Stanley Cup Flashbacks: 1947: Leafs, Habs Face Off For Cup

The year is 1947. For the first time in history, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens meet in the Stanley Cup championship series. This one would go the distance, reaching 7 games, most of which were real squeakers.

The Maple Leafs, a real power in the late 1940s on the verge of establishing a dynasty, would emerge victorious, despite the fact that their team was so young. They had six rookies, and was the youngest average-age team to win the Cup in NHL history.

The Leafs, as always back then, were led by Teeder Kennedy. Described as the most determined player in the playoffs, this young center led the Leafs with nine points (4-5) to finish second in playoff points. He scored two game winners and set up another. He was a star in two of the Leafs three games in Montreal, scoring the winning goal in both games. In game 7 he would score the game winning goal with about 6 minutes left in the third period.

Montreal missed Elmer Lach, the great Punch Line center with Toe Blake and Rocket Richard. Late in the regular season Lach was sidelined for the rest of the year when he broke his jaw in a collision with Toronto's Don Metz