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1954–55 NHL season

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1954–55 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 7, 1954 – April 14, 1955
Number of games70
Number of teams6
Regular season
Season championDetroit Red Wings
Season MVPTed Kennedy (Maple Leafs)
Top scorerBernie Geoffrion (Canadiens)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsDetroit Red Wings
  Runners-upMontreal Canadiens
NHL seasons

The 1954–55 NHL season was the 38th season of the National Hockey League. The Detroit Red Wings were the Stanley Cup champions as they defeated the Montreal Canadiens four games to three in the best-of-seven final series. The Canadiens were without star forward Maurice 'Rocket' Richard who had been suspended for the playoffs, a suspension which led to the March 17, 1955 "Richard Riot" in Montreal.

League business

Art Ross announced at the league governors meeting that his connection with Boston would terminate at the end of September. As this would be his last appearance at a league meeting, he took the opportunity to thank the governors and others associated with the league during the 30 years of his being officer of the Boston club for the kindness, courtesy and cooperation he had received, and extended his good wishes for the continued success of the league. Conn Smythe and Frank Selke voiced the good wishes of all present to Ross on his retirement.

Prior to the season, Red Wings head coach Tommy Ivan left Detroit to become general manager of the Chicago Black Hawks, and Jimmy Skinner replaced him behind the bench in the Motor City. One of the first things Ivan did at Chicago was to establish an extensive farm system, something the Black Hawks never had.

Regular season

On December 18, 1954, Maurice Richard scored his 400th career goal against Chicago netminder Al Rollins in a 4–1 Canadiens victory over the Black Hawks. Montreal and Toronto played to a 1–1 tie on December 29, at Maple Leaf Gardens. Maurice Richard got a standing ovation when he scored his 401st goal late in the first period.

In a scoreless tie at the Montreal Forum on March 10, a new ice cleaner and resurfacer called a Zamboni was used for the first time. The fans were not appreciative of Toronto's defensive style in this game and threw garbage, including pig's feet, on the ice.

The Richard Riot took place on March 17, 1955. Maurice Richard had been suspended by league president Clarence Campbell after an incident in a game against Boston where Richard punched the referee. Richard was suspended for the rest of the season and the playoffs. Campbell's subsequent appearance at a Canadiens' game at the Montreal Forum incited a group of protesters and led to violence in the Forum and in downtown Montreal.

Final standings

National Hockey League[1]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Detroit Red Wings 70 42 17 11 204 134 +70 95
2 Montreal Canadiens 70 41 18 11 228 157 +71 93
3 Toronto Maple Leafs 70 24 24 22 147 135 +12 70
4 Boston Bruins 70 23 26 21 169 188 −19 67
5 New York Rangers 70 17 35 18 150 210 −60 52
6 Chicago Black Hawks 70 13 40 17 161 235 −74 43

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

Semifinals Finals
      
1 Detroit 4
3 Toronto 0
1 Detroit 4
2 Montreal 3
2 Montreal 4
4 Boston 1

Semifinals

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

March 22 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–7 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Brian Cullen (1) – pp – 07:00
George Armstrong (1) – 13:01 		First period 11:54 – Vic Stasiuk (1)
19:06 – Dutch Reibel (1)
No scoring Second period 01:36 – Glen Skov (1)
09:48 – pp – Dutch Reibel (2)
Sid Smith (1) – 02:53
Ted Kennedy (1) – pp – 12:38 		Third period 03:54 – Gordie Howe (1)
07:40 – pp – Gordie Howe (2)
15:07 – pp – Ted Lindsay (1)
Harry Lumley Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
March 24 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–2 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Sid Smith (2) – 00:17 First period 08:09 – pp – Gordie Howe (3)
08:54 – pp – Alex Delvecchio (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Harry Lumley Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
March 26 Detroit Red Wings 2–1 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Ted Lindsay (2) – pp – 01:36
Dutch Reibel (3) – 11:46 		First period 07:29 – pp – Sid Smith (3)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Harry Lumley
March 29 Detroit Red Wings 3–0 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Vic Stasiuk (2) – 05:38
Gordie Howe (4) – 09:20 		Second period No scoring
Tony Leswick (1) – 19:33 Third period No scoring
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Harry Lumley
Detroit won series 4–0


