1951–52 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 11, 1951 – April 15, 1952
Number of games70
Number of teams6
Regular season
Season championDetroit Red Wings
Season MVPGordie Howe (Red Wings)
Top scorerGordie Howe (Red Wings)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsDetroit Red Wings
  Runners-upMontreal Canadiens

The 1951–52 NHL season was the 35th season of the National Hockey League. The Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup by sweeping the Montreal Canadiens four games to none.

League business

A long-standing feud between Boston president Weston Adams and general manager Art Ross ended on October 12, 1951, when Adams sold his stock in Boston Garden to Walter Brown.

The Chicago Black Hawks, who had made the mammoth nine player deal the previous season, now decided to make the largest cash deal for players to this time by paying $75,000 for Jim McFadden, George Gee, Jimmy Peters, Clare Martin, Clare Raglan and Max McNab.

The NHL and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) agreed to a January 15 deadline for professional teams to call up players from the CAHA's Major Series of senior ice hockey. The agreement gave the NHL a source of emergency replacement players, and prevented teams in Canada from losing players during the Alexander Cup playoffs.[1]

Rule changes

The league mandated that home teams would now wear a basic white uniform, while road teams will wear coloured uniforms. Before then, teams would often play with colored jerseys against each other, and with Television being in black white at the time, this helped viewers at home identify the two teams clearly.

The goal crease is enlarged from 3 ft × 7 ft (0.91 m × 2.13 m) to 4 ft × 8 ft (1.2 m × 2.4 m). The faceoff circles are expanded from a 10-foot (3.0 m) radius to a 15-foot (4.6 m) radius.[2]

Regular season

Conn Smythe offered $10,000 for anyone who found Bill Barilko, missing since August 26. Barilko and Dr. Henry Hudson had left Rupert House on James Bay in the doctor's light plane for Timmins, Ontario, after a weekend fishing trip and had not been found.

For the fourth straight season, the Detroit Red Wings finished first overall in the National Hockey League.

Highlights

On November 25 in Chicago, Chicago goalie Harry Lumley hurt a knee. At age 46, trainer Moe Roberts, who played his first game in the NHL for Boston in 1925–26, played the third period in goal for Chicago and did not yield a goal.[3] Roberts would stand as the oldest person to ever play an NHL game until Gordie Howe returned to the NHL at age 51 in 1979.[4]

Chicago was not drawing well and so they decided to experiment with afternoon games. It worked, as the largest crowd of the season, 13,600 fans, showed up for a January 20 game in which Chicago lost to Toronto 3–1.

Elmer Lach night was held March 8 at the Forum in Montreal as the Canadiens tied Chicago 4–4. 14,452 fans were on hand to see Lach presented with a car, rowboat, TV set, deep-freeze chest, bedroom and dining room suites, a refrigerator and many other articles.

On the last night of the season, March 23, 1952, with nothing at stake at Madison Square Garden, 3,254 fans saw Chicago's Bill Mosienko score the fastest hat trick in NHL history, 3 goals in 21 seconds. Lorne Anderson was the goaltender who gave up the goals to Chicago. Gus Bodnar also set a record with the fastest three assists in NHL history as he assisted on all three goals Mosienko scored. Chicago beat the New York Rangers 7–6.[3]

Final standings

National Hockey League[5]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Detroit Red Wings70441412215133+82100
2Montreal Canadiens70342610195164+3178
3Toronto Maple Leafs70292516168157+1174
4Boston Bruins70252916162176−1466
5New York Rangers70233413192219−2759
6Chicago Black Hawks7017449158241−8343

Record vs. opponents

1951–52 NHL Records [6]
Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYR TOR
Boston 9–3–23–8–37–5–24–6–42–7–5
Chicago 3–9–22–121–10–35–7–26–6–2
Detroit 8–3–312–29–2–39–3–26–4–4
Montreal 5–7–210–1–32–9–39–4–18–5–1
New York 6–4–47–5–23–9–24–9–13–7–4
Toronto 7–2–56–6–24–6–45–8–17–3–4

Playoffs

Detroit finished 8–0, sweeping the defending Stanley Cup champions Toronto (the first time in NHL history the cup champs were swept in the first round) and Montreal, the first time a team had gone undefeated in the playoffs since the 1934–35 Montreal Maroons. The Wings scored 24 goals in the playoffs, compared to a combined five goals for their opponents. Detroit goaltender Terry Sawchuk never allowed a goal on home ice during the playoffs.[3]

Playoff bracket

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

Semifinals

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

March 25 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 13:35 – Red Kelly (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 02:59 – ppSid Abel (1)
14:21 – Johnny Wilson (1)
Al Rollins Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
March 27 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–1 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 15:33 – ppJohnny Wilson (2)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Al Rollins Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
March 29 Detroit Red Wings 6–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Marty Pavelich (1) – 10:56
Ted Lindsay (1) – pp – 16:57
First period 11:16 – Joe Klukay (1)
Johnny Wilson (3) – 02:10
Leo Reise Jr. (1) – 05:22
Second period 12:20 – Max Bentley (1)
Johnny Wilson (4) – 00:48
Benny Woit (1) – 08:47
Third period No scoring
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Al Rollins
April 1 Detroit Red Wings 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Ted Lindsay (2) – pp – 04:35
Tony Leswick (1) – pp – 09:32
First period 02:56 – Harry Watson (1)
Sid Abel (2) – 04:52 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Al Rollins
Detroit won series 4–0

