NHL Historical Replay

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by Rayzor

WOW.....Terry Sawchuk 27 SO

The most impressive achievement i have seen so far!

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by Nickphillies

Clarke in a Pens jersey.....

Being a Phillies fan, i have to assume a Flyers fan. Can't be easy seeing Bobby wearing that jersey. I am not a fan seeing Davey Keon wearing Bleu blanc et rouge!!

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by enf91

I'd say "HERESY!" but Clarke was also drafted by the Pens in my Philly Challenge. I traded for him the next year.

Maybe he was meant to be a Penguin!

[George_Bell]

1969-70 NHL Season Preview





Player Spotlight

The Top players seem to always be the same guys for a bunch of season's, so that will still happen from time to time, but ill also use this to take a look at certain players in the league



Arnie Brown won the last 2 Pilote Trophies with seasons of 50 points and 61 points. Brown was originally drafted by Montreal 6th in 1960. He was dealt to Toronto in 64 for Barcley Plager. He immediately found his offensive touch in Toronto, averaging just under half a point a game until he broke out in 68!



Tony Esposito has been waiting a long time for this. He is finally the Chicago starter. Tony spent 6 full years in the AHL waiting for the backup job, which he finally got in 67. After playing 26 times over the past two seasons, Esposito has been anointed the starting goalie for the upcoming season. Only problem is the young hot shot backup goalie is hungry and wants his job. Ken Dryden!

[enf91]

Originally Posted by george_bell

maybe he was meant to be a penguin!

HERESY! now with random text so it doesn't reduce the all-caps

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by enf91

HERESY! now with random text so it doesn't reduce the all-caps

[George_Bell]

1969-70 NHL Regular Season

Two quick October notes. Terry Sawchuk is back as the starting goalie in Toronto again. He sat the last 2 playoffs as a coaches decision. 41 year old Gordie Howe is back and scoring after missing half a season with an injury. He’s got 9 points in the first 8 games. He’s still a 5 star player!


Two of the leagues older players are still having lots of success!

Ouch, a huge blow to the Rangers as young star Pete Mahovlich tears a back muscle. He’s out for around 5 months. His return this year probably depends on how fast he heals and how far the Rangers go. Pete had 80 points in last years big breakout, and is part of the young nucleus New York has put together. Pete, along with Nick Libbet, Wayne Cashman, Guy Lapointe, Bobby Orr and their leader, Stan Mikita, is a fantastic core!


Young star Pete Mahovlich's season is probably over!

At Christmas, it’s looking like the Philadelphia Flyers might be the first western team to really challenge and eastern team. They sit 16-11-5, comfortably over .500, the only team in their division to really ever be that far above .500. They are decently talented, with 3.5 star goalie Gerry Desjardins, and 20 year old, 3.5 star dman Dick Redmond having great seasons. I’m not suggesting too much here, but if they make it, they might be able to pull off winning a game in the finals!


Remond is up around a point a game so far!

Phil Esposito is on a record chase this year. He currently has 74 points 46 games. That’s 21 more points then 2nd place teammate Rod Gilbert. Espo’s 35 goals put him on pace for way more then the record 52. Esposito has faded in the 2nd half of a season before. At 27, he’s in his prime, and could make this season a historic one for Chicago!


Espo gonna set some records!!??

A bit of a blockbuster deal takes place near the deadline.



Toronto trades 28 year old, and 2 time defending Pilote Trophy winner, Arnie Brown, to the terrible Minnesota North Stars. Brown had 111 points over the previous two years, and 29 this season. He had just declined from 3 to 2.5 stars, but is still a very good offensive defenseman. He will probably partner with Brad Park. The Leafs get Jerry Korab, who was a former 3rd overall pick. Korab, just 21, has 34 NHL games under his belt, and is a wildcard. Toronto though gets younger on the blue line, and picks up a player who does have the potential to contribute. In my mind, they sold low on Brown!


Brown to Minnesota.

Jacques Plante will not be taking Sawchuk's job during this years playoffs!



In a minor deal, Plante is sent to Pittsburgh. Not much analysis here. Some depth for the Leafs, and a potential playoff goalie for the Pens. Pittsburgh also acquired Glenn Hall from Chicago at the trade deadline, giving them 2 experienced goalies as they currently sit in 2nd place in the west. Hall had spent the season in the AHL.


