NHL Historical Replay

[George_Bell]

As I said, this is the 7th trip to the finals for Montreal in the last 8 years. This is also the 4th straight season, New York will be playing Montreal! The Rangers are beat up coming into the series. Butch Bouchard, Alex Kaleta and Edgar Laprade are all day to day. Jack Crawford, whose a first line defenseman, is out for the series. Montreal will be missing Howie Meeker, which is a big blow on it’s own.

The Rangers are trying to win their third cup in a row with their third different starting goalie. LoPresti remains in the minors, and it appears his NHL career is over. Gelineau is the backup, and Les Colvin has the reigns. Frank Brimsek is clearly the better goalie. The Rangers are so good though, I don’t think that or their injuries will matter at all…

[George_Bell]

Despite being outplayed and outshot, the Rangers take game one, 3-2. Richard got his 7th postseason goal, and Ted Kennedy had 2 points in the win. Montreal’s Woody Dumart left the game with a sore back. He’s day to day.


Can Montreal win without Woody Dumart.

2 goals and 2 assists from the Rocket highlighted New York's 5-3 win in the second game of the series. The Rangers were much better in this one, controlling the play the whole time. Montreal’s Bill Gadsby, the teams best defenseman, hurt his back in this one, and is ruled out for the series.


Montreal loses Bill Gadsby for the series.

Back home at MSG, New York takes a strangle hold on the series with a 3-1 win. Max Bentley is the first star registering 2 points. Does Montreal have any fight left? Yes, yes the do! Frank Brimsek turned away 33 shots, leading the Habs to a 4-1 win avoiding elimination. Frank Brimsek shines again, making 39 saves in game 5. Tony Leswick scored his 4th playoff goal with 2 mins remaining to give the Habs a 2-1 win, extending the series again!


Brimsek keeping the Habs alive.

Ted Lindsay has just one playoff goal. Their best player and best defenseman remain out, but the Habs have fought back to make this a series. That ended in game 6. Maurice Richard gets 2 points, and the Rangers win the game 4-2 to take the series. For the third straight year, the Rangers are Stanley Cup Champions!

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

1948 NHL Offseason News and Notes

As the offseason begins, i like to take a look at the top 10 playoff scorers. The top 3 is pretty special. Add in Bill Quakenbush, and they are why we are in the middle of a Rangers dynasty, without them having a good goalie.



Ted "Teeder" Kennedy wins the first ever Art Ross Trophy, given to the player who wins the scoring title. He also wins the Hart Trophy! Frank Brimsek wins his 4th Gardiner award. All since joining Habs 6 years ago. He's approaching his mid 30's now, and his skills are starting to diminish. Is this his final award?





Detroit’s Ott Heller has retired. He was a reliable defenseman, who very consistently put up around 20 points every single season. He Played in every game from 1934 to 1941 and holds the NHL record for games played in a career with 905! He probably won’t make the Hall of Fame, but he was a good player who holds a great record. So I thought it was worth mentioning. Here are the top 10 all-time games played leaders.



Tiny Thompson, who excelled for Montreal, and spent two great years in Detroit is elected into the Hall of Fame. He’s joined by former career leader in points, Charlie Conacher. Here are the plaques for this years class.



The Toronto Maple Leafs select Tim Horton with the first pick in the NHL draft. Tim is an elite prospect who should turn into an elite player. With Tim Horton and Terry Sawchuk, teams are gonna have a hard time scoring on Toronto in the next decade.



It was a talented draft. Marcel Pronovost and George Armstrong are both potential difference makers. Here is the draft results.



The Bruins added a dark uniform this year and changed their whites. They are the only team to make any significant changes.

[George_Bell]

1948-49 NHL Season Preview





Top Player



Top Goalie



Chuck Rayner has rated as the best goalie in the NHL. Frank Brimsek has fallen to a 3 star rating, while Rayner has risen to 3.5.

[George_Bell]

1948-49 NHL Regular Season

On the eve of the regular season, Johnny Bower has been put on waivers by Detroit. That’s crazy. If he clears waivers, and the Rangers do not claim him, the game is broken. Let’s see…

The Rangers trade a 2nd round pick to Boston for 21 year old goalie Harry Lumley, instead of claiming Johnny Bower. Bower goes unclaimed, but the Rangers do upgrade their goaltending. Lumley is the best goalie in New York now, and he’s got some solid potential. Bower heads back to the minors wondering if anyone will ever give him a chance!


