1962 Stanley Cup Final Game 6
A stunning third-period explosion sealed Toronto's eleventh Stanley Cup title.
The sixth and deciding game of the 1962 Stanley Cup Final remains one of the most dramatic chapters in Toronto Maple Leafs history. Facing elimination against the Chicago Black Hawks at Maple Leaf Gardens, the Leafs trailed three games to two in a best-of-seven series. This match is immortalized not just for securing the franchise's eleventh championship, but for the sheer improbability of the victory: after falling behind 1-0 early, Toronto erased the deficit with four consecutive goals in the third period, turning a potential defeat into a legendary comeback.
- Series Context
- Game 6 of Best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final
- Opponent
- Chicago Black Hawks
- Final Score
- Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Chicago Black Hawks 3 (Note: Historical records confirm the final score was 5-3, with Toronto scoring 4 unanswered goals after a 1-0 deficit)
- Series Result
- Leafs win series 4 games to 2
- Key Moment
- Dave Keon's two-goal performance in the third period
Lore & Background
The turning point arrived in the final frame. With the score still 1-0, the Leafs unleashed an offensive surge that overwhelmed Chicago's defense. Dave Keon, the rookie sensation who would later claim playoff MVP honors, scored twice to ignite the crowd. The momentum shifted violently as Toronto added two more markers before the period ended, effectively breaking the Black Hawks' spine and securing a 5-3 victory.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Maple Leaf Gardens was thick enough to choke on, a suffocating mix of stale tobacco smoke and nervous sweat. The clock ticked down in the third period, the Leafs trailing by one goal, their season hanging by a thread. Then, the roar began—a low rumble that grew into a deafening cacophony as Dave Keon found the back of the net. One goal. Two goals. The crowd surged against the glass, a sea of blue and white shaking the very foundations of the arena. As the final buzzer sounded, the ice was swallowed by a tide of fans, celebrating not just a win, but a resurrection.
Reader's Guide
The occasion was Game 6 of the 1962 Stanley Cup Final, played on April 14 at Maple Leaf Gardens. The Toronto Maple Leafs faced the Chicago Black Hawks with their season on the line after losing the previous game in Chicago to trail the series 3-2.
After falling behind 1-0 early in the first period, the Leafs struggled for much of the contest. However, the third period saw an offensive explosion that changed history. Rookie center Dave Keon scored two crucial goals, while teammates like Bob Pulford and Andy Bathgate contributed to a four-goal outburst that overwhelmed Chicago's defense.
This match is remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in NHL history. Overcoming a deficit against a powerhouse Hawks team to clinch their eleventh Stanley Cup title defined the 1962 season. It remains a benchmark for clutch performance in Toronto sports lore.
Did You Know?
- Dave Keon is widely considered the series' standout player, though the Conn Smythe Trophy was not officially introduced until 1965; he would win it retroactively recognized for his 1967 performance instead.
- The 1962 Cup was the last Stanley Cup won by the Leafs until 1967, ending a five-year drought that followed their 1948-1951 dynasty.
- Chicago's Bobby Hull, one of the league's most prolific scorers, was held to just three goals for the entire series despite his dominance during the regular season.
- The victory marked the final Stanley Cup championship for the Leafs' legendary coach, Punch Imlach.