For most of the 1970s, one NHL truth felt ironclad: Montreal was dominant, Detroit was not. But on April 9, 1978, Jim Rutherford delivered a rare moment that flipped the script and ended four long years of Red Wings frustration.
Detroit’s previous win against Montreal had come back on March 20, 1974, a wild 7-6 victory with Rutherford newly arrived from Pittsburgh. What followed was pure futility: 0-18-5 against the Canadiens from the start of 1974-75 through early 1978. Then came one unforgettable night at Olympia.
Montreal entered the matchup as a powerhouse at 59-9-11, gearing up for what would become their third straight Stanley Cup. Detroit was a modest 31-34-14, simply trying to build momentum heading into the playoffs. The Habs had their usual lineup, though backup Michel Larocque got the start instead of Ken Dryden. Rutherford seized the opportunity.
He stopped all 28 shots he faced, earning his only shutout of the 1977-78 season and giving Detroit a cathartic 4-0 victory, the franchise’s first against Montreal in four years.
The Red Wings struck quickly. Just 33 seconds in, Dennis Hextall scored the eventual game-winner, assisted by Nick Libett and Vaclav Nedomansky. Before the first period ended, Bill Lochead added two more goals, both set up by Dale McCourt. In the second period, Nedomansky capped the scoring with his 11th of the year, assisted by Hextall and Libett.
Detroit would go on to enjoy a milestone spring: their first playoff appearance since 1969-70 and their first series win since 1965-66, ironically, the year they had fallen to the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final.
NHL Hockey Trivia: Jim Rutherford
1. Which team originally drafted Jim Rutherford into the NHL?
2. Rutherford was traded to Detroit in January 1974. Which team dealt him?
3. Rutherford’s famous 4–0 shutout over Montreal came in which NHL season?
4. After retiring as a player, which major NHL award did Rutherford later win as a general manager?
5. Which teams did Rutherford win the Stanley Cup with as a general manager? (Select all that apply)
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