1947–48 NHL season

Professional ice hockey league season August 2023 1947–48 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey October 15, 1947 – April 14, 1948 Regular season 60 6 Season champion Toronto Maple Leafs Elmer Lach (Canadiens) Hart Memorial Trophy Bud O'Connor (Rangers) Stanley Cup 1948 Stanley Cup Finals Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings 1948–49 NHL season 1946–47 NHL season 1948–49 1946–47 NHL The 1947–48 NHL season was the 31st season of the National Hockey League. Six teams played 60 games each. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the Stanley Cup winners. They defeated the Detroit Red Wings four games to none. This season saw the introduction of a new trophy – Art Ross Trophy – that would be handed out to the player who scored the most points during the regular season. Regular season The season saw the return of the National Hockey League All-Star Game, an idea that, although proposed in the previous season, came into fruition this year. The all-star game, however, saw a bad ankle injury to Chicago Black Hawks forward Bill Mosienko that nearly ended his career. Other stars would retire, ending both the Montreal Canadiens' Punch line and the Boston Bruins' Kraut line. However, this season saw the creation of the Detroit Red Wings' Production Line. The policy of having players raise their hockey sticks to signify that a goal was scored was also initiated in this season, at the suggestion of Frank Patrick, with Habs forward Billy Reay being the first to do on November 13, 1947. The season also saw Boston's Don Gallinger suspended indefinitely pending an investigation of gambling activities and the New York Rangers' Billy "The Kid" Taylor being expelled for life for gambling. Seven games into the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Black Hawks made, at that time, the biggest trade in NHL history. The Maple Leafs sent five players to the Black Hawks in trade for Max Bentley and rookie winger Cy Thomas. Thomas only played eight games that year but Bentley handed to the Leafs a much-needed offensive boost that helped propel the team to first overall and an eventual Stanley Cup. The New York Rangers decided to make a trade to improve their fortunes and sent Hal Laycoe, Joe Bell, and George Robertson to Montreal in exchange for Buddy O'Connor and defenceman Frank Eddolls. Montreal missed O'Connor, as their goal-scoring plummeted. Ken Mosdell was out from the start of the season with a broken arm, Rocket Richard had trouble with a bad knee and Murph Chamberlain broke his leg. In an attempt to boost the goal-scoring, Montreal traded Jimmy Peters and Johnny Quilty to Boston in exchange for Joe Carveth, but the rot continued. However, the worst occurred on January 11, 1948, when the Canadiens played the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Habs lost more than a game when Bill Juzda checked captain Toe Blake into the boards, breaking Blake's ankle and ending his career. It was also the end of the famed "Punch Line". (Ironically, that same night, Johnny Quilty's career was ended with a compound fracture of the leg). The Canadiens missed the playoffs for the first time since 1940, and Bill Durnan, for the only time in his career, failed to win the Vezina Trophy. This season was also the last season in which a goaltender was allowed to be named captain of their team. Bill Durnan was the last goaltender in NHL history to be captain. Toronto's Turk Broda won the Vezina this season. Final standings Playoffs 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 Toronto 4 3 Boston 1 2 Detroit 4 4 New York 2 1 Toronto 4 2 Detroit 0 Semifinals (1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Boston Bruins Toronto defeated Boston four games to one, although Boston kept it closer than the series tally would indicate. Three of the five games were decided by a single goal. Boston Bruins Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Garden Maple Leaf Gardens March 24 4–5 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-tor/1948/03/24/1947030111#game=1947030111,game_state=final Murray Henderson (1) – 01:18 11:29 – Bill Ezinicki (1) Ed Harrison (1) – 08:39 17:33 – Max Bentley (1) Pat Egan (1) – 02:35Ken Smith (1) – 08:38 12:03 – Syl Apps (1)15:34 – Jimmy Thomson (1) No scoring 17:03 – Nick Metz (1) Frank