Richard scored series-winning goal in 1952 for Canadiens after injury

Legendary hockey reporter Stan Fischler writes a weekly scrapbook for NHL.com. Fischler, known as "The Hockey Maven," shares his humor and insight with readers every Wednesday.
This week, Fischler focuses on one of the most famous playoff goals scored by Maurice "Rocket" Richard -- during the 1952 NHL Semifinals between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins. During the decisive Game 7, Richard suffered a serious injury in the second period yet managed to return in the third to score the series winner despite being closely guarded by future Hall of Fame defenseman Bill Quackenbush. In this segment, both Quackenbush and Richard each give their version of the epic game and goal.
The interviews were obtained during Fischler's conversations with Richard and Quackenbush for his books, "The Flying Frenchmen" and "Where Are They Now Hockey Stars?"

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BILL QUACKENBUSH

How did you -- and your Boston teammates -- feel going up against the Canadiens?
"We were confident. At one point we were leading the series, three games to two, and in the sixth game, it went into overtime before some rookie (Paul Masnick) won it for them. Although we didn't have a superstar on the Rocket's level, our club was balanced and well-coached by Lynn Patrick. The other thing that gave us confidence was our goaltender, Sugar Jim Henry. He was in his prime that year."
What do you remember about the rivalry and intensity?
"The Canadiens and Bruins had gone back a long way and this playoff was a carry-over that included personal battles. One of them involved our Leo Labine and Richard. Leo knew how to get under Rocket's skin and they went at it quite a bit. Labine was a good match for neutralizing Maurice and in the seventh game, he knocked Rocket for a loop."
Some historians have called this one of the most dramatic games of all-time. What do you remember about it?
"For sure this was one of Richard's greatest moments, scoring an incredible goal. I just happened to be the fellow he victimized. But it was what happened before he pulled off the goal that made the whole scene so memorable. More than anything it not only showed what a phenomenal scorer Rocket was but also his courage and determination after being badly hurt."
What did he do that was so remarkable?
"It was a 1-1 game in the second period when Richard tried to break through our defense. As he was brought to his knees, Labine charged The Rocket and hit him in the head with his stick. Almost simultaneously, Leo's knees rammed into Maurice's stomach, causing Rocket to keel over on his back. His legs were spread apart and his body was limp. Some people thought he looked dead. They finally revived him and helped him to the [Montreal] Forum's infirmary where he was stitched up. Later, a reporter told us that Richard's head was dizzy and he couldn't see well. The doctor told him he couldn't play anymore, but Maurice wound up on Montreal's bench at some point in the third period. The game still was tied 1-1 and everyone figured the next goal would be the series winner."
Then what happened?
"Lo and behold, there was Rocket back on the ice. His defenseman, Butch Bouchard, had the puck and passed it to Maurice. Although I normally played right defense, I was on the left side as he came down the alley -- his right side. The crazy thing was that I had him lined up perfectly; no way he was going around me -- and he didn't. But what he did do was head to the right corner and I chased him all the way. I was sure that I had him closed off. In fact, I was feeling pretty good about the way I had played him."
What went wrong?
"I wasn't dealing with a normal forward. Just when I thought I had completely taken away any scoring chance, he made a quick turn and bulled his way to our net, right in front, in fact. And before my defense partner could make a move, Richard rammed the puck past Sugar Jim for the winning goal. Rocket just made a super play. It's the only time in 14 years that The Rocket beat me. That play was enough to convince me that he was one of the greatest -- if not the greatest goal-scorer -- ever to play the game."

MAURICE "ROCKET" RICHARD

What do you remember about that game -- that goal?
"Over the years people have said that the greatest goal that I ever scored was that one against the Bruins, the one in that Game 7 after Labine had knocked me out. Early in that game, I tried to skate between two Boston defensemen, but they got a piece of me. Just as I was falling to the ice, Labine came along and -- as I remember it -- hit me in the head with his knee."
How bad was the collision?
"You have to remember that Labine could be a very nasty player -- not always very clean with his tactics -- and he cut me wide open and the next thing was that I was lying on the ice, knocked out. So, I don't really remember anything beyond being knocked down. Later I was told that my face was smeared with blood. I'd been cut pretty good."
Could you remember anything?
"Not until after the trainers took me to the Forum clinic. I began coming to my senses once they gave me smelling salts. I was told that I had been knocked unconscious and now it was time to get all stitched up. I was told that I couldn't play anymore and -- even if we won the game -- I'd be through even in the Final series. As a favor, I asked the doctor if I could at least sit on the bench with my teammates. The score was 1-1 and I thought I could at least root for them. The doctor said that it would be okay as long as I didn't try to get back on the ice and play."
The game still was tied, 1-1, late in the third period. How were you feeling?
"Frankly, when I sat down on the bench, I didn't know where I was or what team I was playing against. As a matter of fact, the doctors wanted to send me to the hospital, but I said, 'Nothing doing.' I wanted to see the finish of the game. After all, it was the seventh game of the series. If we lose, then we're out of it."
What happened when you finally got on the ice?
"I was really dizzy. I didn't know which way to skate. But slowly -- very slowly -- I began to regain some of my senses. Then came the big play although at the time I wasn't too sure what I was doing. It was sort of a reflex action. All I know is that the puck came to me, I skated past a few Boston forwards, then alongside the right boards and, finally, there was the defenseman, Bill Quackenbush, and he wasn't giving me much room. Finally -- after he had boxed me into the corner -- I somehow forced my way around him, cut in front of the net and beat Jim Henry."
How could you remember this after being so beaten up?
"At the time I really didn't know how it happened. The only reason that I remember it now is because I saw movies of the play later on but when I actually was making the goal, the entire play was a blur in my mind."
Now the game is won and so is the series; what was it like in the dressing room when the reporters came to see you?
"I was in pain when the writers came to interview me. I told them that my legs felt fine but it was my head that hurt; I was dizzy. I told them that I didn't remember anything after I got hit. They told me it was Labine but I didn't know. I didn't even know the score when I went back to the bench. That was enough of the questions. Next thing I knew my father (Onesime) walked in and put his arm around my shoulder and hugged me. It was then that I couldn't hold it in anymore; I broke down and cried."
Looking backward, how does that goal rank among your other classic scores?
"To be perfectly honest, I scored goals that were as good as that one, but, somehow that particular one stands out because it was the winning goal in the seventh game of that playoff series -- and I had come back to the game after that bad injury.
"And the doctors told me I shouldn't go back and try to play anymore. But I had to do what I did!"