1927–28 NHL season

Professional ice hockey league season August 2023 1927–28 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey November 15, 1927 – April 14, 1928 Regular season 44 10 Montreal Canadiens Howie Morenz (Canadiens) Hart Memorial Trophy Howie Morenz (Canadiens) Canadian Division Montreal Canadiens American Division Boston Bruins Stanley Cup 1928 Stanley Cup Finals New York Rangers Montreal Maroons 1928–29 NHL season 1926–27 NHL season 1928–29 1926–27 NHL The 1927–28 NHL season was the 11th season of the National Hockey League. Ten teams played 44 games each. This was the first full season that the Toronto club used the Toronto Maple Leafs name following ownership changes in February 1927. The New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup beating the Montreal Maroons, becoming the first NHL team based in the United States to win it. League business The O'Brien Cup, which used to go to the National Hockey Association (NHA), later the NHL league champion, would now go to the winner of the Canadian Division. The Prince of Wales Trophy, first awarded to the winner of the first game at Madison Square Garden, and later the NHL league champion, would now go to the winner of the American division. The first indications that the Ottawa Senators were in financial trouble surfaced when they asked the league for a bigger share of road game income. Though the league entertained the Senators suggestion, the Senators did not receive this income. It was decided by the Ottawa management to sell star right wing Hooley Smith to the Montreal Maroons for an undisclosed amount of money ($22,500 it was believed). At the same time, right wing Punch Broadbent returned to Ottawa. The Toronto Maple Leafs introduced new sweaters of blue and white, changing from the former green logo on white uniform. They are the first team in the NHL to have a set of white uniforms and a set of dark uniforms.http://www.nhluniforms.com/1927-28.html 1927–28 – The Hockey Uniform Database nhluniforms.com October 12, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111007063846/http://nhluniforms.com/1927-28.html 2011-10-07 dead Toronto Maple Leafs 2011–12 Media Guide http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/v2/ext/Leafs2011-12MediaGuide.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20111107071701/http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/v2/ext/Leafs2011-12MediaGuide.pdf dead November 7, 2011 Toronto Maple Leafs 2011 193 Rule changes The league changed the rule for substitution, allowing "on the fly" changes, as long as the player going off is on the bench before the substitute goes on.Duplacey 1996 33 The league implemented new measures to increase scoring. The blue lines were introduced, dividing the rink into three zones: defending, neutral and attacking. Teams with possession in their defending zone could now pass the puck forward, and both teams could pass the puck forward in the neutral zone, although forward passing across the blue lines was still disallowed. New penalties were given for picking up the puck; and for clearing the puck out of play. Goalie leg pads were reduced in width to ten inches from twelve and goalies were disallowed from travelling more than four feet with the puck.Ross 2015 168 However, the new changes did not improve scoring, as the average number of goals per game decreased to 3.8, from 4.0.Ross 2015 169 A new ten-minute sudden-death overtime period was introduced to resolve games tied after 60 minutes. This was also ineffective, and the number of tie games doubled from 36 to 74.Ross 2015 169 Arena changes The Detroit Cougars moved from Border Cities Arena in Windsor, Ontario to Olympia Stadium in Detroit. Regular season The Chicago Black Hawks fired coach Pete Muldoon before the season, and coaching was split between Hugh Lehman and Barney Stanley. The Black Hawks finished last, recording only seven wins. The firing of Muldoon prompted him to publicly put "a curse" (known as the "curse of the Muldoons") on the Black Hawks, stating that the team would never win the NHL pennant. The Black Hawks would not place first in the NHL until the 1966–67 season.McFarlane 1973 40 The Ottawa Senators, the smallest market in the league, were affected by franchises