Brimsek Turk Broda March 27 3–5 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-tor/1948/03/27/1947030112#game=1947030112,game_state=final Johnny Peirson (1) – pp – 08:39 05:41 – Ted Kennedy (1)19:54 – pp – Ted Kennedy (2) Pete Babando (1) – pp – 02:16 06:34 – Ted Kennedy (3)12:24 – Ted Kennedy (4) Milt Schmidt (1) – 10:43 07:37 – Max Bentley (2) Frank Brimsek Turk Broda March 30 5–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-bos/1948/03/30/1947030113#game=1947030113,game_state=final No scoring Howie Meeker (1) – 03:40Bill Barilko (1) – 12:28 01:10 – Milt Schmidt (2) Ted Kennedy (5) – 09:24 No scoring Garth Boesch (1) – 07:00Nick Metz (2) – 17:49 Frank Brimsek Turk Broda April 1 2–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-bos/1948/04/01/1947030114#game=1947030114,game_state=final 02:47 – Ed Sandford (1) No scoring 07:31 – Johnny Peirson (2) Bill Ezinicki (2) – 01:36 13:24 – Johnny Peirson (3) Syl Apps (2) – 15:08 Frank Brimsek Turk Broda April 3 2–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-tor/1948/04/03/1947030115#game=1947030115,game_state=final Jimmy Peters (1) – pp – 05:20 08:41 – Vic Lynn (1)16:13 – Les Costello (1) Ken Smith (2) – 12:08 No scoring No scoring 05:52 – Ted Kennedy (6) Frank Brimsek Turk Broda Toronto won series 4–1 (2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (4) New York Rangers It looked initially to be a close series as, after the Blueshirts lost the first two games, the Rangers won the next two to tie the series. Detroit then took the next two to win the series in six games to qualify for the Finals. New York Rangers Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Madison Square Garden III March 24 1–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-det/1948/03/24/1947030121#game=1947030121,game_state=final No scoring 15:04 – Ted Lindsay (1)19:06 – pp – Jim Conacher (1) No scoring No scoring Tony Leswick (1) – 03:35 No scoring Chuck Rayner Harry Lumley March 26 2–5 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-det/1948/03/26/1947030122#game=1947030122,game_state=final Edgar Laprade (1) – 14:53 04:00 – Jim McFadden (1) No scoring 04:57 – Jim McFadden (2)08:18 – pp – Marty Pavelich (1) Neil Colville (1) – 10:51 10:04 – Leo Reise (1)14:49 – Marty Pavelich (2) Chuck Rayner Harry Lumley March 28 2–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-nyr/1948/03/28/1947030123#game=1947030123,game_state=final 03:32 – Phil Watson (1)10:35 – Phil Watson (2) No scoring No scoring Ted Lindsay (2) – 19:40 09:02 – Tony Leswick (2) Jack Stewart (1) – 16:03 Chuck Rayner Harry Lumley March 30 1–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-nyr/1948/03/30/1947030124#game=1947030124,game_state=final No scoring Jim McFadden (3) – 03:41 10:08 – pp – Bryan Hextall (1)10:41 – Eddie Kullman (1) No scoring 13:32 – Tony Leswick (3) No scoring Chuck Rayner Harry Lumley April 1 1–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-det/1948/04/01/1947030125#game=1947030125,game_state=final No scoring 04:02 – pp – Red Kelly (1) No scoring 14:13 – pp – Pete Horeck (1) Buddy O'Connor (1) – 12:49 13:55 – Red Kelly (2) Chuck Rayner Harry Lumley April 4 4–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-nyr/1948/04/04/1947030126#game=1947030126,game_state=final No scoring Red Kelly (3) – pp – 13:46Gordie Howe (1) – pp – 14:30Pat Lundy (1) – 17:51 No scoring No scoring 12:49 – Don Raleigh (1)19:08 – Don Raleigh (2) Jim McFadden (4) – 10:49 Chuck Rayner Harry Lumley Detroit won series 4–2 Stanley Cup Finals 1948 Stanley Cup Finals Detroit Red Wings Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Olympia Stadium April 7 3–5 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-tor/1948/04/07/1947030211#game=1947030211,game_state=final Jim McFadden (5) – 07:20 08:21 – Harry Watson (1)09:04 – Joe Klukay (1)18:24 – Syl Apps (3) No scoring 14:31 – Gus Mortson (1)19:21 – Howie Meeker (2) Jim Conacher (2) – 04:28Ted Lindsay (3) – 05:25 No scoring Harry Lumley Turk Broda April 10 2–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-tor/1948/04/10/1947030212#game=1947030212,game_state=final No scoring 13:31 – Max Bentley (3) Pete Horeck (2) – 18:18 03:38 – pp – Bill Ezinicki (3)17:16 – pp – Max Bentley (4)18:50 – Harry Watson (2) Fern Gauthier (1) – pp – 17:18 No scoring Harry Lumley Turk Broda April 11 2–0 