1970–71 NHL season

National Hockey League season August 2023 December 2024 1970–71 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey October 9, 1970 – May 18, 1971 Draft 1970 NHL Draft List of first overall NHL draft picks Gilbert Perreault Buffalo Sabres Regular season 14 78 CBC, CTV, SRC (Canada)CBS (United States) Boston Bruins Bobby Orr (Bruins) Hart Memorial Trophy Phil Esposito (Bruins) Art Ross Trophy Playoffs 1971 Stanley Cup playoffs Stanley Cup 1971 Stanley Cup Final Montreal Canadiens Chicago Black Hawks Ken Dryden (Canadiens) Conn Smythe Trophy 1971–72 1969–70 NHL The 1970–71 NHL season was the 54th season of the National Hockey League. Two new teams, the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks made their debuts and were both put into the East Division. The Chicago Black Hawks were moved to the West Division, and the Oakland Seals were renamed the California Golden Seals. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup by beating the Black Hawks in seven games in the Stanley Cup Final. League business December 2024 The NHL added two expansion teams in Buffalo and Vancouver. The 1970 NHL expansion draft was held on June 10 to fill the rosters of the two new teams. At the beginning of the season, the Oakland Seals were renamed California Golden Seals. The 1970 NHL amateur draft was held on June 11 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. Gilbert Perreault was selected first overall by Buffalo. From this season through the 2002–03 season, teams wore their white (or yellow) jerseys at home and their colored jerseys on the road. Regular season December 2024 For 1970–71 the NHL went to a balanced schedule, with each team playing each other team six times, three at home and three on the road, without regard to divisional alignment. Nevertheless, playoff qualification was determined entirely by divisional standings, with the top four teams in each division qualifying. This season saw a marked increase in goal scoring, especially by the Boston Bruins, who shattered scoring records as they set the mark for most goals by a team (399) by nearly a hundred over the previous record holder. They also set records for most victories (57) and points (121). Phil Esposito set records for most goals in a season with 76 and for most points with 152. Defenceman Bobby Orr won his second consecutive Hart Memorial Trophy and set a new record for assists with 102. The Bruins also had the four league leading scorers, the first time in history this was achieved (the only other time being by the Bruins in 1973–74), and seven of the top eleven leading scorers, the only time in NHL history this has ever been achieved. They had 6 of the top 8 scorers in the league. Furthermore, the Bruins set marks for the highest scoring single season marks at every position: center (Esposito), left wing (Johnny Bucyk with 116), right wing (Ken Hodge with 105) and defence (Orr), as well as for a forward line (Esposito centering Wayne Cashman and Hodge). Boston won the East Division championship in a runaway. In the West Division, the powerful Chicago Black Hawks had been moved there partially to accommodate the expansion Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks (both of which were placed in the East Division) but more in an effort to provide greater balance between the divisions. Chicago broke St. Louis' stranglehold over the division, winning handily over the Blues and advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. The Montreal Canadiens, who missed the playoffs in 1969–70, appeared to be sinking once more. Players did not like Claude Ruel's dictatorial rule as coach, and Ralph Backstrom and John Ferguson retired. Ruel resigned and Al MacNeil took over. Both Ferguson and Backstrom returned, but Backstrom was later traded to Los Angeles for draft choices. Despite this, they would later win the Stanley Cup that year. The Vancouver Canucks played well at first and were around the .500 mark at mid-season. Then Orland Kurtenbach was injured and the team sagged. On October 29, Gordie Howe became the first player to record 1,000 assists in a 5–3 win over Boston at the Detroit Olympia. Detroit introduced a fine rookie goaltender, Jim Rutherford, who had bright moments despite the Red Wings last place finish. However, they suffered their worst defeat in franchise history January 2, when Toronto crushed them 13–0. Sid Abel, the team's general manager, asked owner Bruce Norris if he could dismiss coach Ned Harkness. Told that