1947 Stanley Cup Finals

1947 Stanley Cup Finals
Teams 1 2 3 4* 5 6 Games Toronto Maple Leafs  0 4 4 2 1 2 4 Montreal Canadiens  6 0 2 1 3 1 2 * – Denotes overtime period(s)
Location: Montreal, QC (Montreal Forum) (1,2,5) Toronto, ON (Maple Leaf Gardens) (3,4,6) Format: Best-of-seven Coaches: Toronto: Hap Day Montreal: Dick Irvin Captains: Toronto: Syl Apps Montreal: Toe Blake Dates: April 8 to April 19, 1947 Series-winning goal: Ted Kennedy (14:39, third)
< 1946 Stanley Cup Finals 1948 >

The 1947 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens. The Maple Leafs would win the series four games to two. This was the first all-Canadian finals since 1935, when the since-folded Montreal Maroons defeated the Maple Leafs.

Paths to the final

Montreal defeated the Boston Bruins 4–1 to advance to the finals. Toronto defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4–1 to advance to the finals.

The series

Ted Kennedy was the leader with three goals including the Cup winner. Toronto had several new players in its lineup, including Howie Meeker, Bill Barilko and Bill Ezinicki, as Toronto sported the youngest NHL team to win the Cup to that time.

The series continued a competition that had gone on all season, with Montreal and Toronto finishing 1–2. Montreal coach Dick Irvin was mad at the beginning of the series, recalling a season-ending injury to Montreal forward Elmer Lach from a body check by Don Metz. Montreal started out strong in the series, defeating the Leafs 6–0 in the opener. Canadiens goaltender Bill Durnan reportedly asked "How did those guys get in the league?", although he denied saying those words later.

The second game was a rough game, with Maurice Richard knocking out Vic Lynn and Bill Ezinicki with high-sticks to the head. Richard earned himself over 20 minutes in penalties and a game misconduct and a suspension for game three. The Leafs took advantage of the power plays and defeated Montreal 4–0. Richard would earn himself a further $250 fine imposed by president Clarence Campbell.

Games three and four were played in Toronto, and Toronto won both to take a 3–1 series lead. Returning to the Forum for game five, Montreal won the game to extend the series. In the sixth game, Turk Broda showed outstanding goaltending, holding off Ken Reardon on a late breakaway, and the Leafs won 2–1 to win the Stanley Cup.

After the sixth game ended, the Cup was not presented to the Leafs. Clarence Campbell declined to present the Cup immediately, concerned over the spectre of fan violence.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score	Notes
April 8	Toronto	0	Montreal	6
April 10	Toronto	4	Montreal	0
April 12	Montreal	2	Toronto	4
April 15	Montreal	1	Toronto	2	OT
April 17	Toronto	1	Montreal	3
April 19	Montreal	1	Toronto	2

Toronto wins best-of-seven series 4–2.

Toronto Maple Leafs 1947 Stanley Cup champions

Roster

  Centres

• 8 Gus Bodnar
• 9 Ted Teeder Kennedy(A)
• 10 Sylvanous Syl Apps Sr. (Captain)

  Wingers

• 4 Harry Watson
• 7 Norman Bud Poile
• 11 Howie Meeker
• 12 Bill Ezinicki
• 14 Vic Lynn
• 15 Gaye Stewart(A)
• 16 Nick Metz
• 17 Joe Klukay†
• 19 Don Metz
• 20 Tom O'Neill

  Defencemen

• 2 Bob Goldham
• 3 Wally Stanowski
• 18 Garth Boesch
• 19 Gus Mortson
• 20 Jimmy Thomson
• 21 Bill Barilko

  Goaltenders

1 Walter Turk Broda

  Coaching and administrative staff

• Ed Bickle (President/Owner), William MacBrien (Vice President/Owner)
• Jack Bickell (Director/Owner), John Murdoch (Vice President)
• Conn Smythe (Manager/Owner), Clarence Hap Day (Coach)
• Tim Daly (Trainer), Clifford Keyland (Asst. Trainer)
• Robert Galloway (Team Doctor), Horance MacIntyre (Team Doctor)
• George Walker (Chief Scout)

Stanley Cup engraving

• †Joe Klukay name was removed by mistake from new version of 1947 Toronto's engraving created in 1957–58. (There is space where his name should have been included)
• 1947 Toronto Maple Leafs were first Stanley Cup winning team to have the Captain(C), and Assistant Captain(A) marked on their sweaters on their Stanley Cup team picture.
• When the Replica Cup was created in 1992–93 a new mistake happened. Robert J. Galloway's name was misspelled as P.J. Galloway with "P" instead of a "R". His name is spelled correctly the first 2 times 1947 Toronto members were engraved.

See also

• 1946–47 NHL season

References and notes

Preceded by Montreal Canadiens 1946

Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Champions 1947

Succeeded by Toronto Maple Leafs 1948