Gordie Howe, seen here admiring the 1950 Stanley Cup in Olympia Stadium on April 23, 1950.

The Red Wings had just defeated the New York Rangers in game 7 in double OT on a goal by Pete Babando.

Howe had been injured March 28, 1950 at Olympia Stadium, when he missed his body check on Toronto Maple Leafs Teeder Kennedy in the 2nd period of game 1, then crashed heavily into the top of the boards right in front of the Detroit bench.

Howe was bleeding and unconscious, as everyone in The Olympia fell silent. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher and brought to Harper Hospital.

Howe had broken his nose, shattered his cheekbone, seriously scratched his right eye, and - worst of all, possibly fractured his skull. His brain was hemorrhaging. Shortly after midnight, a neurosurgeon started a very delicate, life-saving operation. He drilled an opening in Howe’s skull, then drained fluid to relieve pressure on the brain.

The Red Wings would defeat the Maple Leafs (who had won 3 straight Stanley Cups) in 7 games, with Leo Reise scoring in overtime. He also scored the game 4 winner in OT.

Howe would recover and play a full 70 game regular NHL season in 1950-51, winning his 1st of 4 straight Art Ross Trophies.