On This Date in Sports April 23, 1950: Sudden Champs
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in dramatic fashion, beating the New York Rangers 4-3 in double overtime in Game 7 on goal by Pete Babando at the Olympia Arena. It is the first time Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals was decided in sudden death. It is the fourth time the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup and would begin a stretch of four cups in six years.
The Detroit Red Wings were entering their golden years as the 1950s began. Led by the record scoring of Gordie Howe, the Red Wings would become an NHL powerhouse. Howe was seeking his first sip from the Stanley Cup after losing the previous to Stanley Cup Finals to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Coached by Tommy Ivan, the Red Wings posted the best record in the regular season at 37-19-14. In the playoffs, the Red Wings survived a seven-game battle with the Maple Leafs, ending Toronto’s quest for a fourth straight championship with a Game 7 goal in overtime by Leo Reise ending a scoreless tie. As for Gordie Howe, he was a spectator for most of the postseason, suffering an injury in Game 1 against Toronto.
The New York Rangers were a surprise to be the Stanley Cup Finals. Coached by Lynn Patrick, the Rangers were in the playoffs for just the second time in eight years, as they struggled through much of the 1940s after starting the decade by winning the Stanley Cup. The Rangers finished fourth with a record of 28-31-11 as goalie Chuck Rayner won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP. In the playoffs, the Rangers stunned the Montreal Canadiens in five games to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in a decade.
The New York Rangers had a major disadvantage coming into the Stanley Cup Finals as they had no games at home, with Madison Square Garden leased out for Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus. After the Red Wings won the opener at home 4-1, the next two games were played at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto to even things out some for the Rangers. With two goals from Edgar Laprade in the third period. Harry Lumley backstopped a 4-0 shutout win for Detroit in Game 3. With Detroit looking to take a 3-1 series lead at the Olympia, the Rangers rallied from an early 2-0 hole to beat the Red Wings in overtime 4-3 on a goal by Don Raleigh. In Game 5, it was Raleigh in overtime again, as the Rangers took control of the series with a 2-1 win. With Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay each scoring two goals, the Red Wings forced a seventh game, beating New York 5-4. Game 7 starter good for the Rangers as they held a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period on power-play goals by Allan Stanley and Tony Leswick. Detroit would tie the game in the third period, scoring two goals in 21 seconds, while Stanley was in the penalty box for two minutes for interference. At the time, players had to serve the full two penalty minutes regardless of a goal being scored or not. Buddy O’Connor scored to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead midway through the second period, but Detroit quickly answered with a goal from Jim McFadden to even the score 3-3 like the series. No goals were scored in the third period and none in the first overtime, as Game 7 became a marathon in double overtime. Finally, 8:31 into double overtime Pere Babando skated in and beat Chuck Raymer to give the Red Wings a 4-3 win and the Stanley Cup.
The Rangers' 1950 run would be an oasis in a long desert of losing seasons, as they did not make the playoffs in any of the next five seasons. Meanwhile, the Red Wings became the dominant team in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup again in 1952, 1954, and 1955. The 1954 Stanley Cup was also won with an overtime goal in Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens, scored by Tony Leswick.