Facing elimination for the first time in four years, the Montreal Canadiens met the Boston Bruins in the seventh and deciding game of the semifinals on May 10, 1979.

The Bruins, with Don Cherry behind the bench, seemed to be cruising to a win over the three-time defending Stanley Cup champions. Boston carved out a 3-1 lead thanks to the line of Wayne Cashman, Rick Middleton and Jean Ratelle, who combined for eight points in the game’s first 40 minutes.

Unwilling to roll over and die, Scotty Bowman’s charges drew even in the first half of the closing period on goals by Mark Napier and Guy Lapointe.

A Middleton marker at 16:01 put the Bruins on top once again, leaving only a shade more than four minutes for Montreal to do something about it or get the golf clubs out.

Then Forum ghosts intervened.  With 2:34 left on the clock, Don Cherry's Bruins got caught with too many skaters on the ice. Guy Lafleur took full advantage of the opportunity, one-timing a powerful shot into the net behind Gilles Gilbert, to send the game into overtime.

In a fairy-tale ending, Yvon Lambert emerged as the hero when he finished off a play by Mario Tremblay and Réjean Houle at 9:33 of the extra frame to give the Canadiens a 5-4 win and a spot in the Finals.

From then on, the matchup would forever be known as the “Too Many Men” game.