On This Date in Sports April 15, 1952: Octopus and Red Wings
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup for the fifth time and the second time in three years by completing a sweep of the Montreal Canadiens with a 3-0 win at Olympia Stadium. The Red Wings dominated the Canadiens, winning all four games by a combined score of 11-2. The Red Wings also swept the reign champion Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming the first NHL team to roll through the playoffs unbeaten. Fans of the Red Wings celebrated each win by tossing an octopus on the ice, starting one of the league's most unusual traditions.
It was the era of Detroit Hockey. The Red Wings were in the midst of winning the Stanley Cup four times in six seasons as Gordie Howe was leading the way. The Red Wings golden age saw them win the regular-season title seven straight seasons, as Howe became the NHL's all-time leading scorer. The 1951/52 Red Wings posted a record of 44-14-12 for coach Tommy Ivan, as the powerhouse team built by James Norris looked to regain the Stanley Cup after losing to the Montreal Canadiens in the semifinals in 1951. Four Red Wings (Howe, Terry Sawchuk, Red Kelly, and Ted Lindsay) were named first-team All-Stars. Gordie Howe was the leading scorer and MVP, winning the Hart Trophy. Sawchuk was the NHL's top goalie winning the Vezina.
The Red Wings march to history began with a 3-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Terry Sawchuk was flawless in the net, as Red Kelly, Sid Abel, and Johnny Wilson scored for Detroit. After the game, fans tossed an octopus on the ice. An octopus with eight legs representing the eight wins needed to win the Stanley Cup in playoffs. Sawchuk also blanked the Maple Leafs in Game 2, as Johnny Wilson's power-play goal in the first period was the game's only score. In Toronto, the Red Wings poured in on, winning 6-2 to take a 3-0 series lead. Detroit would complete the sweep with a 3-1 win.
The Red Wings would take on the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadiens were coming off a tough seven-game battle with the Boston Bruins. The series started in Montreal, with the Red Wings winning the opener 3-1, as Tony Leswick scored twice. In Game 2, Detroit won again 2-1 as Ted Lindsay's second-period tally was the difference. Back in Detroit for Game 3, fans were looking for the Red Wings to continue their dominance as Gordie Howe scored his first two postseason goals, while Terry Sawchuk had his third postseason shutout in a 3-0 win. The Red Wings would complete the perfect postseason with a 3-0 win in Game 4, as Sawchuk earned his fourth shutout, with Metro Prystai scoring twice.
The Red Wings' perfect postseason was duplicated by the Canadiens in 1960 but has never been repeated since.