The 1954 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens, in their fourth straight Finals. It was the second Detroit–Montreal Finals series of the 1950s. Despite blowing a 3–1 series lead, the Red Wings defeated the Canadiens in seven games to win their second Stanley Cup in four years and sixth overall. As of 2024, this remains the last Stanley Cup Final where Game 7 was decided in overtime.

Paths to the Finals

Montreal defeated the Boston Bruins 4–0 to reach the Finals. Detroit defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 to reach the Finals.

Game summaries

Tony Leswick scored the series-winning goal at 4:29 of overtime in Game 7. In fact, Leswick's goal was one of the strangest Stanley Cup-winning goals in history, as Leswick's shot was deflected off the glove of Montreal's Doug Harvey and into the net. The Canadiens immediately skated off the ice without shaking hands with the Red Wings. This was the second time in NHL history that Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals was decided in overtime; the previous time it happened, in, Detroit beat the New York Rangers in the Finals. As of 2024, this is the last Stanley Cup Final to have an overtime Game 7.

Broadcasting

CBC's coverage of games 3–5 were joined in progress at 9:30 p.m. (approximately one hour after start time). Meanwhile, CBC joined game six in at 10 p.m. (again, one hour after start time). Game seven was carried nationwide from the opening face-off at 9 p.m. Since game seven was played on Good Friday night, there were no commercials (Imperial Oil was the sponsor).

Stanley Cup engraving

The 1954 Stanley Cup was presented to Red Wings captain Ted Lindsay by NHL President Clarence Campbell following the Red Wings 2–1 overtime win over the Canadiens in game seven. The following Red Wings players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup 1953–54 Detroit Red Wings