Brilliant goalkeeping by Glenn Hall coupled with two goals from Bobby Hull were all the Chicago Black Hawks needed to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in the National Hockey League’s only scheduled contest last night in Montreal. The win leaves Chicago atop the National Hockey League standings, now three points ahead of second-place Montreal.

Hull Hits 30-Goal Mark

Eric Nesterenko

Hull’s goals were his 30^th and 31^st of the season. With the NHL schedule having yet to reach the half-way point, Hull is on a pace to re-write the record book this season. He has 20 assists to go along with the 31 goals for 51 points, 11 more than Bobby Rousseau of Canadiens.

Other Chicago scorers were Kenny Wharram and Eric Nesterenko, who both connected in the third period. Yvan Cournoyer and Gilles Tremblay replied for the Habs.

Hall’s netminding was spectacular throughout the game, and without his heroics, Canadiens would have skated off with an easy two points. Montreal outshot the visitors 38-24 but Hall had an answer for almost every offensive thrust the Habs could muster.

The Chicago goaltender was especially sharp in the first period when he turned away great chances by Jacques Laperriere, Claude Larose, Claude Provost and Gilles Tremblay. Hall seemed to have Larose’s number all night, as the Montreal winger registered five shots on the Chicago goal.

Hall was not only the defensive star of the game for the winners, but also contributed on offence. He earned an assist on Nesterenko’s goal.

Matt Ravlich

Hull’s two markers were typical of the superstar left winger. The first one, in the first period came on a power play. Hull unleashed rising slap shot from the blue line that could only have been tracked on radar. Montreal goalie Gump Worsley never had a chance.

The Golden Jet’s second was the result of some fine play by Chicago defenseman Matt Ravlich, who was once deemed not good enough to make the lowly Boston Bruins. Ravlich made a great rush into the Montreal zone, and fed a perfect pass to Hull. As so often happens, Hull’s quick, accurate release found the back of the net before Worsley could move.

Hull gave all the credit to Ravlich for that goal:

“That was the only place Matt could have put the puck. I saw Provost look over his right shoulder and cut around his left side. The puck came out when Ravlich made a great play.”

Reay Happy

Chicago coach Billy Reay was happy with his team’s performance, despite Montreal’s territorial edge in play. He was ebullient in his praise of Hall, and other Hawks:

“He played the way Glenn Hall can play. Bobby was great. Pat Stapleton gave us a fine effort on defense. We finished the game with only eight forwards after Len Lunde and Doug Mohns suffered charley horses. We’ve played better games this season but this was our best game against the Canadiens.”

Montreal coach Toe Blake was uncharacteristically magnanimous in his assessment of the game:

“We missed a lot of great scoring chances but Glenn Hall was hot. With so many players favouring injuries it was tough to get that extra effort needed for an important game like this.”

Canadiens were without centre Ralph Backstrom and defenseman J.C. Tremblay.  Quebec rearguard Don Johns was called up from the AHL, but didn’t see the ice until the third period. Jean Beliveau played despite a groin injury, but appeared to be going at half-speed the entire night.

OHA All-Stars Clip Swedes

Bart Crashley

A team of Ontario Hockey Association Junior A all-stars won a shootout at the OK Corral (better known as Maple Leaf Gardens) with the Swedish national hockey team last night. The Ontario youngsters came out on the long end of a 8-5 decision.

The OHA team was basically the Toronto Marlboros with reinforcements from around the league.

Bart Crashley, a defenseman and one of three players added from the Hamilton Red Wings, was the offensive star for the juniors. Crashley scored twice and set up three others. Other OHA goal getters were Walter Tkaczuk of Kitchener Rangers, Gary MacMillan of St. Catharines Black Hawks, and Toronto Marlboros Barry Watson, Gerry Meehan, Mike Byers and Wayne Carleton.

Sweden’s marksmen were Hans Lindberg, Haken Nygren, Henrik Hedlund, Bjorn Larsson and Folke Bengtsson.

Despite the 13 goals, the over 7,200 fans at the Gardens seemed disenchanted at the genteel manner in which the game was played. Body contact was at a minimum, and there was very little animosity to be seen at any point during the contest. Neither team exhibited much cohesion, which was understandable, since seven of the OHA players were simply thrown into the Marlboro lineup with no practice.

Describing the play of both teams as ragged would be a compliment.

Nonethless, Sweden’s coach, Arne Stromberg, was impressed with the juniors:

“They are close to the calibre of the Canadian National Team. They skate just as well, but lack the experience. But our team is a little tired, and we have several minor injuries.”

Schmidt Denies Bruins Benched

Reg Fleming – not benched.

Boston Bruins coach Milt Schmidt said yesterday that although he did send two players to the hotel from practice in Detroit after a severe scolding, he had not benched either player.

Forwards Tom Williams and Reg Fleming were taken off the ice during the Wings’ workout and received a tongue-lashing from Schmidt for “dogging it”. Schmidt said that both players wanted to return to the practice, but he forbade it. He emphasized that the players were taken out for that practice only and will not miss any games.

1932 Olympic Flag Found?

Canada won the hockey gold medal at the 1932 Olympic Games at Lake Placid, New York, but a mystery surrounding that victory has never been solved until now.

Immediately after the gold-medal winning game, the official Olympic flag disappeared from its pole. Toronto Maple Leafs president Stafford Smythe says he knows exactly where that flag is located. Smythe says the flag can be found in the garage at the home of Harold Ballard.

“Ballard was the manager of the team and in the middle of the night he slipped outside and climbed the pole. They didn’t know where it went until this day.”

Beaudin Paces Hornets

Murray Hall

Norm Beaudin scored two goals to lead the Pittsburgh Hornets to a 5-3 win over the Hershey Bears in the only American Hockey League game played last night.

Billy Harris scored his first goal for Pittsburgh since his demotion by the Detroit Red Wings. Murray Hall and Ted Hampson also found the range for the Hornets.

Hershey scorers were Mike Nykoluk, Bruce Cline and Ralph Keller.

Victoria Skins Seals

The Victoria Maple Leafs trounced the San Francisco Seals 6-1 at Victoria in the only Western Hockey League game played last night. It was the first win for the Leafs in six tries against the Seals this season.

Lou Jankowski, with two goals and two assists, paced the Victoria attack. Bob Barlow, Andy Hebenton, Gord Redahl and Dave Parenteau also scored for Victoria. Del Topoll had the San Francisco marker.