Canadiens To Play in Stanley Cup Final

Apr. 13, 1965 - Claude Provost came through with a dramatic overtime goal after almost 17 minutes of marathon play tonight to give the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Provost’s goal climaxed a great comeback by the Canadiens, after they had trailed by two goals within four minutes of the opening faceoff. The victory sent coach Toe Blake’s charges into the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1960.

The victory, the first on foreign ice for any club in the semifinal playoffs this season, gave the Canadiens the best-of-series, 4-2, and knocked the Leafs out of the race after three straight championships.

Besides Provost, who got his second goal of the series, Bobby Rousseau with the third-period equalizer, Jacques Laperriere, and John Ferguson were the other Montreal scorers. 

Dave Keon, Red Kelly, and rookie Ron Ellis, with his third in the series, accounted for the Leafs’ goals, all in the first period.

Provost’s winning goal was set up by center Henri Richard, who took the puck back to the Toronto cage and outsmarted Kent Douglas before dumping a pass out in front.

“I was trying to get it to Provost when Red Berenson just touched the puck,” said Richard. But Claude got it just the same for the big goal.”

Provost, mobbed by teammates as soon as the game ended, was one of the last Habs to dress in the rush for the train home as he was mobbed by reporters.“I don’t think Johnny Bower had much chance on the shot,” said Provost. “It went in off the side of his glove when somebody was in front of him. I didn’t try to pick a spot. I just wanted to hit the net.”

Gump Worsley, reaching the Stanley Cup final for the first time in 15 years as a pro, couldn’t contain his excitement.

“This is terrific,” exclaimed Gump, “worth all the sweat and work a guy puts into the game. I can’t remember the toughest saves. In fact, none of them were tough. Look at the score: Canadiens 4, Toronto 3.”

“We went down like champions,” said Toronto coach Punch Imlach, “and I’d have to say this was our best all-around game of the playoffs. Our inability to kill penalties was the story of this series — that killed us.”

When Blake was asked who his preferred opponent in the finals was, he said, “I have no preference” — but then started to qualify that.

“Don’t forget,” he said, “that during the season, Detroit had it all over us. We’re one game up on Chicago, but Detroit… Then too, if we meet Chicago, we have the extra home game.”

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