Semi-Finals Game 1: Detroit 1 at Montreal 3

Jean Beliveau, league MVP candidate, scored a goal and added an assist as Montreal Canadiens defeated Detroit Red Wings, 3-1, in Game 1 of the semi-finals at the Forum.

Beliveau's goal with 51 seconds remaining in the second period tied the game, and Canadiens scored twice in the third period, with Claude Provost's goal at 15:44 breaking Red Wings' backs.

Red Wings quieted the raucous Montreal crowd early when Billy Dea scored at 1:20 of the first period.

But that was all for Detroit's offense, despite playing over four straight minutes with the power play, including 1:31 with a two-man advantage, in the second period.

Canadiens, despite easily finishing in first place, had been vulnerable while shorthanded, but Detroit went 0-5 on the power play.

It took the vaunted Montreal offense nearly 40 minutes to get going, and until that point it looked like Red Wings might have the recipe for a Game 1 upset. But Beliveau's goal late in the second period ignited the crowd and Canadiens took that momentum into the third period, when Dickie Moore scored at 2:53 to put Montreal ahead, 2-1.

Maurice Richard had two assists for Canadiens, who lead the best-of-seven series 1-0.

Game 2 will be Thursday night.

1st Period
DET- Dea (Kelly, Pronovost) 1:20

2nd Period
MON- Beliveau (Harvey, M. Richard) 19:09

3rd Period
MON- Moore (Beliveau, M. Richard) 2:53
MON- Provost (H. Richard) 15:44

SOG
DET 9-6-8 = 23
MON 7-10-12 = 29

PP
DET 0-5; MON 0-3

Fights
Pavelich (DET), St. Laurent (MON); 16:20 2nd

Goalies
DET- Hall
MON- Plante


Detroit's Gordie Howe and Montreal's Claude Provost search for a loose puck in Game 1