(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) Boston Bruins

March 22 Boston Bruins 0–2 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 06:23 – pp – Bernie Geoffrion (1)
12:35 – pp – Jean Beliveau (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Jim Henry Goalie stats Jacques Plante, Charlie Hodge
March 24 Boston Bruins 1–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Real Chevrefils (1) – 16:43 Second period 01:31 – Floyd Curry (1)
11:08 – Calum MacKay (1)
13:43 – Jean Beliveau (2)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Jim Henry Goalie stats Jacques Plante, Charlie Hodge
March 27 Montreal Canadiens 2–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 13:53 – Leo Labine (1)
18:25 – Fern Flaman (1)
18:45 – Real Chevrefils (2)
No scoring Second period 18:47 – Hal Laycoe (1)
Ken Mosdell (1) – 00:30
Jack LeClair (1) – sh – 18:46 		Third period No scoring
Jacques Plante, Charlie Hodge Goalie stats Jim Henry
March 29 Montreal Canadiens 4–3 OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Tom Johnson (1) – 03:51
Floyd Curry (2) – pp – 12:43 		Second period 06:15 – pp – Don McKenney (1)
09:55 – Leo Labine (2)
Bernie Geoffrion (2) – 12:40 Third period 08:52 – Ed Sandford (1)
Don Marshall (1) – sh – 03:05 First overtime period No scoring
Jacques Plante, Charlie Hodge Goalie stats Jim Henry
March 31 Boston Bruins 1–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 03:43 – Jack LeClair (2)
14:43 – pp – Dickie Moore (1)
Lorne Ferguson (1) – pp – 15:52 Second period 07:55 – Floyd Curry (3)
11:18 – Jack LeClair (3)
No scoring Third period 08:14 – Jean Beliveau (3)
Jim Henry Goalie stats Jacques Plante
Montreal won series 4–1


Stanley Cup Finals

Main article: 1955 Stanley Cup Finals


April 3 Montreal Canadiens 2–4 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Floyd Curry (4) – 05:09 Second period 14:00 – pp – Alex Delvecchio (2)
Floyd Curry (5) – 08:57 Third period 13:05 – Vic Stasiuk (3)
17:07 – sh – Marty Pavelich (1)
19:42 – Ted Lindsay (3)
Jacques Plante Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
April 5 Montreal Canadiens 1–7 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 02:15 – sh – Marcel Pronovost (1)
09:57 – Ted Lindsay (4)
16:00 – Alex Delvecchio (3)
17:11 – Gordie Howe (5)
No scoring Second period 08:10 – Ted Lindsay (5)
15:48 – pp – Ted Lindsay (6)
19:37 – Ted Lindsay (7)
Ken Mosdell (2) – 12:32 Third period No scoring
Jacques Plante, Charlie Hodge Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
April 7 Detroit Red Wings 2–4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Red Kelly (1) – pp – 18:13 First period 08:30 – pp – Bernie Geoffrion (3)
08:42 – pp – Bernie Geoffrion (4)
Vic Stasiuk (4) – 16:16 Second period 14:23 – Bernie Geoffrion (5)
No scoring Third period 07:50 – Jack LeClair (4)
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Jacques Plante
April 9 Detroit Red Wings 3–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Dutch Reibel (4) – 12:38 First period 00:40 – Calum MacKay (2)
No scoring Second period 03:41 – Bernie Geoffrion (6)
08:25 – Jean Beliveau (4)
09:07 – Tom Johnson (2)
Dutch Reibel (5) – 03:40
Jim Hay (1) – 12:000 		Third period 02:33 – Floyd Curry (6)
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Jacques Plante
April 10 Montreal Canadiens 1–5 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Jean Beliveau (5) – pp – 08:01 First period 12:59 – Glen Skov (2)
18:59 – Gordie Howe (6)
No scoring Second period 12:29 – pp – Gordie Howe (7)
16:20 – pp – Gordie Howe (8)
No scoring Third period 02:09 – Vic Stasiuk (5)
Jacques Plante Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
April 12 Detroit Red Wings 3–6 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Alex Delvecchio (4) – 13:36 First period 07:30 – Jean Beliveau (6)
Alex Delvecchio (5) – pp – 15:54 Second period 03:45 – pp – Jack LeClair (5)
05:21 – pp – Bernie Geoffrion (7)
18:18 – Bernie Geoffrion (8)
Red Kelly (2) – 16:23 Third period 00:19 – Floyd Curry (7)
18:55 – Calum MacKay (3)
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Jacques Plante
April 14 Montreal Canadiens 1–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 07:12 – Alex Delvecchio (6)
19:49 – Gordie Howe (9)
Floyd Curry (8) – pp – 14:35 Third period 02:59 – Alex Delvecchio (7)
Jacques Plante Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
Detroit won series 4–3


