1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks season

National Hockey League team season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 36th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off of a third-place finish in 1960–61, as they finished with a 29–24–17 record, earning 75 points, which was a franchise record, and the first time since 1946 that the Hawks had an over .500 record.

League3rd NHL
1961–62 record31–26–13
Home record20–10–5
Road record11–16–8
Quick facts Chicago Black Hawks, League ...
1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks
League3rd NHL
1961–62 record31–26–13
Home record20–10–5
Road record11–16–8
Goals for217
Goals against186
Team information
General managerTommy Ivan
CoachRudy Pilous
CaptainPierre Pilote
ArenaChicago Stadium
Team leaders
GoalsBobby Hull (50)
AssistsStan Mikita and Bill Hay (52)
PointsBobby Hull (84)
Penalty minutesEric Nesterenko, Pierre Pilote and Stan Mikita (97)
WinsGlenn Hall (31)
Goals against averageGlenn Hall (2.63)
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During the off-season, the Black Hawks traded away team captain Ed Litzenberger to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Gerry Melnyk and Brian Smith. Chicago also had some problems signing some of their players, as Stan Mikita, Reg Fleming, and Dollard St. Laurent all refused to sign their contracts, however, they all eventually came to terms. With Litzenberger traded away, the team named defenseman Pierre Pilote as the new captain.

The defending champions started off the season slow, earning only one win in their first eleven games, as they had a record of 1–5–5, however, the team rebounded, and put together a 16–12–8 record in the next 36 games to get to the .500 level. The Black Hawks then got hot, as they then won six games in a row, followed shortly by a four-game winning streak, as the team managed to finish the season with a 31–26–13 record, tying a club record with 75 points, and setting a team record for wins in a season at 31, which was two more than the previous high of 29 set the previous season.[1]

Offensively, Chicago was led by Bobby Hull, who set a team record with 50 goals and 84 points. He became the third player in NHL history, Maurice Richard and Bernie Geoffrion were the others, to score 50 goals in a season.[2] Hull's 84 points tied him with Andy Bathgate of the New York Rangers for the league lead, however, since Hull scored more goals, he was awarded the Art Ross Trophy. Stan Mikita emerged as an offensive force, breaking out with a team high 52 assists and 77 points, while Bill Hay also recorded 52 assists en route to a 63-point season. Pierre Pilote led the Hawks blueline, scoring 7 goals and 42 points, while tying Mikita and Eric Nesterenko for the most penalty minutes on the team, with 97.

In goal, Glenn Hall once again played in all 70 games, setting a team record for wins with 31, and posting a 2.63 GAA, along with 9 shutouts. [3]

Chicago would face the Montreal Canadiens in the best of seven NHL semi-final for the fourth consecutive season. The Canadiens were once again heavily favored to defeat the Hawks, as they had an NHL best 98 points, which was 23 more than Chicago. Montreal opened the series off by winning the opening two games at the Montreal Forum by scores of 2–1 and 4–3 to take an early 2–0 series lead, however, as the series shifted over to Chicago Stadium, the Black Hawks took advantage, winning the next two games by scores of 4–1 and 5–3 to even up the series. The fifth game was back in Montreal, however, Chicago stayed hot, and narrowly defeated the Canadiens 4–3 to return home with a 3–2 series lead. The Hawks again took advantage of their home ice, shutting out the Canadiens 2–0, and eliminating Montreal for the second straight season, and earning a spot in the finals.

Chicago would face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1962 Stanley Cup Finals. The Leafs had a strong regular season, earning 85 points, and had defeated the fourth place New York Rangers to clinch a spot in the finals. The series opened at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, and much like their previous series against the Canadiens, the Black Hawks quickly found themselves down 2–0, as Toronto won the first two games by scores of 4–1 and 3–2. The next two games were held in Chicago, and the Black Hawks continued their home ice winning streak, taking the two games by scores of 3–0 and 4–1 to pull even. The clubs were back in Toronto for the fifth game, and it was the Maple Leafs easily beating Chicago 8–4 to take a 3–2 series lead. Toronto ended Chicago's five game home winning streak in the sixth game, holding off Chicago for a 2–1 win, and ending the Hawks chance of a second straight championship.[4]