in the U.S. and sold their star right wing Hooley Smith to the Montreal Maroons for $22,500 plus the return of right wing Punch Broadbent, followed by the sale of defenceman Edwin Gorman to Toronto. Howie Morenz, the NHL's top drawing card, dominated the scoring race and was runaway winner of the Hart Trophy. He scored 33 goals and led the league in assists as well. Despite Ottawa's financial difficulties, Alex Connell, Ottawa goalkeeper, set an all-time record with six consecutive shutouts. His record shutout sequence reached 460 minutes and 59 seconds without being scored on.Dryden 2000 30 Toronto, now the Maple Leafs, showed power early on and it looked like they would make the playoffs. However, injuries to Hap Day and Bill Carson doomed the team, and the Leafs sagged to fourth, out of the playoffs for the third straight year. It would take another 80 years until the Leafs missed the playoffs three straight times again. Thanks to the great play of Eddie Shore and goaltender Hal Winkler, who tied with Connell for the leader in shutouts with 15, the Boston Bruins finished first for the first time in the American Division, while the Canadiens, who were running away with the Canadian Division at mid-season, slumped after an injury to Pit Lepine but managed to hold onto first place at season's end. Final standings start break end Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties in minutes Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold Playoffs In the Canadian Division, the Montreal Maroons beat the Ottawa Senators and then went to the limit against the Canadiens before Russell Oatman put the Maroons into the finals with a goal in overtime. In the American Division, the New York Rangers knocked off the Pittsburgh Pirates in a rough series, and then beat Boston to go to the finals against the Montreal Maroons. Playoff bracket The top three teams in each division qualified for the playoffs. In the first round, the second-place team in each division played against the third-place team from their division. Each division winner received a first round bye, then met the first round winner from their division in the second round. The two divisional playoff winners then advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. In the first two rounds, teams competed in a two-game total-goals series. The Stanley Cup Finals was instead competed in a best-of-five format. C2 Mtl Maroons 3G C3 Ottawa 1G A2 NY Rangers 6G A3 Pittsburgh 4G C1 Mtl Canadiens 2G C2 Mtl Maroons 3G A1 Boston 2G A2 NY Rangers 5G C2 Mtl Maroons 2 A2 NY Rangers 3 Quarterfinals (A2) New York Rangers vs. (A3) Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates New York Rangers Duquesne Gardens Madison Square Garden III March 27 0–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/pir-vs-nyr/1928/03/27/1927030121#,game=1927030121,game_state=final No scoring 04:13 – Frank Boucher (1)14:36 – Bun Cook (1)18:34 – Alex Gray (1) No scoring 04:21 – Ching Johnson (1) No scoring No scoring Roy Worters Lorne Chabot March 29 4–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/pir-vs-nyr/1928/03/29/1927030122#,game=1927030122,game_state=final Marty Burke (1) – 14:04 03:03 – Clarence Abel (1) Rodger Smith (1) – 07:40 No scoring Rodger Smith (2) – 13:47Baldy Cotton (1) – 18:57 10:40 – Murray Murdoch (1) Roy Worters Lorne Chabot New York won series on total goals 6–4 (C2) Montreal Maroons vs. (C3) Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators Montreal Maroons Ottawa Auditorium Montreal Forum March 27 1–0 2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mmr-vs-sen/1928/03/27/1927030111#,game=1927030111,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring Joe Lamb (1) – 09:05 No scoring No scoring Clint Benedict Alec Connell March 29 1–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/sen-vs-mmr/1928/03/29/1927030112#,game=1927030112,game_state=final No scoring 10:00 – Babe Siebert (1) No scoring 05:00 – Hooley Smith (1) Hec Kilrea (1) – 02:00 No scoring Clint Benedict Alec Connell Montreal won series on total goals 3–1 Semifinals (A1) Boston Bruins vs. (A2) New York Rangers New York Rangers Boston Bruins Madison Square Garden III Boston Arena March 31 