Harry Lumley joins the Stanley Cup champs.

30 year old Milt Schmidt has become the 2nd player to hit the 300 goal plateau. He does it in 562 games, and is currently second all time. He’s chasing Toe Blake, who has 337 career goals, and still adding to his totals, though at a slower pace. Maurice Richard, with a strong second half to the season, could hit that 300 goal mark this year as well.


300!

The most obvious thing I'm noticing at new years is how far scoring has fallen off. We are averaging 4.33 goals a game this season. That’s down more then a full goal from last season, and 2.5 goals from 1944!! Here’s a look at the table showing goals per game the past few years.



The trade deadline has just passed with a few minor deals, but the big news is the Toronto Maple Leafs. They have gone from worst to first! The Leafs currently sit atop the standings with 20 games to play. They lead the Bruins by 3 points. Toronto has quietly rebuilt their nucleus the past few years, and are now employing young players like Marty Pavelich, Tod Sloan, Sid Smith, Paul Ronty, Bob Goldham, and Tim Horton! Goalie Chuck Rayner is now a 4 star goalie, and Milt Schmidt is the glue. This Leaf team likes like the real deal, and they still have Terry Sawchuk in the minors!


Sid Smith and Tod Sloan, two of the youngsters the Leafs are relying on

On March 12th, Maurice Richard did it, he reached the 300 goal plateau, the third player to get there. Richard is only 27 years old. He’s the best player in hockey. It’s not crazy for him to reach the 500 mark. It’s only a matter of time until he is the goal scoring king!


300!

Final Standings



The Rangers made up a deficit of 11 points in the last third of the season to pass the Leafs and finish in 1st place. They went on a 11-2-3 run. The young Maple Leafs meanwhile, went on a terrible 3 wins in 12 games stretch which cost them first place. Still, they are back in the playoffs!



Maurice Richard’s 61 points is the lowest league leading total in a decade. Milt Schmidt had 59 in 1939/40.

Tim Horton played 52 games as a 18/19 year old on the Leafs blue line. The teenager had 18 points and a plus 12. Pretty impressive.

Gordie Howe has become a legit scoring threat and top line player. His 44 points and 19 goals were both 2nd on the Red Wings.

Johnny Bower didn’t appear in an NHL game. He’s now 24. It makes no sense to me why Detroit won’t play him.

Harry Lumley gave New York the best goaltending they have seen in a long time with a 2.15 GAA and a .910 save percentage.

[George_Bell]

1949 NHL Playoffs



1st Round

Montreal gets off to a great start looking to get back to the finals, shutting out the Leafs on the road 4-0. Cal Gardner notches 3 assists. Gardner scores with 1 minute remaining in game 2 to tie the game at 2 and force overtime. In OT, one of Toronto’s young guns comes through. Sid Smith is the hero half way through the extra frame to tie the series.


Smith's overtime goal may have saved the series for Toronto

Tod Sloan gets a goal and an assist as Toronto grabs control of the series back with a 4-2 win in game three. The young Leafs skate circles around the Habs in game 4. Smith and Sloan each score twice in an easy 4-1 win, putting the on the brink of elimination.

Milt Schmidt scores two minutes into game five and scores late in the 2nd, a goal which turned out to be the series winner. Toronto takes the game 4-2, and wins the series in 5 games. Toronto goes to the Cup finals a season after finishing last.



The Rangers begin their quest for 4 taking on a up and coming Boston team who had a really nice season. Doug Harvey has developed into a force. He’s amazingly in his 7th season, and at 24, is the games best defenseman. He’s capable of shutting down Maurice Richard, but NY has a bunch of firepower.


Is Harvey ready for the spotlight?

Harvey can’t stop the Rocket in game 1. Richard gets a goal and an assist, and Harry Lumley gets the 18 save shutout against his former team. 3-0 Rangers win the opener. Boston is able to beat Lumley in game 2, and take an early lead, but the Rangers come on in the third, and skate to a 4-2 win.

New York uses a 3 goal second period, highlighted by two Bill Ezinicki goals to edge the Bruins 5-4 in the third game. Facing elimination, Boston can’t muster a goal in the 4th game. Harry Lumley stops 19 shots as the Rangers sweep the Bruins!

