1941–42 NHL season

The 1941–42 NHL season was the 25th season of the National Hockey League. Seven teams played 48 games each. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup defeating the Detroit Red Wings winning four straight after losing the first three in a best-of-seven series, a feat only repeated to date three times in NHL history (1975, 2010, 2014) and once in Major League Baseball (2004). However the '41–42 Leafs were the only ones to achieve the feat in a championship final series.

1941–42 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationNovember 1, 1941 – April 18, 1942
Number of games48
Number of teams7
Regular season
Season championNew York Rangers
Season MVPTommy Anderson (Americans)
Top scorerBryan Hextall (Rangers)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsToronto Maple Leafs
  Runners-upDetroit Red Wings
NHL seasons

League business edit

This season was the last season for the Brooklyn Americans who had changed their name from the New York Americans in an attempt to build a civic relationship with those from the Flatbush area of New York.

Due to World War II travel restrictions on adults, the NHL demanded more junior-aged players who were free of the travel restrictions.[1] NHL president Frank Calder reported there was a general agreement with the amateur leagues that a junior-aged player should be able to determine his own financial future due to the war.[2]

Teams edit

1941-42 National Hockey League
TeamCityArenaCapacity
Boston BruinsBoston, MassachusettsBoston Garden13,909
Brooklyn AmericansNew York, New YorkMadison Square Garden15,925
Chicago Black HawksChicago, IllinoisChicago Stadium16,000
Detroit Red WingsDetroit, MichiganDetroit Olympia15,000
Montreal CanadiensMontreal, QuebecMontreal Forum12,500
New York RangersNew York, New YorkMadison Square Garden15,925
Toronto Maple LeafsToronto, OntarioMaple Leaf Gardens12,586

Regular season edit

The Americans started the season without Harvey "Busher" Jackson who refused to sign. He was then sold to Boston. But the Amerks had two positive notes: two defencemen, Tommy Anderson and Pat Egan, were now All-Star calibre. That did not prevent them from finishing last, though. On December 9, 1941, the Chicago Black Hawks-Boston Bruins game would be delayed for over a half-hour as United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared that the United States was at war.[3]

Frank Patrick suffered a heart attack and had to sell his interest in the Montreal Canadiens, and the Habs almost had to move to Cleveland. But Tommy Gorman kept the team alive. They added Emile "Butch" Bouchard to start his great career on defence and another very good player, Buddy O'Connor, at centre. Montreal had goaltending problems as Bert Gardiner slumped, and rookie Paul Bibeault replaced him. He showed flashes of brilliance, but his inexperience showed. Joe Benoit starred with 20 goals, the first Canadien to do that since 1938–39, when Toe Blake did it.

The New York Rangers had a new goaltender as Sugar Jim Henry replaced the retired Dave Kerr. Henry was one of the reasons the Rangers finished first, something they did not do again for the next 50 years.

Final standings edit

National Hockey League
GPWLTPtsGFGA
New York Rangers482917260177143
Toronto Maple Leafs482718357158136
Boston Bruins482517656160118
Chicago Black Hawks482223347145155
Detroit Red Wings481925442140147
Montreal Canadiens481827339134173
Brooklyn Americans481629335133175

[4]

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 edit

Playoff bracket edit

QuarterfinalsSemifinalsStanley Cup Finals
1New York2
2Toronto4
2Toronto4
3Boston2
5Detroit3
4Chicago1
3Boston0
5Detroit2
5Detroit2
6Montreal1

Quarterfinals edit

(3) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Chicago Black Hawks edit

March 22Boston Bruins2–1OTChicago Black HawksChicago StadiumRecap 
Roy Conacher (1) – 11:08First periodNo scoring
No scoringSecond periodNo scoring
No scoringThird period18:50 – Max Bentley (1)
Des Smith (1) – 06:51First overtime periodNo scoring
Frank BrimsekGoalie statsSam LoPresti
March 24Chicago Black Hawks4–0Boston BruinsBoston GardenRecap 
No scoringFirst periodNo scoring
Bill Mosienko (1) – 03:57
Alex Kaleta (1) – 10:19
Bill Carse (1) – 10:30
Second periodNo scoring
George Allen (1) – 06:27Third periodNo scoring
Sam LoPrestiGoalie statsFrank Brimsek
March 26Chicago Black Hawks2–3Boston BruinsBoston GardenRecap 
No scoringFirst period18:01 – Gordie Bruce (1)
Max Bentley (2) – 07:09
Bill Mosienko (2) – pp – 15:26
Second period00:48 – Gordie Bruce (2)
08:15 – Jack McGill (1)
No scoringThird periodNo scoring
Sam LoPrestiGoalie statsFrank Brimsek
Boston won series 2–1