he could not, Abel resigned. Norris then elevated Harkness to general manager and Doug Barkley was named coach. Detroit took a tumble to the basement of the East Division after that. On March 12, Boston's Phil Esposito broke Bobby Hull's record for goals by a player in a season at 7:03 of the first period on Denis DeJordy of Los Angeles at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Then, at 15:40 he became the first player to score 60 goals. The Bruins won 7–2. In their inaugural season in the NHL, Buffalo had a star in Gilbert Perreault. On March 18, he broke Nels Stewart's (and Danny Grant's, and Norm Ferguson's) rookie record with his 35th goal in a 5–3 win over St. Louis. He went on to finish the season with 38. Billy Taylor and Don Gallinger, now middle-aged, were finally forgiven for their gambling in 1948 and were reinstated to the NHL. However, they did not return to the NHL. Final standings start break end Playoffs December 2024 Format change Due to three straight years of non-competitive finals (where the West Division-winning St. Louis Blues were swept all 3 years by an established East Division club); the NHL changed the match-ups for the semifinals by having the winner of the series of the 1st vs. 3rd East Division teams play the winner of the 2nd vs. 4th West Division teams. Similarly, the other semifinal series pitted the winner of the 1st vs. 3rd West Division teams against the winner of the 2nd vs. 4th East Division teams.Eskenazi Gerald 1971-03-21 HOCKEY PLAYOFFS CONFUSING FANS https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/21/archives/hockey-playoffs-confusing-fans-format-changed-to-prevent-onesided.html 2026-07-23 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Combined with the transfer of the Chicago Black Hawks into the West Division (which previously consisted only of expansion teams), the Stanley Cup Final series was expected to be more competitive. The realignment and change in playoff format brought the desired results, but at the expense of the expansion teams; seven of the eight finalists were Original Six teams over the next four seasons; the first three seasons had two East Division teams or Montreal v. Chicago, and no sweeps in the Stanley Cup Final. Until realignment in 1974–75, when the Original Six and expansion teams were more thoroughly mixed, the Philadelphia Flyers were the only expansion team to reach a Cup final, which they won in 1974. A significant controversy arose before the playoffs. With 4 games to play, the Minnesota North Stars were in 3rd place with a record of 28–30–16 for 72 points while the Philadelphia Flyers were in 4th at 26–33–15 for 67 points. Minnesota then lost their final four games while the Flyers went 2–0–2 to jump ahead of Minnesota in the final standings by 1 point. It was widely rumored that Minnesota did so to avoid playing the far superior Chicago Black Hawks, since at this time in the playoffs the first place team played the third place team and the second played the fourth. Nothing was proven against the North Stars (who defeated their first-round opponent, St. Louis, four games to two, while the Flyers were swept by the powerful Black Hawks), but the format was changed the next year to the 1 vs. 4/2 vs. 3 format that prevailed thereafter. Playoff bracket Quarterfinals Semifinals Stanley Cup Final E1 Boston 3 E3 Montreal 4 W2 St. Louis 2 W4 Minnesota 4 W1 Chicago 4 W3 Philadelphia 0 E2 New York 4 E4 Toronto 2 E3 Montreal 4 W4 Minnesota 2 W1 Chicago 4 E2 New York 3 E3 Montreal 4 W1 Chicago 3 Quarterfinals (E1) Boston Bruins vs. (E3) Montreal Canadiens The Boston Bruins finished first in the league with 121 points. The Montreal Canadiens finished third in the East Division with 97 points. This was the fifteenth playoff series between these two teams with Montreal winning twelve of the fourteen previous series. They last met in the 1969 Stanley Cup semifinals which Montreal won in six games. Boston won five of the six games in this year's regular season series. The Montreal Canadiens were matched against the Boston Bruins, and in one of the most extraordinary upsets in hockey history, Ken Dryden was hot in goal for the Canadiens as they ousted the Bruins in seven games. Game 2 featured what many perceive as one of the greatest comebacks in NHL history. With the Bruins leading 5–2 heading into the third period, the Canadiens, who had trailed 5–1, scored 5 goals in the final session to win 7–5. The prominent Canadian sports journalist Red Fisher lists the