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1937–38 NHL season

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1937–38 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationNovember 4, 1937 – April 12, 1938
Number of games48
Number of teams8
Regular season
Season championsBoston Bruins
Season MVPEddie Shore (Bruins)
Top scorerGordie Drillon (Maple Leafs)
Canadian Division championsToronto Maple Leafs
American Division championsBoston Bruins
Stanley Cup
ChampionsChicago Black Hawks
  Runners-upToronto Maple Leafs
NHL seasons

The 1937–38 NHL season was the 21st season of the National Hockey League (NHL). Eight teams each played 48 games. The Chicago Black Hawks were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs three games to one in the Stanley Cup Finals.

League business

Bill Dwyer could not come up with the capital required to retain his team and the NHL took full control of the New York Americans.

The Howie Morenz Memorial Game, the NHL's second all-star game, was played November 2, 1937, and raised over $11,447, which, added to other contributions, established a fund of over $20,000 for the Morenz family. Prior to the start of the game, Howie Morenz's uniform and playing kit was auctioned and Joseph Cattarinich put down the winning bid of $500. The uniform was presented to Howie Morenz Jr. The NHL All-stars defeated a combined team of Canadiens and Maroons players 6–5.

In February 1938, NHL president Frank Calder terminated the professional-amateur agreement with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) which limited signing contracts with junior ice hockey players. After a player suspended by the NHL was registered by a CAHA team, he met with CAHA vice-president W. G. Hardy without resolution, then told NHL teams that they could approach any junior player with a contract offer.[1][2]

Rule changes

In September 1937, the NHL passed the 'icing' rule whereby teams could no longer shoot the puck the length of the ice to delay the game. Teams were allowed to continue to 'ice' the puck during penalties.[3] The penalty shot was amended to remove the dots where the shot was to take place. Two new lines 30 feet from the goal were added instead. A player taking a penalty shot would start from the line closest to his own goal, skate with the puck and shoot before he crossed the penalty line nearest the opposition goal. After a puck was shot out-of-bounds, the location of the following faceoff was now to occur at the point where the shot was made, instead of where it exited the rink as was done until that time.[4]

Regular season

Charlie Conacher was named captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he had a big weekend at the expense of Chicago November 13 with a hat trick in a 7–3 win. He then scored 2 goals in a 3–3 tie. However, The Big Bomber ran into misfortune once more on November 18 in Montreal against the Canadiens when he dislocated his shoulder. The cycle of injuries had a cumulative effect on Conacher's nervous and physical condition and his doctor told him to retire from hockey. He did retire for the rest of the season, but would play again the next season, but was forever gone from the Leafs.

The New York Rangers lost their star center Neil Colville for a few games as the result of some horseplay that must have infuriated Lester Patrick. Defenceman Joe Cooper was pursuing a fad of slicing off neckties from teammates using a penknife. Colville threw up his hand only to receive a gash that required 11 stitches to close.

The New York Americans, with Ching Johnson and Hap Day to relieve Joe Jerwa and Al Murray on defence, were doing much better than usual. Earl Robertson, their new goaltender, was leading the Canadian Division in goaltending and ended up doing so at season's end. The Amerks also had Sweeney Schriner and Nels Stewart contributing in a nice way to the offence.

The Montreal Maroons, coached at first by King Clancy, settled into last place and president and general manager Tommy Gorman decided he would take over as coach. He did even worse and the fans stayed away. Although the team did badly, one highlight was an 11–7 win over their rivals, the Canadiens, and Baldy Northcott had a hat trick in the game. There seemed to be nothing Gorman could do to revitalize the team and at one stretch the team lost 8 straight games. On March 17, 1938, the Maroons played their last game against their rivals, the Canadiens.

Detroit was the shockingly bad team of the American Division. After winning the Stanley Cup in 1937, they were reclining in the cellar of the Division. They had one bright moment when Carl Liscombe set a record for the fastest hat trick to this time (since broken by Bill Mosienko). Liscombe scored three goals in 1 minute and 52 seconds in a 5–1 win over Chicago.

On March 17, 1938, Nels Stewart scored his 300th National Hockey League goal in a 5–3 loss to the Rangers.

Final standings

Canadian Division
GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Toronto Maple Leafs 48 24 15 9 57 151 127 404
New York Americans 48 19 18 11 49 110 111 327
Montreal Canadiens 48 18 17 13 49 123 128 340
Montreal Maroons 48 12 30 6 30 101 149 470
American Division
GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Boston Bruins 48 30 11 7 67 142 89 284
New York Rangers 48 27 15 6 60 149 96 435
Chicago Black Hawks 48 14 25 9 37 97 139 238
Detroit Red Wings 48 12 25 11 35 99 133 258

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
       Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

American

Canadian


Playoffs

The Cinderella story of the century was the Chicago Black Hawks who would barely make the playoffs but proceeded to defeat the Canadiens, the Americans and the Maple Leafs to win the Cup with the lowest regular-season winning percentage of any champions in the big-four major professional sports leagues of North America.