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

March 22Montreal Canadiens1–2Detroit Red WingsOlympia StadiumRecap 
No scoringFirst period11:32 – Don Grosso (1)
Terry Reardon (1) – 09:57Second period02:35 – Don Grosso (2)
No scoringThird periodNo scoring
Paul BibeaultGoalie statsJohnny Mowers
March 24Detroit Red Wings0–5Montreal CanadiensMontreal ForumRecap 
No scoringFirst period12:03 – ppJim Haggarty (1)
No scoringSecond period10:26 – Terry Reardon (2)
17:20 – Butch Bouchard (1)
No scoringThird period15:41 – Joe Benoit (1)
16:17 – Gerry Heffernan (1)
Johnny MowersGoalie statsPaul Bibeault
March 26Montreal Canadiens2–6Detroit Red WingsOlympia StadiumRecap 
No scoringFirst periodNo scoring
Jim Haggarty (2) – 01:26Second period04:21 – Mud Bruneteau (1)
19:37 – Sid Abel (1)
Gerry Heffernan (2) – 19:49Third period07:30 – Joe Carveth (1)
11:40 – Mud Bruneteau (2)
13:02 – Carl Liscombe (1)
19:33 – Carl Liscombe (2)
Paul BibeaultGoalie statsJohnny Mowers
Detroit won series 2–1


Semifinals edit

(1) New York Rangers vs. (2) Toronto Maple Leafs edit

March 21New York Rangers1–3Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf GardensRecap 
Babe Pratt (1) – 02:26First period04:15 – Gordie Drillon (1)
05:33 – Nick Metz (1)
No scoringSecond period14:14 – Syl Apps (1)
No scoringThird periodNo scoring
Jim HenryGoalie statsTurk Broda
March 22Toronto Maple Leafs4–2New York RangersMadison Square Garden IIIRecap 
John McCreedy (1) – 11:41
Gordie Drillon (2) – 19:32
First periodNo scoring
No scoringSecond periodNo scoring
John McCreedy (2) – 04:49
Billy Taylor (1) – 06:15
Third period01:31 – ppMac Colville (1)
02:22 – pp – Mac Colville (2)
Turk BrodaGoalie statsJim Henry
March 24Toronto Maple Leafs0–3New York RangersMadison Square Garden IIIRecap 
No scoringFirst periodNo scoring
No scoringSecond period02:50 – ppAlex Shibicky (1)
06:10 – Alan Kuntz (1)
No scoringThird period10:49 – Mac Colville (3)
Turk BrodaGoalie statsJim Henry
March 28New York Rangers1–2Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf GardensRecap 
No scoringFirst periodNo scoring
No scoringSecond periodNo scoring
Bryan Hextall (1) – 17:32Third period09:09 – Syl Apps (2)
13:08 – Sweeney Schriner (1)
Jim HenryGoalie statsTurk Broda
March 29Toronto Maple Leafs1–3New York RangersMadison Square Garden IIIRecap 
No scoringFirst period02:01 – Alex Shibicky (2)
16:07 – Alex Shibicky (3)
No scoringSecond periodNo scoring
Pete Langelle (1) – 18:05Third period15:56 – Lynn Patrick (1)
Turk BrodaGoalie statsJim Henry
March 31New York Rangers2–3Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf GardensRecap 
No scoringFirst period11:41 – John McCreedy (3)
No scoringSecond period00:50 – Pete Langelle (2)
Phil Watson (1) – 10:31
Alf Pike (1) – pp – 12:18
Third period19:55 – Nick Metz (2)
Jim HenryGoalie statsTurk Broda
Toronto won series 4–2


(3) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings edit

March 29Detroit Red Wings6–4Boston BruinsBoston GardenRecap 
Mud Bruneteau (3) – 00:19
Eddie Wares (1) – 03:25
Carl Liscombe (3) – 10:49
First period16:24 – Roy Conacher (2)
Don Grosso (3) – 01:00
Carl Liscombe (4) – 09:20
Second period05:39 – Jack McGill (2)
Sid Abel (2) – 09:00Third period09:15 – Jack McGill (3)
16:04 – Jack McGill (4)
Johnny MowersGoalie statsFrank Brimsek
March 31Boston Bruins1–3Detroit Red WingsOlympia StadiumRecap 
Herb Cain (1) – 08:32First period03:50 – Joe Carveth (2)
No scoringSecond periodNo scoring
No scoringThird period09:46 – Joe Carveth (3)
19:54 – Don Grosso (4)
Frank BrimsekGoalie statsJohnny Mowers
Detroit won series 2–0


