Dec. 19, 1964 - The Maple Leafs posted their first victory of the season over the Rangers in seven attempts and moved into second place in the NHL by swamping the Blues, 6-3, tonight. (Pictured below, Toronto goaltender Johnny Bower is scored on by Jean Ratelle of the Rangers [not pictured] as Don Marshall of the Rangers and Red Kelly of the Leafs look for a rebound.)
Dave Keon, Frank Mahovlich, George Armstrong, Tim Horton, Bob Pulford, and Carl Brewer scored for the Leafs. Camille Henry and Vic Hadfield were successful marksmen for the Rangers, who have now lost four straight.
“I figured there’d be nights like this,” said New York’s Rod Seiling, “but I was hoping to avoid them.” The Ranger’s 20-year-old defense prodigy, a standout among 1964-65 NHL rookies, absorbed several painful lessons in the most embarrassing manner possible during tonight’s loss.
Seiling was victimized on three Toronto goals, including the one that put the Leafs ahead and the one that eventually proved decisive.
“I guess it’s the best way to learn, but I think I’ll try to forget the whole thing,” said Seiling, who was the Leafs’ most prized junior until they included him in the February deal which brought Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney to Toronto.
With the score tied 2-2 in the second period, Seiling found himself facing Mahovlich, man to man.
He attempted to turn so he could skate with the Big M and during that momentary hesitation, Mahovlich accelerated and sped right by.
Jacques Plante, the Ranger goalie, didn’t budge on Mahovlich’s blazing slap shot inside the far post. It was the Big M’s eighth goal this season.
“You don’t move,” Plante said. “You just hope it hits you.”
Early in the third period, Seiling lost control of a loose puck and became entangled with Plante as the Leafs’ Tim Horton rushed in and flipped a shot into the open goal — the winning goal.
Back in the first period, Red Kelly stole the puck from Seiling in the New York zone and instigated a series of passes that resulted in Pulford’s ninth goal of the season.
Rangers coach Red Sullivan, meanwhile, was wired for sound tonight. He wore a miniature tape recorder which preserved all the instructions and complaints he shouted at his players. These were available for subsequent playbacks both to himself and his men.
“It’s hard to remember all the things you should be pointing out to your players between periods,” Sullivan explained. “This way, you don’t miss anything.”
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