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1938–39 NHL season

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The 1938–39 NHL season was the 22nd season of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Montreal Maroons suspended operations prior to the season. With seven teams left playing 48 games, the league reverted back to a one division format. The Boston Bruins were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs four games to one in the final series.

1938–39 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationNovember 3, 1938 – April 16, 1939
Number of games48
Number of teams7
Regular season
Season championsBoston Bruins
Season MVPToe Blake (Canadiens)
Top scorerToe Blake (Canadiens)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsBoston Bruins
  Runners-upToronto Maple Leafs
NHL seasons

League business

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Just prior to the start of the 1938–39 season, the league held a meeting to decide the fate of the Montreal Maroons. The team had requested a shift to St. Louis, but this was rejected after considerable discussion, resulting in the Maroons suspending operations for the season. They sold most of their players to the Canadiens, and it was evident that the Maroons were through for good. This was the last time a team that had previously won a Stanley Cup either folded or relocated to another market. With only seven teams left, the NHL decided to go back to the one division format.

The Stanley Cup Finals were expanded to a best-of-seven format.

NHL president Frank Calder reached a new professional-amateur agreement with Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) and its president W. G. Hardy in August 1938. The CAHA agreed not to allow international transfers for players on NHL reserve lists, and the NHL agreed not to sign any junior players without permission. It limited the number of amateur players which could be signed to contracts, and stipulated that both organizations use the same playing rules and recognize each other's suspensions.[1]

Regular season

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Prior to the start of the season, the Boston Bruins sold their star goaltender, Tiny Thompson, who had just won a record fourth Vezina Trophy, to the Detroit Red Wings. The fans thought Art Ross was crazy, but soon they were applauding rookie Frank Brimsek, who would go on to back-stop the Bruins to a first overall finish and a Stanley Cup victory. He wiped out Thompson's shutout sequence record with three consecutive shutouts. He nearly equalled his new record with three more. He ended the season with 10 shutouts, and earned the nickname "Mr. Zero". He also became the first goaltender to win both the Vezina Trophy and Calder Memorial Trophy in the same season.

Joseph Cattarinich died on December 7 of a heart attack following an eye operation. Cattarinich was the original goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens when they were formed in 1909 and later a part-owner of the team. He was 57.

The Montreal Canadiens eroded to the point where Jules Dugal replaced Cecil Hart as manager and coach. Dugal was not much better and the Canadiens finished sixth. One bright note was that Toe Blake won the scoring title, however, despite the poor showing of the team.

Chicago, after its Stanley Cup win the previous season, began floundering at mid-season and owner Frederic McLaughlin was displeased. Accordingly, he fired coach Bill Stewart and hired left wing Paul Thompson in his place. But the Black Hawks continued to lose and finished last.

The New York Americans, up in third place at mid-season, proceeded to fall into a big slump in the second half and though they finished fourth, they were below .500 and had the worst defence in the league. Part of the problem was the retirements of Ching Johnson and Hap Day on defence. Al Murray was also out of action for quite a time. Still, goaltender Earl Robertson found himself on the second all-star team.

Final standings

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National Hockey League
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Boston Bruins 48 36 10 2 156 76 74
New York Rangers 48 26 16 6 149 105 58
Toronto Maple Leafs 48 19 20 9 114 107 47
New York Americans 48 17 21 10 119 157 44
Detroit Red Wings 48 18 24 6 107 128 42
Montreal Canadiens 48 15 24 9 115 146 39
Chicago Black Hawks 48 12 28 8 91 132 32

[2]

Note: 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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QuarterfinalsSemifinalsStanley Cup Finals
1Boston4
2NY Rangers3
1Boston4
3Toronto2
3Toronto1
4NY Americans0
3Toronto2
5Detroit1
5Detroit2
6Montreal1

Quarterfinals

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(3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) New York Americans