Stanley Cup Finals edit


April 4Detroit Red Wings3–2Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf GardensRecap 
Don Grosso (5) – 01:38
Sid Abel (3) – 12:30
First period06:36 – John McCreedy (4)
12:59 – Sweeney Schriner (2)
Don Grosso (6) – 14:11Second periodNo scoring
No scoringThird periodNo scoring
Johnny MowersGoalie statsTurk Broda
April 7Detroit Red Wings4–2Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf GardensRecap 
Don Grosso (7) – 11:48
Mud Bruneteau (4) – 14:17
First periodNo scoring
No scoringSecond period11:13 – Sweeney Schriner (3)
Don Grosso (8) – 04:15
Gerry Brown (1) – pp – 10:08
Third period13:40 – Wally Stanowski (1)
Johnny MowersGoalie statsTurk Broda
April 9Toronto Maple Leafs2–5Detroit Red WingsOlympia StadiumRecap 
Lorne Carr (1) – 15:36
Lorne Carr (2) – 16:06
First period18:20 – Gerry Brown (2)
18:40 – Joe Carveth (4)
No scoringSecond period13:12 – Pat McReavy (1)
15:11 – Syd Howe (1)
No scoringThird period07:11 – Eddie Bush (1)
Turk BrodaGoalie statsJohnny Mowers
April 12Toronto Maple Leafs4–3Detroit Red WingsOlympia StadiumRecap 
No scoringFirst periodNo scoring
Bob Davidson (1) – 13:54
Lorne Carr (3) – 15:20
Second period01:32 – Mud Bruneteau (5)
09:08 – Sid Abel (4)
Syl Apps (3) – 06:15
Nick Metz (3) – 12:45
Third period04:18 – Carl Liscombe (5)
Turk BrodaGoalie statsJohnny Mowers
April 14Detroit Red Wings3–9Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf GardensRecap 
No scoringFirst period09:29 – ppNick Metz (4)
15:14 – ppWally Stanowski (2)
No scoringSecond period01:59 – Bob Goldham (1)
04:11 – Sweeney Schriner (4)
14:11 – Don Metz (1)
14:28 – Syl Apps (4)
16:44 – sh – Don Metz (2)
Syd Howe (2) – 03:08
Alex Motter (1) – 14:03
Carl Liscombe (6) – pp – 15:45
Third period05:36 – Don Metz (3)
09:25 – Syl Apps (5)
Johnny MowersGoalie statsTurk Broda
April 16Toronto Maple Leafs3–0Detroit Red WingsOlympia StadiumRecap 
No scoringFirst periodNo scoring
Don Metz (4) – 00:14Second periodNo scoring
Bob Goldham (2) – 13:32
Billy Taylor (2) – 14:04
Third periodNo scoring
Turk BrodaGoalie statsJohnny Mowers
April 18Detroit Red Wings1–3Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf GardensRecap 
No scoringFirst periodNo scoring
Syd Howe (3) – 01:45Second periodNo scoring
No scoringThird period07:47 – Sweeney Schriner (5)
09:48 – Pete Langelle (3)
16:17 – Sweeney Schriner (6)
Johnny MowersGoalie statsTurk Broda
Toronto won series 4–3


Awards edit

Award winners
Calder Trophy:
(Best first-year player)
Grant Warwick, New York Rangers
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)
Tommy Anderson, Brooklyn Americans
Lady Byng Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)
Syl Apps, Toronto Maple Leafs
O'Brien Cup:
(Stanley Cup runner-up)
Detroit Red Wings
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Regular season champion)
New York Rangers
Vezina Trophy:
(Fewest goals allowed)
Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins
All-Star teams
First team  Position  Second team
Frank Brimsek, Boston BruinsGTurk Broda, Toronto Maple Leafs
Earl Seibert, Chicago Black HawksDPat Egan, Brooklyn Americans
Tommy Anderson, Brooklyn AmericansDBucko McDonald, Toronto Maple Leafs
Syl Apps, Toronto Maple LeafsCPhil Watson, New York Rangers
Bryan Hextall, New York RangersRWGordie Drillon, Toronto Maple Leafs
Lynn Patrick, New York RangersLWSid Abel, Detroit Red Wings
Frank Boucher, New York RangersCoachPaul Thompson, Chicago Black Hawks

Player statistics edit

Scoring leaders edit

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

PLAYERTEAMGPGAPTSPIM
Bryan HextallNew York Rangers4824325630
Lynn PatrickNew York Rangers4732225418
Don GrossoDetroit Red Wings4523305313
Phil WatsonNew York Rangers4815375258
Sid AbelDetroit Red Wings4818314945
Toe BlakeMontreal Canadiens4817284529
Bill ThomsChicago Black Hawks471530458
Gordie DrillonToronto Maple Leafs482318416
Syl AppsToronto Maple Leafs381823410
Tommy AndersonBrooklyn Americans4812294164

Source: NHL[5]

Leading goaltenders edit

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

PlayerTeamGPMinGAGAAWLTSO
Frank BrimsekBoston Bruins4729301152.35241763
Turk BrodaToronto Maple Leafs4829601362.76271836
Jim HenryNew York Rangers4829601432.90291721
Johnny MowersDetroit Red Wings4728801443.00192535
Sam LoPrestiChicago Black Hawks4728601523.19212333
Paul BibeaultMontreal Canadiens3823801313.30171921
Chuck RaynerBrooklyn Americans3623801293.47132121
Earl RobertsonBrooklyn Americans12750463.683810
Bert GardinerMontreal Canadiens10620424.061810

Coaches edit

Debuts edit

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1941–42 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

Last games edit

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1941–42 (listed with their last team):

See also edit

References edit

  • 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. ^ "Amateurs Receive $17,000". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. April 20, 1942. p. 15.
  2. ^ "Young Players For N.H.L. Clubs?". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. August 22, 1942. p. 19.
  3. ^ Hockey's Book of Firsts, p.71, James Duplacey, JG Press, ISBN 978-1-57215-037-9
  4. ^ Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0.
  5. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 148.

External links edit