Finals Game 7: Boston 4 at Montreal 3

Boston Bruins raced out to a 2-0 first period lead and rode that to complete an improbable comeback from a 3-0 series deficit to defeat Montreal Canadiens, 4-3 at the Forum and capture the Stanley Cup in seven games.

The monumental upset was made even more amazing considering how dominant Canadiens were in the regular season and in the first eight games of the playoffs, of which they won seven.

But Bruins never gave up after losing the first three games of the Finals, including a heartbreaking overtime loss in Game 2.

In Game 7, red-hot Real Chevrefils opened the scoring with a power play goal at 3:35 of the first period. It was Chevrefils' seventh goal of the series.

Bob Armstrong scored on a slap shot from between the circles at 10:09 to make the score 2-0 while the Forum crowd murmured nervously.

Dickie Moore drew Habs to within 2-1 with a wrist shot at 9:25 of the second period, and for several minutes, Canadiens fed off the energy of the crowd and buzzed goalie Terry Sawchuk, who played another brilliant game.

But Bruins held and quieted the crowd when Larry Regan slipped a shot between Jacques Plante's pads at 16:45.

Perhaps the dagger was when Bruins scored 45 seconds later as Vic Stasiuk completed a 3-on-2 from Don McKenney and Jack Bionda at 17:30.

Playing desperate, Canadiens fired 19 shots at Sawchuk in the third period. Bruins managed just four shots as they hung on for dear life.

Bert Olmstead (11:19) and Moore (PPG, 14:57) made the score 4-3.

With the crowd on its feet urging Canadiens to get the tying marker, Bruins prevented Habs from pulling Plante for an extra attacker, keeping the puck hemmed deep in the Montreal zone for most of the final 90 seconds.

Sawchuk was narrowly named Conn Smythe Trophy winner (MVP of the playoffs) over Chevrefils.

1st Period
BOS- Chevrefils (MacKell) PPG 3:35
BOS- Armstrong (Stasiuk, McKenney) 10:09

2nd Period
MON- Moore (Beliveau, Talbot) 9:25
BOS- Regan (McKenney, Boivin) 16:45
BOS- Stasiuk (McKenney, Bionda) 17:30

3rd Period
MON- Olmstead (H. Richard, Provost) 11:19
MON- Moore (Johnson, Beliveau) PPG 14:57

SOG
BOS 12-12-4 = 28
MON 10-10-19 = 39

PP
BOS 1-3; MON 1-2

Goalies
BOS- Sawchuk
MON- Plante



From left, Peirson, MacKell, backup goalie DeFelice and Labine celebrate in Bruins' locker room after Game 7