March 11

It was a busy weekend in the National Hockey League and after all the action, the two main topics of conversation were the play of the Red Wings and Maple Leafs after the Big Trade, and the suspensions of Eddie Shack and Larry Zeidel. We have details on both stories today.

Zeidel, Shack Banned by Campbell

National Hockey League president Clarence Campbell handed down his decision on further punishment for Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Larry Zeidel and Boston Bruins winger Eddie Shack over their stick fight Thursday night in Toronto. Zeidel was suspended for the next four Flyers games, while Shack will sit for Boston’s upcoming three contests.

Campbell made his decision after a three-hour session Saturday afternoon at NHL headquarters in Montreal. During the meeting, he interviewed both players, and heard reports from referee Bruce Hood, along with linesmen Ron Ego and Matt Pavelich.

Others who were present and had input into the proceeding were general managers Milt Schmidt of Boston and Bud Poile of the Flyers, NHL referee-in-chief Frank Udvari, and NHL director of administration Brian O’Neill. O’Neill was at the game and witnessed the incident.

Videotape of the game was available and Campbell was able to study that as well.

Campbell made the following statement to explain the decision:

“It is my judgement that Zeidel was more at fault than Shack by reason of his initial cross-check and the first blood-letting blow to Shack’s head. However, Shack’s particularly vicious attack upon Zeidel in which he persisted even after he subdued his opponent into a strictly defensive posture was completely unwarranted.

“This was undoubtedly the most vicious stick-swinging episode the league has experienced in many years and both of the principals are very fortunate that their injuries were of a minor nature.”

Maple Leafs 7 Red Wings 5

In their first meeting since last Sundays huge player trade, the Toronto Maple Leafs rebounded from a 4-0 deficit to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 7-5 Saturday night at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Most of the players involved in the deal played prominent roles.

Things looked overwhelmingly favourable for the Red Wings for the first half of the game. Frank Mahovlich, the Big M, opened the scoring for Detroit after only 7:40 of the first period. The rangy left winger beat Toronto goalie Bruce Gamble on a breakaway and was afforded a huge ovation by an appreciative packed house.

After goals by Red Wings Gordie Howe and Bruce MacGregor to close out the first 20 minutes, Mahovlich then set up Garry Unger, who went to Detroit with him in the swap, for his second NHL goal at 4:08 of the middle frame.

Fans of Mahovlich and others who were angry that the Leafs had dealt away the Big M where chortling and more than a few ‘I told you so’s’ could be heard around Maple Leaf Gardens. Unfortunately for the Red Wings, this was about as good as it was going to get on this night.

Former Red Wings Norm Ullman and Floyd Smith halved the Detroit lead with goals before the end of the second to make the score 4-2 after two. That set up a frenetic final period that saw five goals scored in the first seven minutes.

Leafs came out flying in the third, with Dave Keon drawing Leafs to within a goal at 2:44. Ron Ellis scored just over two minutes later and the Red Wings’ big lead had completely dissipated.

At 6:05 Ullman netted his second of the night and Toronto had taken the lead for the first time in the game, 5-4.

But Detroit wasn’t quite done, either. Rookie Nick Libett tied it up again, just 40 seconds after Ullman’s marker.

The stalemate didn’t last long – 11 seconds to be exact. That’s how long it took for Keon to fired his second of the game and give the Leafs the lead for keeps. Mike Walton scored with 3:20 left in the game to make the final score 7-5 for Toronto.

Walton’s goal came on a penalty shot and Red Wings coach Sid Abel employed a strange strategy on the play. He removed goalie Roy Edwards and sent in Roger Crozier to deal with Walton’s free try. The ploy didn’t work – Walton waltzed in and sent a laser into the net that Crozier still hasn’t seen.

After the game, Abel, who also serves as Detroit’s general manager, complained about the conditioning of the players he had obtained from Toronto:

“They aren’t in proper shape, either mentally of physically, to play hockey. I know Toronto players and supposed to be in wonderful condition, but I was amazed to find that these three weren’t.

“This is why I’m giving these new men as much ice time as I can.”

Abel backed up his claim by giving Mahovlich about 25 minutes of ice time. Big Frank even found himself in the relatively unfamiliar role of killing penalties.

Abel also addressed a report that the team is looking at former Wing defenceman Bill Gadsby as coach. Gadsby resigned his post as coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings junior A team this week.

“I’d like to bring him in as a defenceman. He’s old, but he wouldn’t make the mistakes my guys made tonight. And I’d also like to find out if this means he’s interested in coaching my team. I’m interested in him.”

Both teams experienced a reversal in fortune on Sunday night. Toronto went into Chicago and displayed none of the emotion or zip that they had against the Red Wings as the Black Hawks thumped them 4-0. Detroit, on the other hand traveled to Boston Garden and managed to outscore the Bruins 7-5.

Toronto’s loss at Chicago was a complete team effort, but some credit has to be given to Hawks rookie goalie Jack Norris. The 25-year-old netminder, who came to Chicago as part of that huge deal last summer with the Bruins, was thrown into the breach after regular backup goalkeeper Dave Dryden had a rough game Saturday against the Canadiens.

Norris rose to the occasion, making 27 saves to earn the shutout. Ken Wharram’s two goals was all the offence Norris would require.

The win puts Chicago 12 points ahead of the fifth-place Maple Leafs and all but destroyed any playoff aspirations Toronto may have still have been harbouring.

The Red Wings, meanwhile, took the win at Boston thanks to a two-goal performance from captain Alex Delvecchio. Former Leafs Mahovlich and Pete Stemkowski also counted for the Wings, and the winning goal was scored by Jim Peters.

Quick Hits

• Gump Worsley made 25 saves to earn his sixth shutout of the season on Saturday night, a 5-0 whitewash of the Chicago Black Hawks at the Forum in Montreal. Gilles Tremblay paced the Habs attack with a pair of goals, with Dick Duff, Jean Beliveau and Jacques Lemaire adding singles.
• Great goalkeeping by Cesare Maniago lifted the Minnesota North Stars into a 1-1 tie with the New York Rangers Saturday night in Minneapolis. Bill Goldsworthy counted for the North Stars, with Harry Howell scoring for the Rangers.
• Sunday evening in Quebec City the North Stars lost to the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0. Maniago started out that game in much the same way he played against New York, but had to leave late in the first period when he was struck in the face by a shot. He was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken cheekbone.
• Bill (Cowboy) Flett’s two goals powered the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-3 win over the Rangers in New York. Flett’s second goal came with just 20 seconds left on the clock to win the game. Eddie Joyal and Brent Hughes also scored for Los Angeles. Jean Ratelle fired a pair for New York, with Bob Nevin netting the other.
• Maple Leafs have lost captain and right-winger George Armstrong for about a week with a knee injury. No word yet on any replacements being brought in from the minors.
• Philadelphia Flyers have called up defenceman Ralph MacSweyne from the Quebec Aces of the American Hockey League to replace the suspended Larry Zeidel.