1–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-nyr/1928/03/31/1927030221#game=1927030221,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring 01:48 – Frank Boucher (2) Harry Oliver (1) – 03:00 Lorne Chabot Hal Winkler April 3 4–1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-bos/1928/04/03/1927030222#game=1927030222,game_state=final Bill Cook (1) – 19:30 No scoring Murray Murdoch (2) – 11:23Bun Cook (2) – 16:18Frank Boucher (3) – 17:32 No scoring No scoring 19:30 – Harry Oliver (2) Lorne Chabot Hal Winkler New York won series on total goals 5–2 (C1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (C2) Montreal Maroons Montreal Maroons Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Montreal Forum March 31 2–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-mmr/1928/03/31/1927030211#game=1927030211,game_state=final No scoring Albert Leduc (1) – 10:10 13:55 – Jimmy Ward (1)15:00 – Hooley Smith (2) Art Gagne (1) – 03:55 No scoring No scoring Clint Benedict George Hainsworth April 3 1–0 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mmr-vs-mtl/1928/04/03/1927030212#game=1927030212,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring Russell Oatman (1) – 08:22 No scoring Clint Benedict George Hainsworth Montreal Maroons won series on total goals 3–2 Stanley Cup Finals 1928 Stanley Cup Finals The circus knocked the Rangers out of Madison Square Garden, and all games were played in the Montreal Forum, even though Boston offered to host the Rangers. The Maroons won game one 2–0, with Nels Stewart and goaltender Clint Benedict the stars. Drama took over in game two when Nels Stewart fired a hard shot that struck New York goaltender Lorne Chabot in the eye. He could not continue, and the Rangers needed a goaltender. However, when coach Eddie Gerard refused to let the Rangers use Alex Connell or minor league goaltender Hugh McCormick, Lester Patrick, Ranger coach, in anger, decided to don the pads himself.Dryden 2000 30 The Rangers then body-blasted any Maroon who got near Patrick. Bill Cook scored, putting the Rangers ahead 1–0, but Nels Stewart was not to be denied and scored, tying the game. In overtime, Frank Boucher got the winner for the Rangers and they carried Patrick, tears streaming down his eyes, off the ice. Patrick stopped 17 of 18 shots he faced.Dryden 2000 30 Joe Miller, New York Americans goalie, was allowed to take Chabot's place in goal and he played well in a 2–0 loss in game three. However, Frank Boucher starred as the Rangers took the next two games, and the Stanley Cup. Drama almost took place in the final game when Miller was badly cut on a shot, but he was able to continue. The crowd became unruly at times and referee Mike Rodden took abuse for disallowed goals by Maroon players. Even NHL president Frank Calder was a target of some fans for not intervening. The Rangers became the second American team to win the Cup and the first NHL American team to do so. In addition, the Rangers became the first opposing team to win the Stanley Cup at the Montreal Forum which was only repeated in 1989 New York Rangers Montreal Maroons Madison Square Garden III Montreal Forum April 5 0–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-mmr/1928/04/05/1927030311#game=1927030311,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring 10:48 – Red Dutton (1) No scoring 05:56 – Merlyn Phillips (1) Lorne Chabot Clint Benedict April 7 2–1 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-mmr/1928/04/07/1927030312#game=1927030312,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring Bill Cook (1) – 00:30 18:51 – Nels Stewart (1) Frank Boucher (4) – 07:05 No scoring Lorne Chabot, Lester Patrick Clint Benedict April 10 0–2 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-mmr/1928/04/10/1927030313#,game=1927030313,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring 09:00 – Nels Stewart (2) No scoring 17:20 – Babe Siebert (2) Joe Miller Clint Benedict April 12 1–0 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-mmr/1928/04/12/1927030314#game=1927030314,game_state=final No scoring No scoring Frank Boucher (5) – 13:13 No scoring No scoring No scoring Joe Miller Clint Benedict April 14 2–1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-mmr/1928/04/14/1927030315#,game=1927030315,game_state=final