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

March 25 Boston Bruins 1–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 05:45 – Maurice Richard (1)
Pentti Lund (1) – 06:27 Second period 00:30 – Dickie Moore (1)
14:16 – Maurice Richard (2)
No scoring Third period 03:09 – Billy Reay (1)
19:24 – Floyd Curry (1)
Jim Henry Goalie stats Gerry McNeil
March 27 Boston Bruins 0–4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 04:01 – Ken Mosdell (1)
09:49 – ppBernie Geoffrion (1)
No scoring Second period 13:39 – Bernie Geoffrion (2)
No scoring Third period 17:14 – Bernie Geoffrion (3)
Jim Henry Goalie stats Gerry McNeil
March 30 Montreal Canadiens 1–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 02:05 – Hal Laycoe (1)
02:38 – Dave Creighton (1)
03:07 – Ed Sandford (1)
Floyd Curry (2) – 15:24 Third period 06:14 – Fleming MacKell (1)
Gerry McNeil Goalie stats Jim Henry
April 1 Montreal Canadiens 2–3 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 09:53 – Real Chevrefils (1)
Floyd Curry (3) – pp – 19:46 Second period 06:55 – Milt Schmidt (1)
Floyd Curry (4) – 06:48 Third period 14:37 – Fleming MacKell (2)
Gerry McNeil Goalie stats Jim Henry
April 3 Boston Bruins 1–0 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Jack McIntyre (1) – 03:30 Third period No scoring
Jim Henry Goalie stats Gerry McNeil
April 6 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 2OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 02:53 – Milt Schmidt (2)
11:44 – Dave Creighton (2)
Eddie Mazur (1) – 04:53 Second period No scoring
Maurice Richard (3) – 11:05 Third period No scoring
Paul Masnick (1) – 07:49 Second overtime period No scoring
Gerry McNeil Goalie stats Jim Henry
April 8 Boston Bruins 1–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Ed Sandford (2) – 12:25 First period 04:25 – Eddie Mazur (2)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 16:19 – Maurice Richard (4)
19:26 – Billy Reay (2)
Jim Henry Goalie stats Gerry McNeil
Montreal won series 4–3

Stanley Cup Finals

April 10 Detroit Red Wings 3–1 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Tony Leswick (2) – 03:27 Second period No scoring
Tony Leswick (3) – 07:59
Ted Lindsay (3) – 19:44
Third period 11:01 – Tom Johnson (1)
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Gerry McNeil
April 12 Detroit Red Wings 2–1 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Marty Pavelich (2) – 16:09 First period 18:37 – ppElmer Lach (1)
Ted Lindsay (4) – pp – 00:43 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Gerry McNeil
April 13 Montreal Canadiens 0–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 04:31 – ppGordie Howe (1)
No scoring Second period 09:13 – Ted Lindsay (5)
No scoring Third period 06:54 – Gordie Howe (2)
Gerry McNeil Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
April 15 Montreal Canadiens 0–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 06:50 – ppMetro Prystai (1)
No scoring Second period 19:39 – Glen Skov (1)
No scoring Third period 07:35 – Metro Prystai (2)
Gerry McNeil Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
Detroit won series 4–0

Awards

Award winners
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Regular season champion)
Detroit Red Wings
Art Ross Trophy:
(Top scorer)
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Calder Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player)
Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)
Sid Smith, Toronto Maple Leafs
Vezina Trophy:
(Goaltender of team with best goals-against average)
Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings
All-Star teams
First team  Position  Second team
Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings G Jim Henry, Boston Bruins
Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings D Hy Buller, New York Rangers
Doug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens D Jimmy Thomson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Elmer Lach, Montreal Canadiens C Milt Schmidt, Boston Bruins
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings RW Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens
Ted Lindsay, Detroit Red Wings LW Sid Smith, Toronto Maple Leafs

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 HoweDetroit Red Wings7047398678
Ted LindsayDetroit Red Wings70303969123
Elmer LachMontreal Canadiens7015506536
Don RaleighNew York Rangers7019426114
Sid SmithToronto Maple Leafs702730576
Bernie GeoffrionMontreal Canadiens6730245466
Bill MosienkoChicago Black Hawks7031225310
Sid AbelDetroit Red Wings6217365332
Ted KennedyToronto Maple Leafs7019335233
Milt SchmidtBoston Bruins6921295057

Source: NHL[7]

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
Terry SawchukDetroit Red Wings7042001331.9044141212
Al RollinsToronto Maple Leafs7041701542.222924165
Gerry McNeilMontreal Canadiens7042001642.343426105
Jim HenryBoston Bruins7042001762.512529167
Chuck RaynerNew York Rangers5331801593.001825102
Emile FrancisNew York Rangers14840423.004730

Source: NHL[8]

Coaches

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1951–52 (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 1951–52 (listed with their last team):

See also

References

  1. "Puck Chiefs Come To An Agreement". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. May 27, 1952. p. 16.Free access icon
  2. Fischler et al. 2003, p. 202.
  3. 1 2 3 Dryden 2000, p. 54.
  4. Goaltending Legends: Maurice "Moe" Roberts
  5. "1951–1952 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  6. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  7. Dinger 2011, p. 148.
  8. "1951–1952 – Regular Season – Goalie – Skater Season Stats Leaders – Points – NHL.com – Stats". nhl.com. Retrieved January 16, 2012.

Sources

  • 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.
  • 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. Toronto, ON: 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. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
  • McFarlane, Brian (1973). The Story of the National Hockey League. New York: Pagurian Press. ISBN 0-684-13424-1.
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