CBC Digital Archives

Habs in history: Ken Dryden

With the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins facing off once again in a meeting of historic Eastern Conference rivals, the CBC Digital Archives looks back at key players and performances of the past. Revisit some classic Habs-Bruins matchups, as well as interviews with team legends Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur and Ken Dryden of the Canadiens, and Willie O'Ree, who broke hockey's colour barrier with the 1958 Boston Bruins.

media clip
With just two seasons to his credit, Montreal Canadiens goaltending phenom Ken Dryden has already made his mark on the NHL. After stepping between the pipes in midseason, Dryden backstopped the Habs to a Stanley Cup victory while winning playoff MVP honors. But he's more than just a brilliant athlete. In this 1972 clip, Telescope focuses on Ken Dryden and learns how he's come to dominate the game... without letting the game dominate him. 
• Although he won the 1971 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, Dryden's Stanley Cup finals got off to a rocky start as the Chicago Blackhawks potted seven goals in the first two games.

• Dryden is one of just three rookie goalies to ever win the Conn Smythe Trophy, joining Ron Hextall and fellow Hall-of-Famer Patrick Roy.

• At six feet, four inches (without skates), Dryden was an imposing presence in net. Once he strapped on skates, he became known as "the four-storey goalie."

• Bill Durnan, who Foster Hewitt refers to in the clip, was an accomplished goaltender for the Canadiens in the 1940s. The ambidextrous goalie had a brief, but dominating career; he played only seven seasons and won six Vezina trophies as the league's top goalie. He is also one of very few goalies to ever be captain of an NHL team.

Medium: Television
Program: Telescope
Broadcast Date: Dec. 14, 1972
Guest(s): Ken Dryden, Lynda Dryden, Dave Dryden, Milt Dunnell, Foster Hewitt
Duration: 5:16

Last updated: May 15, 2014

Page consulted on December 12, 2014

All Clips from this Topic

Related Content

Montreal Canadiens at 100

Three colours, 24 Stanley Cups, over 3,000 victories, millions of fans - and 100 years. In 200...

1959: Plante ushers in masked goalie era

In 1959, the Canadiens' Jacques Plante is the first goalie to don a protective mask in an NHL ...

1993: Marty McSorley's illegal stick

The Montreal Canadiens issue a challenge against the L.A. Kings, alleging an illegal curve on ...

1955: Canadiens fans riot in Montreal over Ri...

Fans riot on Montreal streets after Maurice Richard is suspended for the rest of the season.

The 'Richard Riot'

Maurice Richard is suspended from the playoffs, and Montreal erupts in a violent expression of...

Maurice Richard: Admired in life, revered in ...

Canadians grieve at the news of Maurice Richard's death from cancer in 2000.