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1939–40 NHL season

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1939–40 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationNovember 2, 1939 – April 13, 1940
Number of games48
Number of teams7
Regular season
Season championBoston Bruins
Season MVPEbbie Goodfellow (Red Wings)
Top scorerMilt Schmidt (Bruins)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsNew York Rangers
  Runners-upToronto Maple Leafs
NHL seasons

The 1939–40 NHL season was the 23rd season for the National Hockey League. Of the league's seven teams, the Boston Bruins were the best in the 48-game regular season, but the Stanley Cup winners were the New York Rangers, who defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the best-of-seven final series 4–2 for their third Stanley Cup in 14 seasons of existence. It would be another 54 years before their fourth.

League business

In June 1939, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association notified the NHL of the request for development fees when signing amateur players to contracts, after the existing professional-amateur deal expired in 1940.[1]

Regular season

Tragedy struck the Montreal Canadiens when Babe Siebert, named coach of the struggling club, drowned along with his daughter in August. It put a big hole in the Habs defence and the team finished last under Pit Lepine. An all-star benefit was held in Siebert's memory.

The New York Americans, in financial trouble, decided to trade their star left wing Sweeney Schriner to Toronto for Harvey "Busher" Jackson, Buzz Boll, Murray Armstrong, and minor-leaguer Jimmy Fowler. Late in the season, they traded Eddie Wiseman and $5000 to Boston for Eddie Shore. The Americans then managed to make the playoffs by finishing a poor sixth. They also obtained Charlie Conacher and used him as a defenceman.

The first place Boston Bruins had a new coach in Cooney Weiland, their one-time captain, and were once again led by their Kraut Line, Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart, and Bobby Bauer as they finished 1–2–3 in overall league scoring. Unfortunately, the potent three were unable to help the Bruins get past the first round of the playoffs as the Bruins lost in six games to the Rangers.

The New York Rangers were coasting in first place and went 19 consecutive games without a loss. They slumped in the second half, though, and Boston edged them out for first place.

The first NHL game broadcast on television was between the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens on February 25, 1940. The game was seen by only 300 people in a small area in the United States. This, though, was not the first ice hockey game broadcast on television, as a broadcast had been made in England in 1938.[citation needed] The CBC's first hockey broadcast was in 1952 between the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings.

Final standings

National Hockey League
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
Boston Bruins 48 31 12 5 170 98 330 67
New York Rangers 48 27 11 10 136 77 520 64
Toronto Maple Leafs 48 25 17 6 134 110 485 56
Chicago Black Hawks 48 23 19 6 112 120 351 52
Detroit Red Wings 48 16 26 6 90 126 250 38
New York Americans 48 15 29 4 106 140 236 34
Montreal Canadiens 48 10 33 5 90 167 338 25

[2]

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalty Minutes, Pts = Points
       Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

1939–40 NHL Records [3]
Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYA NYR TOR
Boston — 6–1–1 5–3 6–1–1 7–1 2–4–2 5–2–1
Chicago 1–6–1 — 6–0–2 5–2–1 3–4–1 4–4 4–3–1
Detroit 3–5 0–6–2 — 5–3 5–3 2–3–2 1–6–1
Montreal 1–6–1 2–5–1 3–5 — 2–4–2 1–6–1 1–7
N.Y. Americans 1–7 4–3–1 3–5 4–2–2 — 1–6–1 2–6
N.Y. Rangers 4–2–2 4–4 3–2–2 6–1–1 6–1–1 — 4–1–3
Toronto 2–5–1 3–4–1 6–1–1 7–1 6–2 1–4–3 —


Playoffs

The Boston Bruins were expected to make the Stanley Cup Finals after a first overall finish during the regular season riding the shoulders of the "Kraut Line", but the New York Rangers were too much for the Bruins who lost in six games, got out-scored 14 to 8, and got shut-out twice in the Semifinals. The third seed Toronto Maple Leafs swept the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks en route to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Rangers Cup win would begin the 54 Year Curse, and they would not win another Cup until 1994.

