1959–60 NHL season

National Hockey League season August 2023 1959–60 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey October 7, 1959 – April 14, 1960 Regular season 70 6 CBC, SRC (Canada)CBS (United States) Season champion Montreal Canadiens Gordie Howe (Red Wings) Hart Memorial Trophy Bobby Hull (Black Hawks) Art Ross Trophy Stanley Cup 1960 Stanley Cup Finals Montreal Canadiens Toronto Maple Leafs 1960–61 NHL season 1958–59 NHL season 1960–61 1958–59 NHL The 1959–60 NHL season was the 43rd season of the National Hockey League. Six teams played 70 games each. The Montreal Canadiens were the Stanley Cup winners as they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs four games to none for their fifth straight Stanley Cup. Regular season This regular season, like the two preceding it and the two following it, belonged to the Montreal Canadiens, who were in the midst of five straight first overall finishes and at the tail end of five straight Stanley Cup victories. The Detroit Red Wings, who were dead last and missed the playoffs the previous season, squeaked into the playoffs by riding a Hart Memorial Trophy performance by their ageless star right-winger, Gordie Howe. The season was marked by important changes in the NHL, as Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante, like Clint Benedict before him, began to wear a mask in hockey games. Plante, who had asthma-related problems throughout his career, first began wearing a mask in practice shortly after a sinus operation in 1957. On November 1, 1959, Plante's nose was broken by a shot from New York Rangers right-winger Andy Bathgate. After being stitched up, Plante insisted on wearing a mask for the remainder of the game. Montreal coach Toe Blake was bitterly opposed to the idea, but did not have a backup goaltender and relented after Plante said he would not return to the ice without a mask. Although many in the NHL disapproved of Plante's decision due to NHL tradition at the time, many followed suit after Plante went undefeated in ten games with the mask on. Phil Watson suffered an ulcer and was quietly dismissed as Ranger coach and replaced by Alf Pike. Gump Worsley was demoted to the Springfield Indians of the AHL and Worsley screamed he was finished with hockey, but reported to Springfield anyway. Indians owner Eddie Shore, known for his criticism of his players, gave Worsley a surprise vote of confidence. Gump played well for the Indians. There was trouble brewing for Rangers right-winger Andy Bathgate, who had ripped open Plante's nose on the night of the goalie mask's official NHL debut. In a January 1960 True Magazine article ghosted by Dave Anderson, the defending league MVP listed the names of players whom he considered guilty of the dangerous act of spearing. This was brought to the attention of NHL President Clarence Campbell, who fined Bathgate $500 and Ranger general manager Muzz Patrick $100 on the grounds the article was prejudicial to and against the welfare of the league. After being demoted to Springfield, Gump Worsley was brought back up as Marcel Paille was even worse in goal for New York. Gump and the Rangers beat the Canadiens 8–3 in his first game back on January 3, but on January 21, Montreal bombed Worsley 11-2. Later against the Chicago Black Hawks, Worsley suffered an injury that finished him for the season; Hawks' winger Bobby Hull skated over his catching glove and severed two tendons in his fingers. Al Rollins was called up to replace him. Later, Olympic hero Jack McCartan played a few games for the Rangers, acquitting himself very well. The Boston Bruins narrowly missed the playoffs despite a flurry of offense, sparked by the "Uke Line" of Johnny Bucyk, Vic Stasiuk, and Bronco Horvath. Horvath finished a close second to Chicago's Bobby Hull in the scoring race and was named to the Second All-Star Team. Slick centre Don McKenney led the NHL in assists while winning the Lady Byng Trophy and versatile Doug Mohns also contributed. 