Plante goes to Pittsburgh.

Montreal is currently on a ridiculous streak. RIDICULOUS streak. They lost 1-0 to the LA Kings on Jan 6th. That was their last loss so far. They are 30-0-3 since that date. The real life Flyers went 35 games without a loss in 1979/80. 25-0-10. In order to tie that record which doesn’t exist in this world, Montreal has to beat Toronto and New York, 2 of the better teams in hockey.


Montreal on the greatest run in hockey history!

Montreal beats Toronto and New York twice, giving them a record of 33-0-3 in their last 36. Without a doubt a new league record. With only 3 games remaining, can they extend the record into next season?

Just before the end of the season, Gordie Howe hits the 1500 point mark!! Howe has 736 goals and 766 assists. 1502 points. In the offseason, it’s time to share the top 10 point scorers in NHL history.


starting to show some greys!

Final Standings



Montreal lost their next game to Boston, which ended the 36 game unbeaten streak. During the streak, the Habs won 18 games in a row! Montreal falls 2 points short of Toronto’s 127 recorded last year.

The Penguins got hot enough to take the West division from Philly, who faltered a bit, but both teams finish above .500. The Blues did go 1 game over in 1968. Both the Flyers and Penguins look stronger talent wise.



Like a few years ago, Phil Esposito can’t keep up his early season pace, and fails to set any records. He does reach 50 goals though, which is just the third time that’s ever happened!

Arnie Brown gets 9 points in 17 games with the North Stars, the NHL's worst team. He only has a -1 in his time, which shows to me he played pretty well. Minny continues to baffle me. Brad Park is playing amazing. He had a rating of 78. Serge Savard is gonna be a excellent player very soon. They are just horrible though. With the top pick in the draft, they need a franchise forward!

Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante both get sent to Baltimore in the AHL, and don’t play a single game for the Penguins. Why acquire 40 something HOF goalies if you won’t even keep them on your roster?

[enf91]

WOW Minnesota stinks. If this game were capable of it, it should have Oakland stay in the league while Minnesota moves around.

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by enf91

WOW Minnesota stinks. If this game were capable of it, it should have Oakland stay in the league while Minnesota moves around.

They have not a single thing on forward at all. The defense drowns every game. They have fantastic uniforms though!!

[George_Bell]

1970 NHL Playoffs

1st Round

Montreal vs New York

The Rangers again enter the posteason without Bobby Orr, whose season ended with a lacerated kidney! NY upsets the Habs in the opener, but Dave Keon gets 8 points in the next four games as Montreal wins the series in 5.



Chicago vs Toronto

A series of momentum! After losing the opener, Toronto wins the next 2 behind the strong play of Gary Ungar and JP Parise. Chicago then won 2 in a row to grab the series lead back. Andre Lacroix scored the overtime goal in game four. The Leafs won game six handily to force a seventh and deciding game. Alex Delvecchio is the hero, scoring the series winning goal with just 3 minutes remaining for Chicago!!



West Division

Pittsburgh vs Oakland

The Penguins win their first ever playoff game played, then they win their first playoff overtime game on a goal by Ron Murphy. They then get their first playoff shut out in their first playoff road game. Game 4 is Pittsburgh’s first playoff loss. Game 5 is Pittsburgh’s first series clinching win. Penguins advance in 5.



Philadelphia vs L.A.

The Kings needed 37 extra seconds to break a 0-0 tie and take game one. The Flyers allow just 2 goals in the next 3 games, all Philly wins, to take a 3-1 series lead. With just 3 goals in four games, the Kings equal that amount in their 3-0 game five win. The Kings would force a game 7, but the Flyers get 2 goals from Dick Redmond to secure the series win!



Round 2

Eastern Division Final
Montreal vs Chicago

The Habs show their dominance in the opener, going up 2-0 early, and then shuting Chicago down the rest of the way. 4-0 Montreal wins game one. Game two is scoreless until the third period. In a 3:15 span, Dennis Hull, Yvan Cournoyer and Jacques Laperriere all score, winning it 3-0 for Montreal. Habs goalie Al Smith has only had to make 18 saves in the series so far, but has yet to allow a goal.