Playoff bracket

First roundSemifinalsFinal
C1Toronto3
A1Boston0
C1Toronto1
C2NY Americans2
A3Chicago3
A2NY Rangers1
C2NY Americans1
A3Chicago2
C3Mtl Canadiens1
A3Chicago2

Quarterfinals

The New York Americans stunned the New York Rangers as Lorne Carr scored the winner in overtime in the third and deciding game.


March 22 New York Americans 2–1 2OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period 01:30 – Cecil Dillon (1)
Red Beattie (1) – 09:26 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
John Sorrell (1) – 01:25 Second overtime period No scoring
Earl Robertson Goalie stats Dave Kerr
March 24 New York Rangers 4–3 New York Americans Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Bryan Hextall (1) – 11:28 First period No scoring
Clint Smith (1) – 04:05
Alex Shibicky (1) – 08:37 		Second period 12:23 – pp – Tommy Anderson (1)
Clint Smith (2) – 15:00 Third period 07:13 – John Sorrell (2)
17:58 – John Sorrell (3)
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Earl Robertson
March 27 New York Americans 3–2 4OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 06:27 – Alex Shibicky (2)
07:31 – Bryan Hextall (2)
Lorne Carr (1) – 04:36
Nels Stewart (1) – 10:38 		Third period No scoring
Lorne Carr (2) – 00:40 Fourth overtime period No scoring
Earl Robertson Goalie stats Dave Kerr
New York Americans won series 2–1


The Canadiens beat the Hawks in game one of the quarterfinal, as Toe Blake had the hat trick. But Mike Karakas shut out the Canadiens in the second game and even though Georges Mantha appeared to win the game with a freak goal in game three, Earl Seibert kept the Hawks from losing with a goal late in the game, and then the Hawks won the series in overtime.


March 22 Chicago Black Hawks 4–6 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Paul Thompson (1) – 01:31 First period 10:58 – Babe Siebert (1)
Mush March (1) – 12:23 Second period 13:38 – pp – Toe Blake (1)
18:45 – Red Goupille (1)
Johnny Gottselig (1) – 09:30
Cully Dahlstrom (1) – 11:51 		Third period 11:32 – Toe Blake (2)
17:32 – Toe Blake (3)
18:40 – Red Goupille (2)
Mike Karakas Goalie stats Wilf Cude
March 24 Montreal Canadiens 0–4 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 17:58 - Earl Seibert (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 10:06 - Earl Seibert (2)
13:34 - Johnny Gottselig (2)
19:59 - Paul Thompson (2)
Wilf Cude Goalie stats Mike Karakas
March 26 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Johnny Gottselig (3) – 18:24 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 08:52 – Johnny Gagnon (1)
Earl Seibert (3) – 18:34 Third period 12:46 – pp – Georges Mantha (1)
Paul Thompson (3) – 11:49 First overtime period No scoring
Mike Karakas Goalie stats Wilf Cude
Chicago won series 2–1


Semifinals

In an upset, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat Boston in the Series A semifinal.


March 24 Boston Bruins 0–1 2OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring Second overtime period 01:31 – George Parsons (1)
Tiny Thompson Goalie stats Turk Broda
March 26 Boston Bruins 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 14:30 – Pep Kelly (1)
Charlie Sands (1) – 07:37 Third period 08:57 – Gordie Drillon (1)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Tiny Thompson
March 29 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Gordie Drillon (2) – 01:16 Second period No scoring
Pep Kelly (2) – 05:02 Third period 03:24 – Bill Cowley (1)
16:49 – Bill Cowley (2)
Gordie Drillon (3) – 10:04 First overtime period No scoring
Tiny Thompson Goalie stats Turk Broda
Toronto won series 3–0


In the Series B semifinal, it was Chicago and the New York Americans, who beat Chicago in game one 3–1. Game two was a great goaltenders battle between Mike Karakas and Earl Robertson. It appeared that the Americans were headed to their first Stanley Cup Finals when Nels Stewart scored with seconds left in the game, but referee Clarence Campbell disallowed the goal, saying Eddie Wiseman was in the goal crease. Cully Dahlstrom scored the goal that saved the Black Hawks. In New York, the deciding game saw Alex Levinsky of Chicago score the go-ahead goal, but the red light did not go on. Investigation revealed that fans were holding the goal judge's hand so he could not signal the goal. Although the Amerks came close, they were unable to tie the score and the Black Hawks were in the finals.


