Maple Leafs Strike Back against Canadiens

Apr. 6, 1965 - Opportunist Dave Keon, one of Toronto’s big guns in last year’s drive to the Stanley Cup, came off the bench for a dramatic overtime goal tonight as the Maple Leafs jumped back into the semifinal series by beating the Canadiens, 3-2, at Maple Leaf Gardens.

The diminutive center was the hero of an odd play that comprised three Montreal miscues when he rapped a 20-footer past Gump Worsley after 4:17 of overtime.

It climaxed an uphill battle by the aging Leafs, who lost the first two games of the best-of-seven set at Montreal and didn’t play well again at times tonight before 14,502 fans.

They came from behind twice to force the overtime on goals by Eddie Shack in the second period and veteran Andy Bathgate in the eighth minute of the third. The Canadiens had been ahead on the only goal of the first period by Jean Beliveau and a gift goal from Henri Richard in the opening minute of the finale.

Keon’s game-winning goal came after a seemingly innocent icing by Leaf rookie Ron Ellis as the Canadiens had the pressure going in the Toronto zone.

Frank Mahovlich, playing his best game of the series, raced Hab defenseman Ted Harris for the puck and appeared to be beating him to it. Goalie Worsley stopped the shot and battled it off the boards to the other rearguard, Jean-Claude Tremblay.

That’s when Keon, just off the bench to replace Red Kelly, retrieved the puck from Tremblay, who was checked by Mahovlich. Keon skated around Harris and shot low past the startled Worsley.

“I just shot for the middle of the net,” said Keon. “I don’t think the puck left the ice. We’re right back in the series now. But we’ve got to play hockey on Thursday.”

“Somebody has to be the goat on that kind of play,” said Harris afterward. “I guess it was my turn tonight. But it won’t be anyone’s turn when we win the next game.”

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