Gump Worsley in the Stanley Cup Finals
1965 Finals
Habs win 3-2
Shots: Habs 31 Hawks 24
Habs 1 Hawks 0
The Spokesman-Review · Apr 18, 1965
Worsley was a surprise starter since Montreal Coach Toe Blake had announced he would use Charlie Hodge. Worsley was weakened by a flu attack.
Montreal wins 2-0
Shots: Habs 31 Hawks 18
Habs 2 Hawks 0
The Windsor Star · Apr 21, 1965
Nothing was more remarkable than the spectacle of the much-vulcanized Worsley facing only 18 shots, almost ever one of which was routine. The Montreal defence and backchecking was that good.
Brewer gave the third star to Worsley which was the decent thing even if Gump never had it so soft.
Chicago wins 3-1
Shots: Habs 23 Hawks 27
Habs 2 Hawks 1
S
askatoon Star-Phoenix · Apr 23, 1965
The score might have been higher for both sides but for the spectacular netminding by Chicago's Glenn Hall and Montreal's Worsley.
"We had a good effort so did Montreal." Chicago Coach Billy Reay said. "I thought Wrosley did a fine job in their nets and he stopped several good shots by Bobby Hull."
Chicago wins 5-1
Shots: Habs 26 Hawks 28
Habs 2 Hawks 2
Hodge played over Worsley after Worsley got injured in pre-game warmups.
Montreal wins 6-0
Shots: Habs 37 Hawks 23
Habs 3 Hawks 2
Hodge played
Chicago wins 2-1
Shots: Habs 22 Hawks 24
Habs 3 Hawks 3
Hodge played
Montreal wins 4-0
Shots: Habs 35 Hawks 20
Habs 4 Hawks 3
The Montreal Gazette · May 3, 1965
Gump was a surprise starter in place of Charlie Hodge who had played well in the previous three games.
Worsley, counted on by Blake because "he might not be as nervous as Charlie", chalked up his second shutout of the series with 20 saves, but mainly on the strength of five great stops in the first period.
Overall, an okay series, but he only played 4 of 7 games. Hodge gets praise when he's in too. Montreal as a team gets lots of praise, particularly Beliveau and Toe Blake. Very strong defensively, as they keep shots under 25 in 5 of 7 and produce 3 shutouts. Richard, Rousseau, Tremblay, Duff, and Provost all get high praise.
1966 Finals
Detroit wins 3-2
Shots: Habs 35 Red Wings 35
Habs 0 Red Wings 1
No relevant comments
Detroit wins 5-2
Shots: Habs 25 Red Wings 34
Habs 0 Red Wings 2
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix · Apr 27, 1966
Gilles Tremblay, Montreal's speedy left winger, said Canadiens made "mental errors" which cost them the game as Wings poured four goals past Montreal netminder Lorne Worsley in the third period to clinch the victory.
Montreal wins 4-2
Shots: Habs 31 Red Wings 31
Habs 1 Red Wings 2
The Windsor Star · Apr 29, 1966
[Toe Blake[ pointed to the improved play of his centres and defencemen and the sensational goaltending of Lorne Worsley as the total ingredients of the triumph.
"Beliveau and the other two centres (Ralph Backstrom and Henri Richard) made the difference.
Montreal wins 2-1
Shots: Habs 33 Red Wings 23
Habs 2 Red Wings 2
The Windsor Star · May 2, 1966
In the end the Wingers were scuttled by their own shortcomings around the Canadiens' net, compounded by the acrobatics of goalie Gump Worsley and probably the best two-way checking display by Canadiens in the series. Worsley wasn't really tested until the second period when he made big stops on Bruce MacGregor and Leo Boivin.
Montreal wins 5-1
Shots: Habs 33 Red Wings 21
Habs 3 Red Wings 2
No relevant comments
Montreal wins 3-2 in OT
Shots: Habs 22 Red Wings 30
Habs 4 Red Wings 2
No relevant comments
Overall, not much here. He has a good first two games, and then the Habs are in the driver's seat. Crozier, Ullman, and Howe get lots of love. Tremblay and Beliveau get biggest Habs praise.
1967 Finals
Vachon plays over Worsley in the first four games
Toronto wins 4-1
Shots: Habs 38 Leafs 29
Leafs 3 Habs 2
Worsley plays the last period, stopping 10 of 10 shots
Leafs win 3-1
Shots: Habs 41 Leafs 35
Leafs 4 Habs 2
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix · May 3, 1967
The Canadiens, who received strong goaltending from Lorne Worsley.
Overall, it's four periods of play. Sawchuk is given the highest praise.
1968 Finals
Montreal wins 3-2 in OT
Shots: Habs 38 Blues 36
Habs 1 Blues 0
The Montreal Gazette · May 6, 1968
Gump Worsley appeared shaky through the first 30 minutes of play, but settled down and came up with several fine saves.
Montreal wins 1-0
Shots: Habs 36 Blues 19
Habs 2 Blues 0
The Phoenix · May 8, 1968
Gump Worsley, veteran Montreal netminder, came up with big saves to preserve shutout victory.
They were so successful that goalie Lorne Worsley was called on to make only three stops in the final 20 minutes.
Montreal wins 4-3 in OT
Shots: Habs 46 Blues 15
Habs 3 Blues 0
No relevant comments, but I'll point out that saving only 12 of 15 is not a good game
Montreal wins 3-2
Shots: Habs 31 Blues 21
Habs 4 Blues 0
Overall, the Blues were never really in the series. The newspapers treat it as a foregone conclusion, and Montreal outshoots St. Louis 151 to 91 in only four games. Nobody on Montreal stands out and all the attention is on Toe Blake's retirement.
Then Rogie Vachon plays the 1969 finals.
I gotta say, not a lot to love here. Worsley is in Montreal for five finals, but only plays in half of 1965, 1966, one game in 1967, 1968, and not 1969. The team is deep, there's not much praise for Worsley, and his opposing goalies are routinely praised (Crozier, Sawchuk, Hall).
I think this solidified Worsley as a NR for me.
And there you have it. Every Stanley Cup game of every single guy up this round.
