Grand moments
March 16th, 1961
BOOM BOOM REACHES 50
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On March 16, 1961, at the Forum. Bernard Geoffrion was suiting up against not only the Maple Leafs, but 16 years of NHL history as well.
With three games left on the schedule, Geoffrion, who had already found the twine 49 times, needed just one more to match the exploit of childhood hero and former teammate Maurice Richard and become the second man in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season.
The first two periods elapsed without Toronto netminder Cesare Maniago allowing Geoffrion to put one past him into the Leafs net.
Then, with 5:15 left in the game and the Canadiens up 4-2, “Boom Boom” staked his place in hockey history using the trademark weapon that earned him his nickname. Geoffrion finished off a play prepared by Jean Béliveau and Gilles Tremblay by blasting a slap shot into the net behind Maniago, lighting the lamp for the 50th time and doubling the membership of the NHL’s 50-goal club, as “The Boomer” joined “The Rocket” in his 62nd game of the season.
While he was unable to increase his goal total in the two remaining games, Geoffrion ended the season with a league-best 95 points, earning the second Art Ross Trophy of his career.
With three games left on the schedule, Geoffrion, who had already found the twine 49 times, needed just one more to match the exploit of childhood hero and former teammate Maurice Richard and become the second man in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season.
The first two periods elapsed without Toronto netminder Cesare Maniago allowing Geoffrion to put one past him into the Leafs net.
Then, with 5:15 left in the game and the Canadiens up 4-2, “Boom Boom” staked his place in hockey history using the trademark weapon that earned him his nickname. Geoffrion finished off a play prepared by Jean Béliveau and Gilles Tremblay by blasting a slap shot into the net behind Maniago, lighting the lamp for the 50th time and doubling the membership of the NHL’s 50-goal club, as “The Boomer” joined “The Rocket” in his 62nd game of the season.
While he was unable to increase his goal total in the two remaining games, Geoffrion ended the season with a league-best 95 points, earning the second Art Ross Trophy of his career.