The bottom-dwelling Boston Bruins finally scored a goal on Detroit Red Wings rookie goalkeeper Roger Crozier last night. In fact, they notched three of them as they held their first-place adversaries to a 3-3 stalemate at Boston Garden.
Green first to beat Crozier
Crozier, the Red Wings sensational rookie, had blanked the Bruins on four of the five occasions he faced them, going back to the 15 games he played last season. That string ended quickly last night as Boston defenceman Teddy Green scored a power play goal on a shot from the blue line through the legs of a Detroit defender at 10:10 of the first period. Ab McDonald put the home side up by two on a nice setup by Reggie Fleming, before the Red Wings halved that lead near the end of the initial frame. A Parker MacDonald goal drew Detroit to within one.
In the sandwich session, the visitors took a 3-2 lead on a couple of quick markers by Bruce MacGregor and Floyd Smith, the second one coming at 15:04.
The Wings nursed that single goal lead throughout most of the third period, but with 37 seconds left on the clock, Bobbty Leiter deposited a perfect pass from Johnny Bucyk behind Crozier to knot the score at 3, and that’s how the game concluded.
The game marked the 1, 200th NHL contest for the great Gordie Howe. He celebrated the occasion with an assist on MacDonald’s goal, and a couple of minor penalties. The Red Wings have now gone nine games without a loss.
Prize rookies go head-to-head
Detroit travels to Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens this evening for the first time this season to face the Maple Leafs. Fans will get a chance to compare the NHL’s two premier rookies as the Leafs’ Ron Ellis will go up against Crozier face to face. Both youngsters are making strong cases for Calder Trophy consideration.
Ellis, who is only 19, is second in the NHL with six goals, exceeded only by the eight scored by Chicago superstar Bobby Hull. He has also been one of the league’s premier defensive players and has earned the trust of Toronto coach Punch Imlach. That’s probably the truest indicator of how well the former Toronto Marlboro junior has progressed.
Crozier, on the other hand, leads the league competition for the Vezina Trophy, and also has amassed the most shut outs by a netminder so far. He is almost single handedly responsible for the Red Wings lofty perch atop the NHL standings.
Toronto’s Dave Keon is listed as a doubtful starter for tonight’s contest. He is still receiving treatment for a groin injury, and will skate this morning for the first time in five days.
AHL Aces still dealing defeats
In the American Hockey League last night, the Quebec Aces dealt a 7-1 drubbing to the Springfield Indians at the Coliseum in Quebec City. In the other AHL game, visiting Rochester clipped Baltimore 5-2.
Wayne Hicks was the scoring hero for the Aces, firing three goals. Guy Rousseau, Terry Gray, Ed Hoekstra and Jean-Guy Gendron added singletons. Jimmy Anderson ruined Gump Worsley’s shut out try late in the third.
The Aces also announced that they were in the process of purchasing the contract of forward Danny Belisle from the New York Rangers. He had been playing with the Omaha Knights of the CPHL.
The Americans led the Clippers 4-0 before Baltimore scored a pair to make it close. Stan Smrke’s two markers led Rochester. Single goal-getters were Wally Boyer, Larry Hillman and Eddie Litzenberger. Gord Labossiere and Dave Richardson replied for Baltimore.
OHA action
There were two OHA Junior A games played last night. In the marquee matchup of the evening, the Toronto Marlboros upset a short handed Niagara Falls Flyers team 6-4 in Niagara Falls. The other game saw Oshawa and St. Catharines skate to a 4-4 tie.
The Marlies downed a Flyer team with two of their top players out with injuries and 10 rookies in the lineup. Hard-rock defenceman Gilles Marotte and high-scoring winger Jean Pronovost sat this one out.
The Toronto team scored four third period markers to grab the two points. Brit Selby, Barry Watson, Mike Corrigan and Neil Clark had the third period goals, adding to tallies by Paul Laurent and Al Osborne in the first. The Flyers, who led at one point 4-2, got a pair of goals from Brian Bradley, with Ted Snell and Dave Woodley netting the others.
In Bowmanville, the Generals fired three third-period goals to gain the tie with St. Catharines. Bob Kilger, Danny O’Shea, Bobby Orr and Wayne Cashman did the damage for Oshawa. Rookie defenceman Tom Reid scored the tying goal for the Black Hawks with less than two minutes to play. Other St. Catharines marksmen were Ken Hodge, Ross Eichler and Garry MacMillan.
Charlie Hodge may be out
During a workout yesterday before tonight’s game in Chicago, Montreal Canadiens’ goaltender Charlie Hodge may have injured his back. While coach Toe Blake remained basically non-committal, he did say that Hodge may not be well enough to play in tonight’s contest against the Black Hawks. Hodge was taken to a Chicago hospital just before midnight for treatment and his condition was not known at press time. It’s thought that the Habs would bring along young Gary Bauman, former Michigan Tech goalkeeper, to fill the void if Hodge is disabled.
The Portland Buckaroos of the Western Hockey League have purchased the contract of forward Dick Van Impe from the Cleveland Barons of the AHL. Van Impe is being brought in to replace veteran centre Larry Lund, who is out with a broken collarbone.