March 29 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 New York Americans Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Carl Voss (1) – 05:19 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 16:47 – Nels Stewart (2)
No scoring Third period 15:52 – John Sorrell (4)
19:08 – pp – Sweeney Schriner (1)
Mike Karakas Goalie stats Earl Robertson
March 31 New York Americans 0–1 2OT Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring Second overtime period 13:01 – Cully Dahlstrom (2)
Earl Robertson Goalie stats Mike Karakas
April 3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 New York Americans Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period 19:40 – pp – Lorne Carr (3)
Earl Seibert (4) – 14:52
Alex Levinsky (1) – 17:43 		Second period No scoring
Doc Romnes (1) – 15:53 Third period 16:29 – Red Beattie (2)
Mike Karakas Goalie stats Earl Robertson
Chicago won series 2–1


Stanley Cup Finals

Main article: 1938 Stanley Cup Finals
April 5 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Johnny Gottselig (4) – pp – 19:08 First period 01:54 – Gordie Drillon (4)
Paul Thompson (4) – 01:51 Second period No scoring
Johnny Gottselig (5) – 12:08 Third period No scoring
Alfie Moore Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 7 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Earl Seibert (5) – pp – 08:31 First period 01:42 – Gordie Drillon (5)
No scoring Second period 06:10 – Busher Jackson (1)
No scoring Third period 09:44 – Gordie Drillon (6)
11:29 – George Parsons (2)
12:08 – George Parsons (3)
Alfie Moore Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 10 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Syl Apps (1) – pp – 01:35 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 16:02 – Carl Voss (2)
No scoring Third period 15:55 – Doc Romnes (2)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Alfie Moore
April 12 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Gordie Drillon (7) – 08:26 First period 05:52 – Cully Dahlstrom (3)
No scoring Second period 16:45 – Carl Voss (3)
17:58 – Jack Shill (1)
No scoring Third period 16:24 – Mush March (2)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Alfie Moore
Chicago won series 3–1


European tour

Main article: 1938 Detroit Red Wings – Montreal Canadiens European tour

After the Stanley Cup Finals finished, the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens played a nine-game exhibition series in Europe, becoming the first NHL teams to play outside North America. Six games were played in the United Kingdom, three in France. The Canadiens won the series with a record of 5–3–1.

Awards

Trophy winners
Calder Trophy:
(Best first-year player)		 Cully Dahlstrom, Chicago Black Hawks
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)		 Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins
Lady Byng Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)		 Gordie Drillon, Toronto Maple Leafs
O'Brien Cup:
(Canadian Division champion)		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(American Division champion)		 Boston Bruins
Vezina Trophy:
(Fewest goals allowed)		 Tiny Thompson, Boston Bruins
All-Star teams
First Team   Position   Second Team
Tiny Thompson, Boston Bruins G Dave Kerr, New York Rangers
Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins D Art Coulter, New York Rangers
Babe Siebert, Montreal Canadiens D Earl Seibert, Chicago Black Hawks
Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins C Syl Apps, Toronto Maple Leafs
Cecil Dillon, New York Rangers

Gordie Drillon, Toronto Maple Leafs (tie)

RW
Paul Thompson, Chicago Black Hawks LW Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens
Lester Patrick, New York Rangers Coach Art Ross, Boston Bruins

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes

PLAYER TEAM GP G A PTS PIM
Gordie Drillon Toronto Maple Leafs 48 26 26 52 4
Syl Apps Toronto Maple Leafs 47 21 29 50 9
Paul Thompson Chicago Black Hawks 48 22 22 44 14
Georges Mantha Montreal Canadiens 47 23 19 42 12
Cecil Dillon New York Rangers 48 21 18 39 6
Bill Cowley Boston Bruins 48 17 22 39 8
Sweeney Schriner New York Americans 48 21 17 38 22
Bill Thoms Toronto Maple Leafs 48 14 24 38 14
Clint Smith New York Rangers 48 14 23 37 0
Nels Stewart New York Americans 48 19 17 36 29

Source: NHL[7]

Leading goaltenders

Coaches

American Division

Canadian Division

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1937–38 (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 1937–38 (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.
  • Duplacey, James (1996). The annotated rules of hockey. New York, NY: Lyons & Burford. ISBN 1-55821-466-6.
  • 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. Boss Insists Pros Must Not Approach Amateurs". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. February 24, 1938. p. 19.Free access icon
  2. ^ "Will Air Amateur And Pro Hockey Battle: Is Important Item On Agenda Of C.A.H.A. Meet". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. April 14, 1938. p. 14.Free access icon
  3. ^ Duplacey 1996, p. 130.
  4. ^ "Signing of Clancy to Coach Maroons Features Meeting". Montreal Gazette. September 25, 1937. p. 16.
  5. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  6. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  7. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 147.
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