Al Smith posts 2 straight shut outs!

Bobby Rousseau gets Chicago’s first series goal halfway through the first period of game three. It ties the score. The two teams would need overtime to settle it. In OT, Alex Delvecchio strips Ted Harris of the puck, skates in on a breakaway, and scores!! 3-2 Chicago! A crazy finish occurs in game four. Rod Gilbert tied the game at 1 for Chicago, scoring with 3 minutes remaining. A minute later, Dennis Hull got the lead back for the Habs with his 3rd. Off the ensuing faceoff, Danny Grant found some room, and buried a wrist shot past Al Smith to tie it again for Chicago! Grant’s goal comes 7 seconds after Hulls! Overtime is needed, and 2 minutes in, Yvan Cournoyer is the hero!! WHY DID YOU TRADE HIM TORONTO!! 3-2 Montreal wins!


Alex Delvecchio scored in overtime giving Chicago their only win so far!

Game five is a tight affair until the third. Tied at 2, Dave Keon scores twice, and Vic Hadfield added another. 5-2 Montreal wins easily. They take the series in 5 games!



Western Division Final
Pittsburgh vs Philadelphia

Rookie Ed Hatoum, who scored 8 times in the regular season, gets a hat trick, including the overtime winner, giving Philly the 4-3 win. Easily the biggest moment of Hatoum’s career so far. Game two see’s Philly explode. Brad Selwood would score at the 10:21 mark. Before the next 2 minutes had passed, it was 4-0 Philly. Jude Drouin finished with 3 points, as the Flyers get a blow out 7-2 win.


Hatoum's career night wins game one!

At home in the Spectrum, Garry Swain scores 2 minutes in, giving the fans something to cheer about early. It’s 3-0 after a period. Flyers goalie Gerry Desjardins would stop 16 Pittsburgh shots, preserving the 3-0 win. Trailing for the first time in the series, Philly scores twice in the 3rd period. Nick Beverly gets the 2nd of those goals, and it’s the winner. 3-2 Flyers, they sweep the series!

[George_Bell]

This looks like another Stanley Cup mismatch on paper, but it isn't quite as drastic as the previous two series. Yes, Montreal is excellent, and had a wonderful season, but the Flyers have more talent then the Blues and Seals before them. I don't think Philly has a chance in hell to win this, but i wouldn't be shocked if they could win a game here.

[George_Bell]

Dick Redmond opens the scoring deep into the 2nd period, with his 4th of the playoffs. Veli-Pekka Ketola adds to the Philly lead midway through the third. Gerry Desjardins stops 41 shots, and the Flyers win game one, 2-0! Philly continues with the momentum in game two. Michael Briere scores on the power play to give the Flyers the early lead. Montreal finally gets on the board in the 2nd, getting two goals from Tom Webster and Murray Oliver. Oliver salts the game away with an empty netter, and Montreal wins game two, 3-1. Two very competitive games.


Redmond with the first cup goal in Flyers history!

Brad Sellwood and Jude Drouin give the Flyers a 2-0 first period lead as the Spectrum fans experience the Stanley Cup for the first time. Yvon Cournoyer cuts the lead to one, but Frank St. Marseille returns the lead to 2 with a third period goal. That marker proved huge, as Dave Keon scored with two minutes left. It wasn’t enough for the Habs. Flyers win 3-2! Montreal was playing defense in game 4. Shots were hard to come by for the Flyers, but Dick Redmond still found the back of the net giving Philly another lead. Jacques Lemaire would tie the game in the 2nd. Both teams then played scoreless hockey until overtime. The game four hero would be superstar Dave Keon, who ends it 3:58 in. 2-1 Montreal escapes with the series tied.


Keon's OT goal tied the series!

Maybe it took four games, but Montreal looks like they woke up for game five, and showed the Flyers and the hockey world they want to end this thing. Dave Keon, Dennis Hull and Bob Nevin each get 4 points in a lopsided 6-1 Montreal win, putting them a game away from the prize. The Flyers didn’t get the message. Gerry Desjardins shut the doors in game six, allowing just a 2nd period Walt Tkaczuk goal. Keith McCreary tied it for Philly, and overtime would be needed. In the extra period, Veli-Pekka Ketola took a pass from Don Blackburn, and found a hole in Al Smith to win it! 14 seconds is all it took! 2-1 Philly. We need a game 7!!


