1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks season

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1961–62 Chicago
Division 3rd
1961–62 record 31–26–13
Home record 20–10–5
Road record 11–16–8
Goals for 217
Goals against 186
General Manager Tommy Ivan
Coach Rudy Pilous
Captain Pierre Pilote
Arena Chicago Stadium
Team leaders
Goals Bobby Hull (50)
Assists Stan Mikita and Bill Hay (52)
Points Bobby Hull (84)
Penalties in minutes Eric Nesterenko, Pierre Pilote and Stan Mikita (97)
Wins Glenn Hall (31)
Goals against average Glenn Hall (2.63)

The 1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks thirty-sixth season in the NHL, and the club was coming off of a third place finish in 1960–61, as they finished with a 29-24-17 record, earning 75 points, which was a franchise record, and the first time since 1946 that the Hawks had an over .500 record. Chicago upset the heavily favored Montreal Canadiens in the NHL semi-finals, then defeated the Detroit Red Wings in the 1961 Stanley Cup Finals to win their third Stanley Cup in team history, and the first one since 1938.[1]

During the off-season, the Black Hawks traded away team captain Ed Litzenberger to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Gerry Melnyk and Brian Smith. Chicago also had some problems signing some of their players, as Stan Mikita, Reg Fleming, and Dollard St. Laurent all refused to sign their contracts, however, they all eventually came to terms. With Litzenberger traded away, the team named defenseman Pierre Pilote as the new captain.

The defending champions started off the season slow, earning only one win in their first eleven games, as they had a record of 1-5-5, however, the team rebounded, and put together a 16-12-8 record in the next 36 games to get to the .500 level. The Black Hawks then got hot, as they then won six games in a row, followed shortly by a four game winning streak, as the team managed to finish the season with a 31-26-13 record, tying a club record with 75 points, and setting a team record for wins in a season at 31, which was two more than the previous high of 29 set the previous season. [2]

Offensively, Chicago was led by Bobby Hull, who set a team record with 50 goals and 84 points. He became the third player in NHL history, Maurice Richard and Bernie Geoffrion were the others, to score 50 goals in a season. [3] Hull's 84 points tied him with Andy Bathgate of the New York Rangers for the league lead, however, since Hull scored more goals, he was awarded the Art Ross Memorial Trophy. Stan Mikita emerged as an offensive force, breaking out with a team high 52 assists and 77 points, while Bill Hay also recorded 52 assists en route to a 63 point season. Pierre Pilote led the Hawks blueline, scoring 7 goals and 42 points, while tying Mikita and Eric Nesterenko for the most penalty minutes on the team, with 97.

In goal, Glenn Hall once again played in all 70 games, setting a team record for wins with 31, and posting a 2.63 GAA, along with 9 shutouts. [4]

Chicago would face the Montreal Canadiens in the best of seven NHL semi-final for the fourth consecutive season. The Canadiens were once again heavily favored to defeat the Hawks, as they had an NHL best 98 points, which was 23 more than Chicago. Montreal opened the series off by winning the opening two games at the Montreal Forum by scores of 2-1 and 4-3 to take an early 2-0 series lead, however, as the series shifted over to Chicago Stadium, the Black Hawks took advantage, winning the next two games by scores of 4-1 and 5-3 to even up the series. The fifth game was back in Montreal, however, Chicago stayed hot, and narrowly defeated the Canadiens 4-3 to return home with a 3-2 series lead. The Hawks again took advantage of their home ice, shutting out the Canadiens 2-0, and eliminating Montreal for the second straight season, and earning a spot in the finals.

Chicago would face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1962 Stanley Cup Finals. The Leafs had a strong regular season, earning 85 points, and had defeated the fourth place New York Rangers to clinch a spot in the finals. The series opened at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, and much like their previous series against the Canadiens, the Black Hawks quickly found themselves down 2-0, as Toronto won the first two games by scores of 4-1 and 3-2. The next two games were held in Chicago, and the Black Hawks continued their home ice winning streak, taking the two games by scores of 3-0 and 4-1 to pull even. The clubs were back in Toronto for the fifth game, and it was the Maple Leafs easily beating Chicago 8-4 to take a 3-2 series lead. Toronto ended Chicago's five game home winning streak in the sixth game, holding off Chicago for a 2-1 win, and ending the Hawks chance of a second straight championship. [5]

Contents

[edit] Season standings

NHL Standings GP W L T GF GA PTS
Montreal Canadiens 70 42 14 14 259 166 98
Toronto Maple Leafs 70 37 22 11 232 180 85
Chicago Black Hawks 70 31 26 13 217 186 75
New York Rangers 70 26 32 12 195 207 64
Detroit Red Wings 70 23 33 14 184 219 60
Boston Bruins 70 15 47 8 177 306 38

