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Old 12-19-2016, 08:52 PM   #12
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Location: Ontario Canada
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1939-40

1939-40

OFFSEASON
The big news is after reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in the sim the Montreal Maroons have folded their franchise. This drops the NHL to one division with 7 teams. While the Toronto Maple Leafs managed to sign goaltender Normie Smith, most of the Maroons top players elected to join the Montreal Canadiens including Toe Blake, Mud Bruneteau and Paul Haynes. Defenseman Babe Siebert took a while to sign but finally agreed to join the Boston Bruins just before the season started.

With the signing of Smith, Toronto dealt goaltender Alec Connell to the Detroit Red Wings. A two-time Vezina Trophy winner, the 36 year old has played 596 career NHL games and has a lifetime record of 321-190-83. He has also won 4 Stanley Cups with Toronto, going 26-12 in the postseason during that time.

There was only one retirement of note but it was quite a surprise as 26 year old winger Sweeney Schriner, fresh off an all-star season, announced he was leaving the game. Schriner played 4 seasons for the New York Americans and scored a career best 24 goals and 48 points last season.

Debuts to look for this year include Sid Abel and defenseman Jack Stewart with Detroit while Boston adds goaltender Frank Brimsek and forward Roy Conacher.

REGULAR SEASON
The rapidly improving Boston Bruins led by their outstanding rookie goalie Frank Brimsek (36-8-4, 1.68) claimed top spot in the now 1 Division NHL. Another youngster, Roy Conacher (16-24-41) added to a solid Boston offense but the Bruins real strength was it's blueline led by Dit Clapper (12-35-47), who moved back to defense after starting his career as a forward. Clapper was joined by veteran Eddie Shore (7-23-30)and former Montreal Maroon Babe Siebert (3-24-27) along with second year pro Jack Crawford (5-12-17) to give the Bruins the best top 4 in the league.

Toronto's Syl Apps and Charlie Conacher continued to dominate the league offensively and ex-Maroon Normie Smith was a nice upgrade in net. The Rangers finished a solid third while the Montreal Canadiens needed a win on the final day of the season to claim the fourth and final playoff spot over Detroit.

New York Americans 38 year old Roy Worters became the first goaltender to appear in 600 career games. The 14 year veteran is showing no signs of slowing down as he appeared in 44 gaames this season despite posting a 5-32-7 record for the struggling Americans.

Code:
   
		    	GP  W  L  T  PTS   
Boston Bruins		48 36  9  3   75
Toronto	Maple Leafs	48 31 11  6   68
New York Rangers	48 31 17  0   62 
Montreal Canadiens	48 21 24  3   45
Detroit Red Wings 	48 18 21  9   45 
New York Americans	48  8 34  6   22
Chicago Black Hawks	48  8 37  3   19 


SCORING LEADERS		TEAM GP  G  A  PTS
Syl Apps		TOR  48 25 47  72
Charlie Conacher	TOR  46 26 38  64
Dit Clapper		BOS  48 12 35  47
Nick Metz		TOR  48 20 23  43
Syd Howe		DET  48 13 30  43
Roy Conacher		BOS  43 16 25  41
Mac Colville		NYR  47 20 20  40
Joe Krol		NYR  48 15 23  38
Clint Smith		NYR  46 16 21  37
Marty Barry		BOS  42 11 25  36
PLAYOFFS
The Leafs faced off with the Bruins in the opening round and once again Toronto got the best of Boston, winning the series in 5 games. Meanwhile the Montreal Canadiens, after having just squeaked into the postseason, made the most of their opportunity by sweeping the Rangers in the opening round.

The final would feature the Toronto Maple Leafs, looking for their 8th straight Cup, against the Canadiens.

Toronto took the season opener at Maple Leaf Gardens by a 5-3 score in a game that saw the Leafs outshoot Montreal 43-16. Game Two was a tighter affair but the Leafs again prevailed, this time 2-1 as Syl Apps scored once and assisted on the other Leaf marker.

Montreal looked like it would win Game Three at the Forum but the Leafs tied the game at 2 with 9:54 remaining on a Don Metz goal and with just 38 seconds remaining in regulation Bob Gracie scored to give Toronto a 3-2 win and a commanding 3 games to none lead in the series.

The Leafs would complete the sweep with a 2-1 overtime victory in Game Four. Montreal led after two periods thanks to a Toe Blake tally but Charlie Conacher tied the game with 6 minutes remaining in the third period and then set up Red Horner's series winning overtime marker.

Conacher was named the playoff MVP after scoring 5 goals and adding 4 assists in 9 playoff games. It would be the second time in his career Conacher won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Montreals Paul Haynes led all playoff scorers with 13 points.

Other Award winners:

HART TROPHY: Syl Apps Toronto (48 GP 25-47-72)

VEZINA TROPHY: Frank Brimsek Boston (36-8-4, 1.68)

NORRIS TROPHY: Dit Clapper Boston (48 GP,12-35-47)

ART ROSS TROPHY: Syl Apps Toronto (48 GP 25-47-72)

CALDER TROPHY:
Roy Conacher Boston (43 GP, 16-25-41)


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   Frank Brimsek    Boston	Normie Smith 	 Toronto	
D   Dit Clapper	     Boston	Babe Pratt	 NY Rangers	
D   Flash Hollett    Toronto	Bucko McDonald	 Detroit
C   Syl Apps	     Toronto	Paul Haynes	 Montreal
LW  Syd Howe	     Detroit	Roy Conacher	 Boston
RW  Charlie Conacher Toronto	Mac Colville	 NY Rangers
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