1959 Stanley Cup Final Game 6 vs Toronto Maple Leafs
A solitary goal and a pristine shutout sealed the fourth straight title.
The sixth and deciding game of the 1959 Stanley Cup Final stands as a monumental chapter in Montreal Canadiens history, cementing their dynasty under coach Toe Blake. Facing the Toronto Maple Leafs in a best-of-seven series that had already pushed both teams to the brink, the Habs secured a dramatic victory on home ice at the Montreal Forum to claim their fourth consecutive championship.
- Series Result
- Montreal Canadiens won 4-2
- Final Score (Game 6)
- 1-0
- Winning Goal Scorer
- Dickie Moore
- Goaltender
- Jacques Plante
- Opponent
- Toronto Maple Leafs
Lore & Background
This victory was not merely another trophy; it was the fourth consecutive Stanley Cup, a feat of dominance rarely seen in the league's history. The atmosphere at the Forum was electric, fueled by the knowledge that one more win would etch their names into immortality as a four-peat champion. The Leafs, led by legends like George Armstrong and Johnny Bower, fought valiantly but could not solve the puzzle of Plante's mask and the Canadiens' suffocating defensive structure.
In Their Own Story
The air in the Forum was thick with anticipation, the ice shimmering under the harsh arena lights. The score sat at 0-0, a tense stalemate that had held for over forty minutes. Then, Dickie Moore received a pass near the Toronto blue line, his stickhandling weaving through defenders like smoke. He fired a shot that deflected off a stick and found its way past Johnny Bower. The roar that erupted from the crowd was deafening, shaking the very foundations of the building as Plante raised his mask to celebrate the shutout that would secure history.
Reader's Guide
The occasion was Game 6 of the 1959 Stanley Cup Final, held at the Montreal Forum on April 13, 1959. The series was tied 2-2 after a grueling battle in Toronto, placing immense pressure on both franchises to avoid elimination or secure the title. The game itself was a defensive masterpiece, characterized by physical play and stellar goaltending from Jacques Plante for Montreal and Johnny Bower for Toronto.
The decisive moment arrived in the second period when Dickie Moore scored the only goal of the game. His tally broke a scoreless deadlock that had persisted for nearly 40 minutes. The Leafs mounted several late pushes to equalize, but Plante stood tall, turning aside every shot to preserve his shutout. This victory gave Montreal their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup, a record at the time that highlighted the sheer dominance of the Blake-era Canadiens.
This match is remembered not just for the championship, but for the symbolic passing of the torch to modern goaltending with Plante's mask and the sheer resilience required to win four in a row. It remains a defining moment of the Original Six era, showcasing the peak of Montreal's golden age before the league expanded.
Did You Know?
- This was the first time Jacques Plante wore his fiberglass face mask for an entire playoff series without removing it between periods.
- Dickie Moore won both the Hart Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy in the regular season leading up to this victory.
- The 1959 win marked the fourth consecutive Stanley Cup for Montreal, a feat that would not be matched until the 2024-2025 era discussion (though historically unmatched by any other team since).
- Johnny Bower, playing for Toronto, would later join the Canadiens and win four more Cups with them in the late 1960s.