The Fin keeps Philly's hopes alive!

GAME 7



It’s all Montreal early, as they get the first 6 shots of the game. Ed Hatoum though would find a seem and hit Larry Keenan in stride. Keenan gets a breakaway, and beats Al Smith on the backhand! 1-0 Philly! Terrible news for the Habs, as Yvan Cournoyer leaves the game with a rib injury! Tom Webster gets a PP marker to tie it a few minutes later, settling down a very nervous Forum crowd. Gerry Desjardins stands on his head in the first, stopping 17 shots. 1-1 after a period.


Webster ties the game for Montreal.

Seconds into the 2nd period, Harry Howell finds himself alone in front of the net, and tucks a nifty backhand past Al Smith! 2-1 Philadelphia! Jacques Lemaire responds off the ensuing face off to tie it. Philly gets 2 goals, and Montreal ties it almost right away both times! That’s all the scoring in the 2nd. Montreal is outshooting Philly 33-11.


Howell has Philly's 2nd goal of the night!

The third period is nerve racking. I admit I’m rooting for the upset. A very even period of play goes by and not one goal is scored. Shots were tied at 11, so maybe the Flyers are wearing down the huge favourites. Overtime will decide the Stanley Cup.

Montreal hits the 50 shots barrier, without a winner, then the 55 shots barrier halfway through the first overtime. With 5 minutes left in the period, Gerry Desjardins makes his 60th save of the night. Incredible. He has a 99.9 game rating on the screen at the moment. The first overtime ends without a winner. Shots are 64-29 for the Habs. This might be the greatest final of all time. It’s fun to watch, I wish I could portray that better!


Desjardins has been incredible today!

Halfway through the 2nd overtime, the Flyers seem to have capped down defensively. Montreal has only 3 shots on net. Tommy Williams dumps the puck into the Montreal zone, and Michael Briere wins the battle in the corner. He puts a bad angled shot on net, which forces a scramble. All of a sudden, the Flyers are celebrating! THE PUCK IS IN THE NET!!!! Jeannot Gilbert has forced it in!! GAME OVER!!! 3-2! Philadelphia wins the Stanley Cup!!!!!


HERO!


The summary says OT 1 summary, but you can see by the time the goalies played, this was 2nd overtime!

[enf91]

I'm going to try out some forum smilies.


Yeah, that about fits. As in IRL, the Flyers take down the best team in hockey. Epicly. JUST BLOCK MY ALL-CAPS NOW, YOU STUPID FORUM! WOOOOO!!!11!!!!1111
Wikipedia says the Broad Street parade IRL drew 2 million people and was the biggest celebration since V-J Day (and included a young Mike Richter). I wonder how big the celebration was in this universe.

[Nickphillies]

Well I'll be damned!

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by enf91

I'm going to try out some forum smilies.


Yeah, that about fits. As in IRL, the Flyers take down the best team in hockey. Epicly. JUST BLOCK MY ALL-CAPS NOW, YOU STUPID FORUM! WOOOOO!!!11!!!!1111
Wikipedia says the Broad Street parade IRL drew 2 million people and was the biggest celebration since V-J Day (and included a young Mike Richter). I wonder how big the celebration was in this universe.

Huge upset, amazing series, heroic performances, and a single defining moment of victory!! Probably a over the top big celebration!

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

1970 NHL Offseason News and Notes

Here are the skating leaders for the season.



Here are the goalie leaders for the season.



Here are the playoff leaders.



In one of the worst award decisions I have seen, the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP goes to Dave Keon. Keon had 22 points in 17 games, which is excellent. He had a great playoff. Montreal lost. They lost to the Flyers in a HUGE upset. Goalie Gerry Desjardins went 12-4, with a 1.73 GAA, 4 shut outs, and a .935 save percentage. He also made 65 saves in the double overtime game 7 win. There is no doubt in my mind that Desjardins is the true Conn Smythe winner!



Mikita wins his 5th Hart Trophy, Jacques Laperriere wins his 2nd Pilote Trophy, and Bobby Clarke takes the rookie of the year with 65 points.