Canadiens' comeback has the 8th most memorable moment in his over 49 years of covering hockey. In game 4, Bobby Orr became the first defenceman to get a hat trick in a playoff game when Boston won 5–2. Montreal Canadiens Boston Bruins Montreal Forum Boston Garden April 7 1–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-bos/1971/04/07/1970030111#game=1970030111,game_state=final No scoring 03:57 – pp – Bobby Orr (1) John Ferguson (1) – pp – 01:34 09:41 – Wayne Cashman (1) No scoring 08:47 – Fred Stanfield (1) Ken Dryden 39 saves / 42 shots Gerry Cheevers 30 saves / 31 shots April 8 7–5 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-bos/1971/04/08/1970030112#game=1970030112,game_state=final Yvan Cournoyer (1) – 03:32 04:34 – Bobby Orr (2)05:43 – Ted Green (1) Henri Richard (1) – 15:33 02:49 – pp – John McKenzie (1)06:31 – Wayne Cashman (2)08:41 – Derek Sanderson (1) Jean Beliveau (1) – pp – 02:58Jean Beliveau (2) – 04:22Jacques Lemaire (1) – 09:59John Ferguson (2) – 15:23Frank Mahovlich (1) – 18:40 No scoring Ken Dryden 31 saves / 36 shots Eddie Johnston 30 saves / 37 shots April 10 1–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1971/04/10/1970030113#game=1970030113,game_state=final No scoring Phil Esposito (1) – 00:29 04:04 – Frank Mahovlich (2)12:05 – Jacques Laperriere (1) No scoring 03:55 – Frank Mahovlich (3) No scoring Ken Dryden 37 saves / 38 shots Gerry Cheevers 28 saves / 31 shots April 11 5–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1971/04/11/1970030114#game=1970030114,game_state=final 05:30 – pp – Frank Mahovlich (4) No scoring No scoring Bobby Orr (3) – 11:01Mike Walton (1) – pp – 18:26 06:13 – Yvan Cournoyer (2) Bobby Orr (4) – 00:37Fred Stanfield (2) – 17:21Bobby Orr (5) – sh – 19:57 Ken Dryden 29 saves / 33 shots Gerry Cheevers 26 saves / 28 shots April 13 3–7 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-bos/1971/04/13/1970030115#game=1970030115,game_state=final Yvan Cournoyer (3) – 05:38 00:57 – Wayne Cashman (3)09:32 – pp – Phil Esposito (2)16:45 – Mike Walton (2) No scoring 11:44 – John McKenzie (2)17:43 – sh – Ed Westfall (1) Frank Mahovlich (5) – 01:55John Ferguson (3) – 08:19 12:47 – Johnny Bucyk (1)15:57 – Ken Hodge (1) Ken Dryden 49 saves / 56 shots Gerry Cheevers 24 saves / 27 shots April 15 3–8 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1971/04/15/1970030116#game=1970030116,game_state=final 06:36 – Peter Mahovlich (1)11:12 – Henri Richard (2) Phil Esposito (3) – pp – 09:51 10:34 – pp – Jacques Lemaire (2)14:39 – J.C. Tremblay (1) Fred Stanfield (3) – pp – 05:57 05:14 – Henri Richard (3)14:46 – Peter Mahovlich (2)17:15 – Marc Tardif (1)19:34 – pp – Jacques Laperriere (2) Derek Sanderson (2) – 16:52 Ken Dryden 29 saves / 32 shots Gerry Cheevers 35 saves / 43 shots April 18 4–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-bos/1971/04/18/1970030117#game=1970030117,game_state=final Frank Mahovlich (6) – 14:48Rejean Houle (1) – 17:38 06:50 – Ken Hodge (2) J.C. Tremblay (2) – 15:44 No scoring Frank Mahovlich (7) – 00:14 01:02 – Johnny Bucyk (2) Ken Dryden 46 saves / 48 shots Gerry Cheevers 30 saves / 34 shots Montreal won series 4–3 (E2) New York Rangers vs. (E4) Toronto Maple Leafs The New York Rangers finished second in the East Division with 109 points. The Toronto Maple Leafs finished fourth with 82 points. This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams with New York winning four of the seven previous series. They last met in the 1962 Stanley Cup semifinals which Toronto won in six games. New York won five of the six games in this year's regular season series. Toronto Maple Leafs New York Rangers Maple Leaf Gardens Madison Square Garden April 7 4–5 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-nyr/1971/04/07/1970030121#game=1970030121,game_state=final Dave Keon (1) – 04:56Dave Keon (2) – 19:55 06:05 – pp – Vic Hadfield (1) Paul Henderson (1) – 10:10Paul Henderson (2) – 13:13 10:05 – pp – Rod Gilbert (1)19:57 – Bob Nevin (1) No scoring 01:20 – Vic Hadfield (2)06:44 – Walt Tkaczuk (1) Jacques Plante 26 saves / 31 shots Ed Giacomin 24 saves / 28 shots April 8 4–1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-nyr/1971/04/08/1970030122#game=1970030122,game_state=final Garry Monahan (1) – 13:23Paul Henderson (3) – 14:11 No scoring Dave Keon (3) – 01:35 16:11 – Tim Horton (1) Paul Henderson (4) – 11:53 No scoring Jacques Plante 2 saves / 2 shotsBernie Parent 21 saves / 22 shots Ed Giacomin 19 saves / 23 shots April 10 