SO YOU THINK THE FINISH OF THIS SEASON IS CHAOTIC. LET ME TAKE YOU BACK TO 1970. THE CANADIENS WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A STRING THAT WOULD SEE THEM WIN 10 STANLEY CUPS IN 14 YEARS. BUT GOING INTO THE FINAL WEEKEND OF THE 1970 SEASON 5 POINTS SEPARATED THE 6 TEAMS IN THE EAST DIVISION. ON THE SECOND LAST NIGHT OF THE SEASON THE 5TH PLACE RANGERS LOST IN DETROIT AND THE CANADIENS LOST TO CHICAGO AT THE FORUM. .
SO THE RANGERS WERE STILL 2 POINTS BEHIND THE HABS AND IN 5TH PLACE. THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON THE RANGERS HOSTED THE WINGS AND THE CANADIENS FINISHED THE HOME AND HOME IN CHICAGO. THE RANGERS NEEDED TO SCORE 7 OR MORE GOALS AGAINST DETROIT AND HOPE THE CANADIENS WOULD LOSE THAT NIGHT. THE RAN GER GAME WAS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAME TELEVISED NATIONALLY ON CBS. WITH THE RANGERS OWNING A BIG LEAD DETROIT FORWARD GARY UNGER ADMITTED TO THE CBS AUDIENCE IN THE U.S. THAT THE WINGS HAD PARTIED THROUGH THE NIGHT AFTER CLINCHING THEIR OWN PLAYOFF BERTH THE NIGHT BEFORE. THE RANGERS TOOK 62 SHOTS ON ROGER CROZIER AND WON 9-5.
THEY WERE TIED WITH THE CANADIENS FOR 4TH IN WINS AND UP 4 GOALS IN THE 2ND TIE BREAKER - TOTAL GOALS-FOR.
THE CANADIENS GAME IN CHICAGO THAT NIGHT WAS A NIGHTMARE. WITH 10:42
LEFT IN THE GAME AND DOWN 5-2..CANADIENS COACH CLAUDE RUEL PULLED HIS GOALTENDER. THE HAWKS SCORED 5 EMPTY NET GOALS FOR A 10-2 VICTORY. THE CANADIENS LOST THEIR PLAYOFF BERTH ON GOALS-FOR 246-244. THE NEXT YEAR SAM POLLOCK GOT THE TIEBREAKING SYSTEM CHANGED SO THE RECORD BETWEEN TEAMS WAS THE SECOND TIE BREAKER. WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL PLAYOFF BERTH IS DECIDED ON A SHOOTOUT.
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