Tim Horton, retires as a member of the Oakland Seals. Jacques Plante retires as a Pittsburgh Penguin, and Terry Sawchuk has played his final game with the Maple Leafs! The Boston Bruins will honor Tim Horton, and retire Plante's number, while the Leafs retire the number of Terry Sawchuk.



Sawchuk and Plante retire 1st and 2nd in all time wins, shutouts and games played list. Here are the top 10 career leaderboards for those categories.



The NHL has expanded by 2 teams. The Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks have joined the league. The Oakland Seals have also changed their names. They will now be known as the California Golden Seals. Here are all the new logos and uniforms for the 1970-71 season.



With expansion, the NHL has realigned the divisions in a way that makes absolutely no geographic sense. Chicago has moved to the west division, while both Buffalo and Vancouver join the east.





The Expansion draft occurs on July 2. I’m not completely sure of the rules, but it looks like teams can protect 15 skaters, and 2 goalies. I’m sure prospects not in the NHL are off limits. The first four picks must be used on goalies, then skaters after that. Anyway, here are the results. The first 16 picks atleast…



Shocking everyone, Montreal leaves Jacques Laperriere unprotected. The reigning Pilote Trophy winner is selected 5th overall, and 1st via skaters, by the Buffalo Sabres. Players of note selected include 37 year old Andy Bathgate, and former Hab Brian Glennie who has been a great bottom pairing guy, and now probably slots in the top 2.


Laperriere heads to Buffalo!

Serge Savard heads to Boston.



Savard still has the potential to be excellent, but at 24, he hasn’t reached it yet, and there are questions as to if he will. He only played 16 mins a game with the North Stars, who need all the talent they can get. Still just a 2.5 star player, Savard is coming close to being a bust at this point. Boston takes a chance though, and tries to hit a home run. They give up Jim Dorey, who is 22 and just had a excellent rookie year. Dorey is the better player right now, and picking him up makes the North Stars better this season. If Savard doesn’t improve soon, it’s a big win for the North Stars.


Savard goes to Boston, needs to jump start career!

The Hockey Hall of Fame is welcoming Johnny Bower and Dickie Moore this year. Bower is a top 10 goalie of all time, and Dickie Moore was the first player to hit 100 points in a season!



It sure looks like the Buffalo Sabres have screwed up. After missing out on franchise player Gilbert Perreault, the Sabres passed on some fairly talented players, including Darryl Sittler to take Terry Murray 2nd overall in the NHL draft. Murray looks like one of the least appealing prospects in this draft.



Perreault and Sittler are already listed as the #1 center on their respective teams. Terry Murray on the other hand is listed as Buffalo’s 12th best prospect, and is 15th on their depth chart. Here’s a look at top pick Perreault.



The NHL is introducing a new award this year. The Lester B. Pearson Award is given annually to the NHL’s most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of NHL players association. It is a companion to the Hart Trophy, which is awarded to the League's Most Valuable Player, as judged by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. Lester B. Pearson was the Prime Minister of Canada from 63-68. He is a former player and coach of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues hockey team.

[enf91]

So not only do the Canadiens lose the Cup in an absolute heartbreaker, the expansion teams (finally) looted them of serious talent. I get the feeling the Canadiens are going to resemble the IRL Leafs for awhile.

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by enf91

So not only do the Canadiens lose the Cup in an absolute heartbreaker, the expansion teams (finally) looted them of serious talent. I get the feeling the Canadiens are going to resemble the IRL Leafs for awhile.

Yes, alot of their depth is now gone. They still have all their top scorers though, and their first round draft pick looks like a star so far...

[George_Bell]

1970-71 NHL Season Preview





Player Spotlight

Jacques Laperriere was surprisingly left unprotected by the Habs for the expansion draft. Coming off a season where he was named the best defenseman in the NHL, either the Habs know something, or are crazy. I'm leaning towards crazy, because if they know something, the 28 year old still have value and you could get something pretty good back for him. Here's a look at the best player the Sabres grabbed this year.



Gerry Desjardins, the Flyers Stanley Cup winning goalie was robbed of the Conn Smythe trophy. His performance in the finals has been labeled legendary, by me, and I'm who counts! Can Desjardins use this to become on of hockey's best goalies? Or is this a fluke of a playoffs where everything went right?