Wikipedia

1929–30 NHL season

The 1929–30 NHL season was the 13th season of the National Hockey League. Ten teams played 44 games each. The Montreal Canadiens upset the heavily favoured Boston Bruins two games to none in the Stanley Cup Finals.

1929–30 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationNovember 14, 1929 – April 3, 1930
Number of games44
Number of teams10
Regular season
Season championsBoston Bruins
Season MVPNels Stewart (Maroons)
Top scorerCooney Weiland (Bruins)
Canadian Division championsMontreal Maroons
American Division championsBoston Bruins
Stanley Cup
ChampionsMontreal Canadiens
  Runners-upBoston Bruins
NHL seasons

League business

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The league instituted in the new rules the standard dimensions for ice hockey rinks, that of 200 feet (61 m) × 85 feet (26 m). The already-built Boston Garden 191 feet (58 m) × 88 feet (27 m) and the Chicago Stadium 188 feet (57 m) × 85 feet (26 m), which were smaller were exempt from the new rule.[1]

To combat low scoring, the off-side rules were rewritten. Players were now allowed forward passing in the offensive zone, instead of only in the defensive and neutral zones. Players were now allowed to enter the offensive zone before the puck.[2] The only off-side rule left was that passing was not allowed from one zone to another.[3] The changes led to abuse: players sat in front of the opposing net waiting for a pass. It was joked that players like the Maroons' Nels Stewart and the Bruins' Cooney Weiland were "setting up 'light housekeeping' at the opposition goal crease."[2] The rule was changed in mid-season and players were no longer allowed to enter the offensive zone before the puck.[4]

Arena changes

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The Chicago Black Hawks moved from the Chicago Coliseum to the Chicago Stadium in December 1929 after Paddy Harmon was removed from the presidency of the Stadium in November. Harmon had not been able to negotiate a deal with the Black Hawks, but within weeks of his ouster the Stadium's board of directors agreed to the Black Hawks' terms of US$4,500 (equivalent to $79,849 in 2023) per night and a guaranteed Sunday afternoon slot.[5] The gate receipts for the Black Hawks increased to nearly triple the previous season's receipts. The team grossed US$282,350 (equivalent to $5,149,794 in 2023) and attendance jumped to 186,920.[6]

Regular season

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Cooney Weiland of the Boston Bruins took advantage of the rule changes and smashed the old NHL scoring record with 73 points. Weiland and Tiny Thompson, who won the Vezina Trophy with a 2.23 goals against average, led the Bruins to a final season standings record of 38 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie. The Bruins set three impressive NHL records including most wins in the regular season (38), highest winning percentage (0.875), and most consecutive home ice wins (20).

The 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens and the 1944–45 Montreal Canadiens would tie the record for most wins in a season at 38. But the record remained unbroken for 21 years until March 11, 1951, when the 1950–51 Detroit Red Wings notched their 39th victory in a much longer 70-game season. The record for consecutive wins at home would stand for 82 years, being matched by the 1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers and finally surpassed on February 14, 2012, by the 2011–12 Detroit Red Wings. As of 2024 no team has ever won 38 of their first 44 games or broken the Bruins' single season winning percentage record of 0.875.[7]

Conn Smythe brought up two outstanding forwards, Harvey "Busher" Jackson, and Charlie Conacher, and combined with Joe Primeau, the Kid Line was born. Conacher actually scored on his first shift in the NHL. Jackson got his nickname Busher from Tim Daly, the Toronto trainer, when asked by Daly to assist with some sticks. "I'm a hockey player, not a stickboy", Jackson told Daly, who replied, "Why you fresh young busher!" And it was Busher Jackson from that day on.

On January 7, 1930, Clint Benedict became the first goalie in NHL history to don a protective face mask. He did so for five games to protect a broken nose. The next time a mask made its way into the NHL was almost 30 years later when Jacques Plante wore one in a game on November 1, 1959.

Frank Frederickson badly injured his knee and the Pittsburgh Pirates fortunes went from bad to worse.

