Remembering Jim Pappin

Within less than a week before the sad news that the excellent NHL player, Jim Pappin had died at age 82, recollections of him had surfaced when I looked at the 1964 NHL ‘offs and began to chart overtime goal scorers in game 1 of an NHL final.

Jim Pappin was a member of two title winning teams with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the last 2, in ’64 as a part time player and in ’67 when he led their playoff scoring and is credited with the last Leafs’ Cup winning goal, some 55 years ago.

I remember Pappin best on the so called “MPH” line (Pit Martin and Dennis Hull were the others), with the Chicago Blackhawks. Twice they lost NHL final rounds to the Montreal Canadiens, in 6 to a heavily favored Habs team in ’73 and a heartbreaking 7 game series loss, with home advantage in 1971.

Pappin did so much to get “Chi” that far in ’71, “opening” vs the Rangers in a Sunday afternoon #4 with Chi down (2-1) in what was a great “semi,” an eventual 7 game win vs a Rangers’ team that had a better record but was (were?) “crossovered” sans home advantage, as the Blackhawks had finished first in the expansion West and were afforded home ice advantage, in that memorable “semi,” now so long ago.

Soon I will present a chart showing most teams that won #1 of a best of 7 NHL final in overtime, won said series. It happened that way with Andre Borakovsky scoring in overtime of game 1 for eventual Cup winning Colorado, vs two time defending champion Tampa Bay in this recently completed season.

Pappin scoring in overtime of game 1 and “Chi” losing to Montreal in ’71 are an exception.

Jim Pappin was an exceptional player and in one of hockey’s all-time moments was robbed of the tying goal in #7/’71, by the not yet rookie status, Montreal Goaltender, Ken Dryden’s unbelievable save.

Jim Pappin, pictured above.