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1942–43 NHL season

(Redirected from 1943 Stanley Cup playoffs)

The 1942–43 NHL season was the 26th season of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Brooklyn Americans were dropped, leaving six teams to play a schedule of 50 games. This is the first season of the "Original Six" era of the NHL. The league's long-time president Frank Calder died due to heart disease. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.

1942–43 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 31, 1942 – April 8, 1943
Number of games50
Number of teams6
Regular season
Season championDetroit Red Wings
Season MVPBill Cowley (Bruins)
Top scorerDoug Bentley (Black Hawks)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsDetroit Red Wings
  Runners-upBoston Bruins
NHL seasons

League business

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The NHL and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) agreed in principle that a junior-aged player could become a professional whenever he wanted, to make a living under wartime conditions. They expected that NHL clubs would rely on junior-aged players as replacements due to military enlistments.[1] In October 1942, a new professional-amateur agreement was reached by NHL president Frank Calder, and CAHA president Frank Sargent. NHL teams were permitted to sign junior-aged players if the junior club was contacted first, and agreed not to sign any other junior-eligible players who had not yet played for the CAHA. The NHL continued to pay the CAHA for developing players.[2]

The Brooklyn Americans franchise was dropped, as Madison Square Garden turned down a lease agreement with team owner Red Dutton. Dutton argued that the other teams would be weakened by the war, but the other owners pointed out the number of American players serving in the armed forces was such that the Americans could not operate. A despondent Dutton left the league meeting, but was to return to the NHL sooner than he thought.

With the suspension of the Americans, this was the inaugural season of the so-called Original Six era, with the NHL consisting of six teams (the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs). This arrangement would last until the 1966–67 season, after which the league doubled in size.

Death of Frank Calder

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The league's meeting of January 25, 1943, was to have been a non-event. The only news that was supposed to come out of the meeting was that the playoffs would begin on March 20, and that all series would be best-of-seven affairs. This was resolved in the morning session.

The afternoon session had just begun and Calder had informed Red Dutton of the reserve status of his suspended franchise, when Toronto coach Hap Day noticed that Calder appeared to be in pain. Two league governors came up to his aid, but he assured them he was all right. Then Calder's face contracted as if he were in pain. He took a few steps and exclaimed "My God, there IS something wrong!" He was taken to his hotel room and a doctor diagnosed a heart attack. A specialist convinced him, despite his protests, to check into St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, where he suffered a second heart attack. In a week, Calder felt well enough to return to Montreal and checked into Montreal General Hospital. After eating a light breakfast surrounded by his family and friends, he was looking over the league books when he slipped back on the pillows of his bed and died of a third heart attack. He died on February 4, 1943, at the age of 65 years. Red Dutton was chosen as the new president, on an "interim" basis.[3]

Regular season

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Due to war-time travel restrictions, the NHL ceased playing overtimes to decide tie games on November 21 partway through the season. The last regular season overtime game was November 10, 1942, between the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Rangers, won by New York 5–3. Regular season overtime would not be re-introduced until the 1983–84 NHL season, with a slight change from playing out an entire 10-minute overtime period, to a 5-minute sudden death format.

Highlights

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Detroit finished first, partly due to the six shutouts of goaltender Johnny Mowers, who won the Vezina Trophy. During the season, Jimmy Orlando got into a stick-swinging incident with Toronto rookie Gaye Stewart and came out of it on the short end, badly cut in the face and bleeding profusely. Both players were suspended for the incident.

The Montreal Canadiens were still making progress, and coach Dick Irvin put together the first "Punch Line" of Elmer Lach, Toe Blake and Joe Benoit. Maurice Richard showed promise, but broke his leg, and Canadiens' manager Tommy Gorman began to look at him as brittle. Benoit became the first Canadien to hit the 30 goal plateau since Howie Morenz did it in 1929–30 (40 goals) scoring an even 30. Gordie Drillon also added some scoring power. The Canadiens made the playoffs by one slim point and lost to Boston in the playoffs' first round.

In contrast to the 1941–42 season, the Rangers felt the full impact of World War II and lost Art Coulter, Alex Shibicky, the Colville brothers, and Bill Juzda to the Armed Forces. Only Ott Heller was left of their defence. Babe Pratt was traded to Toronto for Hank Goldup and Dudley "Red" Garrett. Garrett proved to be an excellent replacement for Pratt. However, he only played 21 games, then gave his life in the Armed Forces. Goaltending was the Rangers problem as Steve Buzinski, Jimmy Franks, and old veteran Bill Beveridge all had to face lots of rubber as the Rangers went from first to worst.

