The Detroit Red Wings lost more than a hockey game last night. While dropping a 5-1 decision to the Chicago Black Hawks stung, the Wings may have suffered a more costly loss. All-star defenseman Doug Barkley left the game with what may be a serious eye injury.
The other two National Hockey League games saw New York hammer Toronto 8-4 and Montreal top Boston 3-1.
Hit With Own Stick
Observers reported that Barkley was struck in the eye with his own stick. The incident took place in the second period and Barkley left the game immediately. He was taken to hospital in Detroit where it was reported that the injury caused hemorrhaging in the rear chamber of the eye. He will undergo surgery tomorrow and is expected to be lost to the club for a minimum of two weeks.
As for the game itself, the Black Hawks came out charging in the first period and the game was settled right there. Outshooting the Red Wings 15-4 in the opening 20 minutes, the Hawks fired three goals past Detroit goalie Roger Crozier. Stan Mikita, Ken Wharram and John Miszuk counted for the Hawks.
The Red Wings rebounded somewhat in the second, but Chicago still led 4-1 after the middle frame. Chico Maki notched his ninth of the year. Detroit’s Paul Henderson then ruined the shutout bid by Hawks rookie goalie Dave Dryden with number 16 on the season.
Chicago scored the third period’s only marker, with Eric Nesterenko doing the honours.
By taking three of four points from Detroit on the weekend, Chicago moves into a first-place tie with the Wings, one point in front of Montreal.
Habs, Bruins Penalty-Free
The Montreal Canadiens kept pace with the Black Hawks with a 3-1 win over the Bruins in Boston. The game was a rarity in the NHL these days – not one penalty was called by referee Bill Friday.
Canadiens scored the only two goals they would need in this one in the first period. Henri Richard opened the scoring at 2:21. Gilles Tremblay then gave the Habs a 2-0 lead with his 15th at 7:50.
Boston netted the only goal of the middle frame to halve the Montreal lead. Forbes Kennedy was the marksman with his second of the season.
J.C. Tremblay scored the final goal of the game with a minute and three seconds left on the clock. The goal was rather fortuitous for Canadiens. Claude Provost’s shot hit Tremblay’s skate and caromed into the net past Eddie Johnston in the Boston goal.
Amazingly, Bruins forward Bob Dillabough played despite the gruesome injury he sustained in Toronto Saturday evening. Even more surprising was the fact that Dillabough refused to wear a helmet although doctors suggested he would be foolish to suit up without protective headgear.
Rangers Outclass Leafs
The New York Rangers played their best game in a long while last night. They outclassed the Toronto Maple Leafs 8-4 at Madison Square Garden and were full value for the lopsided victory.
While the Leafs split a pair of weekend games by defeating Boston 6-3 on Saturday, they lost two players who are crucial to the team’s success as the playoffs loom on the horizon.
Goalie Johnny Bower and defenseman Marcel Pronovost both went down with injuries. Bower pulled a groin muscle during the warmup for Saturday’s contest and was unable to play. Last night, Pronovost stretched ligaments in his left knee.
The game was played during the worst snowstorm to strike New York City this winter. Nearly 15,000 hearty fans were treated to a great display by the home side, although it could be argued that the Leafs’ poor performance was more responsible for the outcome.
The Leafs actually led this game 2-1 after 12:23 of the first period. Brit Selby and Frank Mahovlich had given the Leafs the lead, with Don Marshall netting the Rangers first.
The second stanza saw the Rangers outscore the Leafs 2-1. Bob Nevin and Vic Hadfield connected for New York while Mahovlich netted his second of the night for the visitors.
Rangers won walking away with a four-goal final frame. Reggie Fleming tallied twice for the home side, with Jimmy Neilson and Jean Ratelle adding the others. Leaf defenseman Kent Douglas notched his fourth of the season for Toronto.
Fleming Fined $200
National Hockey League president Clarence Campbell has fined New York Ranger forward Reggie Fleming $200 for a stick-swinging incident during a game last week in Boston.
Fleming was attempting to injure Boston bad boy Ted Green. He swung his stick at Green’s head but missed. The stick did, however, make contact with rookie linesman Brian Sopp, who suffered a five-stitch cut above the eye.
Fleming had already received automatic fines totaling $75 when he was assessed a 10-minute and then a game misconduct at the time. The $200 will be added to that total.