1947-48
OFFSEASON
The Boston Bruins may have picked up their goaltender of the future when they made a deal with Detroit to acquire 20 year old Harry Lumley. Lumley appeared in 13 games for the Wings over the past two seasons but his path to the Wings crease was blocked by veteran Chuck Rayner and hotshot prospect Terry Sawchuk. In return the Bruins part with 21 year old right winger Pentti Lund, who had 2 goals and 1 assist in 14 games with Boston as a rookie last year. 31 year old Frank Brimsek played all 60 games for the Bruins last season but had the worst year of his 9 year career.
Surprised Boston did not make a deal for Bill Durnan, who is now 31 years old and has played just 10 career NHL games with Montreal as he sits behind the legendary Turk Broda with the Habs.
One unexpected retirement as Pete Horeck ended his career at the tender age of 24. 3 years ago the Chicago Black Hawks winger was named rookie of the year after scoring 22 goals and 40 points in 43 games. That would be his career high as Horeck had just 28 points in 50 games the following season and spent half of last year in the minors, scoring just 4 goals in 38 games with the Hawks.
Montreal gets a huge influx of talent this year as Doug Harvey, Tom Johnson, Dickie Moore, Andy Hebenton and Dollard St. Laurent all enter the Habs system. Other notable newcomers include Tim Horton to Toronto and Marcel Pronovost to the Red Wings.
After playing in just 12 games for Boston last season, veteran Roy Conacher looks like he is ready for a big year. The 31 year old showed no ill effects from the hand injury that cost him most of last season especially in a preseason win over Chicago. Conacher had 7 points (1G 6A) as the Bruins pounded the Black Hawks 8-1 in exhibition action.
REGULAR SEASON
This would be the year of the injury as 3 big stars all missed substantial time - Montreal's Elmer Lach and Maurice Richard along with Red Wing star Sid Abel. Abel's injury was the most serious, sidelining him for 49 games. Richard and Lach each missed about a dozen contests in December and January and as a result the Canadiens looked to be in jeopardy of losing their hold on first place overall. However, a late charge when the two stars returned combined with a terrible slump for Toronto allowed Montreal to easily claim a 5th straight regular season title.
Code:
GP W L T PTS
Montreal Canadiens 60 37 12 11 85
Toronto Maple Leafs 60 34 17 9 77
Boston Bruins 60 25 22 13 63
Detroit Red Wings 60 26 26 8 60
Chicago Black Hawks 60 15 33 12 42
New York Rangers 60 13 40 7 33
SCORING LEADERS TEAM GP G A PTS
Ted Kennedy TOR 60 40 43 83
Toe Blake MON 60 30 49 79
Elmer Lach MON 48 21 54 75
Syl Apps TOR 60 18 55 73
Maurice Richard MON 49 35 31 66
Gaye Stewart TOR 58 27 39 66
Kenny Mosdell MON 60 29 36 65
Ted Lindsay DET 55 35 29 64
Max Bentley CHI 60 25 33 58
Bep Guidolin BOS 58 28 28 56
Roy Conacher BOS 57 20 36 56
PLAYOFFS
The Montreal Canadiens strong play to finish the season continued into the playoffs as the now fully healthy Habs easily knocked off the slumping and injury riddled Leafs in 5 games. The other semi-final had the makings of a rout as Detroit won the first two games on Boston ice by scores of 10-3 and 6-0. Red Wings defenseman Jack Stewart had a 5 goal, 2 assist performance in the opening game and followed that up with 4 points in Game Two. Boston saved face with a win in Game Three but the Wings went up 3 games to one with a 4-2 victory in Game Four.
Boston wins in Games Five and Six had people thinking the Bruins would make another amazing comeback against Detroit but the Bruins fell just short this time as Detroit took Game Seven 4-3 on a power play goal in overtime off the stick of Pat Lundy.
This would be the Red Wings 5th trip to the Finals in the past 9 years but they have yet to hoist the Stanley Cup. Montreal missed the finals last year for the first time since 1940. The Habs have won 3 Cups in the past 5 years.
Led by a 24 save effort from veteran Turk Broda the Montreal Canadiens took the series opener 3-1. Toe Blake, Kenny Mosdell and Leo Gravelle scored for the Habs with Sid Abel getting the lone Detroit goal.
Game Two went to the Red Wings as Pentti Lund scored in overtime for a 4-3 victory after Detroit had rallied to tie the game with 2 goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Game Three also went to overtime and again the Red Wings prevailed by a 4-3 score. Rookie Barry Sulivan, who scored 7 goals in 43 regular season games, was the hero as he notched his first career playoff goal 17 minutes into the first overtime.
The Red Wings moved to within one game of a Stanley Cup title after winning Game Four 7-4 at The Olympia. Pentti Lund led the Detroit offense with 2 goals and an assist while Sid Abel also had 3 points. Broda had a terrible start in the Montreal net and was pulled after allowing 3 goals on 7 shots in the first six minutes. He was replaced by 32 year old backup Bill Durnan, who was appearing in just his second career playoff contest. The Habs also lost Elmer Lach to an abdominal strain and he was doubtful for Game Five.
Kenny Mosdell scored twice and Maurice Richard had a pair of assists as the Canadiens stayed alive with a 5-4 victory in Game Five. Broda had a little better game in the Montreal net but still surrendered 4 goals on just 24 shots.
The Detroit Red Wings won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history with a 3-2 victory on home ice in Game Six. Red Wings defenseman, who would also win his 7th Norris Trophy this season, was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner. Stewart became the first defenseman to lead the playoffs in scoring with 13 goals and 10 assists. Fittingly Stewart would score the goal that would be the Cup winner for the Wings. Jim McFadden and Ted Lindsay also scored for Detroit while Sid Abel would earn a pair of assists.
I should add that 19 year old Gordie Howe made his NHL debut this season. Mr Hockey played in 17 regular season games, scoring 3 times and adding 2 assists. He also suited up for 2 playoff games for the Wings so he will get his name etched on the Stanley Cup.
Other Award winners:
HART TROPHY: Max Bentley Chicago (60GP 25-33-58)
VEZINA TROPHY: Turk Broda Montreal (37-12-11, 2.25)
NORRIS TROPHY: Jack Stewart Detroit (51 GP,20-25-45)
ART ROSS TROPHY: Ted Kennedy Toronto (60 GP 40-43-83)
CALDER TROPHY: Tom Johnson Montreal (51 GP 2-10-12)
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 Ken Reardon Montreal Bill Quackenbush Detroit
D Jack Stewart Detroit Bob Goldham Toronto
C Syl Apps Toronto Max Bentley Chicago
LW Ted Lindsay Detroit Toe Blake Montreal
RW Ted Kennedy Toronto Maurice Richard Montreal