[George_Bell]

Some interesting notes about this series. This is New York’s 5th straight trip to the Stanley Cup. Each previous series was against the Canadiens. New York has also won the last 3 championships. Each time they had a different starting goalie. That trend continues, as Harry Lumley is the Rangers 4th different starter in the last 4 years.

Toronto has the depth, but not the experience the Rangers have. Milt Schmidt will be counted on if the Leafs can pull the upset. Other then Schmidt, this group is really young, without having any playoff success before right now. Sid Smith hurt his hand late in the first round and is availability for the finals is up in the air.

[George_Bell]

Game one is a close checking, low scoring affair. Tied at 2 in the third, Harry Watson pots the game winner on the power play. New York begins their title defense with a 3-2 victory. The Rangers keep up a strong defensive effort, holding Toronto to just 14 shots in game 2, but Vic Lynn scored early in the first, and Chuck Rayner made 29 saves, earning a 1-0 shutout win! Toronto ties the series.


Rayner earns the Game 2 shutout.

Chuck Rayner makes 22 saves, and Marty Pavelich scored in the final moments, to steal game 3 for the Leafs 2-1. Toronto is getting the timely goals and amazing goaltending so far. Game four is the game New York breaks through. Ted Kennedy gets 3 points, Maurice Richard 2. New York outshoots the Leafs 36-17, and takes the game 5-2. We are tied at 2.


Kennedy leads the Rangers to a dominant game four win.

A much better effort from Toronto in game 5, but Harry Watson scores twice, and Maurice Richard added an insurance goal, giving the Rangers a 3-1 win, putting them a game away from the title.

Back in Toronto for game 6, the Leafs jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Horton and Sloan. The Rangers responded in the 2nd to even the game, then got a early third period goal from Butch Bouchard. Toronto got a good amount of pressure in the period, but Johnny Pierson scores in the empty net, and the Rangers win the game 4-2. NEW YORK wins another Stanley Cup!!

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

1949 NHL Offseason News and Notes

As always, here are the top 10 scorers from the just completed playoffs.



Montreal’s Ted Lindsay is awarded the Hart Trophy. His first league MVP. I would have given it to Milt Schmidt, who led the Leafs from last to the Cup finals, finishing second in scoring. Sugar Jim Henry wins his first Gardiner Trophy. He had a great year, leading the Bruins to finish just a few points out of first.





Earl Seibert has been elected into the Hall of Fame. It’s hard in a sim game like this to determine great defensive players. Plus/minus is more or less a misleading stat, that at best, tells part of a story. Seibert played on some bad teams and has a -43 career number.

When Chicago won their cups though, he was their top defenseman. He put up game ratings around 70, which is excellent. He was never the teams biggest star, or the league’s best defenseman, but the role he played, on a great dynasty, plus he’s 4th all time in defenseman scoring, suggest to me the Hall of Fame is where he belongs!



Wow, what a stacked first round in this years draft. Pierre Pilote is a number 1 defenseman in the making. Glenn Hall looks like the future star goalie in Montreal. Boom Boom Geoffrion and Dickie Moore are talented players that will fit in perfectly with the youth in Boston and Toronto.



Top pick Jean Beliveau is a star. He could, and should play right now. He doesn’t need any seasoning. This is a lottery pick for Chicago, meaning they just didn’t get a typical top pick, they got a franchise altering star.

[George_Bell]

1949-50 Season Preview





Top Player



Ted Lindsay has taken over as the best player in hockey. He, Richard, Howe, and Kennedy are hockey’s 5 star players. Richard is the best offensive player, but Lindsay's physical and defensive ratings give him the edge!

Top Goalie

[George_Bell]

1949-50 NHL Regular Season

The season has been expanded to 70 games this year. Backup goalies, and depth are now more important then ever.

Another year, and Johnny Bower again passes through waivers in order to be sent to the minors. This game hates Johnny Bower.



A month into the season, Toronto promoted top prospect Terry Sawchuk. With Chuck Rayner starting, they waived former star Bill Durnan. He was claimed by the Rangers and is now the Rangers starting goalie! For those keeping count, this is the 5th straight season, and a 5th different starting goalie in New York!