1–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-tor/1971/04/10/1970030123#game=1970030123,game_state=final 05:03 – pp – Ron Ellis (1) No scoring 04:19 – pp – Paul Henderson (5) No scoring 05:22 – Garry Monahan (2) Dave Balon (1) – 03:17 Bernie Parent 33 saves / 34 shots Gilles Villemure 21 saves / 24 shots April 11 4–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-tor/1971/04/11/1970030124#game=1970030124,game_state=final No scoring Bob Nevin (2) – pp – 12:54 19:33 – pp – Darryl Sittler (1) Vic Hadfield (3) – 04:41Dave Balon (2) – pp – 07:41Ron Stewart (1) – sh – 18:10 11:12 – Darryl Sittler (2) No scoring Bernie Parent 26 saves / 29 shots Ed Giacomin 24 saves / 25 shots April 13 1–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-nyr/1971/04/13/1970030125#game=1970030125,game_state=final No scoring 00:34 – Ted Irvine (1) No scoring 04:59 – Vic Hadfield (4) Jim McKenny (1) – pp – 13:42 06:25 – Bob Nevin (3) Bernie Parent 26 saves / 29 shots Ed Giacomin 24 saves / 25 shots April 15 2–1 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-tor/1971/04/15/1970030126#game=1970030126,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring Bob Nevin (4) – 12:39 17:26 – Jim McKenny (2) No scoring No scoring Bob Nevin (5) – 09:07 Jacques Plante 36 saves / 38 shots Ed Giacomin 27 saves / 28 shots New York won series 4–2 (W1) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (W3) Philadelphia Flyers The Chicago Black Hawks finished first in the West Division with 107 points. The Philadelphia Flyers finished third in the West Division with 73 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Chicago won this year's six game regular season series earning nine of twelve points. Philadelphia Flyers Chicago Black Hawks The Spectrum Chicago Stadium April 7 2–5 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-chi/1971/04/07/1970030131#game=1970030131,game_state=final Bill Lesuk (1) – pp – 19:02 02:50 – pp – Bobby Hull (1)07:05 – sh – Pat Stapleton (1) Bob Kelly (1) – 11:06 06:24 – pp – Bobby Hull (2)18:26 – pp – Doug Jarrett (1) No scoring 00:59 – Pit Martin (1) Doug Favell 24 saves / 29 shots Tony Esposito 33 saves / 35 shots April 8 2–6 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-chi/1971/04/08/1970030132#game=1970030132,game_state=final No scoring 16:18 – Bobby Hull (3)17:00 – Stan Mikita (1) No scoring 04:46 – Stan Mikita (2)10:39 – Bobby Hull (4)18:57 – Jim Pappin (1) Jim Mair (1) – pp – 06:18Garry Peters (1) – 16:11 09:41 – Lou Angotti (1) Bruce Gamble 32 saves / 38 shots Tony Esposito 25 saves / 27 shots April 10 3–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-phi/1971/04/10/1970030133#game=1970030133,game_state=final 10:18 – Rick MacLeish (1) Pat Stapleton (2) – pp – 13:30 06:42 – pp – Simon Nolet (1) No scoring No scoring Bobby Hull (5) – pp – 05:52Bobby Hull (6) – pp – 10:24 Doug Favell 28 saves / 31 shots Tony Esposito 28 saves / 30 shots April 11 6–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-phi/1971/04/11/1970030134#game=1970030134,game_state=final 14:33 – pp – Serge Bernier (1) Jim Pappin (2) – 00:21Jim Pappin (3) – pp – 09:16 No scoring Pit Martin (2) – 09:54 10:07 – Simon Nolet (2) Cliff Koroll (1) – 03:24Cliff Koroll (2) – 08:37Jim Pappin (4) – 11:26 Bruce Gamble 23 saves / 29 shots Tony Esposito 38 saves / 40 shots Chicago won series 4–0 (W2) St. Louis Blues vs. (W4) Minnesota North Stars The St. Louis Blues finished second in the West Division with 87 points. The Minnesota North Stars finished fourth in the West Division with 72 points. This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams with St. Louis winning both of the previous series. They met in the previous year's Stanley Cup quarterfinals which the Blues won in six games. Minnesota won this year's six game regular season series earning eight of twelve points. Minnesota North Stars St. Louis Blues Met Center St. Louis Arena April 7 3–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mns-vs-stl/1971/04/07/1970030141#game=1970030141,game_state=final Jude Drouin (1) – 05:16 10:52 – Fran Huck (1) No scoring No scoring J.P. Parise (1) – pp – 03:57Danny Grant (1) – pp – 07:12 19:54 – Garry Unger (1) Cesare Maniago 42 saves / 44 shots Glenn Hall 19 saves / 22 shots April 8 2–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mns-vs-stl/1971/04/08/1970030142#game=1970030142,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring 10:19 – Bill McCreary Sr. (1) Murray Oliver (1) – 00:09Murray Oliver (2) – 10:58 03:45 – Jimmy Roberts (1)08:34 – pp – Wayne Connelly (1)19:40 – Jimmy Roberts (2) Cesare Maniago 26 saves / 29 shots Ernie Wakely 26 saves / 28 shots April 10 3–0 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/stl-vs-mns/1971/04/10/1970030143#game=1970030143,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring Frank St. Marseille (1) – pp – 08:04Noel Picard (1) – pp – 19:17 No scoring Terry Crisp (1) – 08:39 Cesare Maniago 24 saves / 27 shots Ernie Wakely 29 saves / 29 shots April 11 1–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/stl-vs-mns/1971/04/11/1970030144#game=1970030144,game_state=final No scoring Garry Unger (2) – sh – 04:08 No scoring No scoring 02:44 – Bobby Rousseau (1)03:08 – Charlie Burns (1) No scoring Gump Worsley 25 saves / 26 shots Glenn Hall 20 saves / 22 shots April 13 4–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mns-vs-stl/1971/04/13/1970030145#game=1970030145,game_state=final Murray Oliver (3) – pp – 05:03Jude Drouin (2) – pp – 16:33 04:28 – Craig Cameron (1) Jude Drouin (3) – 02:49 02:42 – Craig Cameron (2)09:43 – Wayne Connelly (2) Lou Nanne (1) – 16:25 No scoring Gump Worsley 33 saves / 36 shots Glenn Hall 18 saves / 22 shots April 15 2–5 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/stl-vs-mns/1971/04/15/1970030146#game=1970030146,game_state=final No scoring No scoring 10:36 – Ted Hampson (1)10:58 – Lou Nanne (2)14:15 – pp – Bobby Rousseau19:29 – pp – Doug Mohns (1) Frank St. Marseille (2) – pp – 04:45 07:01 – Doug Mohns (2) Garry Unger (2) – 17:20 Gump Worsley 19 saves / 21 shots Ernie Wakely 25 saves / 30 shots Minnesota won series 4–2 Semifinals (E3) Montreal Canadiens vs. (W4) Minnesota North Stars This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Montreal won this year's six game regular season series earning eight of twelve points. The Canadiens' upset of Boston was so sensational that the Canadiens nearly suffered a fatal letdown against the Minnesota North Stars. The Canadiens' 6–3 loss in Montreal on April 22 to Minnesota, led by the goaltending of Cesare Maniago was the first playoff defeat for an Original Six team at the hands of a 1967 Expansion franchise. Minnesota North Stars Montreal Canadiens Met Center Montreal Forum April 20 2–7 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mns-vs-mtl/1971/04/20/1970030211#game=1970030211,game_state=final Danny Grant (2) – pp – 11:45 No scoring No scoring 05:48 – Marc Tardif (2)11:07 – Jacques Lemaire (3)16:33 – pp – Jacques Lemaire (4)18:51 – Jacques Lemaire (5) Bill Goldsworthy (1) – 17:12 07:26 – Marc Tardif (3)15:21 – pp – Guy Lapointe (1)17:40 – Frank Mahovlich (8) Gump Worsley 26 saves / 33 shots Ken Dryden 26 saves / 28 shots April 22 6–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mns-vs-mtl/1971/04/22/1970030212#game=1970030212,game_state=final J. P. Parise (2) – pp – 05:14Jude Drouin (4) – 10:04Ted Hampson (2) – pp – 15:58Lou Nanne (3) – 19:04 No scoring Murray Oliver (4) – 17:46 04:17 – Peter Mahovlich (3)16:41 – Guy Lapointe (2) Charlie Burns (1) – 19:36 04:59 – Jean Beliveau (3) Cesare Maniago 32 saves / 35 shots Ken Dryden 29 saves / 34 shots April 24 6–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-mns/1971/04/24/1970030213#game=1970030213,game_state=final 07:11 – Murray Oliver (5) Frank Mahovlich (9) – 08:47Jacques Lemaire (6) – 17:39 15:56 – Danny Grant (3) Yvan Cournoyer (4) – 01:45J.C. Tremblay (3) – pp – 05:17Jacques Laperriere (3) – 08:30 19:34 – Bill Goldsworthy (2) Jacques Laperriere (4) – 02:26 Cesare Maniago 25 saves / 31 shots Ken Dryden 30 saves / 33 shots April 25 2–5 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-mns/1971/04/25/1970030214#game=1970030214,game_state=final 16:35 – pp – Murray Oliver (6)19:04 – pp – Danny Grant (4) Jean Beliveau (4) – 01:22 No scoring Jean Beliveau (5) – 07:52 03:00 – J. P. Parise (3)11:26 – Murray Oliver (7)15:59 – Ted Hampson (3) No scoring Cesare Maniago 35 saves / 37 shots Ken Dryden 37 saves / 42 shots April 27 1–6 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mns-vs-mtl/1971/04/27/1970030215#game=1970030215,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring 02:24 – Peter Mahovlich (4) Danny Grant (5) – 01:40 01:14 – Guy Lapointe (3)10:08 – pp – Peter Mahovlich (5)12:50 – John Ferguson Sr. (4)13:41 – Frank Mahovlich (10)14>35 – Yvan Cournoyer (5) Cesare Maniago 24 saves / 30 shots Ken Dryden 26 saves / 27 shots April 29 3–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-mns/1971/04/29/1970030216#game=1970030216,game_state=final 09:50 – Charlie Burns (2) Yvan Cournoyer (6) – pp – 16:00 09:18 – Jude Drouin (5) Claude Larose (1) – 01:07Rejean Houle (2) – 13:29 No scoring No scoring Cesare Maniago 34 saves / 37 shots Ken Dryden 30 saves / 32 shots Montreal won series 4–2 (W1) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (E2) New York Rangers This was the third playoff series between these two teams with Chicago winning both previous series. They last met in the 1968 Stanley Cup quarterfinals which the Black Hawks won in six games. The teams split this year's six-game regular season series. Bobby Hull and the Chicago Black Hawks were just too much for the Rangers and the Black Hawks advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in seven games. Hull won two games with goals on face-offs, despite Glen Sather's coverage to check him. New York Rangers Chicago Black Hawks Madison Square Garden Chicago Stadium April 18 2–1 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-chi/1971/04/18/1970030221#game=1970030221,game_state=final No scoring 12:59 – pp – Cliff Koroll (3) No scoring No scoring Jean Ratelle (1) – 16:44 No scoring Pete Stemkowski (1) – 01:37 No scoring Ed Giacomin 31 saves / 32 shots Tony Esposito 32 saves / 34 shots April 20 0–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-chi/1971/04/20/1970030222#game=1970030222,game_state=final No scoring 17:54 – Cliff Koroll (4) No scoring 14:06 – Dennis Hull (1) No scoring 19:45 – Dennis Hull (2) Ed Giacomin 26 saves / 28 shots Tony Esposito 32 saves / 32 shots April 22 1–4 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-nyr/1971/04/22/1970030223#game=1970030223,game_state=final 03:05 – Vic Hadfield (5)13:37 – Rod Gilbert (2)15:50 – Vic Hadfield (6) Stan Mikita (3) – 05:16 No scoring No scoring 16:09 – Vic Hadfield (7) No scoring Ed Giacomin 16 saves / 17 shots Tony Esposito 28 saves / 32 shots April 25 7–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-nyr/1971/04/25/1970030224#game=1970030224,game_state=final No scoring Jim Pappin (5) – 12:49 No scoring Bill White (1) – 05:45Danny O'Shea (1) – 07:28Stan Mikita (4) – 17:23 14:34 – pp – Dave Balon (3) Dennis Hull (3) – 00:14Chico Maki (1) – 12:09Jerry Korab (1) – 18:24 Ed Giacomin20 saves / 24 shotsGilles Villemure 8 saves / 11 shots Tony Esposito 27 saves / 28 shots April 27 2–3 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-chi/1971/04/27/1970030225#game=1970030225,game_state=final Vic Hadfield (8) – 15:57 10:56 – Pat Stapleton (3)15:41 – pp – Chico Maki (2) Rod Seiling (1) – 19:28 No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring 06:35 – Bobby Hull (7) Ed Giacomin 29 saves / 32 shots Tony Esposito 27 saves / 29 shots April 29 2–3 3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-nyr/1971/04/29/1970030226#game=1970030226,game_state=final No scoring Dennis Hull (4) – 10:19 07:07 – Rod Gilbert (3) Chico Maki (3) – 01:54 04:21 – Jean Ratelle (2) No scoring 01:29 – Pete Stemkowski (2) No scoring Ed Giacomin 24 saves / 26 shots Tony Esposito 46 saves / 49 shots May 2 2–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-chi/1971/05/02/1970030227#game=1970030227,game_state=final Pete Stemkowski (3) – 18:31 14:49 – pp – Jim Pappin (6) Rod Gilbert (4) – 11:43 13:27 – pp – Cliff Koroll (5) No scoring 04:25 – Bobby Hull (8)19:34 – Chico Maki (4) Ed Giacomin 25 saves / 28 shots Tony Esposito 36 saves / 38 shots Chicago won series 4–3 Stanley Cup Final 1971 Stanley Cup Final This was the fifteenth series between these two teams with the Montreal Canadiens winning nine of the fourteen previous series. They last met in the 1968 Stanley Cup semifinals which Montreal won in five games. The teams split this year's six-game regular season series. The series went the full seven games, with the Canadiens winning in Chicago despite trailing 2–0 halfway into the second period of game seven. Jacques Lemaire took a shot from centre ice that miraculously escaped goaltender Tony Esposito cutting the Black Hawks' lead to 2–1. Henri Richard tied the game just before the end of the second period, and scored again 02:34 into the third, giving the Habs the lead. Montreal goalie Ken Dryden kept Chicago off the board for the rest of the game, and the Habs won their third Stanley Cup in four years. It was the final game for Canadiens superstar and captain Jean Beliveau who retired after the season. The Canadiens were the last road team to win a Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final until the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. It was Al MacNeil's