Dryden's miracle save won Habs' 17th Cup

posted by Dave Stubbs at 5h35 EST on May 4


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Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden (left) and Chicago's Tony Esposito, who faced each other at opposite ends of the ice that May night 38 years ago.
Steve Babineau, NHLI via Getty Images

They're still talking, as they should be, about rookie Simeon Varlamov's incredible save on Sidney Crosby in the Washington Capitals' 3-2 victory Saturday over the Pittsburgh Penguins – a pirouetting stick stop with the game tied 2-2.

In 1971, Canadiens rookie Ken Dryden made a stunning pad save of his own with four minutes to go in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final, a thievery of unthinkable proportion on Chicago Blackhawks forward Jim Pappin. You'll see it 4:05 into the YouTube video feature below.

Both Dryden and Varlamov went into their playoffs with six games of regular-season NHL experience. Dryden's stop gave the Canadiens their 17th Stanley Cup; we'll see how far Varlamov's might carry the Capitals.

Yesterday, Hall of Fame goalie Tony Esposito remembered – or didn't – that Dryden save, having seen it – or not – from the other end of the rink that night. And Tony O, who played his first 13 NHL games for the Canadiens, talked about his Blackhawks, a young team with a ton of promise.

And below: a few great old shots of Esposito.



Images from top:

• Tony Esposito makes a sprawling save on the Canadiens' Yvan Cournoyer at the Forum during a 1970s game (Adrian Lunny, Montreal Star files);

• Esposito, as a member of the Michigan Tech Huskies, with the 1965 MacNaughton Cup, awarded to the annual champion of the Western Collegiate Hockey League (courtesy Michigan Tech);

• The Huskies' Esposito, beneath an unusual mask, makes a save en route to the 1965 NCAA championship (courtesy Michigan Tech);

• Esposito as a Canadien – he played 13 games as a rookie for the Habs in 1968-69 before being claimed by Chicago in the NHL's 1969 intra-league draft – as featured in a McFarlane action figure.

 

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gloveside's picture
Submitted by gloveside on Sat, 05/09/2009 - 18:11.
I love it. Jim Pappin's hands are up. He and everyone in the building figured it was in. By far my favourite save of all-time. Richard scores on Tony E. soon after to wrap up the game. Sweet days!

Puck Bard's picture
Submitted by Puck Bard on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 15:44.
Thank you Dave. At a time when we're all feeling acutely cynical I really needed that lift.

Frank2468's picture
Submitted by Frank2468 on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:31.
I remember those days like it was yesterday. I was always the goalie and my hero was Dryden. I remember taking flack for dawning the Habs jersey living in the hostile territory of Toronto were all the other kids were either Keon or Sittler or McDonald. It was like this aura came over me when I put on the number 29. I could hear Danny Gallivan calling the play by play in my head saying "the booming blast" "the titillating save" "Oh Dryden stymies them". When I put on the Habs jersey with 29 on it I actually felt like I became Dryden and nothing would get past me or I would die trying to stop the ball. I would use anything in my arsenal. I would use the shaft of the stick. I even remember being down an out lying in the crease and the a shot would come and all I could do to stop it was lift my head. I didn't care if the ball struck me in the face which it did and back then we didn't were masks and I remember what it felt like to struck by a frozen tennis ball in winter not pleasant. I would do anything to bring back those days of playing hockey in the streets and then going inside to watch the Habs put on a clinic of skill and persistence to win. I don't know what it is but this organization has lost something along the way and I wish they could fine it and bring back some pride. I'm not saying that they have to win the cup every year but at least play like you care and have some kind of pride. Maybe the fans and media are to blame as well. We tend to be to inpatient with club and because of it fans boo and media criticize at every turn and the players go into this defensive shell of who cares. I think there needs to be a healing process for both the fans and club for this team to start winning again. Maybe we the fans should promise to stop booing and the player promise to give there all for the club by not dragging the club through the mud with all kinds of scandals and think about the club first and not their own personal gains all the time.

g's picture
Submitted by g on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 19:14.
good post, I agree "Long before I ever wore the jersey, I wore the jersey.” Dryden "Life is not fair, and hockey is less fair than life." Boone

PrimeTime's picture
Submitted by PrimeTime on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:48.
You dont think there were any scandals back then?? Maybe you just didnt read them in La Presse or watch the Hab tabloid shows on RDS. Maybe the media and fans should follow their treasured phrase on the Quebec license plate "Je me souviens". Ya, we remember too....thanks for nothing!

