1932-33
The league grew to 9 teams as the Ottawa Senators rejoined the NHL and were placed in the Candian Division. The only major off-season transaction saw Toronto ship Ace Bailey to the Montreal Canadiens. In real life Bailey would see his career come to an end in December of 1933 when he was hit from behind by Boston's Eddie Shore, hitting his head on the ice and fracturing his skull. In the sim Bailey scored 13 points in 17 games last season for Toronto before adding 3 goals and an assist in 7 playoff games to help the Leafs win the Cup.
Among the notable accomplishments was a 19 game point streak for Toronto winger Charlie Conacher. The 23 year scored 15 goals and added 19 assists during his run. Unfortunately for Leaf fans Conacher would suffer an injury shortly after the streak ended in February and was limited to just 33 regular season games. He would finish with 20 goals and 44 points and would be healthy enough to return for the playoffs.
Joe Lamb of the New York Americans scored in 6 straight games. On the season the 26 year old right winger ended up with 18 goals and 38 points but his team would miss the playoffs. The Ottawa Senators return to the NHL was obviously a mistake as the club would win just once in 48 contests and be the laughing stock of the league.
The scoring title went to Bill Cook of the Rangers as he led the league with 64 points on 26 goals and 38 assists. His teammate and brother Bun Cook topped all players with 29 goals. In real life Bill Cook also won the scoring title with 50 points while his brother Bun would finish tied for 7th with 37.
Code:
RLPTS is real life points
AMERICAN DIVISION GP W L T PTS RLPTS
NY Rangers 48 32 12 4 68 54
Boston Bruins 48 32 14 2 66 58
Chicago Black Hawks 48 18 25 5 41 44
Detroit Falcons 48 16 28 4 36 58
CANADIAN DIVISION GP W L T PTS RLPTS
Toronto Maple Leafs 48 34 13 1 69 54
Montreal Maroons 48 28 19 1 57 50
Montreal Canadiens 48 21 22 5 47 41
NY Americans 48 21 25 2 44 41
Ottawa Senators 48 1 45 2 4 32
SCORING LEADERS TEAM GP G A PTS
Bill Cook NYR 48 26 38 64
Busher Jackson TOR 46 24 38 62
Bun Cook NYR 48 29 29 58
Howie Morenz MON 48 22 32 54
Marty Barry BOS 48 24 28 52
The 1932-33 postseason would be a repeat of last season as the division leading Leafs and Rangers will meet in one semi-final while the second place Bruins and Maroons square off in the other series. In real life the 32-33 Cup Final was a rematch of last season with the Rangers getting revenge on the Leafs by winning 3 games to one.
Boston would beat the Maroons in 5 games while Toronto and the New York Rangers needed the full seven games to declare a winner. Toronto would remain alive and have a chance to defend their Cup title as Busher Jackson scored three times in a 6-1 Leafs victory in the deciding contest.
Toronto took game one of the finals 5-4 as 24 year old Andy Blair, who had just 10 points in 22 regular season games, enjoyed a career night with a goal and 3 helpers to lead the Leafs to victory. Bad news for the Leafs as Charlie Conacher suffered a groin injury that might sideline him for the rest of the series but Boston also suffered a key injury as defenseman Eddie Shore will miss at least a game with a forearm injury.
Blair continued to be the story of the finals as he added 2 more points in a 4-1 game two victory for the Leafs. Just like last season Toronto took a 3 games to none lead with a 2-1 win at the Gardens in game three. Busher Jackson scored both Toronto goals.
Dit Clapper's overtime goal kept the Bruins alive with a 2-1 win in game four but the Leafs ended the series with a 4-1 win on home ice in Game five to hoist the Cup for the second straight season.
The Conn Smythe Award for playoff MVP went to Toronto winger Busher Jackson who led all playoff perfomers with 7 goals and 13 points.
Here are the other award winners:
VEZINA: Lorne Chabot of Toronto (34-11-3, 1.58 GAA)
NORRIS: Ching Johnson of NY Rangers (48GP 10-24-34)
CALDER: NY Americans Wilf Starr (11-12-23 in 48 games)
HART: Howie Morenz Montreal Canadiens (22-32-54)
ART ROSS: Bill Cook NY Rangers (26-38-64)
A major deal was made in the off-season as Toronto sent back to back Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Lorne Chabot to Detroit in exchange for 25 year old winger Hec Kilrea (11-15-26) and 32 year old rearguard George Owen (2-4-6).