1959–60 saw two veteran Bruins, centre Fleming MacKell and goaltender Harry Lumley, play their last campaigns before retirement. This season marked the first season of the Original Six era during which every active player had played for Original Six teams only. Ken Mosdell, the last player to play for another team, retired the previous season. Final standings Stanley Cup playoffs Montreal played the minimum number of games, 8, to win the Stanley Cup and in the process, became the last Cup winners in NHL history to go undefeated in the playoffs to date. After winning the Stanley Cup, Maurice Richard retired from the NHL as a champion. Playoff bracket The top four teams in the league qualified for the playoffs. In the semifinals, the first-place team played the third-place team, while the second-place team faced the fourth-place team, with the winners advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. In both rounds, teams competed in a best-of-seven series (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). Stanley Cup Finals Semifinals 1 Montreal 4 3 Chicago 0 2 Toronto 4 4 Detroit 2 1 Montreal 4 2 Toronto 0 Semifinals (1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (3) Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Black Hawks Montreal Canadiens Chicago Stadium Montreal Forum March 24 3–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1960/03/24/1959030111#game=1959030111,game_state=final Murray Balfour (1) – 16:15 11:05 – Jean Beliveau (1)15:04 – Andre Pronovost (1) Ted Lindsay (1) – 16:18 08:45 – pp – Dickie Moore (1) Ron Murphy (1) – 18:17 10:32 – Bernie Geoffrion (1) Glenn Hall 28 saves / 32 shots Jacques Plante 19 saves / 22 shots March 26 3–4 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1960/03/26/1959030112#game=1959030112,game_state=final Kenny Wharram (1) – 13:13 11:38 – Dickie Moore (2) No scoring 17:55 – Marcel Bonin (1) Bobby Hull (1) – 02:34Bill Hay (1) – 18:58 08:35 – pp – Dickie Moore (3) No scoring 08:38 – Doug Harvey (1) Glenn Hall 36 saves / 40 shots Jacques Plante 28 saves / 31 shots March 29 4–0 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1960/03/29/1959030113#game=1959030113,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring Bill Hicke (1) – 10:15Jean-Guy Talbot (1) No scoring Donnie Marshall (1) – 09:39Bernie Geoffrion (2) – 18:04 Glenn Hall 23 saves / 27 shots Jacques Plante 23 saves / 23 shots March 31 2–0 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1960/03/31/1959030114#game=1959030114,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring Claude Provost (1) – 04:47Dickie Moore (4) – 13:09 No scoring No scoring Glenn Hall 29 saves / 31 shots Jacques Plante 25 saves / 25 shots Montreal won series 4–0 (2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings Toronto Maple Leafs Olympia Stadium Maple Leaf Gardens March 23 2–1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-tor/1960/03/23/1959030121#game=1959030121,game_state=final Gordie Howe (1) – 02:38Len Haley (1) – 14:24 No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring 16:04 – Carl Brewer (1) Terry Sawchuck 18 saves / 19 shots Johnny Bower 28 saves / 30 shots March 26 2–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-tor/1960/03/26/1959030122#game=1959030122,game_state=final Pete Goegan (1) – 16:12 13:37 – George Armstrong (1) No scoring 17:04 – Larry Regan (1) Alex Delvecchio (1) – 05:50 04:02 – Frank Mahovlich (1)19:13 – en – Bob Pulford (1) Terry Sawchuck 28 saves / 31 shots Johnny Bower 35 saves / 37 shots March 27 5–4 3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-det/1960/03/27/1959030123#game=1959030123,game_state=final 16:57 – pp – Norm Ullman (1)17:18 – Marcel Pronovost (1) No scoring 16:58 – pp – Len Lunde (1) Red Kelly (1) – 03:35Dick Duff (1) – 07:00Bob Pulford (2) – 08:05Red Kelly (2) – pp – 19:24 12:40 – Gerry Melnyk (1) No scoring No scoring Frank Mahovlich (2) – 03:00 Terry Sawchuck 47 saves / 52 shots Johnny Bower 62 saves / 66 shots March 29 1–2 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-det/1960/03/29/1959030124#game=1959030124,game_state=final 13:15 – Gary Aldcorn (1) No scoring No scoring Carl Brewer (2) – 10:29 No scoring No scoring 01:54 – pp – Gerry Melnyk (2) No scoring Terry Sawchuck 20 saves / 21 shots Johnny Bower 31 saves / 33 shots April 2 4–5 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-tor/1960/04/02/1959030125#game=1959030125,game_state=final No scoring 05:14 – pp – Allan Stanley (1)09:05 – pp – Bert Olmstead (1) Warren Godfrey (1) – 10:32Gerry Melnyk (3) – 11:56 12:45 – Allan Stanley (2) Jack McIntyre (1) – 08:36Alex Delvecchio (2) – 19:19 04:32 – Red Kelly (3)12:10 – Larry Regan (2) Terry Sawchuck 26 saves / 31 shots Johnny Bower 28 saves / 32 shots April 3 4–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-det/1960/04/03/1959030126#game=1959030126,game_state=final 05:26 – Murray Oliver (1) Bob Pulford (3) – 19:19 00:57 – pp – Norm Ullman (2) No scoring No scoring Bob Pulford (4) – 00:37Frank Mahovlich (3) – 02:40Dick Duff (2) – 17:06 Terry Sawchuck 30 saves / 34 shots Johnny Bower 28 saves / 30 shots Toronto won series 4–2 Stanley Cup Finals 1960 Stanley Cup Finals Toronto Maple Leafs Montreal Canadiens Maple Leaf Gardens Montreal Forum April 7 2–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-mtl/1960/04/07/1959030211#game=1959030211,game_state=final No scoring 02:27 – pp – Dickie Moore (5)08:55 – Doug Harvey (2)11:56 – Jean Beliveau (2) Bob Baun (1) – 05:23Bert Olmstead (2) – 17:35 No scoring No scoring 01:30 – Henri Richard (1) Johnny Bower 38 saves / 42 shots Jacques Plante 27 saves / 29 shots April 9 1–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-mtl/1960/04/09/1959030212#game=1959030212,game_state=final Larry Regan (3) – 19:32 01:26 – Dickie Moore (6)05:56 – Jean Beliveau (3) No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring Johnny Bower 34 saves / 36 shots Jacques Plante 26 saves / 27 shots April 12 5–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-tor/1960/04/12/1959030213#game=1959030213,game_state=final No scoring Donnie Marshall (2) – 13:54 16:19 – Johnny Wilson (1) Phil Goyette (1) – 00:21Henri Richard (2) – 15:27 19:47 – pp – Bert Olmstead (3) Phil Goyette (2) – 08:57Maurice Richard (1) – 10:07 Johnny Bower 26 saves / 31 shots Jacques Plante 32 saves / 34 shots April 14 4–0 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-tor/1960/04/14/1959030214#game=1959030214,game_state=final No scoring Jean Beliveau (4) – 08:16Doug Harvey (3) – 08:45 No scoring Henri Richard (3) – 16:40 No scoring Jean Beliveau (5) – 01:21 Johnny Bower 28 saves / 32 shots Jacques Plante 30 saves / 30 shots Montreal won series 4–0 Awards Gordie Howe won the Hart Trophy to become the first five-time winner of the Hart. In voting, he received 118 votes of a possible 180, twice as many as runner-up Bobby Hull.Montreal Gazette Fifth Hart Trophy for Gordie Howe May 7, 1960 37 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zFsrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uJwFAAAAIBAJ&dq=hart%20trophy&pg=5038%2C1449573 Howe was the last winner of the original Hart Trophy. The trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame and the NHL began presenting a new trophy, which was dubbed the Hart Memorial Trophy in its place.Hollander Bock 1970 311 Hull won the Art Ross Trophy for the scoring championship, his first. Doug Harvey won the Norris Trophy for the fifth time, and the fifth time in the seven times it had been awarded. The Canadiens had the lowest goals against average, for the fifth consecutive time, and Jacques Plante was awarded his fifth Vezina Trophy. The Black Hawks' Glenn Hall was named to the First All-Star team as goaltender. 1959–60 NHL awardsPrince of Wales Trophy:(Regular season champion) Montreal CanadiensArt Ross Trophy:(Top scorer) Bobby Hull, Chicago Black HawksCalder Memorial Trophy:(Best first-year player) Bill Hay, Chicago Black HawksHart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Gordie Howe, Detroit Red WingsJames Norris Memorial Trophy:(Best defenceman) Doug Harvey, Montreal CanadiensLady Byng Memorial Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Don McKenney, Boston BruinsVezina Trophy:(Goaltender of team with the best goals-against average) Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens All-Star teams First team   Position   Second teamGlenn Hall, Chicago Black Hawks GJacques Plante, Montreal CanadiensDoug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens DAllan Stanley, Toronto Maple LeafsMarcel Pronovost, Detroit Red Wings DPierre Pilote, Chicago Black HawksJean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens CBronco Horvath, Boston BruinsGordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings RWBernie Geoffrion, Montreal CanadiensBobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks