1972-73 O-Pee-Chee 132 Gilles Villemure Hockey Card (Front)
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Card Notes
He’s a standup goalie who plays the angles well and last year only Chicago’s Tony Esposito had a better goals against average than Gilles. The Vezina Trophy was shared by Villemure and Giacomin for the 1970-71 season.
En Français
Comme son partenaire Ed Giacomin, Gilles passa beaucoup de temps dans les mineures avant de faire ses preuves dans la LNH. Il reste debout et couvre bien les coins. L’an dernier, deuxième après Esposito pour la moyenne de “buts contre”. Villemure et Giacomin se partagèrent le Trophée Vézina pour 1970-71.
Details
In 1971-72, Gilles Villemure’s 2.08 goals against average indeed was second best in the National Hockey League. Tony Esposito was well ahead with a 1.77 while Gump Worsley of the Minnesota North Stars came third with a 2.12.
The previous year, 1970-71, Villemure and Ed Giacomin shared the Vezina Trophy. Gilles posted a 2.30 GAA over 34 games while Giacomin put up a 2.16 over 45. In 1972-73, Villemure would maintain his position as the goalie with the second best average with a 2.30, just behind Ken Dryden‘s 2.26.
Gilles recorded three shutouts in 1972-73. However, two were against the expansion franchises, the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames. The third was against the dreadful California Golden Seals and involved making just 14 saves. He was not pulled in any of his 34 games.
Probably his biggest performance of the season came in a 4-2 loss at Boston Garden against the Bruins. The final score was 4-2 but Villemure made 51 saves on 55 shots in the loss. Phil Esposito led with 15 shots but not one got past Gilles.
Between 1963-64 and 1976-77, Gilles Villemure played 205 regular season and 14 playoff games in the NHL with the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks. Prior to his Vezina win in 1970-71, Gilles had consecutive seasons in the AHL winning the Les Cunningham Award as MVP and the Harry Hap Holmes Award as the top goaltender.