Game Three - Montreal Canadiens 7 Chicago Blackhawks 0

Montreal played host to the Chicago Blackhawks in an early-season tilt at the Montreal Forum last night.

Though over-matched, Chicago kept the game close in the First Period and held Montreal off the scoreboard, even during a power play opportunity. Canadien Floyd Curry scored at the mid-point of the period and Montreal led 1-0 going into the first break.

The Second Period saw the flood gates open and the Canadiens never looked back.

Montreal Right Wing, Claude Provost, scored not one, not two, but three straight goals in the middle of the period to push the Canadiens ahead 4-0. Provost's three goals adds up to the first hat-trick of the year for any player in the 1956-57 NHL Replay Season. Jean Beliveau added yet another goal before the period ended, short-handed no less, and the Montreal lead grew to 5-0. 

Not to be forgotten was the stout Canadien defense that had allowed only 2 shots on goal in the First Period and 4 shots on goal in the Second Period; goalie Jacques Plante had stopped all six of those shots.

The Third Period was more quiet that the Second Period, but Provost again put his name of the scoresheet when he assisted on Andre Pronovost's goal six minutes in to ballon the Montreal advantage to 6-0.

Provost was not done for the day, however, and he found space in the bewildered Blackhawk defense yet again and zipped a wrister past Chicago goalie Al Rollins a final time for his fourth goal of the day and a 7-0 Canadien lead.

Plante again stopped all Chicago shots in the period, and held on for the shutout.
Plante's shutout is the first shutout in the 1956-57 NHL Replay Season.

For the game, Provost had 4 goals and 1 assist.
Plante faced only 15 shots and stopped them all, earning a shutout.

@ Montreal

Chicago Blackhawks
Goals: None
Assists: None
Goalie: Rollins - 35/7
Penalties: Kachur, Mortson, Vasko, Ciesla

Montreal Canadiens
Goals: Curry, Provost (4)(GW), Beliveau(SH), Pronovost
Assists: Moore, Turner(2), Pronovost, Harvey, Marshall(3), St. Laurent, Provost
Goalie: Plante - 15/0
Penalties: Richard,M.(2), Richard, H.(2), Talbot(2), Beliveau, Olmstead, Harvey, Moore, Pronovost, Johnson

Montreal Season Record: 2 Wins 1 Loss 0 Ties