Playoff bracket

QuarterfinalsSemifinalsStanley Cup Finals
1Boston2
2NY Rangers4
2NY Rangers4
3Toronto2
3Toronto2
4Chicago0
3Toronto2
5Detroit0
5Detroit2
6NY Americans1

Quarterfinals

(3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) Chicago Black Hawks

March 19 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Art Wiebe (1) – 02:31
Mush March (1) – sh – 19:41 		First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 01:45 – Jack Church (1)
09:09 – Syl Apps (1)
No scoring First overtime period 06:36 – Syl Apps (2)
Paul Goodman Goalie stats Turk Broda
March 21 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Gordie Drillon (1) – 04:18 Second period No scoring
Hank Goldup (1) – 11:56 Third period 09:02 – pp – Bill Carse (1)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Paul Goodman
Toronto won series 2–0


(5) Detroit Red Wings vs. (6) New York Americans

March 19 New York Americans 1–2 OT Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Johnny Gagnon (1) – 19:20 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 01:29 – pp – Alex Motter (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring First overtime period 00:25 – Syd Howe (1)
Earl Robertson Goalie stats Tiny Thompson
March 22 Detroit Red Wings 4–5 New York Americans Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Mud Bruneteau (1) – 10:58 Second period 18:52 – Charlie Conacher (1)
Joe Fisher (1) – 05:54
Mud Bruneteau (2) – 08:18
Connie Brown (1) – 14:16 		Third period 05:10 – Hooley Smith (1)
16:15 – Tommy Anderson (1)
17:18 – Hooley Smith (2)
19:39 – Art Chapman (1)
Tiny Thompson Goalie stats Earl Robertson
March 24 New York Americans 1–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Hooley Smith (3) – 18:39 First period 05:18 – Cecil Dillon (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 07:33 – pp – Mud Bruneteau (3)
16:45 – Ken Kilrea (1)
Earl Robertson Goalie stats Tiny Thompson
Detroit won series 2–1


Semifinals

(1) Boston Bruins vs. (2) New York Rangers

March 19 Boston Bruins 0–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 10:29 – Phil Watson (1)
12:13 – sh – Alex Shibicky (1)
No scoring Third period 02:37 – sh – Mac Colville (1)
16:58 – Mac Colville (2)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Dave Kerr
March 21 New York Rangers 2–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Mac Colville (3) – sh – 03:45 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 05:45 – pp – Flash Hollett (1)
08:19 – sh – Herb Cain (1)
19:34 – pp – Woody Dumart (1)
Dutch Hiller (1) – 09:56 Third period 18:16 – Art Jackson (1)
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
March 24 New York Rangers 3–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 07:21 – Eddie Wiseman (1)
Muzz Patrick (1) – 13:49 Second period 16:06 – Bobby Bauer (1)
17:55 – Roy Conacher (1)
Babe Pratt (1) – 03:40
Lynn Patrick (1) – 12:35 		Third period 07:49 – Eddie Wiseman (2)
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
March 26 Boston Bruins 0–1 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 10:40 – Muzz Patrick (2)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Dave Kerr
March 28 New York Rangers 1–0 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Babe Pratt (2) – 04:27 Third period No scoring
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
March 30 Boston Bruins 1–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Roy Conacher (2) – 19:53 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 08:14 – Alf Pike (1)
No scoring Third period 11:09 – Alex Shibicky (2)
12:494 – pp – Clint Smith (1)
14:46 – pp – Phil Watson (2)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Dave Kerr
New York won series 4–2


(3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings

March 26 Detroit Red Wings 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 11:18 – pp – Syl Apps (3)
Connie Brown (2) – 10:26 Third period 00:57 – Sweeney Schriner (1)
Tiny Thompson Goalie stats Turk Broda
March 28 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–1 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Red Heron (1) – 03:04
Hank Goldup (2) – 19:51 		First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Hank Goldup (3) – 07:07 Third period 19:20 – Syd Howe (2)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Tiny Thompson
Toronto won series 2–0


Stanley Cup Finals

Main article: 1940 Stanley Cup Finals


April 2 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–2 OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Red Heron (2) – 11:01 First period 09:09 – pp – Art Coulter (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring First overtime period 15:30 – Alf Pike (2)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Dave Kerr
April 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–6 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Billy Taylor (1) – 05:01
Hank Goldup (4) – 06:01 		First period 15:14 – Bryan Hextall
No scoring Second period 03:57 – Babe Pratt (3)
19:48 – pp – Bryan Hextall (2)
No scoring Third period 06:26 – Bryan Hextall (3)
12:21 – pp – Dutch Heller (2)
13:09 – pp – Lynn Patrick (2)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Dave Kerr
April 6 New York Rangers 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Phil Watson (3) – 18:19 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 10:32 – Gordie Drillon (2)
13:40 – Hank Goldup (5)
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 9 New York Rangers 0–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 19:20 – Gus Marker (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 16:03 – Wally Stanowski (1)
19:26 – Gordie Drillon (3)
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 11 New York Rangers 2–1 2OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Neil Colville (1) – 12:21 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 16:55 – Syl Apps (4)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Muzz Patrick (3) – 11:43 Second overtime period No scoring
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 13 New York Rangers 3–2 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 06:52 – Syl Apps (5)
No scoring Second period 04:51 – Nick Metz (1)
Neil Colville (2) – 08:08
Alf Pike (3) – 10:01 		Third period No scoring
Bryan Hextall (4) – 02:07 First overtime period No scoring
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Turk Broda
New York won series 4–2


