At the NHL's annual meeting on June 6, 1956, league governors voted 5-1 to enact a rule change that would have a dramatic impact on how hockey would be played. Until that point, when a team had a man advantage, the power play would continue for the full duration of the penalty, even if the team scored a goal (or two, or three).
The trouble was that the Montreal Canadiens, possessors of arguably the greatest power play in League annals, would routinely carve up their undermanned opponents as if they were a Sunday roast, doing it with dazzling puck control and speed to match. Eight times during the 1955-56 season the Canadiens scored twice on power plays. Once, on Nov. 5, 1955, they scored three times in 44 seconds - all by Jean Beliveau - while having a 5-on-3 advantage against the Boston Bruins.
For more of Doug Harvey's 100 Greatest Players bio, please click here.
At the NHL's annual meeting on June 6, 1956, league governors voted 5-1 to enact a rule change that would have a dramatic impact on how hockey would be played. Until that point, when a team had a man advantage, the power play would continue for the full duration of the penalty, even if the team scored a goal (or two, or three).
The trouble was that the Montreal Canadiens, possessors of arguably the greatest power play in League annals, would routinely carve up their undermanned opponents as if they were a Sunday roast, doing it with dazzling puck control and speed to match. Eight times during the 1955-56 season the Canadiens scored twice on power plays. Once, on Nov. 5, 1955, they scored three times in 44 seconds - all by Jean Beliveau - while having a 5-on-3 advantage against the Boston Bruins.
For more of Doug Harvey's 100 Greatest Players bio, please click here.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- NHL First All-Star Team (1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962)
- NHL Second All-Star Team (1959)
- AHL Second All-Star Team (1964)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1969)
- Traded to NY Rangers by Montreal for Lou Fontinato, June 13, 1961.
- Signed as a free agent by Quebec (AHL), November 26, 1963.
- Signed as a free agent by Baltimore (AHL), June 10, 1965.
- Traded to Providence (AHL) by Baltimore (AHL) for cash, December 23, 1966.
- Activated contract clause that allowed him to become a free agent if traded by Baltimore (AHL) and signed with Detroit (Pittsburgh - AHL), January 6, 1967.
- Signed as a free agent by St. Louis and named playing coach of Kansas City (CPHL), June, 1967.
