1965-66
OFF-SEASON
The NHL changes it's minimum draft age to 17 which means this will be a year with very few new prospects entering the league but the biggest name on the list more than makes up for the lack of size of the class. Bobby Orr is a 17 year old and may see some action this season with the Boston Bruins. The only other player of note is big defenseman Pierre Bouchard with Montreal. Pierre's dad Butch played 845 games with Montreal and won 2 Norris Trophy's.
The biggest retirement is long-time Montreal defenseman Doug Harvey ending his career following an injury at the age of 40. Harvey was limited to 11 games this season but still earned 7 points to give him 757 points in a career that spanned 18 seasons and 1032 games. Harvey won 6 Norris Trophy's and a Hart Trophy as NHL MVP as well as 9 Stanley Cups.
No trades of note prior to the season but their were a couple of injuries in exhibition play including Montreal losing centre Jean Beliveau for the first 3 weeks of the season with a hamstring injury.
REGULAR SEASON
The Montreal Canadiens reign at the top of the regular season standings came to an end as the Habs finished in third place - the first time they had ended up that low since 1941-42. The reasons for the drop-off were numerous. Jean Beliveau did record his league leading 1,300th career point on the final day of the season but Beliveau was limited to 53 games and finished with 55 points. Jacques Plante still had a decent season but at 37 he is starting to show his age and was not the dominant goalie of season's past. Defense was also a concern as the Habs are going through a transition with Doug Harvey now retired and Tom Johnson a shell of his former self at age 38. 20 year olds Carol Vadnais and Serge Savard should have great futures but both were called on too often in a season when neither is ready for big minutes on an NHL blueline.
The other big reason for the Habs decline is simply that Chicago is getting so good offensively. Habs players used to dominant the scoring leaders but the top ten now is heavily populated with Black Hawks led by Bobby Hull who, at the age of 27, led the NHL in goals with 46 and points with 104. 25 year old centre Stan Mikita is in his prime and 24 year old Phil Esposito is improving every year. With youngsters like Fred Stanfield and Ken Hodge plus dependable veterans Floyd Smith and Eddie Shack up front it is easy to see why Chicago has the most dangerous offense in the league. The key remains Bobby Hull, who had a 19 game point streak this season and has scored 89 goals over the past two seasons.
The only concern about the Hawks becoming a dynasty is on the backend where their top two players Bill Gadsby and Pierre Pilote are starting to age. Doug Jarrett looks like he is almost ready to step in to a top two D role but beyond that the cupboard is relatively bare.
The second place Leafs continue to ride the outstanding goaltending of now 36 year old Terry Sawchuk. Toronto has a balanced offense led by Ron Stewart and Frank Mahovlich, who combined for 73 goals between them. The Leafs did lead the league with 11 players scoring at least 10 goals this year.
Code:
GP W L T PTS
Chicago Black Hawks 70 44 16 10 98
Toronto Maple Leafs 70 39 15 16 94
Montreal Canadiens 70 31 28 11 73
Detroit Red Wings 70 30 28 12 72
New York Rangers 70 19 41 10 48
Boston Bruins 70 13 48 9 35
SCORING LEADERS TEAM GP G A PTS
Bobby Hull CHI 70 46 58 104
Stan Mikita CHI 69 27 73 100
Alex Delvecchio DET 70 39 57 96
Gordie Howe DET 70 28 52 80
Ron Stewart TOR 69 34 45 79
Frank Mahovlich TOR 70 39 34 73
Paul Henderson DET 70 27 43 70
Gilles Tremblay MON 68 35 27 62
Phil Esposito CHI 70 27 35 62
Pierre Pilote CHI 70 18 42 60
PLAYOFFS
Chicago got revenge for their loss in the Finals last season by sweeping Toronto in 4 straight games led by Bobby Hull's 3 goal, 2 assist performance in a 6-1 victory in Game Two. In the other semi-final Jean Beliveau almost single-handedly willed the Canadiens to victory. Beliveau had 6 goals and 9 points as Montreal beat Detroit in 6 games. Detroit's Gordie Howe, on the other hand, was limited to a goal and 2 assists in the series.
The Chicago-Montreal final was a rematch of the 1962-63 Stanley Cup and the Hawks are still looking for their first ever parade. Game One started well for the hometown Black Hawks as Stan Mikita scored twice and added an assist in a 5-3 Chicago victory.
Game Two also ended 5-3 in Chicago's favour as the Hawks put 4 pucks past Montreal netminder Jacques Plante in the first 11 minutes and then hung on for the win. Mikita would score again with Hull adding 2 goals and defenseman Pierre Pilote notching 3 assists.
Defenseman J.C. Tremblay gives Montreal life with an overtime goal in a 2-1 victory. Tremblay also assisted on Kenny Wharram's second period goal that opened the scoring. Floyd Smith got the Chicago tally early in the third period. It was a loss in more ways than one for the Black Hawks who learned their promising young defenseman Doug Jarrett would be sidelined for 10 months after suffering an arm injury in the game.
Stan Mikita dominates Game Four with a goal and 3 assists as Chicago moves to within 1 win of the Stanley Cup after earning a 5-3 victory.
No celebration for the Chicago Stadium fans in Game Five as John Ferguson and Kenny Wharram are the unlikely heroes for Montreal. Each has a goal and an assist in a 6-5 Canadiens victory.
Huge drama in Game Six. Tied at 2, Henri Richard gets a powerplay goal with 1:44 remaining in regulation to put Montreal up 3-2. However, moments later Tom Johnson gets whistled for tripping and on the power play with the goaltender pulled for an extra attacker the Hawks tie the game on a Stan Mikita goal assisted by Bobby Hull with just 37 seconds remaining in regulation. The hero in overtime is Montreal's 22 year old rookie Yvan Cournoyer, playing in just his second playoff game after going scoreless in 7 regular season games. Cournoyer scores his first ever National Hockey League goal in dramatic fashion, just over 8 minutes into overtime to give Montreal a 4-3 victory and knot the series at 3 wins apiece.
Game Seven at the Chicago Stadium. Fred Stanfield stakes Chicago to an early lead but before the first period is over Donnie Marshall ties the contest with an assist to Cournoyer. Kenny Wharram puts the Habs up 2-1 midway through the second period but goals from Phil Esposito and Floyd Smith, just over a minute apart, late in the second give the Hawks a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.
The Canadiens get 3 powerplays in the third period including a 5 minute one after Pierre Pilote is assessed a major for high sticking with 5:02 remaining in regulation. Montreal fires 13 shots on the Chicago net in the third period but Eddie Johnston stops them all to preserve the 3-2 win and give Chicago it's first Stanley Cup title.
With a playoff leading 21 points in 11 games (possibly a record for a post-season) Stan Mikita is named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy over linemate Bobby Hull, who contributed a playoff high 9 goals and 18 points.
Other Award winners:
HART TROPHY: Stan Mikita Chicago (69GP 27-73-100)
VEZINA TROPHY: Jacques Plante Montreal (28-21-8, 2.30)
NORRIS TROPHY: Pierre Pilote Chicago (70GP 18-42-60)
ART ROSS TROPHY: Bobby Hull Chicago (70GP 46-58-104)
CALDER TROPHY: Derek Sanderson Boston (70GP 6-10-16)
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 Eddie Johnston Chicago Jacques Plante Montreal
D Pierre Pilote Chicago Harry Howell Detroit
D Red Kelly Toronto J Laperriere Montreal
C Stan Mikita Chicago Gordie Howe Detroit
LW Bobby Hull Chicago Gilles Tremblay Montreal
RW Alex Delvecchio Detroit Frank Mahovlich Toronto