1949-50
OFFSEASON
On May 5th the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired 19 year old goaltender Terry Sawchuk from Detroit. Sawchuk played 5 games for the Wings in 1948-49, posting a 2.56 GAA. The Wings felt comfortable dealing the highly touted youngster because they had 29 year old Chuck Rayner with 22 year old Emile Francis waiting in the wings along with 17 year old rookie Glenn Hall. In return Detroit added two proven NHLers in 25 year old winger Bud Poile (10-24-34) and 22 year okld defenseman Jim Thomson (5-10-15).
The Montreal crease gets even more crowded as 20 year old Jacques Plante highlights the new crop of rookies. it also includes goaltender Glenn Hall, defenseman Al Arbour and center Bronco Horvath with Detroit along with Harry Howell and Andy Bathgate joining the Rangers organization.
This might finally be the season Gordie Howe emerges as a star with the Detroit Red Wings. Now 21 years old Howe played in 41 games last season, recording 10 goals and 4 asssits. The previous year he made his NHL debut and appeared in 17 games with the Wings, earning 5 points.
REGULAR SEASON
The NHL expanded its schedule from 60 to 70 games.
A number of milestones were hit this year led by both Toe Blake and Maurice Richard surpassing the 300 career goal plateau. Blake ended the season 4th all-time with 318 while Richard is 5th with 313 goals. Richard took just 401 games to reach the 300 mark while each of those above him have played substantially more
Code:
CAREER GOAL SCORING LEADERS
GP GOALS
Charlie Conacher 662 341
Milt Schmidt 678 324*
Syl Apps 681 322*
Toe Blake 703 318*
Maurice Richard 415 313*
Howie Morenz 559 305
Woody Dumart 754 272*
Aurel Joliat 608 271
*active player
Meanwhile Montreal's Elmer Lach became just the third player to record 500 career assists. Syl Apps is the leader with 554, Lach has 502 and the retired Dit Clapper ended up with 501. Lach also notched his 700th career point, becoming just the 5th player in history to surpass that mark.
Turk Broda became the NHL's all-time leader in games played by a goaltender. The 35 year old Montreal Canadiens legend has now played in 801 career regular season games, compiling a 429-263-100 record.
The Canadiens, led by another big season from the line of Blake, Richard and Lach, again finished in first place marking 7 straight years Montreal had the best regular season record. The big race was for the final playoff spot which went to the New York Rangers after the Boston Bruins ended the season on a 5 game losing skid.
Code:
GP W L T PTS
Montreal Canadiens 70 42 21 7 91
Detroit Red Wings 70 39 23 8 86
Toronto Maple Leafs 70 36 31 3 75
New York Rangers 70 26 37 7 59
Boston Bruins 70 24 35 11 59
Chicago Black Hawks 70 22 42 6 50
SCORING LEADERS TEAM GP G A PTS
Maurice Richard MON 70 42 45 87
Ted Lindsay DET 70 35 49 84
Elmer Lach MON 70 23 56 79
Ted Kennedy TOR 70 30 44 74
Toe Blake MON 70 29 39 68
Sid Abel DET 64 17 45 62
Jim Conacher DET 70 28 31 59
Roy Conacher BOS 70 22 37 59
Fleming Mackell TOR 69 29 28 57
Jack Stewart DET 70 17 40 57
PLAYOFFS
The third place Toronto Maple Leafs had little trouble with New York in the opening round of the playoffs as the defending Cup Champions prevailed in 5 games. The line of Flemming Mackell, Ted Kennedy and ex-Black Hawk Doug Bentley combined for 7 goals and 26 points in the 5 games.
The other semi-final was much tighter as the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings needed overtime in Game Seven to determine a winner. It was the Canadiens that came out on top, winning the deciding contest 4-3 on a goal from Pentti Lund - the former Detroit Red Wing.
The Stanley Cup Final was a rematch of last season and the first place Canadiens opened the series on a positive note with a 4-1 victory. Maurice Richard had a goal and an assist to pace the Habs while Elmer Lach and Doug Harvey each added two assists.
Despite three assists from Ted Kennedy the Toronto Maple Leafs fell behind 2 games to none as the Canadiens took the second contest by a 4-3 score. Montreal's 18 year old rookie Jean Beliveau scored his first career playoff goal in the Habs win.
Toronto held a 1-0 lead for most of game three thanks to an early goal from Kennedy, but the Canadiens tied the contest on a Pete Langelle goal with 2:09 remaining in regulation and won it in overtime thanks to Pat Lundy's goal. With a 3-0 series lead the Habs are just one win away from the Cup.
Montreal completes the sweep and claims the Cup with a 3-2 victory in Game Four. Maurice Richard got the winning goal midway through the third period. Richard led all Montreal players with 12 points, 2 shy of Toronto's Fleming Mackell, who led the playoffs in scoring as a rookie.
For the second time in his career Richard was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
Other Award winners:
HART TROPHY: Ted Lindsay Detroit (70GP 35-49-84)
VEZINA TROPHY: Turk Broda Montreal (42-21-7, 2.12)
NORRIS TROPHY: Jack Stewart Detroit (70 GP,17-40-57)
ART ROSS TROPHY: Maurice Richard Montreal (70 GP 42-45-87)
CALDER TROPHY: Fleming Mackell Toronto (69 GP 29-28-57)
The game does not select the all-star team but I will start naming first and second team all-stars
Code:
POS FIRST TEAM SECOND TEAM
G Turk Broda Montreal Chuck Rayner Detroit
D Jack Stewart Detroit Red Kelly Toronto
D Doug Harvey Montreal Bill Quackenbush Detroit
C Elmer Lach Montreal Sid Abel Detroit
LW Ted Lindsay Detroit Roy Conacher Boston
RW Maurice Richard Montreal Ted Kennedy Toronto