Chicago Blackhawks Toronto Maple Leafs Dec. 11, 1971 Highlights

Goaltenders' duel between hall of famers Tony Esposito (36 saves) and Jacques Plante (27 saves) in black and white from historic Maple Leaf Gardens. Pit Martin and Bobby Hull score third period goals to secure the win.

[@marblox9300]

Espo was a great goaltender in his prime.

[@timburr4453]

Incredible how good both Plante and Espo were late in their careers. Plante here is 42 years old! He was 5th in Hart voting that season. Led the league with a .944 save percentage. Tony O sported a .934 and a 1.77 gaa that year. He was a wall Great little moment at 9:13. Hull, head of steam racing down the ice and unloading a blisteting slapper...you could hear the BOOM when it hits Plante's pad

[@SuperStrik9]

Plante's numbers were great that year, especially that save percentage. .944 is all time great type numbers. Guy was practically ageless.

[@beelzeebub1]

Tony was 27 in 1971 , his 3rd year in the league

[@timburr4453]

@@beelzeebub1 yes that year he was, but late in his career...82-83 season when he was about 40 he was still one of the better goalies in the NHL

[@FlintyCobblestone]

RIP to my all-time hockey hero, the great Tony 0. :-(

[@wizardglick1]

Aggressive fore-check by Pit Martin resulted in a goal. Great clip!

[@mike196212]

Nutcase Ballard and Clancy in that cement bunker,''All Star Wrestling,'' Paul Morris: those were the days.

[@marblox9300]

When the NHL had the white jerseys as the home jerseys - as it should be.

[@Michaelbos]

Yup.

[@stevieg314]

I liked the PA announcer only using last names when announcing scorers on goals.

[@wizardglick1]

hahaha, nice catch, I hadn't picked up on that....

[@kwdrm1]

I remember that from every time I saw the Blackhawks play the Maple Leafs back in those days back in the 70s.

[@stepheng6748]

Im so old my memories are in black and white.

[@Michaelbos]

When hockey was hockey.

[@augustussohn893]

First play shows Plante getting a reminder of why he wears the mask. Classic.

[@pilbomags488]

Back in the day where goalies had zero technique..love it

[@PatFrenchLeafsFan1]

Any Leafs games from 2000-01? Like the game where Domi attacked a fan?

[@michaelleroy9281]

This is 1971 you would think this would be in color by now

[@orbyfan]

Yes, it's surprising that as late as December 1971 CBC was still saving these on black & white video; it was televised in colour at the time.

[@wizardglick1]

True, this around the time of the Brady Bunch. Color was in full swing!

[@austonboston4361]

It’s the Maple Laffs They don’t rate colour

[@wizardglick1]

@@austonboston4361 c'mon , you gotta love those blue & white sweaters. Original 6 !!!

[@SparkyBobcat-el8hf]

Two cup winning ex Hab Goalies.

[@MrDuds1984]

Esposito never won the Cup

[@SparkyBobcat-el8hf]

@@MrDuds1984 He did with the montreal Canadiens 68/69 You can withdraw your comment now.

[@MrDuds1984]

@@SparkyBobcat-el8hf damm you’re correct thank you. But he was never the regular goalie he only played 13 games and wasn’t considered a rookie until he moved to Chicago.

[@SparkyBobcat-el8hf]

@@MrDuds1984 Sad.....the had minor veteran Erie wakely up & down to fill in I think that year.... MTL boy Gumper, Rogie was starting to become a name......Tony also...... So imagine if they kept Tony ( chi ) & Rogie ( L.A ) & still picked Dryden two years later on waivers...... They could have won the whole 70"s

[@pocobull]

99% of the players not wearing helmets, and like 1 of the 2 or 3 that did wear a helmet in this game, got hit in the face with a puck. That's exactly why players shouldn't wear helmets, they attract pucks.