1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 45 Ken Dryden Hockey Card (Front)
1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 45 Ken Dryden Hockey Card (Back)
1971-72 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
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One of the tallest players in pro hockey, Ken became an instant hero by leading Montreal to the Stanley Cup championship last season. He has a very fast glove hand, and covers lots of ground. Ken played all 20 Cup games for Montreal, a new record. His brother, Dave, is also a goalie for Buffalo.
En Français
Ken, un grand gars, devint immédiatement un héro à Montréal en aidant les Canadiens à décrocher la Coupe Stanley l’an dernier. Sa main libre est très rapide et il couvre beaucoup de terrain. Ken joua toutes les 20 parties de la Coupe pour Montréal, ce qui est un nouveau record. Son frère Dave est gardien pour Buffalo.
Details
Rogatien Vachon and Phil Myre played the bulk of games for the Montreal Canadiens during the 1970-71 regular season. However, it was Ken Dryden that took over just in time for the playoffs. Dryden was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, playing a major role in the team’s Stanley Cup championship.
Dryden’s record, at the time, of 20 games played by a goalie in a single NHL playoff season, now ranks him tied for 49th all-time. It’s simply a numbers game with more games played in today’s NHL to reach the championship. The record currently sits at 26 games, shared by Miikka Kiprusoff, Jonathan Quick, Jordan Binnington and Ron Hextall.
Good things would continue into the 1971-72 NHL season with Ken playing 64 of Montreal’s 78 regular season games. His play led to Vachon being traded to the Los Angeles Kings. Phil Myre followed a year later, moving to the expansion Atlanta Flames.
Ken Dryden V Dave Dryden
Ken Dryden played just six games during the 1970-71 regular season. However, one of those games was against the Buffalo Sabres and his brother Dave Dryden. On March 20, 1971, the two teams met at the Montreal Forum. Neither started the game. Joe Daley started for the Sabres and Rogie Vachon was in the net for Montreal.
In the end, though, it was the first ever brother vs. brother goalie matchup in an NHL game. Both allowed two goals each and it was the Habs that came out on top 5-2. Jacques Lemaire scored the winning goal for the Canadiens, assisted by Claude Larose and Guy Lapointe. Reggie Fleming and Pete Mahovlich duked it out in the second period in what was otherwise a mostly penalty free game.
The next time they met was in an October 16, 1971 game at the Forum. Ken had a relatively easy night, facing 19 shots and allowing three goals. Dave took some serious abuse, facing 54 shots and allowing nine goals. The Habs came out on top 9-3 with Henri Richard leading the way with a four point night.