LWDean Prentice, New York Rangers Player statistics Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points Player Team GP G A Pts Bobby Hull Chicago Black Hawks 70 39 42 81 Bronco Horvath Boston Bruins 68 39 41 80 Jean Beliveau Montreal Canadiens 60 34 40 74 Andy Bathgate New York Rangers 70 26 48 74 Henri Richard Montreal Canadiens 70 30 43 73 Gordie Howe Detroit Red Wings 70 28 45 73 Bernie Geoffrion Montreal Canadiens 59 30 41 71 Don McKenney Boston Bruins 70 20 49 69 Vic Stasiuk Boston Bruins 69 29 39 68 Dean Prentice New York Rangers 70 32 34 66 Dinger 2011 149 Leading goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; MIN = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shut outs; AVG = Goals against average Player Team GP MINS GA SO AVG Jacques Plante Montreal Canadiens 69 4140 175 3 2.54 Glenn Hall Chicago Black Hawks 70 4200 179 6 2.56 Terry Sawchuk Detroit Red Wings 58 3480 155 5 2.67 Johnny Bower Toronto Maple Leafs 66 3960 177 5 2.68 Don Simmons Boston Bruins 28 1680 91 2 3.25 Harry Lumley Boston Bruins 42 2520 146 2 3.48 Gump Worsley New York Rangers 39 2301 135 0 3.52 Coaches Boston Bruins: Milt Schmidt Chicago Black Hawks: Rudy Pilous Detroit Red Wings: Sid Abel Montreal Canadiens: Toe Blake New York Rangers: Phil Watson and Alfred Pike Toronto Maple Leafs: Punch Imlach Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1959–60 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Dallas Smith, Boston Bruins Bill Hay, Chicago Black Hawks J. C. Tremblay, Montreal Canadiens Dave Balon, New York Rangers Ken Schinkel, New York Rangers Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1959–60 (listed with their last team): Fleming MacKell, Boston Bruins Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens Al Rollins, New York Rangers Harry Lumley, Boston Bruins Dave Creighton, Toronto Maple Leafs Broadcasting Hockey Night in Canada on CBC Television televised Saturday night regular season games and Stanley Cup playoff games. Games were not broadcast in their entirety until the 1968–69 season, and were typically joined in progress, while the radio version of HNIC aired games in their entirety. In the U.S., this was final season of a four-year deal with CBS to televise Saturday afternoon regular season games. This season, CBS aired games from January to March. CBS decided not the renew its agreement, and the NHL would not be able to attract another American national network until the 1965–66 season. See also 1959–60 NHL transactions List of Stanley Cup champions 13th National Hockey League All-Star Game National Hockey League All-Star Game Ice hockey at the 1960 Winter Olympics 1959 in sports 1960 in sports References Coleman Charles L. 1976 Sherbrooke, Quebec Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol III Progressive Publications Years of glory, 1942–1967: the National Hockey League's official book of the six-team era Diamond, Dan 1994 McClelland and Stewart Toronto, ON 0-7710-2817-2 Total Hockey Diamond, Dan Total Sports 2000 1-892129-85-X Kingston, New York Dinger Ralph 2011 The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 Dan Diamond & Associates 978-1-894801-22-5 Toronto, ON registration https://archive.org/details/nationalhockeyle0000unse_u6g5 Dowbiggin Bruce 2008 The Meaning Of Puck: How Hockey Explains Modern Canada Toronto Key Porter Books 978-1-55470-041-7 registration https://archive.org/details/meaningofpuckhow0000dowb Dryden Steve Century of hockey McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Toronto, ON 2000 0-7710-4179-9 Duplacey James 2008 North Dighton, Massachusetts Hockey's Book of Firsts JG Press 978-1-57215-037-9 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. 0-7853-9624-1 Lincolnwood, Illinois Fischler 2003 Hollander Zander Hal Bock The Complete Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey 1970 Prentice-Hall Inc. 0-13-159905-4 McFarlane Brian 1969 50 Years Of Hockey Winnipeg, MAN Greywood Publishing B000GW45S0 McFarlane Brian The Story of the National Hockey League Pagurian Press New York 1973 0-684-13424-1 registration https://archive.org/details/storyofnationalh0000mcfa Notes External links Hockey Database NHL.com 1959 Category:1959–60 in American ice hockey by league Category:1959–60 in Canadian ice hockey by league