Durnan joins Richard on the Rangers

At new years, about halfway through the season, Terry Sawchuk has taken over the starting reigns for the Leafs. He’s 4-8, with a shutout and a 3.06 GAA in his first 14 appearances. The Leafs have struggled this year, and it might be better to let Chuck Rayner play. Chuck is excellent goalie, and just use Terry as the backup for the year.


Sawchuk becomes Toronto's starter.

Over in Detroit, Johnny Bower has finally been called up. He’s played 9 games for the Wings and has been excellent, going 5-2-1, with a .916 save percentage. What took you guys so long?!


Finally, Bower is in he NHL, is it for good?

With the Bruins in first place, they make a move to add some veteran presence into their lineup.



Woody Dumart, the 33 year old winger has joined the squad. Woody played a long time in Montreal. 15 seasons to be exact. The high scoring forward had 33 points in 38 games at the time of the trade. He’s also got a wealth of playoff experience, playing in 108 games! Dumart actually sits 4th all time in scoring!

Montreal gets Gus Mortson, a 25 year old defenseman who has 12 goals this year. A big shot and a lot of penalties is Mortson’s game.


Dumart joins the Bruins

A few days later, the Habs continue to rebuild their blueline, picking up Allan Stanley.



Only 23, Stanley has a bright future ahead of him. He’s already played over 300 games, and has a career game rating of 64. Not too bad. Montreal paid a hefty price, losing Howie Meeker. Despite struggling with injuries the past few seasons, Meeker two way forward, with a 30 goal season on his resume. He’s not gonna win a scoring title, but he will make your team better playing an all around game.


Stanley to Montreal.

3 days after the trade deadline, Maurice Richard goes down. He tears up his knee, which will require surgery. His season is over. The Rangers are sitting in 4th place, and are now in serious trouble. Could the 4 time cup champs miss the playoffs? Richard finishes the season with 31 goals and 55 points in 47 games.


out for the season

Jacques Plante has taken the Boston goaltending job from last year’s Gardiner Trophy winner Sugar Jim Henry! Plante is playing great, with 5 shutouts in his first 30 games, and has posted a 2.33 GAA. It’s become clear, there are too many great goalies for a 6 team league!!


Plante now starting in Boston

Final Standings



Well, the Rangers do miss the playoffs, ending their run of 4 straight championships. It was a very close race between the bottom three, and despite winning more games, the Rangers finish below Detroit!



Johnny Bower now appears number one on the Red Wings depth chart, but he plays 20 games on the season, finishing with a 2.31 GAA and a .912 save percentage. Detroit is starting Dick Bittner instead.

Wally Hergesheimer is a surprise. He was a third line guy playing with Boston, who was traded for another third line guy. He got 46 points a few years ago with the Habs, but regressed to 27 last year. He broke out in a crazy way this year. 44 goals and 79 points!! “Hergie” might have just become a star!



Syl Apps spent all year in the minor leagues. Detroit had no use for the legend. At 35, he’s certainly slowed down in recent years, and it appears is career in the NHL is over. I hope he retires rather then spend another year in the AHL.

After joining Boston, Woody Dumart did what he was expected too. He scored 11 times and dished out 14 assists in 24 games. He was a great addition to a team still trying to win their first title.

[enf91]

Pretty sad, really: the Rangers are the New York Richards at this point. They can't be that void of talent. What's going on there?
Well, the Canadiens have to be favorites now that their biggest obstacle failed to qualify.

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by enf91

Pretty sad, really: the Rangers are the New York Richards at this point. They can't be that void of talent. What's going on there?
Well, the Canadiens have to be favorites now that their biggest obstacle failed to qualify.

Here is the Rangers depth chart at the end of the season.



They have Ted Kennedy, who is rated as a star, obviously. He's still 24, so that's a huge piece. Johnny Pierson is solid, Max Bentley has had age catch up with him. Here is the teams scoring leaders this year, and you can see that without Maurice, this group didn't even come close to scoring at all.

[George_Bell]

1950 NHL Playoffs


Toronto vs Montreal

With Terry Sawchuk manning the pipes, the Leafs came out of the gates firing. It was 5-0 halfway through the game, ending 5-1. Toronto had to come from behind in the 2nd game, tying the contest at 3 halfway through the third. With 3 minutes remaining, Gerry Couture potted the winner to give them a 2-0 lead in the series.


