Summary
Partly because of injuries that slowed several Montreal stars, including Jacques Plante, Boom Boom Geoffrion, Rocket Richard and his younger brother, Henri, Detroit got back into first place this season, finishing just 2 points ahead of the Canadiens.
Gordie Howe led the league in goals and scoring and won the Hart Trophy for the fifth time while his linemate, Ted Lindsay, was tops in assists and second in scoring.
But the Boston Bruins eliminated the Red Wings in the semifinals, while the Canadiens beat the New York Rangers, both in five-game series.
Rocket Richard scored 4 goals in the first game of the Stanley Cup finals, a 5-1 Montreal win, and the Canadiens also took the next two games. The Bruins managed a victory at home in Game 4, but Montreal closed it out at home with another 5-1 victory to win the cup for the second year in a row.