final game as Montreal coach — after he had benched Richard for Game 5, The Pocket Rocket declared "[MacNeil] is the worst coach I ever played for!"Henri Richard https://www.couchpotatohockey.com/Players/Biographies/Richard_Henri.asp 2006-11-15 In the 1971 Stanley Cup finals he was reported to have called his coach, Al MacNeil, the worst coach he had ever played under in the NHL. https://web.archive.org/web/20071008054805/http://www.couchpotatohockey.com/Players/Biographies/Richard_Henri.asp 2007-10-08 dead Although Richard retracted his "angry comment", as he called it, MacNeil still resigned. Montreal Canadiens Chicago Black Hawks Montreal Forum Chicago Stadium May 4 1–2 2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1971/05/04/1970030311#game=1970030311,game_state=final No scoring No scoring Jacques Lemaire (7) – pp – 12:29 No scoring No scoring 07:54 – pp – Bobby Hull (9) No scoring 01:11 – Jim Pappin (7) Ken Dryden 56 saves / 58 shots Tony Esposito 36 saves / 37 shots May 6 3–5 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1971/05/06/1970030312#game=1970030312,game_state=final Jacques Lemaire (8) – pp – 09:06Peter Mahovlich (6) – 17:58 04:39 – pp – Bobby Hull (10) No scoring 11:58 – Chico Maki (5)13:50 – Jim Pappin (8) Frank Mahovlich (11) – 08:56 07:27 – Lou Angotti (2)16:47 – Lou Angotti (3) Ken Dryden 30 saves / 35 shots Tony Esposito 24 saves / 27 shots May 9 2–4 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1971/05/09/1970030313#game=1970030313,game_state=final No scoring Cliff Koroll (6) – pp – 04:26Bobby Hull (11) – 13:38 05:56 – Peter Mahovlich (7)17:34 – pp – Frank Mahovlich (12) No scoring 06:23 – Yvan Cournoyer (7)12:13 – pp – Frank Mahovlich (13) No scoring Ken Dryden 16 saves / 18 shots Tony Esposito 36 saves / 40 shots May 11 2–5 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1971/05/11/1970030314#game=1970030314,game_state=final 01:00 – Peter Mahovlich (8)06:55 – pp – Jean Beliveau (6)16:33 – Guy Lapointe (4) Stan Mikita (5) – pp – 03:09 09:07 – Yvan Cournoyer (8)15:53 – pp – Yvan Cournoyer (9) Dennis Hull (5) – 12:30 No scoring No scoring Ken Dryden 30 saves / 32 shots Tony Esposito 27 saves / 32 shots May 13 0–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1971/05/13/1970030315#game=1970030315,game_state=final No scoring 10:57 – pp – Dennis Hull (6) No scoring 11:26 – Cliff Koroll (7) No scoring No scoring Ken Dryden 20 saves / 22 shots Tony Esposito 31 saves / 31 shots May 16 3–4 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1971/05/16/1970030316#game=1970030316,game_state=final 12:33 – Yvan Cournoyer (10) Jim Pappin (9) – 11:25 05:04 – Peter Mahovlich (9) Chico Maki (6) – 17:40Jim Pappin (10) – 18:48 05:10 – Frank Mahovlich (14)08:56 – sh – Peter Mahovlich (10) No scoring Ken Dryden 27 saves / 30 shots Tony Esposito 12 saves / 16 shots May 18 3–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1971/05/18/1970030317#game=1970030317,game_state=final No scoring 19:12 – pp – Dennis Hull (7) Jacques Lemaire (9) – 14:18Henri Richard (4) – 18:20 07:33 – Danny O'Shea (2) Henri Richard (5) – 02:34 No scoring Ken Dryden 31 saves / 33 shots Tony Esposito 22 saves / 25 shots Montreal won series 4–3 Awards A new award for the most outstanding player as voted by the members of the NHL Players Association, the Lester B. Pearson Award, was introduced this season and the first winner was Phil Esposito. 1971 NHL awardsPrince of Wales Trophy:(East Division champion, regular season) Boston BruinsClarence S. Campbell Bowl:(West Division champion, regular season) Chicago Black HawksArt Ross Trophy:(Top scorer, regular season) Phil Esposito, Boston BruinsBill Masterton Memorial Trophy:(Perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication) Jean Ratelle, New York RangersCalder Memorial Trophy:(Top first-year player) Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo SabresConn Smythe Trophy:(Most valuable player, playoffs) Ken Dryden, Montreal CanadiensHart Memorial Trophy:(Most valuable player, regular season) Bobby Orr, Boston BruinsJames Norris Memorial Trophy:(Best defenceman) Bobby Orr, Boston BruinsLady Byng Memorial Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Johnny Bucyk, Boston BruinsLester B. Pearson Award:(Outstanding player, regular season) Phil Esposito, Boston BruinsVezina Trophy:(Goaltender(s) of team with best goaltending record) Eddie Giacomin & Gilles Villemure, New York Rangers All-Star teams First Team   Position   Second TeamEd Giacomin, New York Rangers GJacques