Jan. 3, 1965 - Brilliant Bobby Hull celebrated his 26th birthday with his 32nd goal in 35 games tonight, but his shadow Claude Provost scored the winner as the Canadiens edged the Black Hawks, 2-1, before 16,238 roaring fans at Chicago Stadium.
The Montreal victory snapped Chicago’s unbeaten streak at 13 games, gave the Habs their seventh game without a defeat, and moved them three points ahead of the second-place Hawks.
Provost, who left Hull only once when the blond winger scored in the second period, connected for the winner unassisted in the 12th minute of the final period. Rookie Yvan Cournoyer had tied the score late in the second frame.
Provost scored the winner while the Canadiens were shorthanded on a penalty to Claude Larose and the Hawks were caught changing lines. Defenseman Matt Ravlich had just stepped on the ice at the Chicago blueline when Provost poked the puck away from him and streaked in alone on goalie Roger DeJordy. It was Provost’s 12th goal of the season.
Greeted with “Happy Birthday” from the organist each time he stepped on the ice, Hull opened the scoring near the halfway mark of the second period on a fine setup by Chico Maki. Bobby wasn’t guarded when he snapped the puck into the open side of the Montreal net.
Cournoyer got the equalizer while Maki was off for tripping late in the same period. Jacques Laperrier and Bobby Rousseau staged a neat passing play for Cournoyer, and the rookie stepped around DeJordy to fire home his sixth goal of the campaign.
Provost was happy about his game-winner yet disappointed that Hull was able to score again.
“DeJordy came out to meet me, so I gave him the deke and slipped the puck through his legs,” said Claude. “I couldn’t do much on Hull’s goal. I was hooking Maki and was afraid I would get a penalty. I let go, and he got the pass away with no one covering Hull.”
Said Montreal coach Toe Blake: “Since the start of the season, Claude has had very few poor games. Even when he hasn’t scored, he has played well, and he has never been in a slump. Can you say as much for the other right wingers in the league?” Provost, 30, has never made the NHL all-star team, even in the 1961-62 season, when he scored 33 goals to lead Montreal to a fifth consecutive title.
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