Season standings

More information GP, W ...
National Hockey League[5]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Montreal Canadiens70421414259166+9398
2Toronto Maple Leafs70372211232180+5285
3Chicago Black Hawks70312613217186+3175
4New York Rangers70263212195207−1264
5Detroit Red Wings70233314184219−3560
6Boston Bruins7015478177306−12938
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Record vs. opponents

More information NHL Records, Team ...
1961–62 NHL Records [6]
Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYR TOR
Boston —2–10–24–8–23–10–12–10–24–9–1
Chicago 10–2–2—7–3–43–9–27–6–14–6–4
Detroit 8–4–23–7–4—3–8–36–5–33–9–2
Montreal 10–3–19–3–28–3–3—8–1–57–4–3
New York 10–2–26–7–15–6–31–8–5—4–9–1
Toronto 9–4–16–4–49–3–24–7–39–4–1—
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Schedule and results

Regular season

More information Game, Result ...
1961–62 regular season[1]
October: 1–4–5 (home: 1–2–1; road: 0–2–4), 7 points
GameResultDateOpponentScoreRecordPoints
1TOctober 14, 1961@ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)3–30–0–11
2TOctober 15, 1961Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)2–20–0–22
3WOctober 17, 1961Boston Bruins (1961–62)5–31–0–24
4LOctober 19, 1961New York Rangers (1961–62)4–21–1–24
5TOctober 21, 1961@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)1–11–1–35
6LOctober 22, 1961Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)2–31–2–35
7TOctober 25, 1961@ New York Rangers (1961–62)1–11–2–46
8LOctober 26, 1961@ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)1–71–3–46
9TOctober 29, 1961@ Boston Bruins (1961–62)2–21–3–57
10LOctober 31New York Rangers (1961–62)2–41–4–57
November: 5–4–1 (home: 4–1–1; road: 1–3–0), 11 points
GameResultDateOpponentScoreRecordPoints
11LNovember 4, 1961@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)1–21–5–57
12WNovember 5, 1961@ Boston Bruins (1961–62)4–32–5–59
13WNovember 7, 1961Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)6–03–5–511
14LNovember 11, 1961@ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)1–23–6–511
15LNovember 12, 1961@ New York Rangers (1961–62)1–43–7–511
16WNovember 15, 1961Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)2–04–7–513
17TNovember 19, 1961Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)3–34–7–614
18LNovember 23, 1961Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)2–54–8–614
19WNovember 26, 1961Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)4–15–8–616
20WNovember 29, 1961Boston Bruins (1961–62)7–46–8–618
December: 4–5–5 (home: 0–2–2; road: 4–3–3), 13 points
GameResultDateOpponentScoreRecordPoints
21LDecember 2, 1961@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)4–66–9–618
22LDecember 3, 1961Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)0–16–10–618
23WDecember 6, 1961@ New York Rangers (1961–62)8–37–10–620
24WDecember 7, 1961@ Boston Bruins (1961–62)5–28–10–622
25LDecember 9, 1961@ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)0–38–11–622
26LDecember 10, 1961Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)2–38–12–622
27TDecember 13, 1961Boston Bruins (1961–62)2–28–12–723
28WDecember 17, 1961New York Rangers (1961–62)3–19–12–725
29WDecember 21, 1961@ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)4–310–12–727
30LDecember 23, 1961@ New York Rangers (1961–62)3–710–13–727
31TDecember 25, 1961Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)3–310–13–828
32TDecember 27, 1961@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)0–010–13–929
33TDecember 28, 1961@ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)2–210–13–1030
34TDecember 30, 1961@ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)4–410–13–1131
January: 7–4–2 (home: 6–2–1; road: 1–2–1), 16 points
GameResultDateOpponentScoreRecordPoints
35WJanuary 1, 1962Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)2–011–13–1133
36WJanuary 3, 1962New York Rangers (1961–62)2–112–13–1135
37TJanuary 4, 1962@ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)1–112–13–1236
38LJanuary 6, 1962@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)3–612–14–1236
39LJanuary 7, 1962Boston Bruins (1961–62)0–212–15–1236
40WJanuary 11, 1962@ Boston Bruins (1961–62)6–013–15–1238
41WJanuary 13, 1962New York Rangers (1961–62)4–214–15–1240
42TJanuary 14, 1962Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)2–214–15–1341
43LJanuary 17, 1962Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)3–714–16–1341
44WJanuary 21, 1962New York Rangers (1961–62)3–115–16–1343
45WJanuary 24, 1962Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)2–116–16–1345
46LJanuary 27, 1962@ Boston Bruins (1961–62)3–516–17–1345
47WJanuary 28, 1962@ New York Rangers (1961–62)3–017–17–1347
48WJanuary 31, 1962Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)4–118–17–1349
February: 9–4–0 (home: 6–1–0; road: 3–3–0), 18 points
GameResultDateOpponentScoreRecordPoints
49WFebruary 1, 1962@ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)7–419–17–1351
50WFebruary 3, 1962Boston Bruins (1961–62)6–320–17–1353
51WFebruary 4, 1962Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)2–121–17–1355
52WFebruary 8, 1962@ Boston Bruins (1961–62)6–222–17–1357
53LFebruary 10, 1962@ New York Rangers (1961–62)1–222–18–1357
54LFebruary 11, 1962Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)3–422–19–1357
55WFebruary 14, 1962New York Rangers (1961–62)4–323–19–1359
56LFebruary 17, 1962@ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)2–623–20–1359
57WFebruary 18, 1962Boston Bruins (1961–62)6–024–20–1361
58WFebruary 21, 1962Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)6–425–20–1363
59WFebruary 24, 1962@ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)6–126–20–1365
60WFebruary 25, 1962Boston Bruins (1961–62)8–027–20–1367
61LFebruary 28, 1962@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)2–427–21–1367
March: 4–4–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 2–3–0), 8 points
GameResultDateOpponentScoreRecordPoints
62WMarch 1, 1962@ Boston Bruins (1961–62)5–428–21–1369
63WMarch 4, 1962Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)5–229–21–1371
64LMarch 11, 1962Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)2–329–22–1371
65LMarch 15, 1962@ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)5–629–23–1371
66WMarch 17, 1962@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)3–130–23–1373
67LMarch 18, 1962@ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)1–430–24–1373
68WMarch 20, 1962Detroit Red Wings (1961–62)3–031–24–1375
69LMarch 24, 1962@ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)3–531–25–1375
70LMarch 25, 1962@ New York Rangers (1961–62)1–431–26–1375