Frank2468's picture
Submitted by Frank2468 on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 15:13.
Why are you being hostile by saying thanks for nothing. I'm just passing a comment on my memories of the Habs and in no way did I offend or flame anyone. This is exactly what I'm talking about, with regards to fans having to respect for one another. In the end isn't what we want is for the Habs to win. Oh and by the way TSN and RDS didn't exist back in the seventies. I'm not saying that there were no scandals back then but it wasn't made public for all the see. The team was able to deal with there problems and work through them to a resolution without having the so called nosy busybody neighbor involved. Don't think anyone likes their dirty laundry washed in public and that includes the players. I know it is the age of the information highway and all but somethings should remain sacred. I know it's wishful thinking but that's the way I feel and you may say I'm looking at things through rose glasses but they are my glasses to look through. Peace

PrimeTime's picture
Submitted by PrimeTime on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 15:24.
My last comment wasnt directed to you....relax. I couldnt agree with you more that the media needs to lay off. That was my point. The french media are Separatists and that is what they do best....Divide. Je me souviens refers to the Separatists wanting back what they feel was once theirs. Thanks for nothing was my opinion of them.

Frank2468's picture
Submitted by Frank2468 on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 15:34.
Sorry then I don't live in Quebec so I don't know all the nuances and goings on there.

andrewberkshire's picture
Submitted by andrewberkshire on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:28.
People are making WAY too big of a deal over the Varlamov save, Crosby didn't even get a good shot off.

PrimeTime's picture
Submitted by PrimeTime on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:38.
Good instincts but a little lucky - good combo. I remember a couple of reach-around saves by Price that were as good or better. Varlamov is lucky he doesnt play in Montreal.....the cliff is pretty steep.

Hayward4Price's picture
Submitted by Hayward4Price on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:34.
agreed - it really was lucky that the puck hit his stick as he just reached back out of desperation. If the puck was 1 inch left or right it would have been in and nobody would be talking now.

Frank2468's picture
Submitted by Frank2468 on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:39.
You guys are correct but thats what makes save a memorable one. How many times does a goalie make an impossible save that people remember. The point is that he did stretch that extra inch and sometimes this game is a game of inches. Don't knock the kid applaud him for his efforts. He obviously has the will to win even when the play maybe out of reach.

badbalance's picture
Submitted by badbalance on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:38.
Well isnt that the point of a goalie in playoffs to make that extra save. It was a shot, it was going in Varlamov made a miracle save, how do you guys not see that. It kept it a tie game just because of Varlamov's effort. You guys dont like anything, always whine about the habs, now whining about varlamov's save. It was an amazing save, no matter how the shot was, he was way out of position and made a desparation save. What about Roy save in 1993 when he slid back to his net makinga diving save. You can say that shot wasnt the best.... But it was still a save thats the fact

Puck Bard's picture
Submitted by Puck Bard on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 15:59.
It was a great stop.

doug's picture
Submitted by doug on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:09.
Glory Days, well they'll pass you by Glory Days, in the wink of a young girl's eys Glory Days Glory Daaaayyysss

Dru's picture
Submitted by Dru on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 17:07.
Time slips away, leaves you with nothin' mister but borin' stories uuuuhhhvv...

Harani's picture
Submitted by Harani on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 13:47.
Pierre McGuire looking to be GM of the Wild! Now..that's something to think about! Why didn't the Habs think of that?

PrimeTime's picture
Submitted by PrimeTime on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:18.
GOOD! Get him off my TV.

Hayward4Price's picture
Submitted by Hayward4Price on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:35.
I'd rather him on TV than the habs offices :)

PrimeTime's picture
Submitted by PrimeTime on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 15:26.
Minnesota would be a good place or anywhere else away from Montreal.

NSavard18's picture
Submitted by NSavard18 on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:26.
agreed.

NSavard18's picture
Submitted by NSavard18 on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:15.
if pierre mcguire was gm of the habs...i would cry...then get angry..and stop watching hockey all together..

