The Rocket's teammates congratulate him after the 3-star game.
Photo: La Presse
The Three-Star Game
(Montreal, March 23, 1944)
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Playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Forum,
Richard scores five goals the team's entire tally
setting a record for goals scored in a playoff game.
At game's end, it is decided (but not announced) that
Richard should be awarded all three stars. When he
skates out to acknowledge the "Third Star", the crowd
boos, thinking he should have won the first. When
he skates out again for the "Second Star", they begin
to catch on, and when he appears for the "First Star",
they go wild. This is the night that Maurice Richard
becomes a superstar. He goes on to score another 5
goals in the playoff series (for a record 12), leading the
Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup in 13 years.
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