The 'Too Many Men' Penalty: 1979 Playoffs vs. Boston

Executive Summary

In the pantheon of Montreal Canadiens lore, moments of sheer, unadulterated glory far outnumber the heart-stopping brushes with disaster. But sometimes, it’s the near-catastrophe that makes the ultimate triumph taste even sweeter. This is the story of one such moment: the infamous "Too Many Men" penalty in the 1979 Stanley Cup Semifinals against the Boston Bruins. It was a blunder that should have ended a dynasty. Instead, it became the defining, white-knuckle prelude to the Habs securing their fourth straight Cup, cementing the legacy of the late-70s dynasty in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. This case study isn't just about a penalty; it's about pressure, poise, and the razor-thin margin between legendary status and infamy in the National Hockey League.

Background / Challenge: A Dynasty on the Brink

To understand the gravity of the moment, you have to feel the weight of the era. The Canadiens of the late 1970s were a juggernaut. Led by legends like Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, and Ken Dryden, they were in the midst of a historic run. The goal wasn't just to win; it was to uphold a standard of excellence set by icons like Maurice 'Rocket' Richard and Jean Béliveau. The CH logo wasn't just a patch on a sweater; it was a symbol of invincibility, especially within the hallowed walls of the Montreal Forum.

Their opponents, the Boston Bruins, were the perfect foil. A tough, talented, and deeply frustrated squad led by the electrifying Bobby Orr in the early part of the decade, they were now spearheaded by the gritty Terry O'Reilly and the brilliant Brad Park. The Bruins had been the Habs' playoff punching bag for years, and in 1979, they were hungry for revenge. The rivalry was the hottest in the league.

The challenge for Les Canadiens de Montréal in Game 7 of the 1979 Semifinals was multifaceted:

1. Overcome History: Win a winner-take-all Game 7 against their most bitter rival.


2. Protect the Legacy: A loss here would not only end the quest for four straight Cups, but it would be a devastating, narrative-altering defeat at the hands of Boston.


3. Manage Immense Pressure: The expectation in Montreal wasn't to compete; it was to conquer. The shadow of the 24 Stanley Cup championships loomed over every playoff shift.

The stage was set at the Forum for an epic. What no one could have scripted was how a simple, mental error would bring the dynasty to the very edge of collapse.

Approach / Strategy: Habs Hockey – Discipline and Composure

The Canadiens' strategy under coach Scotty Bowman was built on a foundation of structure, puck possession, and relentless discipline. Bowman’s system was a machine. It demanded perfection. Players had specific roles, line changes were orchestrated with military precision, and mental errors were considered cardinal sins. This approach had steamrolled the NHL for three straight years.

The game plan against Boston was classic Habs: use their superior depth and skill to wear down the Bruins, stay out of the penalty box to neutralize Boston's physical edge, and rely on the cool demeanor of veterans to handle the Game 7 frenzy. The strategy was about control—controlling the pace, the puck, and their emotions.

For 59 minutes and 51 seconds of Game 7, the strategy was working, but barely. The game was a tense, 3-3 deadlock. The Forum air was thick with anxiety. Then, the unthinkable happened. The Habs' machine malfunctioned.

Implementation Details: The Mistake That Echoed Through the Forum

With just over a minute left in the third period, a botched line change led to chaos. As Lafleur skated toward the bench, a teammate prematurely jumped onto the ice. For a split second, the Canadiens had six skaters involved in the play. The linesman’s arm shot up.

Penalty: Too Many Men on the Ice.

The collective gasp in the old Forum could have sucked the oxygen from the building. This wasn't just a penalty; it was a self-inflicted wound of the highest order. It was a breakdown of the fundamental discipline the dynasty was built upon. The Bruins, with their season on the line, now had a power play to win the game in regulation.

Scotty Bowman was livid. The Habs' bench was in stunned disbelief. The Bruins' power play unit, featuring Brad Park at the point, took to the ice with a surge of belief. The dynasty was one minute away from crumbling on a technicality.

Results: One Shot, One Save, and a Flower in Overtime

The numbers here tell a story of sheer survival:

Game Clock: 00:59 remaining in regulation when the penalty was called.
Power Play Duration: The Bruins had a 6-on-4 advantage (after pulling goalie Gilles Gilbert) for the final minute.
The Critical Save: With mere seconds ticking down, Bruins defenseman Don Marcotte fired a perfect, point-blank shot from the slot. Habs goalie Ken Dryden, who had been brilliant all series, made a legendary, sprawling pad save. The rebound was frantically cleared as the horn sounded.
Overtime Resolution: The Habs killed off the remainder of the penalty to start overtime. Then, at 4:32 of the extra frame, the strategy of composure paid off. The Flower, Guy Lafleur, living up to his superstar billing, intercepted a pass, sped down the wing, and unleashed a blistering slap shot that beat Gilbert. Final Score: Montreal 5, Boston 4.

The result was more than a win. It was a resurrection. The Canadiens had stared into the abyss, survived a catastrophic error, and triumphed. They advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, where they swiftly defeated the New York Rangers in five games to claim their record 24th championship.

The "Too Many Men" game wasn't just a playoff victory; it was the pivotal crisis that the dynasty overcame. Without that win, there is no fourth straight Cup. The narrative of the 1976-1979 Canadiens dynasty would be incomplete, perhaps even tarnished. Instead, it became their most dramatic chapter.

Key Takeaways

1. The Margin for Error is Paper-Thin: Even the greatest teams, at the peak of their powers, are one mental mistake away from disaster. The Habs' dynasty was built on minimizing these errors, which made this one so shocking and so illustrative of how quickly a series can turn.


2. Composure is a Championship Trait: The true test of a team's character isn't when things are easy, but when they catastrophically fall apart. The composure to kill that penalty, led by Dryden's iconic save, and then to win in overtime, is the hallmark of a legendary team. This ethos would later be embodied by another savior in pads, Patrick Roy, decades later.


3. Legacy is Defined in Crisis: Dynasties are remembered for their championships, but the stories that endure are the moments they had to fight for survival. This game added a layer of humanity and drama to the Canadiens' invincible aura. It proved they could win even when they were their own worst enemy.


4. The Rivalry Fueled the Fire: This moment is inseparable from the Habs-Bruins rivalry. The intensity, history, and bad blood between the two teams amplified every pass, every hit, and every mistake. Beating Boston under any circumstance was vital; beating them after giving them such a gift was cathartic.

Conclusion: More Than a Penalty – A Lasting Legend

Today, when fans at the Bell Centre chant "Go Habs Go," they are invoking a history filled with both effortless brilliance and hard-fought escapes. The "Too Many Men" game is the ultimate example of the latter. It’s a reminder that before the glory of raising the Cup, there is often a moment of pure, unadulterated panic that must be overcome.

For the Molson ownership and the entire organization, the 1979 championship was a validation of their model. For the players, it was the hardest-earned ring of their incredible run. The game has taken on a mythic quality, a story passed down through generations of fans. It’s studied not as a blueprint of how to play, but as a masterclass in how to survive.

In the end, the 1979 Stanley Cup banner that hangs in the rafters of the current arena represents more than just a championship. It represents a save by Dryden, a shot by Lafleur, and a collective sigh of relief from an entire city. It is the championship that almost wasn’t—the time the mighty Canadiens nearly beat themselves, only to discover, in those frantic final minutes, the true depth of their champion’s heart.

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Explore more defining chapters in team history in our archive of Iconic Moments. Relive the individual brilliance that built the legend, starting with Maurice Richard's 50 Goals in 50 Games, or trace the full journey of triumph by viewing our complete list of Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Wins.