Eddie Gerard resigned as manager-coach of the Montreal Maroons. He was replaced as manager by team president James Strachan. Dunc Munro was hired as coach and led the team to first place in the Canadian Division.

There was a well-founded rumour that Gerard would take the coaching reins of Ottawa from Newsy Lalonde when Lalonde was not well. Dave Gill filled in during his absence and the team did much better and made the playoffs. Gerard turned down the coaching job.

Final standings

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American Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Boston Bruins 44 38 5 1 179 98 77
Chicago Black Hawks 44 21 18 5 117 111 47
New York Rangers 44 17 17 10 136 143 44
Detroit Cougars 44 14 24 6 117 133 34
Pittsburgh Pirates 44 5 36 3 102 185 13
Canadian Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Montreal Maroons 44 23 16 5 141 114 51
Montreal Canadiens 44 21 14 9 142 114 51
Ottawa Senators 44 21 15 8 138 118 50
Toronto Maple Leafs 44 17 21 6 116 124 40
New York Americans 44 14 25 5 113 161 33

GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Playoffs

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Playoff bracket

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First roundSemifinalsFinal
C1Mtl Maroons1
A1Boston3
C2Mtl Canadiens2
C2Mtl Canadiens3G
A1Boston0
A2Chicago2G
C2Mtl Canadiens2
A3NY Rangers0
C3Ottawa3G
A3NY Rangers6G

Quarterfinals

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(A2) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (C2) Montreal Canadiens

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March 23 Montreal Canadiens 1–0 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Wildor Larochelle (1) – 07:40 Third period No scoring
George Hainsworth Goalie stats Charlie Gardiner
March 26 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 3OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Ty Arbour (1) – 01:38 First period No scoring
Earl Miller (1) – 12:49 Second period 09:20 – Howie Morenz (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring Third overtime period 11:53 – Howie Morenz (2)
Charlie Gardiner Goalie stats George Hainsworth
Montreal won series on total goals 3–2


(C3) Ottawa Senators vs. (A3) New York Rangers

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March 20 New York Rangers 1–1 Ottawa Senators Ottawa Auditorium Recap  
Leo Bourgeault (1) – 09:45 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 06:45 – Art Gagne (1)
John Ross Roach Goalie stats Alex Connell
March 23 Ottawa Senators 2–5 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Bill Touhey (1) – 08:00 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 09:02 – Bun Cook (1)
18:02 – Frank Boucher (1)
Harold Starr (1) – 13:26 Third period 04:16 – Murray Murdoch (1)
05:25 – Murray Murdoch (2)
06:46 – Bun Cook (2)
Alex Connell Goalie stats John Ross Roach
New York won series on total goals 6–3


Semifinals

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(A1) Boston Bruins vs. (C1) Montreal Maroons

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March 20 Boston Bruins 2–1 3OT Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Cooney Weiland (1) – 12:34 Second period 09:41 – Dunc Munro (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Harry Oliver (1) – 05:35 Third overtime period No scoring
Tiny Thompson Goalie stats Flat Walsh
March 22 Boston Bruins 4–2 Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Marty Barry (1) – 04:00
Harry Oliver (2) – 05:35
Dit Clapper (1) – 07:30 		Second period No scoring
Dit Clapper (2) – 19:24 Third period 10:07 – Hooley Smith (1)
13:22 – Nels Stewart (1)
Tiny Thompson Goalie stats Flat Walsh
March 25 Montreal Maroons 1–0 2OT Boston Bruins Boston Madison Square Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Archie Wilcox (1) – 06:26 Second overtime period No scoring
Flat Walsh Goalie stats Tiny Thompson
March 27 Montreal Maroons 1–5 Boston Bruins Boston Madison Square Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 15:26 – Marty Barry (2)
No scoring Second period 08:11 – Lionel Hitchman (1)
Dunc Munro (2) – 19:08 Third period 06:51 – Bill Carson (1)
11:30 – Marty Barry (3)
17:39 – Dit Clapper (4)
Flat Walsh Goalie stats Tiny Thompson
Boston won series 3–1


