Top 5 Players of the 1951 Stanley Cup Finals

Originally published on Nov. 2, 2019

By Zane Miller

On Saturday, April 21st, 1951, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens at the Maple Leaf Gardens to win the 38th Stanley Cup Finals four games to one. It was the ninth Stanley Cup championship for the Maple Leafs franchise, and the 14th that was won in Ontario. It is also the only Stanley Cup Finals (as of this writing) that saw every game end in overtime. These are the top five players that I felt most stood out during the series.

5. #9 Maurice Richard (Canadiens)- F

Richard was game two’s player of the game, as he got a goal and an assist as the Canadiens went on to win it 3-2 in overtime.

4. #4 Harry Watson (Maple Leafs)- F

Watson picked up player of the game in game four, getting a goal and an assist in the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 overtime victory.

3. #15 Tod Sloan (Maple Leafs)- F

Sloan got player of the game in game five, as he scored two goals to help the Maple Leafs to the 3-2 overtime win to clinch the series championship.

2. #24 Sid Smith (Maple Leafs)- F

Smith claimed player of the game honors in game one, taking a pair of goals as the Maple Leafs went on to the 3-2 overtime victory.

1. #23 Al Rollins (Maple Leafs)- G

Rollins took player of the game honors in game three, as he gave up just one goal on the way to the Maple Leafs’ 2-1 overtime win.

Players of the Game Breakdown:

 

Link to stats database: https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1951-montreal-canadiens-vs-toronto-maple-leafs-stanley-cup-final.html