The 1956 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1955âÂÂ56 season, and the culmination of the 1956 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Montreal Canadiens and the two-time defending champion Detroit Red Wings in the fourth Detroit-Montreal series in the 1950s, the two teams having met in the previous two years as well as in ; Detroit won all three. The Canadiens were appearing in their sixth consecutive Finals, the Red Wings their third. The Canadiens avenged their previous three losses to Detroit, as they defeated the Red Wings in five games to win their second Stanley Cup in four years.
Montreal defeated the New York Rangers 4âÂÂ1 to reach the final. Detroit defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4âÂÂ1 to reach the final.
The Canadiens, down 4âÂÂ2 after two periods, scored four unanswered goals, in a 5:29 span, in the third period to win game one 6âÂÂ4 at the Forum. Jacques Plante held the Red Wings to just 9 goals in the five games. This was the first Final for Henri Richard and former Habs player Toe Blake's first Final as coach.
The 1956 Stanley Cup was presented to Canadiens captain Emile Bouchard by NHL President Clarence Campbell following the Canadiens 3âÂÂ1 win over the Red Wings in game five.
The following Canadiens players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup
1955âÂÂ56 Montreal Canadiens