[edit] Game log

[edit] Regular Season

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 14 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–0–1 1
2 October 15 Detroit Red Wings 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 0–0–2 2
3 October 17 Boston Bruins 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0-2 4
4 October 19 New York Rangers 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1–2 4
5 October 21 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–1–3 5
6 October 22 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2–3 5
7 October 25 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 New York Rangers 1–2–4 6
8 October 26 Chicago Black Hawks 1–7 Montreal Canadiens 1–3–4 6
9 October 29 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Boston Bruins 1–3–5 7
10 October 31 New York Rangers 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4–5 7
11 November 4 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–5–5 7
12 November 5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 Boston Bruins 2–5–5 9
13 November 7 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–6 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5–5 11
14 November 11 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Montreal Canadiens 3–6–5 11
15 November 12 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 New York Rangers 3–7–5 11
16 November 15 Detroit Red Wings 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 4–7–5 13
17 November 19 Montreal Canadiens 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 4–7–6 14
18 November 23 Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 Chicago Black Hawks 4–8–6 14
19 November 26 Detroit Red Wings 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 5–8–6 16
20 November 29 Boston Bruins 4–7 Chicago Black Hawks 6–8–6 18
21 December 2 Chicago Black Hawks 4–6 Toronto Maple Leafs 6–9–6 18
22 December 3 Montreal Canadiens 1–0 Chicago Black Hawks 6–10–6 18
23 December 6 Chicago Black Hawks 8–3 New York Rangers 7–10–6 20
24 December 7 Chicago Black Hawks 5–2 Boston Bruins 8–10–6 22
25 December 9 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 Detroit Red Wings 8–11–6 22
26 December 10 Detroit Red Wings 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 8–12–6 22
27 December 13 Boston Bruins 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 8–12–7 23
28 December 17 New York Rangers 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 9–12–7 25
29 December 21 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 Montreal Canadiens 10–12–7 27
30 December 23 Chicago Black Hawks 3–7 New York Rangers 10–13–7 27
31 December 25 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 10–13–8 28
32 December 27 Chicago Black Hawks 0–0 Toronto Maple Leafs 10–13–9 29
33 December 28 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Detroit Red Wings 10–13–10 30
34 December 30 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 Montreal Canadiens 10–13–11 31
35 January 1 Montreal Canadiens 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 11–13–11 33
36 January 3 New York Rangers 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 12–13–11 35
37 January 4 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Detroit Red Wings 12–13–12 36
38 January 6 Chicago Black Hawks 3–6 Toronto Maple Leafs 12–14–12 36
39 January 7 Boston Bruins 2–0 Chicago Black Hawks 12–15–12 36
40 January 11 Chicago Black Hawks 6–0 Boston Bruins 13–15–12 38
41 January 13 New York Rangers 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 14–15–12 40
42 January 14 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 14-15–13 41
43 January 17 Montreal Canadiens 7–3 Chicago Black Hawks 14–16–13 41
44 January 21 New York Rangers 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 15–16–13 43
45 January 24 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 16–16–13 45
46 January 27 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Boston Bruins 16–17–13 45
47 January 28 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 New York Rangers 17–17–13 47
48 January 31 Detroit Red Wings 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 18–17–13 49
49 February 1 Chicago Black Hawks 7–4 Detroit Red Wings 19–17–13 51
50 February 3 Boston Bruins 3–6 Chicago Black Hawks 20–17–13 53
51 February 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 21–17–13 55
52 February 8 Chicago Black Hawks 6–2 Boston Bruins 22–17–13 57
53 February 10 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 New York Rangers 22–18–13 57
54 February 11 Montreal Canadiens 4–3 Chicago Black Hawks 22–19–13 57
55 February 14 New York Rangers 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 23–19–13 59
56 February 17 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Montreal Canadiens 23–20–13 59
57 February 18 Boston Bruins 0–6 Chicago Black Hawks 24–20–13 61
58 February 21 Detroit Red Wings 4–6 Chicago Black Hawks 25–20–13 63
59 February 24 Chicago Black Hawks 6–1 Detroit Red Wings 26–20–13 65
60 February 25 Boston Bruins 0–8 Chicago Black Hawks 27–20–13 67
61 February 28 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Toronto Maple Leafs 27–21–13 67
62 March 1 Chicago Black Hawks 5–4 Boston Bruins 28–21–13 69
63 March 4 Montreal Canadiens 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 29–21–13 71
64 March 11 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 29–22–13 71
65 March 15 Chicago Black Hawks 5–6 Montreal Canadiens 29–23–13 71
66 March 17 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs 30–23–13 73
67 March 18 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Detroit Red Wings 30–24–13 73
68 March 20 Detroit Red Wings 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 31–24–13 75
69 March 24 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Montreal Canadiens 31–25–13 75
70 March 25 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 New York Rangers 31–26–13 75

[edit] Chicago Black Hawks 4, Montreal Canadiens 2

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 March 27 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Montreal Canadiens 0–1
2 March 29 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Montreal Canadiens 0-2
3 April 1 Montreal Canadiens 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 1-2
4 April 3 Montreal Canadiens 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2
5 April 5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 Montreal Canadiens 3-2
6 April 8 Montreal Canadiens 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 4-2

[edit] Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Chicago Black Hawks 2

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 10 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Toronto Maple Leafs 0-1
2 April 12 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 0-2
3 April 15 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 1-2
4 April 17 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2
5 April 19 Chicago Black Hawks 4–8 Toronto Maple Leafs 2-3
6 April 22 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks 2-4

[edit] Season stats

[edit] Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Bobby Hull 70 50 34 84 35
Stan Mikita 70 25 52 77 97
Bill Hay 60 11 52 63 34
Bronco Horvath 68 17 29 46 21
Pierre Pilote 59 7 35 42 97

[edit] Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Glenn Hall 70 4200 31 26 13 184 9 2.63

[edit] Playoff stats

[edit] Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Stan Mikita 12 6 15 21 19
Bobby Hull 12 8 6 14 12
Ab McDonald 12 6 6 12 0
Bill Hay 12 3 7 10 18
Kenny Wharram 12 3 4 7 8

[edit] Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Glenn Hall 12 720 6 6 31 2 2.58

[edit] References

  1. ^ 1960-61 NHL Season Summary
  2. ^ 1961-62 Chicago Black Hawks
  3. ^ Bobby Hull
  4. ^ Glenn Hall
  5. ^ 1961-62 Chicago Black Hawks

[edit] Sources

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Bold indicates Stanley Cup Championship