View Single Post
Old 12-29-2016, 02:02 AM   #27
Tiger Fan
Hall Of Famer
 
Tiger Fan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 9,518
1952-53

1952-53

OFF-SEASON
As expected the concussion suffered during the season by Woody Dumart meant the end of the line for the Boston veteran winger. The 35 year old announced his retirement after 861 career games and 679 points.

Among the new players entering the league are Johnny Bucyk and Norm Ullman as 17 year olds with Detroit. Toronto gets 16 year old Billy Harris while 19 year old defenseman Jean-Guy Talbot joins the Montreal system.

REGULAR SEASON
For the 10th year in a row the Montreal Canadiens finished with the best regular season record in the NHL. Jacques Plante, now in his second full year as the Habs number one goaltender after replacing the great Turk Broda, set a single season record with 53 victories this season. The line of Elmer Lach, Toe Blake and Maurice Richard is still productive but clearly the Canadiens second line as young stars Jean Beliveau, Bernie Geoffrion and Dickie Moore take over more and more of the offensive responsibility. Beliveau would lead the league in scoring with 90 points while Geoffrion would tie Rocket Richard's record of 49 goals in a season.

Geoffrion had a 5 goal game on December 9th in the Habs 15-0 blasting of the Chicago Black Hawks. Geoffrion also recorded an assist in the win while teammate Eddie Kullman had 3 goals and 2 assists in the contest.

Despite the fact Toronto's defense spent much of the year without Red Kelly and Bill Barilko the Leafs once again finished second. Ted Kennedy, in his prime at the age of 28, continues to be the offensive spark for Toronto while 23 year old Terry Sawchuk is rivalling Plante for top goaltender consideration.

Detroit finished third but the Production Line has never been a story in Motown. Sid Abel is now 35 years old and spent the entire year on the injured list and after 647 games and 805 points his career may be over. Ted Lindsay is going strong at age 27 and record 77 points this season including 36 goals. 24 year old Gordie Howe is on the verge of being considered a bust. Howe did play the full 70 games for just the second time in his career but managed just 7 goals and 24 points.

8-time Norris Trophy winning defenseman Jack Stewart set a milestone by playing in his 750th career game and he reached the 600 career point plateau during the season. The 35 year old has spent his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings.

Despite a rash of injuries all season the Boston Bruins claimed the final playoff berth. Goaltender Harry Lumley, now 26 years old and in his 5th year as the Bruins starter, had another outstanding season.

Code:
   
		    	GP  W  L  T  PTS   
Montreal Canadiens	70 53  8  9  115
Toronto	Maple Leafs	70 39 18 13   91
Detroit Red Wings 	70 33 25 12   78
Boston Bruins		70 23 41  6   52
Chicago Black Hawks	70 18 45  7   43
New York Rangers	70 16 45  9   41

SCORING LEADERS		TEAM GP  G  A  PTS
Jean Beliveau		MON  70 38 52   90
Bernie Geoffrion        MON  70 49 39   88
Ted Kennedy		TOR  70 40 39   79
Ted Lindsay		DET  70 38 41   77
Maurice Richard		MON  69 34 39   73
Dickie Moore		MON  70 21 51   72
Elmer Lach		MON  70 21 50   71
Tod Sloan		TOR  66 27 39   66
Sid Smith		TOR  70 31 33   64
Marty Pavelich		DET  63 28 32   60

PLAYOFFS
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens squared off in another tough semi-final series. Injuries would take their toll on the Habs and likely cost them the series as Toronto prevailed in 6 tight games. Montreal lost defenseman Tom Johnson for the series in Game One, veteran Elmer Lach in Game Two and Dickie Moore in Game Four.

Detroit beat Boston in 5 games in the other semi-final led by a 9 point series from Ted Lindsay. While the Leafs were completely healthy heading into the finals the Wings limped in without defenseman Bill Quackenbush and forwards Bud Poile and Fred Glover in addition to Sid Abel, who missed the entire year. The Wings had lost in the finals each of the past two seasons and had been on the losing end 6 out of 7 appearances in the final, with their only Cup win coming in 1947-48.

Led by a 27 save performance from Terry Sawchuk and a goal and an assist from Joe Klukay, the Leafs took the series opener on home ice by a 3-1 score. Game Two would also end 3-1 but in Detroit's favour thanks to a 2 point night from Ted Lindsay and a 36 save effort from Chuck Rayner.

First period goals from Bill Barilko and George Armstrong stood up as Toronto took the third game 2-1. Game Four was also 2-1 but once again Detroit evened the series with the victory. Lindsay set up defenseman Hy Buller with the game winning goal midway through the third period.

The Leafs moved to within 1 victory of the Cup with a 2-1 victory in Game Five. Tod Sloan and Max McNab scored in the first 5 minutes of the game and Sawchuk did the rest, making 26 saves for the win. Lindsay got the only Detroit tally late in the opening period.

A third straight 2-1 game as Toronto clinched the Stanley Cup with an overtime goal from Ted Kennedy. Ted Lindsay had given the Wings a 1-0 lead early in the second period but Red Kelly's point shot with 2:21 remaining in the second stanza tied the contest. Toronto defenseman Bill Barilko assisted on both goals giving him 11 points in 12 playoff games, trailing only Lindsay who led with 15 points including a playoff high 7 goals. Barilko was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. The win marked the 13th Cup for the Leafs since the sim began.

Code:
CUP WINS DURING SIM
TORONTO		13
MONTREAL	 5
BOSTON		 3
DETROIT		 1
Other Award winners:

HART TROPHY: Jean Beliveau Montreal (70GP 38-52-90)

VEZINA TROPHY: Jacques Plante Montreal (53-8-9, 1.52)

NORRIS TROPHY: Doug Harvey Montreal (65GP 13-44-57)

ART ROSS TROPHY: Jean Beliveau Montreal (70GP 38-52-90)

CALDER TROPHY: Danny Lewicki Toronto (70 GP 11-16-27)


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   Jacques Plante   Montreal   Terry Sawchuk	 Toronto
D   Gus Mortson	     Toronto	Tom Johnson	 Montreal
D   Doug Harvey      Montreal	Hy Buller	 Detroit	
C   Jean Beliveau    Montreal   Elmer Lach	 Montreal	  
LW  Ted Lindsay	     Detroit    Dickie Moore     Montreal     	 
RW  Bernie Geoffrion Montreal   Ted Kennedy	 Toronto
Tiger Fan is offline   Reply With Quote