69 years ago, Lower Burrell native scored among most dramatic goals in NHL history
Sixty-nine years ago Tuesday, Lower Burrell native Pete Babando scored perhaps the most dramatic goal in NHL history.
Babando scored 8 minutes, 31 seconds into the second overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the 1950 Stanley Cup Final.
It was the first time the Stanley Cup was decided in overtime in a seventh game. It remains the only Game 7-winning goal scored past the first overtime.
4/23/50: #RedWings Pete Babando scores the first-ever Game 7 OT Cup-winning goal to seal Detroit's 4th championship.#TBT by: @DMC_Heals pic.twitter.com/8CIH8vFaLI
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 13, 2017
The goal came off an offensive-zone faceoff. George Gee won the draw back to Babando, who shot and scored through a screen. Detroit captain Ted Lindsay was so jubilant that he lifted the Stanley Cup over his head in celebration and skated along the boards with it, starting a tradition that continues to this day.
Babando, who was born in the Braeburn section of Lower Burrell, was an unlikely hero. A journeyman who played for four teams in a six-year NHL career, he had six goals in 56 games with the Red Wings that season.
Now 93, Babando is one of the oldest living Stanley Cup champions.
Jonathan Bombulie is the TribLive assistant sports editor. A Greensburg native, he was a hockey reporter for two decades, covering the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 17 seasons before joining the Trib in 2015 and covering the Penguins for four seasons, including Stanley Cup championships in 2016-17. He can be reached at jbombulie@triblive.com.
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