Plante, Toronto Maple LeafsBobby Orr, Boston Bruins DBrad Park, New York RangersJ. C. Tremblay, Montreal Canadiens DPat Stapleton, Chicago Black HawksPhil Esposito, Boston Bruins CDave Keon, Toronto Maple LeafsKen Hodge, Boston Bruins RWYvan Cournoyer, Montreal CanadiensJohnny Bucyk, Boston Bruins LWBobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks Player statistics Scoring leaders Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Phil Esposito Boston Bruins 78 76 76 152 71 Bobby Orr Boston Bruins 78 37 102 139 91 Johnny Bucyk Boston Bruins 78 51 65 116 8 Ken Hodge Boston Bruins 78 43 62 105 113 Bobby Hull Chicago Black Hawks 78 44 52 96 32 Norm Ullman Toronto Maple Leafs 73 34 51 85 24 Wayne Cashman Boston Bruins 77 21 58 79 100 John McKenzie Boston Bruins 65 31 46 77 120 Dave Keon Toronto Maple Leafs 76 38 38 76 4 Jean Beliveau Montreal Canadiens 70 25 51 76 40 Fred Stanfield Boston Bruins 75 24 52 76 12 Source: NHL.Dinger 2011 150 Leading goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts Player Team GP MIN GA GAA W L T SOJacques Plante Toronto Maple Leafs 40 2329 73 1.88 24 11 4 4Eddie Giacomin New York Rangers 45 2641 95 2.16 27 10 7 8Tony Esposito Chicago Black Hawks 57 3325 126 2.27 35 14 6 6Gilles Villemure New York Rangers 34 2039 78 2.30 22 8 4 4Glenn Hall St. Louis Blues 32 1761 71 2.42 13 11 8 2Gump Worsley Minnesota North Stars 24 1369 57 2.50 4 10 8 0Eddie Johnston Boston Bruins 38 2280 96 2.53 30 6 2 4Rogie Vachon Montreal Canadiens 47 2676 118 2.64 23 12 9 2Doug Favell Philadelphia Flyers 44 2434 108 2.66 16 15 9 2Cesare Maniago Minnesota North Stars 40 2380 107 2.70 19 15 6 5 Other statistics Plus/minus leader: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins Coaches East Boston Bruins: Tom Johnson Buffalo Sabres: George "Punch" Imlach Detroit Red Wings: Ned Harkness and Doug Barkley Montreal Canadiens: Claude Ruel and Al MacNeil New York Rangers: Emile Francis Toronto Maple Leafs: John McLellan Vancouver Canucks: Hal Laycoe West California Golden Seals: Fred Glover Chicago Black Hawks: Billy Reay Los Angeles Kings: Larry Regan Minnesota North Stars: Jack Gordon Philadelphia Flyers: Vic Stasiuk Pittsburgh Penguins: Red Kelly St. Louis Blues: Scotty Bowman and Al Arbour Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1970–71 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Reggie Leach, Boston Bruins Ivan Boldirev, Boston Bruins Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo Sabres Jerry Korab, Chicago Black Hawks Gilles Meloche, Chicago Black Hawks Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens Rick MacLeish, Philadelphia Flyers Curt Bennett, St. Louis Blues Rene Robert, Toronto Maple Leafs Darryl Sittler, Toronto Maple Leafs Dale Tallon, Vancouver Canucks Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1970–71 (listed with their last team): Jean-Guy Talbot, Buffalo Sabres Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens John Ferguson, Montreal Canadiens Andy Bathgate, Pittsburgh Penguins Glenn Hall, St. Louis Blues George Armstrong, Toronto Maple Leafs Charlie Hodge, Vancouver Canucks NOTE: Bathgate would finish his major professional career in the World Hockey Association. Broadcasting Hockey Night in Canada on CBC Television televised Saturday night regular season games and Stanley Cup playoff games. HNIC also produced Wednesday night regular season game telecasts for CTV. This was the fifth season under the U.S. rights agreement with CBS, airing Sunday afternoon regular season and playoff games. CBS also televised Game 7 of the 1971 Stanley Cup Final on a Thursday night, marking the first time an American network televised an NHL prime time game, but the telecast was blacked out in the Chicago Black Hawks' broadcast territory. See also List of Stanley Cup champions 1970 NHL amateur draft 1970 NHL expansion draft 1970–71 NHL transactions 24th National Hockey League All-Star Game National Hockey League All-Star Game Lester Patrick Trophy 1970 in sports 1971 in sports Notes References Total Hockey Diamond, Dan Total Sports 2000 Kingston, New York 1-892129-85-X 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 Dryden Steve Century of hockey McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Toronto, ON 2000 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. 0-7853-9624-1 Lincolnwood, Illinois Fischler 2003 External links Hockey Database NHL.com hickoksports.com 1970 Category:1970–71 in Canadian ice hockey by league Category:1970–71 in American ice hockey by league