1929-30
Boston and the New York Americans finished 1-2 in the standings but for a change the two clubs did not meet in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Bruins did their part, knocking out Toronto in 5 games in what was the Leafs first trip to the playoffs since 1923-24. The New York Americans failed to advance as they fell in 6 games to the Montreal Canadiens. It was just the third time in franchise history the Habs made the playoffs and this was their first-ever trip to the finals.
Montreal put up a brave effort but the Canadiens were no match for Boston as the Bruins took the series in 6 games. Boston is clearly a dynasty as the Bruins have won 7 Stanley Cups including the last 3. The rest of the league has combined for 6 Cups with 3 going to the Americans, 2 to the Maroons and 1 to Chicago.
Code:
1929-30 STANDINGS W L T PTS
Boston 43 23 12 98
NY Americans 43 24 11 97
Mon Canadiens 34 36 8 76
Toronto 31 34 13 75
Mon Maroons 32 36 10 74
Chicago 34 40 4 72
Detroit 27 34 17 71
NY Rangers 25 42 11 61
SCORING LEADERS TM G A PTS
Keegan Small BOS 33 48 81
Kenny Molnar TOR 45 34 79
Les Gerling CHI 29 45 74
Jeff Brace BOS 25 49 74
Joey Priestlay BOS 28 45 73
Mike Wilson TOR 29 42 71
David Muller DET 23 48 71
Joseph Vojtech NYR 30 40 70
Carl Eriksson MON 29 41 70
Tom Nemec DET 12 58 70
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
There is a dynasty being built in the AHL as well and it belongs to the Leafs farm team as the Cleveland Barons won their 4th straight Calder Cup. It was a tight race amongst the 4 playoff teams as the Barons and Pittsburgh Hornets finished tied with 90 points while Quebec and Rochester each had 88 points. Fifth place Hershey was well off the pace.
CANADIAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
The Montreal Jr Canadiens joined Sault Ste. Marie as the only 3 time winners of the Memorial Cup after the Jr Habs knocked off Medicine Hat in the finals. Despite a second scoring title in 3 seasons from Chris Maxwell, the Cornwall Royals bowed out in the opening round of the playoffs. Maxwell, taken 3rd overall by the Leafs last year, had a career best 43 goals to go along with 54 assists for 97 points.
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1930-31
The Boston Bruins and New York Americans kept their playoff streaks alive as the Bruins qualified for the 13th straight season and the Americans for the 11th in a row. The Americans needed to win 4 of their final 5 games to keep the streak going and perhaps that pressure had them better prepared for the playoffs as they knocked off first place Chicago in 7 grueling games. Boston swept the Montreal Maroons to set up yet another Boston-Americans final.
The Americans were out of gas in the finals and the Bruins cruised to their 8th Stanley Cup title with a 4 game sweep.
Code:
1930-31 STANDINGS W L T PTS
Chicago 42 24 12 96
Boston 37 28 13 87
Mon Maroons 36 34 8 80
NY Americans 31 30 17 79
Toronto 30 31 17 77
Mon Canadiens 32 34 12 76
Detroit 29 36 13 71
NY Rangers 21 41 16 58
SCORING LEADERS TM G A PTS
Les Gerling CHI 40 46 86
Keegan Small BOS 19 53 72
Brent Bausch BOS 32 37 69
Steven Hall MM 36 31 67
Christian Valente BOS 36 30 66
David Muller DET 28 38 66
Jonathan Goyette MON 28 35 63
Francois Charette CHI 18 45 63
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
The Hershey Bears ended Cleveland's 3 year old on the Calder Cup by claiming the championship. Hershey finished third in the regular season but upset second place Pittsburgh in the semi-finals before beating 4th place Buffalo, who had knocked off regular season champion Quebec, in the finals.
CANADIAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
While it remains to be seem what he might accomplish at the NHL level there is little doubt that Chris Maxwell will go down in history as one of the best junior players of all-time. Returned by the Toronto Maple Leafs to Cornwall for a fourth season in the CJHL, all Maxwell did was win his third league scoring title and become the all-time leader in goals, assists and points as well as set a new single season record with 59 goals. Oh, and he added 50 more points in 24 playoff games to lead the Royals to their second Memorial Cup and third finals appearance while he was with the team.
Cornwall beat Medicine Hat, a team that has made three trips to the Memorial Cup finals but has yet to win one.