Game 34: Toronto 3 at Montreal 4

Bert Olmstead deflected an Henri Richard shot past Ed Chadwick with 2:22 left in the game, restoring a two-goal lead for Montreal Canadiens, who beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3 at the Forum.

It was Montreal's 10th straight victory, but it wasn't easy.

Throughout the game, Maple Leafs had several stretches of action where they dominated Montreal (10-2-0), but once Canadiens took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period, Maple Leafs couldn't quite catch them.

Toronto (6-4-2) remains in second place, but fell six points behind Canadiens. A win would have lifted Maple Leafs to within two points of first place.

Once again, Canadiens were opportunistic, scoring four goals on just 24 shots, including two on five shots in the third period.

Toronto's Barry Cullen tied the game, 1-1, with an assist from brother Brian at 1:24 of the second period. But despite Maple Leafs taking the play to Canadiens, Montreal went ahead on a goal by Dickie Moore at 10:34.

Maurice Richard scored his second goal of the game just 45 seconds into the third period to put Montreal ahead 3-1.

Tod Sloan drew Toronto to within one goal at 6:20, rifling a wrist shot from near the blue line that eluded a screened Jacques Plante.

But Olmstead, cruising in front of the Toronto net, got his stick on Henri Richard's slap shot from the right faceoff circle. The deflected puck fluttered over Ed Chadwick's left arm to restore the two-goal lead at 17:38.

Toronto pulled Chadwick moments later but couldn't score until Sid Smith buried a centering pass from Ron Stewart with just eight seconds remaining in the game.

Jean Beliveau had three assists for Canadiens.

There were two fights: George Armstrong (TOR) and Dollard St. Laurent (MON) at 15:30 of the first period, and Toronto's Bob Pulford squared off with Jean-Guy Talbot at 4:53 of the second period.

1st Period
MON- M. Richard (Beliveau, Talbot) 1:24

2nd Period
TOR- Barry Cullen (Brian Cullen) 1:24
MON- Moore (Beliveau) 10:34

3rd Period
MON- M. Richard (St. Laurent, Beliveau) :45
TOR- Sloan (Reaume) 6:20
MON- Olmstead (H. Richard, Provost) 17:38
TOR- Smith (Stewart, Sloan) 19:52

SOG
TOR  9-9-11 = 29
MON 13-6-5 = 24

Goalies
TOR- Chadwick
MON- Plante


Olmstead's goal at 17:38 of the third period proved to be the game-winner