In game 6 of the 1967 Stanley Cup final series between Toronto and the Montreal Canadiens, played on May 2, 1967 at Maple Leaf Gardens, Jim Pappin scored at 19:24 of the second period to make the score 2-0 for the home team. This would hold as the game, series and Stanley Cup winning goal in the 3-1 win.
After a scoreless first period, Ron Ellis got things started at 6:25 of the second, assisted by Red Kelly and Allan Stanley. Pappin’s goal came next, his seventh of the playoffs, scored on Montreal goalie Gump Worsley with help from Pete Stemkowski and Bob Pulford.
Dick Duff made it close, scoring at 5:28 of the third to bring the Canadiens within a goal. Captain George Armstrong sealed the deal with an empty-netter with 47 seconds left in the match. Pappin led with six shots while goaltender Terry Sawchuk was spectacular, stopping 40 of 41 in the win.
In those 1966-67 playoffs, Pappin led the Leafs with 15 points in 12 games. However, it was Dave Keon that was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. Despite his playoff success, Jim found himself relegated to the Rochester Americans in the AHL late in the 1967-68 campaign. He won his third Calder Cup championship with the Amerks and was off to the Chicago Blackhawks to start the 1968-69 NHL season.
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