Dave Keon’s Game 7 Hat Trick Sends Leafs Past Canadiens In 1964 Classic

When the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens collided in the 1964 Stanley Cup semifinal, it was more than just another chapter in hockey’s fiercest rivalry. Montreal had finished seven points ahead in the regular season standings and never trailed in the series heading into Game 7. The odds and momentum, seemed firmly on the Canadiens’ side. But, champions have a way of seizing their moment.

On April 9, 1964, inside the storied Montreal Forum, Dave Keon decided he wasn’t ready to let Toronto’s reign end. Just 8:22 into the first period, Keon struck for his first goal of the series, beating goaltender Charlie Hodge with assists from Don McKenney and Bob Baun.

Minutes later, with Andy Bathgate serving a hooking penalty, Keon struck again, this time shorthanded, finishing a setup from captain George Armstrong. The Leafs suddenly held a 2-0 lead, and the game-winning goal was already on the board.

Montreal pushed back in the third when Ralph Backstrom finally solved Toronto netminder Johnny Bower at 7:27. But that was as close as the Canadiens would get. With just eleven seconds remaining, Keon completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal, silencing the Forum crowd and sending the Leafs to the Final.

Lost slightly in the glow of Keon’s heroics was Bower’s brilliance. The veteran goaltender turned aside 38 of 39 shots in one of his finest postseason performances. Toronto would need every ounce of that resilience moving forward.

The Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings went the full seven games as well. Down three games to two, the Leafs survived Game 6 thanks to an overtime goal from Bob Baun. playing on a broken leg, before ultimately securing their third straight championship.

Keon and Me: My Search For The Lost Soul Of The Leafs

A heartfelt journey through the legacy of Dave Keon and the soul of the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise.

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Nine Seconds Of Fury: Bill Hicke’s Power-Play Explosion In 1969

On October 17, 1969, the Oakland Seals hosted the Los Angeles Kings at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, and the game barely had time to settle before chaos struck. Just 42 seconds after the opening faceoff, Kings forward Dennis Hextall was assessed back-to-back minors for hooking and tripping, handing Oakland an early four-minute power play.

Seals veteran Bill Hicke wasted no time making Los Angeles pay. At 1:27 of the first period, he beat Kings goaltender Gerry Desjardins for his first goal of the season, assisted by Bert Marshall and Mike Laughton. Before the Kings could regroup, the same trio stormed back down the ice and scored again just nine seconds later. The rapid-fire goals allowed Hextall to exit the penalty box, but the damage was already done.

Oakland kept the pressure on. At 7:57 of the opening frame, Hicke and Laughton set up Brian Perry to extend the lead to 3-0. The Seals would cruise to a 5-1 victory in one of their most explosive early-game performances of the season.

The two goals in nine seconds stood as a Seals team record and marked Hicke’s only three-point game of the 1969-70 campaign. He finished the year with 15 goals in 69 games. Power-play production was nothing new for Hicke, just two seasons earlier, 12 of his 21 goals had come with the man advantage.

Over the course of his career in the National Hockey League, Hicke appeared in 729 regular season and 42 playoff games with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, the Seals, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He captured two Stanley Cup championships with Montreal, contributing in limited playoff action during the 1958-59 and 1959-60 seasons.

The California Golden Seals: A Tale of White Skates, Red Ink, and One of the NHL's Most Outlandish Teams

Discover the fascinating and unconventional story of the California Golden Seals — one of the NHL’s most memorable and unusual franchises.

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Hat Trick Heroics Wasted: Ron Ellis Shines In 1972 Loss To Vancouver

On March 24, 1972, the Toronto Maple Leafs paid a visit to the Vancouver Canucks at the Pacific Coliseum. On paper, it looked like a mismatch. Toronto was headed for the playoffs, while Vancouver, just in its second NHL season, would finish last in the 14-team league. But on this night, the home crowd was treated to one of the Canucks’ rare victories.

The lone bright spot for Toronto was Ron Ellis. The dependable winger delivered a goal in each period, his 19th, 20th, and 21st of the season, recording the fourth of his six NHL career hat tricks. Ellis was relentless, firing nine shots at Vancouver goaltender Dunc Wilson, accounting for nearly one-third of the 31 shots Wilson faced. Linemates Paul Henderson and Norm Ullman each chipped in with two assists, benefiting directly from Ellis’ offensive surge.

Vancouver answered with balanced scoring. Bobby Schmautz scored twice against Toronto netminder Jacques Plante. The decisive goal came at 8:09 of the third period when Andre Boudrias notched his 25th of the season, assisted by Wayne Connelly and Dave Balon. Balon and Wayne Maki also added singles to secure the 5-3 win.

The following night, Toronto quickly regrouped. The Leafs blanked the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 at the Forum. Ellis stayed hot, scoring the game winner just 3:37 into the first period on goaltender Billy Smith, with an assist from Dave Keon. It marked Ellis’ third game-winning goal of March 1972. He also added an assist on a Henderson tally for a two-point effort, while Bernie Parent turned aside 23 shots to record the shutout.

1972: The Series That Changed Hockey Forever

A compelling look at the iconic 1972 Summit Series — how it reshaped international hockey and captivated fans around the world.

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