Top 5 Players of the 1949 Stanley Cup Finals

Originally published on Oct. 28, 2019

By Zane Miller

On Saturday, April 16th, 1949, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings at the Detroit Olympia in Detroit to win the 36th Stanley Cup Finals four games to none. It was the eighth Stanley Cup championship for the Maple Leafs franchise, and the fourth that was won in Ontario. These are the top five players that I felt most stood out during the series.

5. #8 Joe Klukay (Maple Leafs)- F

Klukay took partial player of the game honors in game one, getting one goal and one assist as the Maple Leafs went on to win it 3-2 in overtime.

4. #22 Ray Timgren (Maple Leafs)- F

Timgren claimed partial player of the game in game four, as he added one goal and one assist in the Maple Leafs’ 3-1 win to clinch the series championship.

3. #7 Max Bentley (Maple Leafs)- F

Bentley picked up partial player of the game honors in games one and four, adding a goal and an assist in both games to help the Maple Leafs to the series sweep.

2. #9 Ted Kennedy (Maple Leafs)- F

Kennedy picked up player of the game in game three, as he got one goal as the Maple Leafs went on to take the 3-1 victory.

1. #24 Sid Smith (Maple Leafs)- F

Smith got player of the game honors in game two, earning a hat trick with three goals, all of which on the power play, to help the Maple Leafs to the 3-1 win.

Players of the Game Breakdown:

 

Link to stats database: https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1949-detroit-red-wings-vs-toronto-maple-leafs-stanley-cup-final.html