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.
Buy on Amazon