1950 Stanley Cup Finals

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1950 Stanley Cup Finals
1234567 Total
Detroit Red Wings 4143*1*54** 4
New York Rangers 1304*2*43** 3
* – Denotes overtime period(s)
Location(s)Detroit: Olympia Stadium (1, 4–7)
Toronto: Maple Leaf Gardens (2, 3)
CoachesDetroit: Tommy Ivan
New York: Lynn Patrick
CaptainsDetroit: Sid Abel
New York: Frank Eddolls
DatesApril 11 – April 23
Series-winning goalPete Babando (8:31, second OT)
Hall of FamersRed Wings:
Sid Abel (1969)
Gordie Howe (1972; did not play)
Red Kelly (1969)
Ted Lindsay (1966)
Harry Lumley (1980)
Marcel Pronovost (1978)
Jack Stewart (1964)
Rangers:
Edgar Laprade (1993)
Buddy O'Connor (1998)
Chuck Rayner (1973)
Fred Shero (2013, builder)
Allan Stanley (1981)
Coaches:
Tommy Ivan (1974)
Lynn Patrick (1980, player)
← 1949 Stanley Cup Finals 1951 →

The 1950 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings. It was the Rangers' first appearance in the Finals since their Stanley Cup victory in 1940. The Red Wings won the series 4–3 to mark their franchise's fourth Cup win, and first since 1943.

This was the last Stanley Cup Finals to feature a team that did not host any games and also the last to feature neutral site games until 2020. The neutral site games were held in Toronto on account of scheduling conflicts at Madison Square Garden.

Paths to the Finals

New York defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4–1 to reach the Finals. Detroit defeated the three-time defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs (who had swept the Red Wings in the Finals two years running) 4–3 to reach the Finals.

Game summaries

Two games were played in Toronto as the circus had taken over Madison Square Garden in New York. New York's Don Raleigh scored two overtime winners and Pete Babando scored the Cup-winning goal in double overtime of game seven, the first time ever in which the Stanley Cup was won in extra frames in game seven. Detroit won the Cup without Gordie Howe, injured in the first game of the playoffs.[1][2]

As Stanley Cup runner-up, the Rangers were awarded the O'Brien Cup, and they became the last team to win this trophy, which was retired after the season.[2] Originally, the O'Brien Cup was the championship trophy of the National Hockey Association, the NHL's precursor, and later awarded to the NHL champion before the league took over control of the Stanley Cup in 1927.

Series

April 11 New York Rangers 1–4 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Buddy O'Connor (2) – 05:58 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 04:43 – ppJoe Carveth (2)
09:32 – George Gee (2)
10:06 – Jim McFadden (1)
13:56 – ppGerry Couture (2)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Chuck Rayner Goalie stats Harry Lumley
April 13 Detroit Red Wings 1–3 New York Rangers Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Gerry Couture (3) – 03:05 Second period 10:39 – Pat Egan (3)
No scoring Third period 03:04 – Edgar Laprade (1)
11:20 – Edgar Laprade (2)
Harry Lumley Goalie stats Chuck Rayner
April 15 Detroit Red Wings 4–0 New York Rangers Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Gerry Couture (4) – pp – 14:14
George Gee (3) – pp – 19:08
First period No scoring
Sid Abel (2) – 19:16 Second period No scoring
Marty Pavelich (3) – 16:55 Third period No scoring
Harry Lumley Goalie stats Chuck Rayner
April 18 New York Rangers 4–3 OT Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 06:31 – Ted Lindsay (1)
16:48 – Sid Abel (3)
Buddy O'Connor (3) – 19:59 Second period No scoring
Edgar Laprade (3) – 08:09
Gus Kyle (1) – 16:26
Third period 03:32 – Marty Pavelich (4)
Don Raleigh (3) – 08:34 First overtime period No scoring
Chuck Rayner Goalie stats Harry Lumley
April 20 New York Rangers 2–1 OT Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Dunc Fisher (2) – 07:44 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 18:10 – Ted Lindsay (2)
Don Raleigh (4) – 01:38 First overtime period No scoring
Chuck Rayner Goalie stats Harry Lumley
April 22 New York Rangers 4–5 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Allan Stanley (1) – 03:45
Dunc Fisher (3) – 07:35
First period 19:18 – Ted Lindsay (3)
Pentti Lund (6) – pp – 03:18 Second period 05:38 – Sid Abel (4)
16:07 – Gerry Couture (5)
Tony Leswick (1) – 01:54 Third period 04:13 – Ted Lindsay (4)
10:34 – Sid Abel (5)
Chuck Rayner Goalie stats Harry Lumley
April 23 New York Rangers 3–4 2OT Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Allan Stanley (2) – pp – 11:14
Tony Leswick (2) – pp – 12:18
First period No scoring
Buddy O'Connor (4) – 11:42 Second period 05:09 – ppPete Babando (1)
05:30 – ppSid Abel (6)
15:57 – Jim McFadden (2)
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring Second overtime period 08:31 – Pete Babando (2)
Chuck Rayner Goalie stats Harry Lumley
Detroit won series 4–3


Stanley Cup engraving

The 1950 Stanley Cup was presented to Red Wings captain Sid Abel by NHL President Clarence Campbell following the Red Wings 4–3 double overtime win over the Rangers in game seven.

The following Red Wings players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup

1949–50 Detroit Red Wings

Players

  Goaltenders

† Left off the cup, but qualified to be on it.
a Played his only NHL game in Finals.
b Played his only NHL game in Semi-Finals.

Coaching and administrative staff

Stanley Cup engraving

  • #1 Terry Sawchuk played seven NHL games in 1950, because Harry Lumley was injured. Sawchuk was not available for the playoffs, because he was helping the AHL Indianapolis Capitals win the Calder Cup. Instead, Harry MacQuestion was called up as the spare goalie for the playoffs. MacQuestion's name was engraved on the Stanley Cup, but he never played in the NHL. MacQuestion was removed from the Stanley Cup when it was re-done during 1957–58 season.
  • Detroit did not engrave Gordon Haidy and Doug McKay on the Stanley Cup, even though they each played one playoff game and qualified to be on the cup. Both players also won the Calder Cup with Al Dewsbury, Terry Sawchuk that season.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Fink, Mike (December 29, 2023). "NHL's History of Game 7 Overtime Series-Clinching Goals". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Legends of Hockey - Historic Trophies - O'Brien Trophy". www.hhof.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

References

Preceded by Detroit Red Wings
Stanley Cup Champions

1950
Succeeded by