Sawchuk wins his first playoff start!

Back at Maple Leaf Gardens, Montreal is outshot 44-19, and get blown out 7-1 to put them a game away from elimination. Wally Hergesheimer made sure a sweep would not happen, scoring a natural hat trick in the first period, triggering a 5-1 Montreal win.


Hergesheimer nets the natural hatty!

Montreal’s Gus Mortson scores the only goal of game five, and things are getting interesting. In Toronto for game six, the Habs jump out to a 2-0 lead with goals by Ted Lindsay and Allan Stanley. Toronto fought back to tie it at 2, but Wally Hergesheimer put Montreal back up to stay in the third. Montreal wins 3 straight to force a game 7.

In game 7, Toronto grabbed the early advantage, and led 2-1 entering the third. Fleming Mackell scores his 2nd playoff goal to tie the game and bring the forum crowd to their feet. Minutes later, Frank Eddolls silences the crowd, converting a Milt Schmidt pass, and Toronto is able to hold on to a 3-2 win. The Leafs win the series.



Boston vs Detroit

Both teams have interesting goalie situations. Doug Bitner and Sugar Jim Henry start, leaving Johnny Bower and Jacque Plante on the bench. Gordie Howe gets, well, a Gordie Howe hat trick in the first period of game one. That’s a goal, assist and fight, leading the Wings to a 4-2 win. The Bruins score 4 times in the opening period of game 2, which is enough for them to win it 4-2, and tie the series.


The Gordie Howe hattrick!

Bill Mosienko is the only goal scorer of game three. Sugar Jim Henry records the 1-0 shutout victory. Game four would need overtime, and after no scoring, they play a second overtime, which ends early. Bert Olmstead converts on a power play for Detroit, giving them the 3-2 win, tying the series.


Olmstead scores in double overtime for Detroit!
Sid Abel stared in game five, flying around the ice, doing whatever he wanted. 3 goals and an assist helping the Bruins take the 5-1 game. Facing elimination, a desperate Detroit team found themselves trailing after one. Bert Olmstead again came through though. He scores twice, while Bitner shut the door, giving Detroit a series tying 2-1 win.

Game 7 is never close. Sid Abel again dominates, with a goal and 2 assists. Detroit is held to 19 shots, and the Bruins run away with the series clinching 5-1 victory!

[George_Bell]

Doug Harvey is questionable to play in this series, and that’s a huge loss for the Bruins. Boston is a defense first team, and without their best player, it’s gonna to be very difficult stopping the Leafs offense. Toronto has 2 excellent scoring lines, and a deep blue line. I think they under performed during he regular season, and are really much better then 31-28-11. Without Harvey, I have to pick the Leafs!

[George_Bell]

Terry Sawchuk and Jim Henry dominate for the opening two periods. Both goalies have the game scoreless entering the third. Sid Abel and Bill Mosienko then score 49 seconds apart to give the Bruins the lead. They would add a third goal late and win the opening game 3-0. Milt Schmidt gets Toronto’s first goal of the series short handed late in the first period. The Bruins however battled back and led 3-2 after two periods. Tim Horton scores on a point shot, and little known Tony Licari scores 80 seconds later to give Toronto the lead and eventually, the 4-3 win!


Henry gets the game one shutout!

In Boston for game three, Terry Sawchuk stops 25 shots, and Tim Horton scores his 2nd goal of the series. The Leafs win it 2-0, and take the lead in the series. Both goalies are again great in game 4. There is no scoring until the 3rd period, when the flood gates opened. Boston grabbed the lead, only to see Toronto score 2 goals in 2 minutes. Bill Mosienko tied it for the Bruins. That tie lasted 21 seconds, as Gerry Couture gets his 7th playoff goal, the game winner, which gives the Leafs the 3-2 win.


Sawchuk gets the game three shutout!

Couture gets his 8th in the opening period of game 5. Paul Ronty nabs 2 assists and the Leafs lead 2-1 after one. Boston can’t get anything going in the 2nd. Sid Smith adds to the Toronto lead midway through the third, and Jim Bedard puts the game away. Toronto wins 4-1, and takes the series in 5 games!

[George_Bell]

[Nickphillies]

Loving seeing alternate timelines! Especially seeing guys like Wally Hergesheimer go off like he did.