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-det/1948/04/11/1947030213#game=1947030213,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring Harry Watson (3) – 19:42 No scoring Vic Lynn (2) – 15:16 Harry Lumley Turk Broda April 14 7–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-det/1948/04/14/1947030214#game=1947030214,game_state=final No scoring Ted Kennedy (7) – pp – 02:51Garth Boesch (2) – sh – 05:03Harry Watson (4) – 11:13 02:41 – Leo Reise (2) Syl Apps (4) – 04:26Ted Kennedy (8) – 09:42Harry Watson (5) – sh – 11:38 18:48 – Pete Horeck (3) Les Costello (2) – pp – 14:37 Harry Lumley Turk Broda Toronto won series 4–0 Awards thumb|right|Turk Broda with the Stanley Cup and the Vezina Trophy O'Brien Cup:(Stanley Cup runner-up) Detroit Red WingsPrince of Wales Trophy:(Top regular season record) Toronto Maple LeafsArt Ross Trophy:(Top scorer) Elmer Lach, Montreal CanadiensCalder Memorial Trophy:(Top first-year player) Jim McFadden, Detroit Red WingsHart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Bud O'Connor, New York RangersLady Byng Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Bud O'Connor, New York RangersVezina Trophy:(Goaltender of team with lowest GAA) Turk Broda, Toronto Maple Leafs All-Star teams First team   Position   Second teamTurk Broda, Toronto Maple Leafs GFrank Brimsek, Boston BruinsBill Quackenbush, Detroit Red Wings DKen Reardon, Montreal CanadiensJack Stewart, Detroit Red Wings DNeil Colville, New York RangersElmer Lach, Montreal Canadiens CBuddy O'Connor, New York RangersMaurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens RWBud Poile, Chicago Black HawksTed Lindsay, Detroit Red Wings LWGaye Stewart, Chicago Black Hawks Player statistics Scoring leaders GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points Player Team GP G A Pts Elmer Lach Montreal Canadiens 60 30 31 61 Buddy O'Connor New York Rangers 60 24 36 60 Doug Bentley Chicago Black Hawks 60 20 37 57 Gaye Stewart Toronto Maple Leafs / Chicago Black Hawks 61 27 29 56 Max Bentley Black Hawks / Toronto Maple Leafs 59 26 28 54 Bud Poile Toronto Maple Leafs / Chicago Black Hawks 58 25 29 54 Maurice Richard Montreal Canadiens 53 28 25 53 Syl Apps Toronto Maple Leafs 55 26 27 53 Ted Lindsay Detroit Red Wings 60 33 19 52 Roy Conacher Chicago Black Hawks 52 22 27 49 Source: NHLDinger 2011 148 Leading goaltenders GP = Games Played, TOI = Time on ice (minutes), GA = Goals Against, SO = Shutouts, GAA = Goals against average Player Team GP TOI GA SO GAA Turk Broda Toronto Maple Leafs 60 3600 143 5 2.38 Harry Lumley Detroit Red Wings 60 3592 147 7 2.46 Bill Durnan Montreal Canadiens 59 3505 162 5 2.77 Frank Brimsek Boston Bruins 60 3600 168 3 2.80 Jim Henry New York Rangers 48 2800 153 2 3.19 Emile Francis Chicago Black Hawks 54 3240 183 1 3.39 Coaches Boston Bruins: Dit Clapper Chicago Black Hawks: Johnny Gottselig Detroit Red Wings: Tommy Ivan Montreal Canadiens: Dick Irvin New York Rangers: Frank Boucher Toronto Maple Leafs: Hap Day Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1947–48 (listed with their first team): Ed Sandford, Boston Bruins Paul Ronty, Boston Bruins Metro Prystai, Chicago Black Hawks Marty Pavelich, Detroit Red Wings Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings Floyd Curry, Montreal Canadiens Tom Johnson, Montreal Canadiens Gerry McNeil, Montreal Canadiens Doug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens Ed Kullman, New York Rangers Fleming MacKell, Toronto Maple Leafs Tod Sloan, Toronto Maple Leafs Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1947–48 (listed with their last team): John Quilty, Boston Bruins John Mariucci, Chicago Black Hawks Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens Bryan Hextall, New York Rangers Phil Watson, New York Rangers Billy Taylor, New York Rangers Syl Apps, Toronto Maple Leafs Nick Metz, Toronto Maple Leafs See also 1947–48 NHL transactions List of Stanley Cup champions 1st National Hockey League All-Star Game National Hockey League All-Star Game Ice hockey at the 1948 Winter Olympics 1947 in sports 1948 in sports References 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 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 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 1947 Category:1947–48 in American ice hockey by league Category:1947–48 in Canadian ice hockey by league