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March 21 New York Americans 0–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 04:09 – Pep Kelly (1)
No scoring Second period 10:46 – pp – Pete Langelle (1)
14:48 – Syl Apps (1)
No scoring Third period 02:31 – Gordie Drillon (1)
Alfie Moore Goalie stats Turk Broda
March 23 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–0 New York Americans Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Gordie Drillon (2) – 03:18
Gus Marker (1) – 18:12 		Third period No scoring
Turk Broda Goalie stats Alfie Moore
Toronto won series 2–0


(5) Detroit Red Wings vs. (6) Montreal Canadiens

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March 21 Detroit Red Wings 0–2 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Toe Blake (1) – pp – 13:31
Lou Trudel (1) – 17:25 		Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Tiny Thompson Goalie stats Claude Bourque
March 23 Montreal Canadiens 3–7 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Walt Buswell (1) – 18:43 First period 06:49 – Ken Kilrea (1)
Walt Buswell (2) – pp – 07:53
Armand Mondou (1) – pp – 14:22 		Second period 00:32 – pp – Marty Barry (1)
01:02 – pp – Syd Howe (1)
No scoring Third period 13:44 – pp – Syd Howe (2)
14:39 – pp – Syd Howe (3)
17:02 – Sid Abel (1)
18:30 – Eddie Wares (1)
Claude Bourque Goalie stats Tiny Thompson
March 26 Montreal Canadiens 0–1 OT Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring First overtime period 07:47 – pp – Marty Barry (2)
Claude Bourque Goalie stats Tiny Thompson
Detroit won series 2–1


Semifinals

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(1) Boston Bruins vs. (2) New York Rangers

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This series was the first to need seven games in NHL history; additionally, the Rangers were the first team in NHL history to force a Game seven after losing the first three games of a series. Mel Hill, a right winger for the Bruins, scored a record three overtime goals in a single series.[3]


March 21 Boston Bruins 2–1 3OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 18:18 – pp – Alex Shibicky (1)
Bill Cowley (1) – pp – 04:50 Third period No scoring
Mel Hill (1) – 19:25 Third overtime period No scoring
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Dave Kerr
March 23 New York Rangers 2–3 OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 18:15 – Roy Conacher (1)
19:13 – Bill Cowley (2)
Alex Shibicky (2) – 14:20 Second period No scoring
Dutch Hiller (1) – 17:46 Third period No scoring
No scoring First overtime period 08:24 – Mel Hill (2)
Bert Gardner Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
March 26 New York Rangers 1–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 07:38 – Gord Pettinger (1)
Babe Pratt (1) – 13:06 Second period 00:25 – Milt Schmidt (1)
No scoring Third period 10:00 – Milt Schmidt (2)
12:06 – Bill Cowley (3)
Bert Gardiner Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
March 28 Boston Bruins 1–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Milt Schmidt (3) – 00:49 First period 08:58 – Mac Colville (1)
No scoring Second period 10:02 – sh – Lynn Patrick (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Bert Gardiner
March 30 New York Rangers 2–1 OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Art Coulter (1) – 06:20 First period 07:39 – Bobby Bauer (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Clint Smith (1) – 17:19 First overtime period No scoring
Bert Gardiner Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
April 1 Boston Bruins 1–3 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Mel Hill (3) – 11:40 Second period 14:08 – Phil Watson (1)
No scoring Third period 05:58 – pp – Bill Carse (1)
09:25 – pp – Alex Shibicky (3)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Bert Gardiner
April 2 New York Rangers 1–2 3OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Muzz Patrick (1) – 17:45 Second period 15:52 – Ray Getliffe (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring Third overtime period 08:00 – Mel Hill (4)
Bert Gardiner Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
Boston won series 4–3


