A PENALTY SHOT

 THE FIRST IN A STANLEY CUP FINAL

On April 15, 1937, the first National Hockey League penalty shot in a Stanley Cup final contest was awarded to New York Rangers' forward (pictured above) Alex Shibicky.

The penalty shot took place as a result of a scramble in front of Detroit goalie, Earl Robertson, in the second period. On the play, Neil Colville of the Rangers was tripped as he fired a shot on the Red Wings' net. The puck got past Robertson and the pile-up around his crease for New York's first tally of the game. 

Referee Bill Stewart gave the goal to Babe Pratt, with assists going to Shibicky and Colville. The goal evened the score at 1-1.

But, Mickey Ion, the other official on the ice, whistled down the play when he called a penalty on Detroit's Herbie Lewis for holding. Iron, felt the offence warranted a penalty shot.

Shibicky's attempt to beat Robertson on the penalty shot was stymied by the Red Wings' netminder when he, " ... easily blocked" the shot. 

Robertson's effort in game five of the best-of-five Cup final was praised by Detroit's coach and manager, Jack Adams. "Earl Robertson, he's a big league goalie now," said Adams. "He was marvellous. He pitched for the Wings and they pitched for him. That's the way we've been."

A newspaper account noted of Robertson that he was " ... caught in a rain of pucks as the Rangers stormed into the attacking zone with five-man rushes in the last two periods, leaped, dived, fell prone and swung his stick to clear all shots."

The Red Wings defeated the Rangers 3-0 in the deciding game.

A native of Bengough, Saskatchewan, Robertson never played a regular season game for the Red Wings. He was the first rookie NHL goalie to record two shutouts in the Stanley Cup final. He blanked New York 1-0 in game four. 

After his playoff run in 1937, Robertson joined the New York Americans for five seasons (in his final year, the New York Americans became the Brooklyn Americans).