(C2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A3) New York Rangers

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March 28 New York Rangers 1–2 4OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Murray Murdoch (3) – 15:34 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 16:44 – Armand Mondou (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring Fourth overtime period 08:52 – Gus Rivers (1)
John Ross Roach Goalie stats George Hainsworth
March 30 Montreal Canadiens 2–0 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Nick Wasnie (1) – 14:56
Pit Lepine (1) – 15:56 		First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
George Hainsworth Goalie stats John Ross Roach
Montreal won series 2–0


Stanley Cup Finals

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Main article: 1930 Stanley Cup Finals

After defeating the Montreal Maroons and after having not lost consecutive games all season, the Boston Bruins were swept by the Montreal Canadiens two games to none in a best-of-three series. The first game saw Boston play way below its usual form. The Canadiens then won the Stanley Cup with a 4–3 victory in game two. The Canadiens went 5–0–1 in the playoffs, making them one of the few Stanley Cup-winning teams in history to not lose a game in the playoffs.


April 1 Montreal Canadiens 3–0 Boston Bruins Boston Madison Square Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Albert Leduc (1) – 08:43
Sylvio Mantha (1) – 13:17 		Second period No scoring
Pit Lepine (2) – 06:27 Third period No scoring
George Hainsworth Goalie stats Tiny Thompson
April 3 Boston Bruins 3–4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 09:10 – Bert McCaffrey (1)
17:36 – Nick Wasnie (2)
Eddie Shore (1) – 10:42 Second period 01:33 – Sylvio Mantha (2)
15:43 – Howie Morenz (3)
Percy Galbraith (1) – 08:47
Dit Clapper (4) – 10:59 		Third period No scoring
Tiny Thompson Goalie stats George Hainsworth
Montreal won series 2–0


Awards

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Nels Stewart won the Hart Trophy for the second time. Frank Boucher won the Lady Byng for the third consecutive year. Tiny Thompson won the Vezina for the first time. Thompson would go on to win the trophy four times.

1929–30 NHL awards
O'Brien Cup:
(Canadian Division champion)		 Montreal Maroons
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(American Division champion)		 Boston Bruins
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)		 Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroons
Lady Byng Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)		 Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
Vezina Trophy:
(Fewest goals allowed)		 Tiny Thompson, 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
Cooney Weiland Boston Bruins 44 43 30 73 27
Frank Boucher New York Rangers 42 26 36 62 16
Dit Clapper Boston Bruins 44 41 20 61 48
Bill Cook New York Rangers 44 29 30 59 56
Hec Kilrea Ottawa Senators 44 36 22 58 70
Nels Stewart Montreal Maroons 44 39 16 55 81
Howie Morenz Montreal Canadiens 44 40 10 50 72
Norman Himes New York Americans 44 28 22 50 15
Joe Lamb Ottawa Senators 44 29 20 49 119
Dutch Gainor Boston Bruins 42 18 31 49 39

Source: NHL.[8]

Leading goaltenders

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Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP W L T Mins GA SO GAA
Tiny Thompson Boston Bruins 44 38 5 1 2680 98 3 2.19
Flat Walsh Montreal Maroons 30 16 10 4 1897 74 2 2.34
George Hainsworth Montreal Canadiens 42 20 13 9 2680 108 4 2.42
Charlie Gardiner Chicago Black Hawks 44 21 16 9 2750 111 3 2.42
Alex Connell Ottawa Senators 44 21 15 8 2780 118 3 2.55

Source: NHL.[9]

Coaches

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American Division

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Canadian Division

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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 1929–30 (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 1929–30 (listed with their last team):

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Duplacey 1996, pp. 1–2.
  2. ^ a b Ross 2015, p. 171.
  3. ^ Duplacey 1996, p. 143.
  4. ^ Duplacey 1996, p. 144.
  5. ^ Ross 2015, pp. 204–205.
  6. ^ Ross 2015, p. 205.
  7. ^ "NHL Team Records". HockeyCentral.co.uk. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  8. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 146.
  9. ^ "1929–1930 – Regular Season – Goaltender – Goalie Season Stats Leaders – Goals Against Average". nhl.com. Retrieved June 21, 2012.

Sources

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