1960–61 Chicago Black Hawks season

1960–61 Chicago Black Hawks
Stanley Cup Champions
Division 3rd NHL
1960–61 record 29–24–17
Home record 20–6–9
Road record 9–18–8
Goals for 198
Goals against 180
Team information
General Manager Tommy Ivan
Coach Rudy Pilous
Captain Ed Litzenberger
Alternate captains Bill Hay
Ron Murphy
Pierre Pilote
Arena Chicago Stadium
Team leaders
Goals Bobby Hull (31)
Assists Bill Hay (48)
Points Bill Hay (59)
Penalties in minutes Pierre Pilote (165)
Wins Glenn Hall (29)
Goals against average Glenn Hall (2.51)
<1959–60 1961–62>

The 1960–61 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 35th season in the National Hockey League (NHL), ending with the Hawks winning their third Stanley Cup. Chicago faced the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL semi-finals, and defeated the Canadiens in six games. They subsequently faced the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals, winning 4 games to 2.[1]

Regular season

The Black Hawks started the year off very strong, earning a 6–1–2 record in their first nine games; however, the club went into a slump in which their record was 5–13–6 in their next 24 games, causing them to fall under the .500 mark and into a battle with the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers for a playoff spot. Chicago would snap out of their slump, and go on a seven-game winning streak to sit with an 18–14–8 record, 40 games into the season. The Hawks continued to play good hockey for the remainder of the season, going 11–10–9 in their last 30 games to finish the season with a club-record 29 victories and 75 points. The Hawks finished in third place for the third consecutive season, and for the first time since 1945–46 the club finished the season with a record over .500.[2]

Offensively, Chicago was led by Bill Hay, who led the team with 48 assists and 59 points, while Bobby Hull scored a team-high 31 goals. Stan Mikita had a break out season, scoring 19 goals and 53 points, as did Murray Balfour, who had 21 goals and 48 points. On defense, Pierre Pilote led the way, scoring 6 goals and 35 points while posting a team-high 165 penalty minutes.

In goal, Glenn Hall played in all 70 games, winning a team-record 29 games, while posting a 2.51 GAA and 6 shutouts.[3]

Season standings

National Hockey League[4]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Montreal Canadiens 70 41 19 10 254 188 +66 92
2 Toronto Maple Leafs 70 39 19 12 234 176 +58 90
3 Chicago Black Hawks 70 29 24 17 198 180 +18 75
4 Detroit Red Wings 70 25 29 16 195 215 −20 66
5 New York Rangers 70 22 38 10 204 248 −44 54
6 Boston Bruins 70 15 42 13 176 254 −78 43

