1944-45
OFF-SEASON
New players entering the league this season include Ted Lindsay and Marty Pavelich with Detroit, Fern Flaman in Boston and a bunch of new Maple Leafs led by Red Kelly and Bill Ezinicki.
The only retirement of note was Ab DeMarco. The 28 year old played 1 season with Chicago before spending the past 5 with the New York Rangers. Injuries limited the North Bay, Ontario native to 25 games last season and he finished his career with 49 goals and 193 points in 225 career NHL games. His best season was 1941-42 when he had 69 points and finished second to Toe Blake in the scoring race.
REGULAR SEASON
The Montreal Canadiens continued their recent dominance of the league as the Punch Line of Maurice Richard (41-34-75), Elmer Lach (22-59-81) and Toe Blake (32-30-62) continued to shine. Lach's 81 points tied Detroit's Sid Abel (34-47-81) for the scoring lead but the Montreal pivot was denied his second straight Art Ross Trophy, which went to Abel based on scoring more goals.
Turk Broda (35-8-6, 2.29) again played every game in net to help Montreal surrender the fewest goals against in the league. Montreal's total of 114 allowed was 54 fewer than the next closest team. The Habs 233 goals for was one shy of league leading Toronto as the 3rd place Leafs still had plenty of offense but did not get the necessary goaltending out of 26 year old rookie Frank McCool (26-19-5, 3.36).
Code:
GP W L T PTS
Montreal Canadiens 50 35 8 7 77
Detroit Red Wings 50 26 17 7 59
Toronto Maple Leafs 50 26 19 5 57
Boston Bruins 50 19 23 8 46
Chicago Black Hawks 50 12 31 7 31
New York Rangers 50 10 30 10 30
SCORING LEADERS TEAM GP G A PTS
Sid Abel DET 50 34 47 81
Elmer Lach MON 46 22 59 81
Maurice Richard MON 46 41 34 75
Syl Apps TOR 35 21 48 69
Gus Bodnar TOR 50 25 42 67
Max Bentley CHI 45 24 40 64
Roy Conacher BOS 50 18 46 64
Billy Taylor TOR 47 27 36 63
Toe Blake MON 44 32 30 62
Gaye Stewart TOR 50 31 30 61
PLAYOFFS
Montreal had little trouble with Detroit in their semi-final series as the Canadiens prevailed in 5 games led by 6 goals and 11 points from Maurice Richard. The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs had a hard fought seven game series that ended with a 6-4 Boston victory in the deciding contest. Milt Schmidt paced the Boston offense with 11 points while veteran Roy Conacher had 5 goals and 5 assists.
The Finals would be a rematch of last season and started with the defending champs beating Boston 5-4 on home ice in Game One. Elmer Lach and Maurice Richard each scored twice in the Montreal victory.
Milt Schmidt scored a pair in Game Two including the winner with 4:15 remaining in regulation to give Boston a 3-2 win and even the series. Schmidt struck again with the winner in game three, this time with just 13 seconds remaining in regulation to give Boston another 3-2 victory.
Game Four was all Montreal as the Canadiens evened the series with a decisive 6-1 victory. Elmer Lach had 3 goals and 2 assists to pace the Montreal attack while goaltender Turk Broda made 28 saves.
Montreal took Game 5 by a 3-2 score but the Habs lost Lach in the process. The centerman suffered a broken thumb in the game after assisting on the first two Montreal goals.
With Lach sidelined the Bruins came up with an inspired effort in Game Six, winning 6-3 to force a 7th game in the finals. Herb Cain led Boston with 2 goals and an assist. Kenny Mosdell moved up to the first line for Montreal to replace Lach and he did deliver 2 assists in the game.
An amazing end to the season as the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup with a 3-2 overtime victory in Game Seven. Woody Dumart got the Cup winner 6:16 into the extra period after the Canadiens had rallied to tie the game on a Maurice Richard goal with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation.
For the first time in history the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP went to someone who did not win the Cup as Maurice Richard, with a playoff leading 12 goals and 24 points was named the winner.
Other Award winners:
HART TROPHY: Sid Abel Detroit (50 GP 34-47-81)
VEZINA TROPHY: Turk Broda Montreal (35-8-6, 2.29)
NORRIS TROPHY: Butch Bouchard Montreal (50 GP,10-31-41)
ART ROSS TROPHY: Sid Abel Detroit (50 GP 34-47-81)
CALDER TROPHY: Peter Horeck Chicago (43 GP 22-18-40)
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 Butch Bouchard Montreal Moe Morris Toronto
D Jack Stewart Detroit Glen Harmon Montreal
C Sid Abel Detroit Elmer Lach Montreal
LW Roy Conacher Boston Toe Blake Montreal
RW Maurice Richard Montreal Gus Bodnar Toronto