Final standings

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National Hockey League[4]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Detroit Red Wings 50 25 14 11 169 124 +45 61
2 Boston Bruins 50 24 17 9 195 176 +19 57
3 Toronto Maple Leafs 50 22 19 9 198 159 +39 53
4 Montreal Canadiens 50 19 19 12 181 191 −10 50
5 Chicago Black Hawks 50 17 18 15 179 180 −1 49
6 New York Rangers 50 11 31 8 161 253 −92 30

Playoffs

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With the reduction of the league to six teams, the number of teams qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs was reduced to four, and the quarterfinal round was eliminated. In the best-of-seven semifinals, the first-place team would face the third-place team, while the second-place team would draw the fourth-place team, with the winners facing off in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Finals. This format would remain in place through the 1966–67 NHL season, after which expansion would increase the number of teams in the playoffs.

Playoff bracket

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Semifinals Stanley Cup Finals
      
1 Detroit 4
3 Toronto 2
1 Detroit 4
2 Boston 0
2 Boston 4
4 Montreal 1

Semifinals

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(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (3) Toronto Maple Leafs

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March 21 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–4 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Mel Hill (1) – 13:18 First period 17:24 – Carl Liscombe (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
Jack Hamilton (1) – 13:55 Third period 06:06 – Don Grosso (1)
06:43 – Eddie Wares (1)
11:00 – Les Douglas (1)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Johnny Mowers
March 23 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 4OT Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 12:36 – Joe Carveth (1)
Reg Hamilton (1) – 00:52
Lorne Carr (1) – pp – 16:27 		Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 12:47 – Joe Carveth (2)
Jack McLean (1) – 10:18 Fourth overtime period No scoring
Turk Broda Goalie stats Johnny Mowers
March 25 Detroit Red Wings 4–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Cully Simon (1) – 01:04
Carl Liscombe (2) – pp – 09:21
Sid Abel (1) – pp – 17:30 		First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Eddie Wares (2) – pp – 09:56 Third period 14:41 – pp – Bud Poile (1)
16:12 – Billy Taylor (1)
Johnny Mowers Goalie stats Turk Broda
March 27 Detroit Red Wings 3–6 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Carl Liscombe (3) – 02:15
Carl Liscombe (4) – pp – 13:50 		First period 12:02 – pp – Bud Poile (2)
17:37 – Bucko McDonald (1)
Sid Abel (2) – pp – 07:58 Second period 02:27 – Billy Taylor (2)
17:12 – Bob Davidson (1)
19:48 – pp – Sweeney Schriner (1)
No scoring Third period 17:50 – Mel Hill (2)
Johnny Mowers Goalie stats Turk Broda
March 28 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–4 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 14:54 – Eddie Wares (3)
Mel Hill (3) – 15:12
Babe Pratt (1) – 16:11 		Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 02:18 – Sid Abel (3)
08:13 – Mud Bruneteau (1)
19:59 – Sid Abel (4)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Johnny Mowers
March 30 Detroit Red Wings 3–2 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Mud Bruneteau (2) – 11:46 Second period No scoring
Joe Carveth (3) – 07:19 Third period 11:55 – Jack McLean (2)
19:47 – Sweeney Schriner (2)
Adam Brown (1) – 09:21 First overtime period No scoring
Johnny Mowers Goalie stats Turk Broda
Detroit won series 4–2


(2) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Montreal Canadiens

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This was the last time that Boston defeated Montreal in a postseason series until 1988.


March 21 Montreal Canadiens 4–5 OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Toe Blake (1) – 18:19 First period No scoring
Buddy O'Connor (1) – pp – 00:42
Toe Blake (2) – 01:52 		Second period 03:51 – Don Gallinger (1)
08:06 – pp – Art Jackson (1)
Dutch Hiller (1) – 07:40 Third period 08:37 – Oscar Aubuchon (1)
15:53 – pp – Bill Cowley (1)
No scoring First overtime period 12:30 – Don Gallinger (2)
Paul Bibeault Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
March 23 Montreal Canadiens 3–5 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 06:07 – Don Gallinger (3)
16:39 – Ab DeMarco (1)
18:02 – Art Jackson (2)
Gordie Drillon (1) – 14:28
Toe Blake (3) – 15:02
Gordie Drillon (2) – 15:45 		Third period 06:46 – Herb Cain (1)
18:56 – Art Jackson (3)
Paul Bibeault Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
March 25 Boston Bruins 3–2 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 13:44 – Elmer Lach (1)
Herb Cain (2) – 08:45 Second period 05:14 – Gordie Drillon (3)
Dit Clapper (1) – 19:08 Third period No scoring
Busher Jackson (1) – sh – 03:20 First overtime period No scoring
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Paul Bibeault
March 27 Boston Bruins 0–4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 04:14 – Jack Portland (1)
No scoring Second period 17:26 – Toe Blake (4)
No scoring Third period 08:47 – Buddy O'Connor (2)
16:06 – Joe Benoit (1)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Paul Bibeault
March 30 Montreal Canadiens 4–5 OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Elmer Lach (2) – 10:31
Buddy O'Connor (3) – 11:15 		First period 12:20 – Dit Clapper (2)
Buddy O'Connor (4) – 08:51
Gordie Drillon (4) – 13:17 		Second period 12:41 – Murph Chamberlain (1)
14:54 – Herb Cain (3)
No scoring Third period 09:49 – Herb Cain (4)
No scoring First overtime period 03:41 – Ab DeMarco (2)
Paul Bibeault Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
Boston won series 4–1