Schedule and results

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 5 Detroit Red Wings 1–1 Chicago Black Hawks 0–0–1 1
2 October 6 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Detroit Red Wings 1–0–1 3
3 October 9 New York Rangers 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0–1 5
4 October 12 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0–1 7
5 October 16 Boston Bruins 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–0–1 9
6 October 19 Chicago Black Hawks 0–2 New York Rangers 4–1–1 9
7 October 22 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Montreal Canadiens 5–1–1 11
8 October 23 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Boston Bruins 5–1–2 12
9 October 25 Montreal Canadiens 4–8 Chicago Black Hawks 6–1–2 14
10 October 29 Chicago Black Hawks 4–8 Toronto Maple Leafs 6–2–2 14
11 October 30 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Detroit Red Wings 6–3–2 14
12 November 2 New York Rangers 4–4 Chicago Black Hawks 6–3–3 15
13 November 5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 Montreal Canadiens 6–3–4 16
14 November 6 Chicago Black Hawks 0–4 Boston Bruins 6–4–4 16
15 November 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 7–4–4 18
16 November 12 Chicago Black Hawks 1–7 Toronto Maple Leafs 7–5–4 18
17 November 13 Detroit Red Wings 1–7 Chicago Black Hawks 8–5–4 20
18 November 15 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Detroit Red Wings 8–6–4 20
19 November 17 Boston Bruins 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 9–6–4 22
20 November 20 Montreal Canadiens 1–1 Chicago Black Hawks 9–6–5 23
21 November 24 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 10–6–5 25
22 November 26 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Montreal Canadiens 10–7–5 25
23 November 27 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 New York Rangers 10–7–6 26
24 November 30 Boston Bruins 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 10–7–7 27
25 December 4 Montreal Canadiens 7–5 Chicago Black Hawks 10–8–7 27
26 December 8 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Boston Bruins 10–9–7 27
27 December 10 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 Toronto Maple Leafs 10–10–7 27
28 December 11 Toronto Maple Leafs 6–1 Chicago Black Hawks 10–11–7 27
29 December 14 New York Rangers 0–4 Chicago Black Hawks 11–11–7 29
30 December 18 Detroit Red Wings 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 11–12–7 29
31 December 21 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 New York Rangers 11–12–8 30
32 December 22 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Boston Bruins 11–13–8 30
33 December 24 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Montreal Canadiens 11–14–8 30
34 December 25 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 Detroit Red Wings 12–14–8 32
35 December 28 Boston Bruins 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 13–14–8 34
36 December 31 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 Detroit Red Wings 14–14–8 36
37 January 1 Detroit Red Wings 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 15–14–8 38
38 January 4 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 Detroit Red Wings 16–14–8 40
39 January 5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 Boston Bruins 17–14–8 42
40 January 8 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–5 Chicago Black Hawks 18–14–8 44
41 January 11 Detroit Red Wings 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 18–14–9 45
42 January 14 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Toronto Maple Leafs 18–15–9 45
43 January 15 New York Rangers 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks 18–16–9 45
44 January 18 Montreal Canadiens 4–0 Chicago Black Hawks 18–17–9 45
45 January 21 New York Rangers 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 19–17–9 47
46 January 22 Boston Bruins 3–8 Chicago Black Hawks 20–17–9 49
47 January 26 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Detroit Red Wings 20–17–10 50
48 January 28 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 20–18–10 50
49 January 29 Montreal Canadiens 1–1 Chicago Black Hawks 20–18–11 51
50 February 1 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 New York Rangers 20–19–11 51
51 February 2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Boston Bruins 20–19–12 52
52 February 4 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Montreal Canadiens 21–19–12 54
53 February 5 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–1 Chicago Black Hawks 21–19–13 55
54 February 8 Detroit Red Wings 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 22–19–13 57
55 February 12 Montreal Canadiens 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 23–19–13 59
56 February 15 New York Rangers 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 24–19–13 61
57 February 18 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 Toronto Maple Leafs 24–20–13 61
58 February 19 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Boston Bruins 24–20–14 62
59 February 22 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 New York Rangers 24–21–14 62
60 February 25 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Montreal Canadiens 24–21–15 63
61 February 26 Boston Bruins 2–7 Chicago Black Hawks 25–21–15 65
62 February 28 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Detroit Red Wings 25–22–15 65
63 March 2 New York Rangers 1–7 Chicago Black Hawks 26–22–15 67
64 March 5 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 27–22–15 69
65 March 8 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 New York Rangers 28–22–15 71
66 March 11 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 28–22–16 72
67 March 12 Montreal Canadiens 6–2 Chicago Black Hawks 28–23–16 72
68 March 15 Detroit Red Wings 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 28–23–17 73
69 March 18 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Montreal Canadiens 29–23–17 75
70 March 19 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Boston Bruins 29–24–17 75

Playoffs

Chicago faced the Montreal Canadiens in the best-of-seven NHL semi-final for the third consecutive season. The Canadiens once again finished on top of the NHL, earning 92 points, and had won five straight Stanley Cup championships. The heavily favored Canadiens took the series opener at the Montreal Forum, easily defeating Chicago 6–2; however, the Black Hawks fought back in the second game, evening the series out with a 4–3 win. The series moved to Chicago Stadium for the next two games, and the Black Hawks used their home ice advantage to take a 2–1 series lead with a thrilling 2–1 overtime victory in the third game; however, the powerful Canadiens stormed back in the fourth game, defeating Chicago 5–2 to even the series up once again. The Black Hawks stunned the Montreal fans in the fifth game, shutting out the Canadiens 3–0 on the road to return to Chicago for the sixth game up 3–2 in the series. Chicago completed the upset, once again shutting out the Canadiens 3–0 in the sixth game to win the series 4–2, and earned a trip to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1944.[5]

