The 1944 Cup: A first taste for the The Rocket

First place Montreal was facing the third place Toronto Maple Leafs in round one, while second place Detroit was challenged by the Chicago Blackhawks, the fourth place finishers during the regular season.

The Leafs were using Paul Bibeault in goal. Bibeault had been borrowed from the Canadiens partway through the season to replace Turk Broda.

Maurice Richard scored five goals in the second game of the series. In game five, the Canadiens trounced Toronto 11-0 to win the series four games to one. In the other series, the Black Hawks knocked Detroit out of playoff competition, four games to one as well.

That set the showdown for a Canadiens-Chicago final. But Montreal wasn't to be denied. They won the Stanley Cup in four straight games to win their first championship since 1930-31. The Canadiens' potent Punch Line of Toe Blake, Maurice Richard and Elmer Lach led the charge, accounting for 10 of Montreal's 15 goals in the final series.