Stanley Cup Finals

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Main article: 1943 Stanley Cup Finals


April 1 Boston Bruins 2–6 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Art Jackson (4) – 18:13 First period 01:15 – Jack Stewart (1)
No scoring Second period 01:12 – Mud Bruneteau (3)
15:43 – sh – Sid Abel (5)
19:06 – Joe Carveth (4)
Ab DeMarco (3) – 17:53 Third period 01:21 – Mud Bruneteau (4)
16:24 – Mud Bruneteau (5)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Johnny Mowers
April 4 Boston Bruins 3–4 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Jack Crawford (1) – 10:16
Art Jackson (5) – 11:04 		Second period 17:06 – Les Douglas (2)
Art Jackson (6) – 16:38 Third period 05:55 – Joe Carveth (5)
06:21 – Carl Liscombe (5)
13:16 – Syd Howe (1)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Johnny Mowers
April 7 Detroit Red Wings 4–0 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Don Grosso (2) – 03:46
Don Grosso (3) – pp – 10:16 		First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Les Douglas (3) – 08:03
Don Grosso (4) – 18:41 		Third period No scoring
Johnny Mowers Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
April 8 Detroit Red Wings 2–0 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Joe Carveth (6) – 12:09 First period No scoring
Carl Liscombe (6) – 02:45 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Johnny Mowers Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
Detroit won series 4–0


Awards

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Calder Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player)		 Gaye Stewart, Toronto Maple Leafs
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)		 Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins
Lady Byng Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)		 Max Bentley, Chicago Black Hawks
O'Brien Cup:
(Stanley Cup runner-up)		 Boston Bruins
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Best regular-season record)		 Detroit Red Wings
Vezina Trophy:
(Fewest goals allowed)		 Johnny Mowers, Detroit Red Wings

All-Star teams

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First team   Position   Second team
Johnny Mowers, Detroit Red Wings G Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins
Earl Seibert, Chicago Black Hawks D Jack Crawford, Boston Bruins
Jack Stewart, Detroit Red Wings D Flash Hollett, Boston Bruins
Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins C Syl Apps, Toronto Maple Leafs
Lorne Carr, Toronto Maple Leafs RW Bryan Hextall, New York Rangers
Doug Bentley, Chicago Black Hawks LW Lynn Patrick, New York Rangers
Jack Adams, Detroit Red Wings Coach Art Ross, Boston Bruins

Player statistics

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Scoring leaders

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Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player Team GP G A PTS PIM
Doug Bentley Chicago Black Hawks 50 33 40 73 18
Bill Cowley Boston Bruins 48 27 45 72 10
Max Bentley Chicago Black Hawks 47 26 44 70 2
Lynn Patrick New York Rangers 50 22 39 61 28
Lorne Carr Toronto Maple Leafs 50 27 33 60 15
Billy Taylor Toronto Maple Leafs 50 18 42 60 2
Bryan Hextall New York Rangers 50 27 32 59 28
Toe Blake Montreal Canadiens 48 23 36 59 26
Elmer Lach Montreal Canadiens 45 18 40 58 14
Buddy O'Connor Montreal Canadiens 50 15 43 58 2

Source: NHL[5]

Leading goaltenders

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Note: GP = Games played; Mins – Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts

Player Team GP Mins GA W L T SO GAA
Johnny Mowers Detroit Red Wings 50 3010 124 25 14 11 6 2.47
Turk Broda Toronto Maple Leafs 50 3000 159 22 19 9 1 3.18
Frank Brimsek Boston Bruins 50 3000 176 24 17 9 1 3.53
Bert Gardiner Chicago Black Hawks 50 3020 180 17 18 15 1 3.58
Paul Bibeault Montreal Canadiens 50 3010 191 19 19 12 1 3.81
Jimmy Franks New York Rangers 23 1380 103 5 14 4 0 4.48
Bill Beveridge New York Rangers 17 1020 89 4 10 3 1 5.24

Coaches

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Debuts

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The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1942–43 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

Last games

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The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1942–43 (listed with their last team):

See also

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References

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  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (1994). Years of glory, 1942–1967: the National Hockey League's official book of the six-team era. Toronto, ON: McClelland and Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-2817-2.
  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
  • Dryden, Steve, ed. (2000). Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9.
  • Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley; Hughes, Morgan; Romain, Joseph; Duplacey, James (2003). The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
  • McFarlane, Brian (1973). The Story of the National Hockey League. New York: Pagurian Press. ISBN 0-684-13424-1.
Notes
  1. ^ "Young Players For N.H.L. Clubs?". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. August 22, 1942. p. 19. 
  2. ^ "New Agreement Between Pros and Amateurs". Brandon Daily Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. October 26, 1942. p. 3. 
  3. ^ Diamond(1994), p. 10
  4. ^ "1942–1943 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  5. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 148.
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