The Black Hawks faced the Detroit Red Wings in the 1961 Stanley Cup Finals. The Red Wings finished the season behind Chicago in the regular season, earning 66 points; however, they upset the heavily favored Toronto Maple Leafs to earn a spot in the finals. The Hawks took the series opener on home ice, as Bobby Hull scored two goals in Chicago's 3–2 win. The series moved to the Detroit Olympia for the second game, and the Red Wings responded with a 3–1 win to even the series up. The third game was back in Chicago, and it was the Hawks who took a 2–1 series lead by defeating the Red Wings 3–1; however, in the fourth game back in Detroit, the Red Wings evened the series up again, defeating the Hawks 2–1. Chicago easily won the fifth game in Chicago, winning 6–3 to take the series lead once again. In the sixth game in Detroit, the Black Hawks won the series as they handily defeated the Wings 5–1 to win their third Stanley Cup in team history, and the first since 1938. Pierre Pilote led all players in playoff scoring, earning 15 points, while Bobby Hull was just behind him with 14 points.[6]

Chicago Black Hawks 4, Montreal Canadiens 2

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 March 21 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Montreal Canadiens 0–1
2 March 23 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 Montreal Canadiens 1–1
3 March 26 Montreal Canadiens 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1
4 March 28 Montreal Canadiens 5–2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2
5 April 1 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 Montreal Canadiens 3–2
6 April 4 Montreal Canadiens 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2

Chicago Black Hawks 4, Detroit Red Wings 2

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 6 Detroit Red Wings 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0
2 April 8 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Detroit Red Wings 1–1
3 April 10 Detroit Red Wings 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1
4 April 12 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Detroit Red Wings 2–2
5 April 14 Detroit Red Wings 3–6 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2
6 April 16 Chicago Black Hawks 5–1 Detroit Red Wings 4–2

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring leaders
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Bill Hay 69 11 48 59 45
Bobby Hull 67 31 25 56 43
Stan Mikita 66 19 34 53 100
Murray Balfour 70 21 27 48 123
Kenny Wharram 64 16 29 45 12
Goaltending
Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Glenn Hall 70 4200 29 24 17 176 6 2.51

Playoffs

Scoring leaders
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Pierre Pilote 12 3 12 15 8
Bobby Hull 12 4 10 14 4
Stan Mikita 12 6 5 11 21
Murray Balfour 11 5 5 10 14
Kenny Wharram 12 3 5 8 12
Goaltending
Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Glenn Hall 12 772 8 4 26 2 2.02

Roster

1960–61 Chicago Black Hawks roster

Forwards

8 – M. Balfour • 8 – Hicks • 9 – Sloan • 10 – Murphy • 11 – Hay • 12 – Litzenberger • 14 – McDonald • 15 – Nesternko • 16 – Hull • 17 – Wharram • 18 – Maki • 20 – E. Balfour • 21 – Mikita 

Defenseman

2 – Arbour • 3 – Pilote • 4 – Vasko • 5 – Evans • 6 – Fleming • 18 – Hillman • 19 – St. Laurent 

Goalies

1 – Hall 

General Manager: Tommy Ivan •  Coach: Rudy Pilous

See also

References

  1. ↑ "1960-61 NHL Season Summary - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  2. ↑ "1960-61 Chicago Black Hawks Games - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-reference.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  3. ↑ 1 Glenn Hall. "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Glenn Hall". Goaliesarchive.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  4. ↑ "1960–1961 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  5. ↑ "Chicago Blackhawks - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-reference.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  6. ↑ "1960-61 Chicago Black Hawks Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-26.

Sources

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