Awards

Award winners
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Regular season champion)		 Detroit Red Wings
Art Ross Trophy:
(Top scorer)		 Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
Calder Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player)		 Ed Litzenberger, Chicago Black Hawks
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)		 Ted Kennedy, Toronto Maple Leafs
James Norris Memorial Trophy:
(Best defenceman)		 Doug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)		 Sid Smith, Toronto Maple Leafs
Vezina Trophy:
(Goaltender of team with the best goals-against average)		 Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings
All-Star teams
First team   Position   Second team
Harry Lumley, Toronto Maple Leafs G Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings
Doug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens D Bob Goldham, Detroit Red Wings
Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings D Fern Flaman, Boston Bruins
Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens C Ken Mosdell, Montreal Canadiens
Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens RW Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
Sid Smith, Toronto Maple Leafs LW Danny Lewicki, New York Rangers

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
Bernie Geoffrion Montreal Canadiens 70 38 37 75 57
Maurice Richard Montreal Canadiens 67 38 36 74 125
Jean Beliveau Montreal Canadiens 70 37 36 73 58
Earl Reibel Detroit Red Wings 70 25 41 66 15
Gordie Howe Detroit Red Wings 64 29 33 62 68
George Sullivan Chicago Black Hawks 69 19 42 61 51
Bert Olmstead Montreal Canadiens 70 10 48 58 103
Sid Smith Toronto Maple Leafs 70 33 21 54 14
Ken Mosdell Montreal Canadiens 70 22 32 54 82
Danny Lewicki New York Rangers 70 29 24 53 8

Source: NHL[2]

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
Harry Lumley Toronto Maple Leafs 69 4140 133 1.93 23 24 22 8
Terry Sawchuk Detroit Red Wings 68 4080 132 1.94 40 17 11 12
Jacques Plante Montreal Canadiens 52 3120 109 2.10 31 13 7 5
Charlie Hodge Montreal Canadiens 14 820 31 2.27 7 3 4 1
John Henderson Boston Bruins 45 2652 109 2.47 15 14 15 5
Lorne Worsley New York Rangers 65 3900 195 3.00 15 33 17 4
Jim Henry Boston Bruins 27 1548 79 3.06 8 12 6 1
Hank Bassen Chicago Black Hawks 21 1260 63 3.00 4 9 8 0
Al Rollins Chicago Black Hawks 44 2640 149 3.39 9 27 8 0

Coaches

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1954–55 (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 1954–55 (listed with their last team):

See also

References

  • Coleman, Charles L. (1976), Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol III, Sherbrooke, QC: Progressive Publications
  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (1994). Years of glory, 1942–1967: the National Hockey League's official book of the six-team era. Toronto, ON: McClelland and Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-2817-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Kingston, NY: Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Dryden, Steve, ed. (2000). Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Duplacey, James (2008), Hockey's Book of Firsts, North Dighton, MA: JG Press, ISBN 978-1-57215-037-9
  • Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley; Hughes, Morgan; Romain, Joseph; Duplacey, James (2003). The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
  • McFarlane, Brian (1969), 50 Years Of Hockey, Winnipeg, MAN: Greywood Publishing, ASIN B000GW45S0
  • McFarlane, Brian (1973). The Story of the National Hockey League. New York, NY: Pagurian Press. ISBN 0-684-13424-1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Notes
  1. ^ "1954–1955 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  2. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 149.
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