable opening night for both players, but Toronto would have little to celebrate over the remainder of the series.

Detroit won the next four games, outscoring Toronto 13-5 along the way. Sawchuk’s contributions included a 29-save shutout in Game 3 as the Red Wings finished off the Leafs in five. The other semifinal also produced an upset, with the third-place Chicago Blackhawks eliminating the first-place Montreal Canadiens in six games. The NHL’s top two regular-season teams were out, leaving Chicago and Detroit to contest the Stanley Cup final.

NHL Playoff Hat Tricks Of The 1960s

Relive the NHL playoff hat tricks of the 1960s with the stories, stars, and memorable performances behind some of the decade’s biggest postseason scoring nights.

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The Bruins Were Shut Out Just Once in 1970-71and It Took Two Goalies

The 1970-71 Boston Bruins are remembered for their remarkable offensive firepower, but even that powerhouse lineup had one scoreless night. On November 5, 1970, the St. Louis Blues visited Boston Garden and handed the Bruins their only shutout of the regular season. Boston fired 38 shots at the St. Louis net, but two goaltenders combined to turn them all away in a 2-0 Blues victory.

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Highlights

• Boston’s only shutout of the 1970-71 regular season came on November 5.

• St. Louis won 2-0 at Boston Garden.

• Glenn Hall stopped 25 shots through two periods.

• Ernie Wakely added 13 saves in the third.

• Frank St. Marseille scored the winner at 16:57 of the second period.

• Jim Roberts added an empty-net goal with two seconds remaining.

• Wakely recorded three shutouts over his next nine starts.

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Glenn Hall handled the first two periods, stopping all 25 shots he faced. The veteran was coming off a shutout in his previous appearance, a 17-save performance against the Los Angeles Kings on October 31. Ernie Wakely took over for the third period in Boston and finished the job with 13 saves.

With the Blues keeping Boston off the scoreboard, Frank St. Marseille supplied the only goal St. Louis would need. At 16:57 of the second period, he beat Bruins goaltender Ed Johnston with assists from Jim Roberts and Tim Ecclestone. That goal held up as the game winner despite Boston’s continued pressure.

Johnston kept the Bruins within striking distance, making 23 saves and allowing just one goal before heading to the bench for an extra attacker. Roberts finally sealed the result with an empty-net goal at 19:58 of the third period. Bob Wall and Christian Bordeleau assisted, leaving Boston just two seconds away from an unusually quiet finish at the Garden.

For Wakely, those 20 scoreless minutes marked the beginning of an impressive stretch. Over his next nine starts, he recorded three shutouts and held opponents to a single goal on three other occasions. His relief appearance against the Bruins was a fitting introduction to a run in which opposing shooters frequently struggled to beat him.

Wakely delivered another scoreless third period in relief of Hall on January 6, 1971, stopping all five shots he faced against the California Golden Seals. That appearance came under very different circumstances: Hall had surrendered six goals on 28 shots through two periods, and St. Louis lost 6-3. The November performance in Boston remained the standout, a shared shutout against a team that scored in every other regular-season game.

The Franchise: St. Louis Blues (A Curated History of the Blues)

A curated history celebrating the St. Louis Blues — their iconic players, historic moments, and lasting impact on hockey culture.

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Doug Gilmour’s Three-Point Night Leads Blues Past Maple Leafs in 1986

Long before becoming a fan favourite in Toronto, Doug Gilmour gave Maple Leafs fans a reason to groan on November 12, 1986. The St. Louis Blues forward scored twice and added an assist in a 4-2 victory over Toronto at the St. Louis Arena. His three-point performance contributed to a productive November in which he collected 21 points in 14 games, helping fuel his first 100-point NHL season.

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Highlights

• St. Louis defeated Toronto 4-2 on November 12, 1986, at the St. Louis Arena.

• Doug Gilmour scored twice and added an assist.

• Gilmour’s third-period power-play goal stood as the game winner.

• Jim Pavese matched Gilmour with three points, all assists.

• Mark Hunter recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick.

• Rick Wamsley stopped 36 of Toronto’s 38 shots.

• Gilmour collected 21 points in 14 November games during his first 100-point NHL season.

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Norris Division Rivals Meet in St. Louis

The matchup brought together two teams that would each finish the 1986-87 season with 32 wins. St. Louis eventually claimed the Norris Division title with 79 points, while Toronto finished fourth with 70. On this November evening, Gilmour made the difference, contributing to three of the Blues’ four goals against the team he would later captain.

After a scoreless first period, Steve Thomas gave Toronto the lead at 4:52 of the second, beating Rick Wamsley with assists from Rick Vaive and Al Iafrate. Gilmour answered exactly five minutes later, scoring his fifth goal of the season with help from Brian Sutter and Jim Pavese. Before the intermission, Gilmour assisted on Mark Hunter’s go-ahead goal, sending St. Louis into the third period with a 2-1 advantage.

Gilmour Delivers the Game Winner

At 6:57 of the third, Gilmour struck again on the power play. His sixth goal of the season, assisted by Hunter and Tim Bothwell, proved to be the game winner. Gilmour, Hunter and Sutter each registered five shots, combining for 15 of the Blues’ 36 shots on Toronto goaltender Ken Wregget. At the other end, Wamsley stopped 36 of 38 shots to earn the victory, with Thomas leading all players with eight shots on net.

Gilmour was not the only Blue to enjoy a memorable night. Pavese recorded three assists, matching Gilmour’s point total. Hunter contributed a Gordie Howe hat trick, combining his goal and assist with a first-period fight against Toronto’s Mike Allison.

A Breakthrough Season for Doug Gilmour

Gilmour finished the 1986-87 campaign with 105 points, reaching the century mark for the first time in his NHL career. It was also his only season with more than 40 goals. His three-point effort against Toronto was one more example of the offensive ability he was establishing in St. Louis, years before Maple Leafs fans would be cheering those performances themselves.

The Franchise: St. Louis Blues (A Curated History of the Blues)

A curated history celebrating the St. Louis Blues — their iconic players, historic moments, and lasting impact on hockey culture.

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