1950-51
OFF-SEASON
A number of veteran goaltenders were cast adrift as Frank Brimsek, Bill Durnan and Frank McCool were all released by their teams. None of the three played much last season so it is expected that all have played their final NHL games.
McCool played 269 contests for the Leafs, going 137-95-34 and winning two Stanley Cups. He was a first team all-star selection in 1948-49. Durnan was stuck behind Turk Broda in Montreal and the 34 year old only played 19 career NHL games.
Brimsek played just 7 games last season for the Bruins as Harry Lumley took over the starting job. A veteran of 480 NHL games, Brimsek is a 3 time winner of the Vezina Trophy and helped Boston to 3 Stanley Cup titles.
Confirmed retirements include Herb Cain hanging up the skates after 774 NHL games with the Maroons and Boston. He had 9 goals and 24 points last season giving the 37 year old 256 goals and 522 points in his NHL career. He was rookie of the year in 1935-36 and a member of 3 Cup winning teams in Boston.
Wally Stanowski also retired after 3 injury filled seasons. The 30 year old played for the New York Americans, Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings in his 11 year career that spanned 528 games. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy while with Montreal in 1945-46 and was on 3 Cup Winning Canadiens teams.
A number of good young players joining the league highlighted by Bernie Geoffrion in Montreal, Alex Delvecchio in Detroit and Dean Prentice with the New York Rangers.
REGULAR SEASON
A number of major milestones were achieved this year. First, a pair of Montreal teammates became just the second and third players in history to record 800 career points. The now 38 year old Toe Blake had 44 points in 70 games this season to bring his total to 807 career points in 773 games. His teammate Elmer Lach had 86 points this year and the 33 year old now has 808 career points in 585 games. The only player with more is 36 year old Toronto Maple Leaf Syl Apps who is the NHL's all-time leader with 898 points in 774 career games.
In just his 9th NHL season Montreal's Maurice Richard surpassed Charlie Conacher to become the NHL's all-time goal scoring leader. The 29 year old Rocket scored 49 this season, equalling his single season record of 1946-47, and now has 362 in his 485 game career. Richard beat Boston's Harry Lumley in a game on January 12th for the 332nd of his career, one more than Conacher scored in his 662 game career. On the final day of the season Richard's teammate Toe Blake equalled Conacher with his 341st goal.
Finally, Boston Bruin Woody Dumart moved past the 800 career game mark and has now played 821 in his 16 year NHL career, good for second all-time behind former teammate Dit Clapper, who appeared in 896 NHL games between 1927-28 and 46-47.
The league itself was a two-horse race between Montreal and Toronto with the Canadiens winning yet another regular season title and setting a record with 105 points. Detroit had an easy time holding on to third place while the Bruins claimed the final playoff spot after holding off a charge from the New York Rangers.
Code:
GP W L T PTS
Montreal Canadiens 70 49 14 7 105
Toronto Maple Leafs 70 45 15 10 100
Detroit Red Wings 70 33 22 15 81
Boston Bruins 70 21 33 16 58
New York Rangers 70 22 40 8 52
Chicago Black Hawks 70 10 56 4 24
SCORING LEADERS TEAM GP G A PTS
Maurice Richard MON 70 49 51 100
Ted Kennedy TOR 70 44 46 90
Elmer Lach MON 70 23 63 86
Dickie Moore MON 70 31 49 80
Sid Abel DET 70 28 52 80
Ted Lindsay DET 70 33 45 78
Fleming Mackell TOR 69 22 56 78
George Gee TOR 70 24 46 70
Edgar Laprade NYR 70 28 37 65
Red Kelly TOR 70 17 48 65
PLAYOFFS
The Montreal Canadiens made the finals in 9 out of the last 10 seasons but this year the defending Cup champs went out meekly in the semi's, falling 4 straight to Ted Kennedy and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Defenseman Red Kelly led the Leafs offense with 6 points in the opening round while Terry Sawchuk was outstanding in the Toronto net.
In the other semi-final Detroit beat Boston in 6 games behind 5 goals from Ted Lindsay. Bobby Bauer replied with 5 for the Bruins in the series. Veteran goaltender Chuck Rayner had a very strong series for the Red Wings.
Game One of the finals was the Fleming Mackell show as the 21 year old center scored three times to pace Toronto to a 4-2 victory. The Wings would even the series two nights later as Sid Abel scored at 4:39 of overtime to earn Detroit a 4-3 win.
The Leafs would then win the next two games in Detroit to take a 3 games to one lead. In Game Three Ted Kennedy scored in overtime as Toronto won 4-3. Game Four was a blowout as Tod Sloan and Sid Smith each scored a pair in an 8-4 Leafs win.
The Wings stayed alive with a 5-3 win in Game Five thanks to a 2-goal, 1 assist performance from Sid Abel but the Leafs would win the Cup two days later as Sid Smith again scored two goals in a 4-2 Toronto victory.
It would be the 12th Cup win for Toronto since the sim started and for the second time in 3 years the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP went to Leafs rearguard Red Kelly. Kelly had 2 goals and 12 assists in the post-season, finishing fourth in playoff scoring behind Ted Lindsay (10-6-16), Fleming Mackell (8-8-16) and Sid Abel (6-8-14).
Other Award winners:
HART TROPHY: Ted Lindsay Detroit (70GP 33-45-78)
VEZINA TROPHY: Turk Broda Montreal (48-13-4, 1.99)
NORRIS TROPHY: Butch Bouchard Montreal (64 GP,9-38-47)
ART ROSS TROPHY: Maurice Richard Montreal (70 GP 49-51-100)
CALDER TROPHY: Dickie Moore Montreal (70 GP 31-49-80)
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 Terry Sawchuk Toronto
D Red Kelly Toronto Bob Goldham Chicago
D Butch Bouchard Montreal Gus Mortson Toronto
C Elmer Lach Montreal Sid Abel Detroit
LW Ted Lindsay Detroit Dickie Moore Montreal
RW Maurice Richard Montreal Ted Kennedy Toronto