G-Man's picture
Submitted by G-Man on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 12:26.
That save on Pappin is still my all-time favourite. I especially like the way Pappin began to raise his arms in celebration only to have his hopes dashed. I've always thought that the '71 Cup win was the one owed to that great team of the 60's whose run was interrupted by autumn arriving early (code for the last laff win). By winning again in '73, Henri Richard broke the tie between he and Le Gros Bill. __________________________________________________________________________________ Beliveau is the best that ever was.

HardHabits's picture
Submitted by HardHabits on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 10:52.
Hopefully Carey Price doesn't become the poster boy for not bringing a goalie into the NHL too quickly.

Puck Bard's picture
Submitted by Puck Bard on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 15:58.
Henri!!!!!! (not as sexy as your last pic, but every bit as captivating)

HardHabits's picture
Submitted by HardHabits on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 21:21.
Since we're reminiscing I thought I'd get into character!!!! As for the last pic, which was oh so sexy, I would've loved to have been the person who snapped that pic!!! ;-) Thanks for the comment!!!

Kevin's picture
Submitted by Kevin on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 10:34.
Pardon my ignorance, but why did Dryden retire so early?

longtimehabsfan's picture
Submitted by longtimehabsfan on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 10:43.
He had lost the drive to keep playing; was starting to decline in skills; had a law degree he wanted to use. If you haven't read his book The Game, read it. Of course, it's much more enjoyable for someone who experienced following the great teams of the 70s. I don't know how it would be received by younger Habs fans.

Kevin's picture
Submitted by Kevin on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 11:32.
Thanks!

longtimehabsfan's picture
Submitted by longtimehabsfan on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 09:48.
Watched that game live as a 10 year old, with my dad and brother. It was on CBS with Dan Kelly doing play by play and Phil Esposito [who played for the Bruins -- the team we bounced in the first round]providing the commentary. That save on Pappin came either just before or after a series of saves Dryden made that were also incredible.

Xtrahabsfan's picture
Submitted by Xtrahabsfan on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 09:46.
Ok 38 years later and I'm balling like a baby...wow a team with a coach,a real goalie, more than one great Dmen,and forwards to die for and they were tough , didn't lose and grabed a *** load of Stanley Cups....You know I don't recall Hab fans bitching at each other then:)

PrimeTime's picture
Submitted by PrimeTime on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:25.
Your comparing apples and oranges. The NHL is so much much different today in every respect. The 70's habs were great in their time but would not dominate in todays game and you could never replicate the roster with the rules that are in place today....and psst, they werent that tough, just fast.

Xtrahabsfan's picture
Submitted by Xtrahabsfan on Tue, 05/05/2009 - 08:49.
Oh I was there prime time and you are wrong ,the habs dominated in every facet of the game back then and you think they weren't tough? Let's see Savard ,Robinson,Lapointe,lUPIEN,Bouchard,The Mahovalic's,did you know back then The Road Runner was in a weight lifting tournament against the biggest guy's in the N.F.L. AND WON HAND'S DOWN and there were more examples,! The fact they beat up on Boston and Philly...dude you can't change History,nice try though,lol.Oh ya ,never say never...ONE DAY THE HABS WILL BE BACK!!!

longtimehabsfan's picture
Submitted by longtimehabsfan on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 09:53.
It was a great team and a great series as was the one against Boston. The semifinals against the North Stars also had its moments with game six ending with the Stars putting the puck past Dryden just after the green light came on. The goal did not count and the Habs won the series in six.

Corio's picture
Submitted by Corio on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 09:17.
Tears I tell ya tears! In other news Boston bit it last night, woohoo! Go Carolina Go! “He knows, like, unnecessary facts about putting Sears catalogs on your shin pads.” Sean Avery on Don Cherry

habaholic68NJ's picture
Submitted by habaholic68NJ on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 09:07.
Correction: 38 years ago, not 28

Dave Stubbs's picture
Submitted by Dave Stubbs on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 09:19.
Doh. Right you are. Correction made. Dave Stubbs
Habs Inside/Out
Sports Columnist/Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette

 


Captain aHab's picture
Submitted by Captain aHab on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 07:09.
Man what a save that was. Great to see Pappin starting to raise his arms thinking he might have scored the go-ahead goal. __________________________________ From Hell's Heart I Slap At Thee!!

longtimehabsfan's picture
Submitted by longtimehabsfan on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 09:50.
Would have been the tying goal. Habs were up 3-2 at that point.