On May 16, 1976, a wind of change blew through the Philadelphia Spectrum, sweeping out roughhousing and replacing it with talent as the determining factor for NHL supremacy.

Holding a 3-0 advantage in the Stanley Cup Finals against Flyers, the Canadiens were 60 minutes away from ending the two-year reign of the “Broad Street Bullies” as Stanley Cup Champions.

After one period of play, the scoreboard showed the game tied at two goals apiece. The Flyers took the lead on André Dupont’s power play marker at 13:59 of the second but captain Yvan Cournoyer drew the Canadiens even again while Philadelphia’s Gary Dornhoefer looked on from the penalty box.

Pumped up, the Canadiens resumed their assault on Wayne Stephenson’s net. Guy Lafleur broke the tie at the 14:18 mark, scoring his seventh of the playoffs with assists going to linemates Pete Mahovlich and Steve Shutt. Less than a minute later the trio connected again, with Mahovlich finding the twine to provide the insurance goal in a 5-3 victory.

With the sweep, the Canadiens completed the 19th Stanley Cup triumph in team history, the 1976 championship proving to be the birth of a new dynasty.