Awards

Calder Trophy:
(Best first-year player)		 Kilby MacDonald, New York Rangers
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)		 Ebbie Goodfellow, Detroit Red Wings
Lady Byng Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)		 Bobby Bauer, Boston Bruins
O'Brien Cup:
(Stanley Cup runner-up)		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Regular season champion)		 Boston Bruins
Vezina Trophy:
(Fewest goals allowed)		 Dave Kerr, New York Rangers

All-Star teams

First Team   Position   Second Team
Dave Kerr, New York Rangers G Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins
Dit Clapper, Boston Bruins D Art Coulter, New York Rangers
Ebbie Goodfellow, Detroit Red Wings D Earl Seibert, Chicago Black Hawks
Milt Schmidt, Boston Bruins C Neil Colville, New York Rangers
Bryan Hextall, New York Rangers RW Bobby Bauer, Boston Bruins
Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens LW Woody Dumart, Boston Bruins
Paul Thompson, Chicago Black Hawks Coach Frank Boucher, New York Rangers

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts
Milt Schmidt Boston Bruins 48 22 30 52
Woody Dumart Boston Bruins 48 22 21 43
Bobby Bauer Boston Bruins 48 17 26 43
Gordie Drillon Toronto Maple Leafs 43 21 19 40
Bill Cowley Boston Bruins 48 13 27 40
Bryan Hextall New York Rangers 48 24 15 39
Neil Colville New York Rangers 48 19 19 38
Syd Howe Detroit Red Wings 46 14 23 37
Toe Blake Montreal Canadiens 48 17 19 36
Murray Armstrong New York Americans 48 16 20 36

Source: NHL[4]

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 SO
Dave Kerr New York Rangers 48 3000 77 1.54 27 11 10 8
Paul Goodman Chicago Black Hawks 31 1920 62 1.94 16 10 5 4
Frank Brimsek Boston Bruins 48 2950 98 1.99 31 12 5 6
Turk Broda Toronto Maple Leafs 47 2900 108 2.23 25 17 5 4
Cecil "Tiny" Thompson Detroit Red Wings 46 2830 120 2.54 16 24 6 3
Earl Robertson N.Y. Americans 48 2960 140 2.84 15 29 4 6
Claude Bourque Montreal Canadiens 36 2210 121 3.29 9 24 3 2
Mike Karakas Chicago Black Hawks 17 1050 58 3.31 7 9 1 0
Playoffs

Playoff scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Phil Watson New York Rangers 12 3 6 9 16
Neil Colville New York Rangers 12 2 7 9 18
Syl Apps Toronto Maple Leafs 10 5 2 7 2
Bryan Hextall New York Rangers 12 4 3 7 11
Alex Shibicky New York Rangers 11 2 5 7 4
Hank Goldup Toronto Maple Leafs 10 5 1 6 4
Wilbert Hiller New York Rangers 12 2 4 6 2
Mac Colville New York Rangers 12 3 2 5 6
Mud Bruneteau Detroit Red Wings 5 3 2 5 0
Alf Pike New York Rangers 12 3 1 4 6

Playoff leading goaltenders

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

Player Team GP Min W L T SO GAA
Dave Kerr New York Rangers 12 770 8 4 0 3 1.56
Turk Broda Toronto Maple Leafs 10 657 6 4 0 1 1.74
Frank Brimsek Boston Bruins 6 360 2 4 0 0 2.50
Tiny Thompson Detroit Red Wings 5 300 2 3 0 0 2.40
Earl Robertson New York Americans 3 180 1 2 0 0 3.00
Paul Goodman Chicago Black Hawks 2 127 0 2 0 0 2.36

Coaches

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1939–40 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1939–40 (listed with their last team):

See also

References

  • 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, NY: Pagurian Press. ISBN 0-684-13424-1.
Notes
  1. ^ "C.A.H.A. Will Spend $5,000 To Send Ports To Olympics". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. June 26, 1939. p. 13.Free access icon
  2. ^ Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0.
  3. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  4. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 147.
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