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

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Playoffs

More information 1962 Stanley Cup playoffs, Game ...
1962 Stanley Cup playoffs[1]
Semifinals vs. (1) Montreal Canadiens – Black Hawks win 4–2
GameResultDateOpponentScoreOTSeries
1LMarch 27, 1962@ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)1–20–1
2LMarch 29, 1962@ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)3–40–2
3WApril 1, 1962Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)4–11–2
4WApril 3, 1962Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)5–32–2
5WApril 5, 1962@ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)4–33–2
6WApril 8, 1962Montreal Canadiens (1961–62)2–04–2
Stanley Cup Finals vs. (2) Toronto Maple Leafs – Maple Leafs win 4–2
GameResultDateOpponentScoreOTSeries
1LApril 10, 1962@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)1–40–1
2LApril 12, 1962@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)2–30–2
3WApril 15, 1962Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)3–01–2
4WApril 17, 1962Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)4–12–2
5LApril 19, 1962@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)4–82–3
6LApril 22, 1962Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62)1–22–4

Legend:   Win   Loss

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Season stats

Scoring leaders

More information Player, GP ...
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Bobby Hull7050348435
Stan Mikita7025527797
Bill Hay6011526334
Bronco Horvath6817294621
Pierre Pilote597354297
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Goaltending

PlayerGPTOIWLTGASOGAA
Glenn Hall70420031261318492.63

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

More information Player, GP ...
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Stan Mikita126152119
Bobby Hull12861412
Ab McDonald1266120
Bill Hay12371018
Kenny Wharram123478
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Goaltending

PlayerGPTOIWLGASOGAA
Glenn Hall12720663122.58

References

Sources

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