Frank Boucher (6) – 17:05 No scoring No scoring No scoring Frank Boucher (7) – 15:16 17:16 – Merlyn Phillips (2) Joe Miller Clint Benedict New York won series 3–2 Awards The terms for awarding the O'Brien Cup and the Prince of Wales Trophy were changed to honour the top finisher in each of the NHL's divisions. Howie Morenz won the Hart Trophy, the first of three times he would be named most valuable player. Frank Boucher won the Lady Byng, the first of seven times he would win the award. George Hainsworth won the Vezina Trophy for the second consecutive year. 1927–28 NHL awardsHart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Howie Morenz, Montreal CanadiensLady Byng Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Frank Boucher, New York RangersO'Brien Cup:(Canadian Division champions) Montreal CanadiensPrince of Wales Trophy:(American Division champions) Boston BruinsVezina Trophy:(Fewest goals allowed) George Hainsworth, Montreal Canadiens Player statistics Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points Player Team GP G A Pts Howie Morenz Montreal Canadiens 43 33 18 51 Aurel Joliat Montreal Canadiens 44 28 11 39 Frank Boucher New York Rangers 44 23 12 35 George Hay Detroit Cougars 42 22 13 35 Nels Stewart Montreal Maroons 41 27 7 34 Art Gagne Montreal Canadiens 44 20 10 30 Bun Cook New York Rangers 44 14 14 28 Bill Carson Toronto Maple Leafs 32 20 6 26 Frank Finnigan Ottawa Senators 38 20 5 25 Bill Cook New York Rangers 43 18 6 24 Duke Keats Detroit Cougars/Chicago Black Hawks 38 14 10 24 Source: NHLDinger 2011 146 Leading goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shut outs; GAA = Goals against average Player Team GP Mins GA SO GAA George Hainsworth Montreal Canadiens 44 2730 48 13 1.05 Alex Connell Ottawa Senators 44 2760 57 15 1.24 Hal Winkler Boston Bruins 44 2780 70 15 1.51 Roy Worters Pittsburgh Pirates 44 2740 76 11 1.66 Clint Benedict Montreal Maroons 44 2690 76 6 1.70 Source: hockey-reference.comhttps://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1928_goalies.html 1927–28 NHL Season Goalie Statistics hockey-reference.com October 25, 2011 Coaches American Division Boston Bruins: Art Ross Chicago Black Hawks: Barney Stanley and Hughie Lehman Detroit Cougars: Jack Adams New York Rangers: Lester Patrick Pittsburgh Pirates: Odie Cleghorn Canadian Division Montreal Canadiens: Cecil Hart Montreal Maroons: Eddie Gerard New York Americans: Shorty Green Ottawa Senators: Dave Gill Toronto Maple Leafs: Conn Smythe Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1927–28 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Dit Clapper, Boston Bruins Norman Gainor, Boston Bruins Cy Wentworth, Chicago Black Hawks Charlie Gardiner, Chicago Black Hawks Larry Aurie, Detroit Cougars Marty Burke, Montreal Canadiens Jimmy Ward, Montreal Maroons Joe Lamb, Montreal Maroons Marty Barry, New York Americans Allan Shields, Ottawa Senators Joe Primeau, Toronto Maple Leafs Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1927–28 (listed with their last team):* Denotes last game was in the playoffs. Sprague Cleghorn, Boston Bruins Corb Denneny, Chicago Black Hawks Frank Foyston, Detroit Cougars Jack Walker, Detroit Cougars Billy Boucher, New York Americans Odie Cleghorn, Pittsburgh Pirates Lester Patrick, New York Rangers* See also 1927–28 NHL transactions List of Stanley Cup champions Ice hockey at the 1928 Winter Olympics Prairie Hockey League List of pre-NHL seasons 1927 in sports 1928 in sports References 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 registration https://archive.org/details/nationalhockeyle0000unse_u6g5 Dryden Steve Century of hockey McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Toronto, ON 2000 0-7710-4179-9 Duplacey James 1996 The annotated rules of hockey Lyons & Burford, Publishers New York 1-55821-466-6 registration https://archive.org/details/annotatedrulesof00dupl 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 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 Ross J. Andrew 2015 Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945 Syracuse University Press 978-0-8156-3383-9 Notes External links Hockey Database NHL.com 1927 Category:1927–28 in Canadian ice hockey by league Category:1927–28 in American ice hockey