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1917-18 REGULAR SEASON:
The first ever game of the NHL was played on December 19, 1917 between the Canadiens and the Senators. The game was a 6-6 tie in a rough contest for both goalies. LW Louis Berlinquette scored the first ever NHL goal, and went on to have a hat trick. C Eddie Lowrey scored the first goal in Senators history. Senators LW Cy Denneny scored the final goal of the game.
At New Years, the Montreal Canadiens have the league's top record, with an outstanding 6-0-1 record. Since the opening tie, the Canadiens have won all of their games.
Newsy Lalonde has been having an unreal start in these first 7 games. Lalonde has put up 10 goals and 13 assists for an outstanding 23 points!
Surprisingly, Vezina has been splitting goaltending time with backup Bill Laird. Despite only making 3 appearances thus far, Vezina has had 2 shutouts, and is the only goalie with a Goals Against Average of less than 3.00!
On January 22, 1918, the first trade in NHL history has been completed! It is a minor one, but I will make note of it regardless as it is the first. The Senators send LW Hamby Shore to the Arenas in exchange for G Claude Wilson and RW Jack Fournier. Hamby has been playing on the bottom line, as has Fournier, while Wilson has not been playing in the NHL this year, and probably won't progress that much.
FINAL STANDINGS: GP W L T PTS
1. MTL: 24 18 5 1 37
2. OTT: 24 15 7 2 32
3. TOR: 24 11 12 1 23
4. WDR: 24 2 22 0 4
The Canadiens finish in 1st with 37 points, and Ottawa finishes in 2nd with 32 points. These two teams will play each other in a 2 game total goals series for the right to challenge for the Stanley Cup. The Wanderers win only 2 games!
SCORING LEADERS:
GOALS:
MTL C N. Lalonde 35
MTL LW L. Berlinquette 21
MTL RW D. Pitre 21
ASSISTS:
MTL C N. Lalonde 36
OTT C F. Nighbor 34
MTL D B. Corbeau 31
POINTS:
MTL C N. Lalonde 71
OTT C F. Nighbor 50
MTL RW D. Pitre 48
Newsy Lalonde is clearly in a league of his own, although linemate Didier Pitre and fellow Hart Trophy nominees Frank Nighbor and Cy Denneny of the Senators are no slouches either.
GOALIE LEADERS:
WINS:
OTT C. Benedict 15
TOR H. Holmes 11
MTL G. Vezina 10
SV PCT:
MTL B. Laird .876
OTT C. Benedict .855
TOR H. Holmes .839
GAA:
MTL B. Laird 3.26
MTL G. Vezina 3.85
OTT C. Benedict 4.03
The expected are all present, although Bill Laird was a big surprise. Vezina would have been a lot higher if he played more, but Laird was very admirable in his absence.
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