(3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings

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March 28 Detroit Red Wings 1–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 05:03 – Nick Metz (1)
09:36 – pp – Gordie Drillon (3)
Marty Barry (3) – pp – 10:35 Second period 02:55 – pp – Nick Metz (2)
04:10 – pp – Gordie Drillon (4)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Tiny Thompson Goalie stats Turk Broda
March 30 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Gordie Drillon (5) – pp – 09:00 First period 06:30 – pp – Charlie Conacher (1)
15:00 – Don Deacon (1)
18:00 – Herbie Lewis (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Turk Broda Goalie stats Tiny Thompson
April 1 Detroit Red Wings 4–5 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Don Grosso (1) – 15:14 First period 05:05 – pp – Nick Metz (3)
16:48 – Gordie Drillon (6)
Don Deacon (2) – pp – 15:51 Second period No scoring
Charlie Conacher (2) – 04:46
Hec Kilrea (1) – 11:07 		Third period 08:20 – Bob Davidson (1)
09:23 – Murph Chamberlain (1)
No scoring First overtime period 05:42 – Gordie Drillon (7)
Tiny Thompson Goalie stats Turk Broda
Toronto won series 2–1


Stanley Cup Finals

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Main article: 1939 Stanley Cup Finals


April 6 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–2 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 16:04 – Woody Dumart (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
Red Horner (1) – 13:54 Third period 16:31 – Bobby Bauer (2)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
April 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Murph Chamberlain (2) – 08:55
Syl Apps (2) – 09:29 		First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 15:05 – Roy Conacher (2)
16:18 – Mel Hill (5)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Doc Romnes (1) First overtime period No scoring
Turk Broda Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
April 11 Boston Bruins 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Bobby Bauer (3) – 01:28
Roy Conacher (3) – 08:12
Jack Crawford (1) – 13:03 		Third period 19:11 – Gus Marker (2)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 13 Boston Bruins 2–0 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Roy Conacher (4) – pp – 02:20 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Roy Conacher (5) – 12:55 Third period No scoring
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 16 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–3 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Bingo Kampman (1) – 18:40 First period 11:40 – Mel Hill (6)
No scoring Second period 17:54 – Roy Conacher (6)
No scoring Third period 19:23 – Flash Hollett (1)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
Boston won series 4–1


Awards

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Award winners
Calder Trophy:
(Best first-year player)		 Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)		 Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)		 Clint Smith, New York Rangers
O'Brien Cup:
(Stanley Cup runner-up)		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(regular-season champion)		 Boston Bruins
Vezina Trophy:
(fewest goals allowed)		 Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins
All-Star teams
First team   Position   Second team
Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins G Earl Robertson, New York Americans
Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins D Earl Seibert, Chicago Black Hawks
Dit Clapper, Boston Bruins D Art Coulter, New York Rangers
Syl Apps, Toronto Maple Leafs C Neil Colville, New York Rangers
Gordie Drillon, Toronto Maple Leafs RW Bobby Bauer, Boston Bruins
Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens LW Johnny Gottselig, Chicago Black Hawks
Art Ross, Boston Bruins Coach Red Dutton, New York Americans

Player statistics

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Scoring leaders

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Player Team GP G A PTS PIM
Toe Blake Montreal Canadiens 48 24 23 47 10
Sweeney Schriner New York Americans 48 13 31 44 20
Bill Cowley Boston Bruins 34 8 34 42 2
Clint Smith New York Rangers 48 21 20 41 2
Marty Barry Detroit Red Wings 48 13 28 41 4
Syl Apps Toronto Maple Leafs 44 15 25 40 4
Tommy Anderson New York Americans 48 13 27 40 14
Johnny Gottselig Chicago Black Hawks 48 16 23 39 15
Paul Haynes Montreal Canadiens 47 5 33 38 27
Roy Conacher Boston Bruins 47 26 11 37 12

[2]

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

Leading goaltenders

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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 1938–39 (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 1938–39 (listed with their last team):

See also

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References

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  • 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. 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. 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. ^ "C.A.H.A.-N.H.L. Agreement Is Again Effected". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. August 15, 1938. p. 11. 
  2. ^ a b Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0.
  3. ^ "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Mel Hill". Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
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