Wednesday, May 30 Extra session obsession By Joy Russo ESPN.com Toronto and Montreal took different paths to reach the 1951 Stanley Cup finals. Leafs 4, Canadiens 1 Date Result Goalie 4/11 Leafs 3, Habs 2 Broda 4/14 Habs 3, Leafs 2 McNeil 4/17 Leafs 2, Habs 1 Broda 4/19 Leafs 3, Habs 2 Broda 4/21 Leafs 3, Habs 2 Broda The Maple Leafs finished the regular season second overall, six points behind the Detroit Red Wings. The third-place Canadiens? They were 36 points behind the Wings. It was no surprise that many didn't give the Habs a chance against Detroit, but Maurice Richard almost single-handedly led Montreal to the Cup berth. The Rocket scored two overtime winners as the Canadiens dispatched the Wings in six games. Toronto had an easier time, outshooting Boston 17-4 to oust the Bruins in five. Regardless of position, the Cup final paired Canada's two rivals. The Maple Leafs took a commanding 3-1 series lead, but it didn't come easy. Sid Smith scored at 5:51 of overtime to give Toronto the opener. In game 2, Richard beat Ted Broda in OT to even the series. In Montreal, the Leafs needed overtime in Games 3 and 4 to gain the two-game advantage. When the series shifted back to Toronto, it would be more of the same. The turnaround Montreal looked like they would force a Game 6, holding a 2-1 lead late in the third period. Leafs coach Joe Primeau pulled Broda for the extra skater, and with 32 seconds left in regulation, Tod Sloan then tied it. In overtime, The Goal came from the unlikeliest of players. Defenseman Bill Barilko rushed in from the point, got the rebound and roofed a backhander over the shoulder of Gerry McNeil at 2:53 in overtime to give the Maple Leafs a 3-2 win for their seventh Cup. The 1951 matchup was the only Stanley Cup final series where every game went into overtime. The MVP Bill Barilko. Before his historic winner, Barilko was a tough, yet little-known defender. He had just four career playoff goals in 46 games. His OT goal made him a hero in Toronto, and would last a lifetime for Leafs fans. Unfortunately, the glory was cut short for Barilko, who died in a plane crash later that summer while on a fishing trip in Northern Ontario. His remains weren't discovered until 1962 – the next time the Maple Leafs would win a Cup. Joy Russo is a staff editor for ESPN.com Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories