Eric Nesterenko was the unlikely scoring hero as he led the Chicago Black Hawks to a lopsided 6-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in one of three National Hockey League games played Sunday evening. In the other games, Toronto got past Boston 3-1 in a game highlighted by brawls on the ice and in stands, while Detroit and New York sawed one off, 3-3.
Nesterenko bags a pair
At Chicago, the Black Hawks did most of the damage against the Canadiens in the second period when they scored four times, including two by Nesterenko. The Canadiens had actually grabbed an early lead on a John Ferguson marker less than two minutes into the game. Bobby Hull’s 14th of the season came at 5:17 of the first to knot the score at ones, but Claude Larose put Montreal back in front for the last time in the game at 13:28.
Kenny Wharram got the ball rolling in the second with his fourth at 2:24. Nesterenko then popped his pair, the first at 6:37, the second at 11:19. Johnny McKenzie fired the final goal of the middle stanza just before the 15-minute mark.
The only goal of the third period came off the stick of Phil Esposito with just less than two minutes remaining.
Montreal had two minor-league call-ups in the lineup due to injuries in Garry Peters and Andre Boudrias. Peters took a regular turn and assisted on both Canadiens goals. He also earned a roughing penalty after a brief set-to with Hawks blue liner Al MacNeil in the third period.
Leafs, Bruins brawl on the ice, fans fight in stands
In Boston, Bobby Pulford was the scoring hero for the second night in a row as he scored the winner to lead Toronto over the Bruins. The game was delayed by major brawls on and off the ice at the 8:50 mark of the second period.
On the ice, hostilities commenced when Toronto’s Allan Stanley went after Boston’s Ted Green after Green’s stick had allegedly sliced Stanley’s face. Leaf netminder Terry Sawchuk whacked Boston rookie Wayne Rivers with his stick and the fight was on. Eventually everyone on the ice except the goaltenders was involved. Davey Keon grabbed Rivers to keep him from getting at Sawchuk, while the Bruins’ Johnny Bucyk successfully kept Stanley from tearing Green limb from limb. Stanley, blood streaming all over his face, likely couldn’t see well enough to do any damage anyway. Tim Horton took up the challenge for his injured defence partner as he battled Green, who ended up with a minor, major and misconduct. Horton was assessed a major and a misconduct, while Keon, Rivers and Stanley all received minors.
While the players were brawling on the ice, several fans engaged in similar activities in the stands. Round-house rights and lefts, along with some chair swinging took place before the police moved in to restore order. The offenders were summarily dismissed from the game, presumably to less hospitable accommodations. Five fans were arrested.
In actual hockey action, Bob Pulford scored the game winner for Toronto, just as he had 24 hours earlier against Chicago. His goal came early in the third period and had a bit of an odour to it. Pulford skated to the Boston blue line and dumped the puck into the zone at the Boston net. It took a crazy hop right in front of Boston goalie Ed Johnston and skittereed between his legs into the net.
After a scoreless first period, Ron Stewart gave the Leafs a 1-0 lead at 14:45 of the second. After Pulford put Toronto up by two, Reggie Fleming netted his fourth of the season just before the half-way mark to draw the Bruins to within one. Eddie Shack closed out the scoring for Torontio at the 13-minute mark .
Nevin, Ullman each score a pair
At New York, rookie forward Lowell MacDonald scored with just over three minutes remaining in the game to give the Red Wings their tie with the Rangers. The reserve forward who played sparingly in the game, picked up a loose puck in the Detroit zone, skated the length of the ice and beat Ranger goalkeeper Jacques Plante. Normie Ullman scored in each of the first two periods to account for the other Detroit markers.
Bobby Nevin fired a pair for the Rangers, with Donnie Marshall getting the other.
AHL: Bisons win with DeJordy
The Buffalo Bisons, with Denis DeJordy between the pipes, took a 6-4 win over the Cleveland Barons in one of three AHL games last night. In the others, Baltimore pounded Providence 7-0 while Rochester whipped Springfield 6-1.
At Buffalo, Len Lunde and Ray Cullen scored twice each to pace the Bisons. Billy Dea and Paul Popiel had the others. Joe Szura bagged a pair for the Barons. Doug Senior and Cec Hoekstra added singles.
DeJordy had a solid game in goal for Buffalo. He is on loan from the parent Chicago Black Hawks, replacing the injured Ed Chadwick.
Handyman Darryl Sly, who plays defence, centre and right wing, was the big man for the Amerks in Rochester with a pair of early goals. Eddie Litzenberger, Gerry Ehman, Terry Clancy and Les Duff were the other Rochester goal-getters. Jimmy Anderson scored his 310th career AHL goal for the Indians.
Young Jean Ratelle, a promising Ranger prospect, fired three goals for Baltimore as they trounced Providence in Rhode Island. Brian Hextall chipped in a pair of goals as well for the Clippers.
OHA: Carleton returns in a big way
Wayne Carleton, the much ballyhooed left winger of the Toronto Marlboros of the OHA Junior A Series, returned to action this weekend after missing the first 15 games of the season with a knee injury. He fired five goals and added two assists for seven points in his first two games back.
Last night Carleton led the Marlies to a 4-2 win over the Kitchener Rangers in Kitchener. In other games, Hamilton escaped the league basement with a 5-2 win over Peterborough, and home town St. Catharines took a wild 8-6 win over the Montreal Junior Canadiens.
For the Marlboros, Brit Selby and Paul Laurent supported Carleton’s performance with a goal each. Jack McCreary and Tom Miller replied for the Rangers.
Hamilton had Peterborough down 4-0 before taking their foot off the gas a little. Five players shared in the Red Wings scoring, with Jimmy Peters, Jim Young, Nick Libett, Bob McGuinn and Real Lemieux each netting one. Danny Grant and Don Herriman were the Petes’ goal-getters.
For St. Catharines, Ken Hodge score three times to lead the Black Hawks over the Junior Canadiens. Two of Hodges’ markers came within 17 seconds in the third period. Mickey Cheravety and Brian McDonald had two apiece for St, Kitts, with Wayne Maki getting the other. Rene Drolet was also a three goal scorer for the Junior Habs. Don Liesmer had a pair, with Lucien Grenier netting a singleton.
EHL player suffers broken neck
Harvey Turnbull, 23, of Toronto, a forward with the New Jersey Devils of the Eastern Hockey League, suffered a fractured neck in a league game this weekend in Johnstown, Pa. He remains in serious condition today at the Johnstown Memorial Hospital in the special care unit.
Turnbull was injured when he collided with a member of the Johnstown Jets in a game at Cambria County War Memorial on Saturday night.