1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks season

National Hockey League team season

1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks
Division3rd NHL
1961–62 record31–26–13
Home record20–10–5
Road record11–16–8
Goals for217
Goals against186
Team information
General managerTommy Ivan
CoachRudy Pilous
CaptainPierre Pilote
ArenaChicago Stadium
Team leaders
GoalsBobby Hull (50)
AssistsStan Mikita and Bill Hay (52)
PointsBobby Hull (84)
Penalty minutesEric Nesterenko, Pierre Pilote and Stan Mikita (97)
WinsGlenn Hall (31)
Goals against averageGlenn Hall (2.63)

The 1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 36th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off of a third-place finish in 1960–61, as they finished with a 29–24–17 record, earning 75 points, which was a franchise record, and the first time since 1946 that the Hawks had an over .500 record.

During the off-season, the Black Hawks traded away team captain Ed Litzenberger to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Gerry Melnyk and Brian Smith. Chicago also had some problems signing some of their players, as Stan Mikita, Reg Fleming, and Dollard St. Laurent all refused to sign their contracts, however, they all eventually came to terms. With Litzenberger traded away, the team named defenseman Pierre Pilote as the new captain.

The defending champions started off the season slow, earning only one win in their first eleven games, as they had a record of 1–5–5, however, the team rebounded, and put together a 16–12–8 record in the next 36 games to get to the .500 level. The Black Hawks then got hot, as they then won six games in a row, followed shortly by a four-game winning streak, as the team managed to finish the season with a 31–26–13 record, tying a club record with 75 points, and setting a team record for wins in a season at 31, which was two more than the previous high of 29 set the previous season.[1]

Offensively, Chicago was led by Bobby Hull, who set a team record with 50 goals and 84 points. He became the third player in NHL history, Maurice Richard and Bernie Geoffrion were the others, to score 50 goals in a season.[2] Hull's 84 points tied him with Andy Bathgate of the New York Rangers for the league lead, however, since Hull scored more goals, he was awarded the Art Ross Trophy. Stan Mikita emerged as an offensive force, breaking out with a team high 52 assists and 77 points, while Bill Hay also recorded 52 assists en route to a 63-point season. Pierre Pilote led the Hawks blueline, scoring 7 goals and 42 points, while tying Mikita and Eric Nesterenko for the most penalty minutes on the team, with 97.

In goal, Glenn Hall once again played in all 70 games, setting a team record for wins with 31, and posting a 2.63 GAA, along with 9 shutouts. [3]

Chicago would face the Montreal Canadiens in the best of seven NHL semi-final for the fourth consecutive season. The Canadiens were once again heavily favored to defeat the Hawks, as they had an NHL best 98 points, which was 23 more than Chicago. Montreal opened the series off by winning the opening two games at the Montreal Forum by scores of 2–1 and 4–3 to take an early 2–0 series lead, however, as the series shifted over to Chicago Stadium, the Black Hawks took advantage, winning the next two games by scores of 4–1 and 5–3 to even up the series. The fifth game was back in Montreal, however, Chicago stayed hot, and narrowly defeated the Canadiens 4–3 to return home with a 3–2 series lead. The Hawks again took advantage of their home ice, shutting out the Canadiens 2–0, and eliminating Montreal for the second straight season, and earning a spot in the finals.

Chicago would face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1962 Stanley Cup Finals. The Leafs had a strong regular season, earning 85 points, and had defeated the fourth place New York Rangers to clinch a spot in the finals. The series opened at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, and much like their previous series against the Canadiens, the Black Hawks quickly found themselves down 2–0, as Toronto won the first two games by scores of 4–1 and 3–2. The next two games were held in Chicago, and the Black Hawks continued their home ice winning streak, taking the two games by scores of 3–0 and 4–1 to pull even. The clubs were back in Toronto for the fifth game, and it was the Maple Leafs easily beating Chicago 8–4 to take a 3–2 series lead. Toronto ended Chicago's five game home winning streak in the sixth game, holding off Chicago for a 2–1 win, and ending the Hawks chance of a second straight championship.[4]

Season standings

National Hockey League[5]
  • v
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  • e
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Montreal Canadiens 70 42 14 14 259 166 +93 98
2 Toronto Maple Leafs 70 37 22 11 232 180 +52 85
3 Chicago Black Hawks 70 31 26 13 217 186 +31 75
4 New York Rangers 70 26 32 12 195 207 −12 64
5 Detroit Red Wings 70 23 33 14 184 219 −35 60
6 Boston Bruins 70 15 47 8 177 306 −129 38

Record vs. opponents

1961–62 NHL Records [6]
Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYR TOR
Boston — 2–10–2 4–8–2 3–10–1 2–10–2 4–9–1
Chicago 10–2–2 — 7–3–4 3–9–2 7–6–1 4–6–4
Detroit 8–4–2 3–7–4 — 3–8–3 6–5–3 3–9–2
Montreal 10–3–1 9–3–2 8–3–3 — 8–1–5 7–4–3
New York 10–2–2 6–7–1 5–6–3 1–8–5 — 4–9–1
Toronto 9–4–1 6–4–4 9–3–2 4–7–3 9–4–1 —


Game log

Regular season

1961–62 Game Log
October: 1–4–5 (Home: 1–2–1 ; Road: 0–2–4 ) Pts. 7
# Result Date Opponent Score Record Pts
1 T October 14, 1961 @ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 3–3 0–0–1 1
2 T October 15, 1961 Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 2–2 0–0–2 2
3 W October 17, 1961 Boston Bruins (1961–62) 5–3 1–0–2 4
4 L October 19, 1961 New York Rangers (1961–62) 4–2 1–1–2 4
5 T October 21, 1961 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 1–1 1–1–3 5
6 L October 22, 1961 Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 2–3 1–2–3 5
7 T October 25, 1961 @ New York Rangers (1961–62) 1–1 1–2–4 6
8 L October 26, 1961 @ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 1–7 1–3–4 6
9 T October 29, 1961 @ Boston Bruins (1961–62) 2–2 1–3–5 7
10 L October 31 New York Rangers (1961–62) 2–4 1–4–5 7
November: 5–4–1 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 1–3–0) Pts. 11
# Result Date Opponent Score Record Pts
11 L November 4, 1961 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 1–2 1–5–5 7
12 W November 5, 1961 @ Boston Bruins (1961–62) 4–3 2–5–5 9
13 W November 7, 1961 Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 6–0 3–5–5 11
14 L November 11, 1961 @ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 1–2 3–6–5 11
15 L November 12, 1961 @ New York Rangers (1961–62) 1–4 3–7–5 11
16 W November 15, 1961 Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 2–0 4–7–5 13
17 T November 19, 1961 Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 3–3 4–7–6 14
18 L November 23, 1961 Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 2–5 4–8–6 14
19 W November 26, 1961 Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 4–1 5–8–6 16
20 W November 29, 1961 Boston Bruins (1961–62) 7–4 6–8–6 18
December: 4–5–5 (Home: 0–2–2 ; Road: 4–3–3) Pts. 13
# Result Date Opponent Score Record Pts
21 L December 2, 1961 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 4–6 6–9–6 18
22 L December 3, 1961 Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 0–1 6–10–6 18
23 W December 6, 1961 @ New York Rangers (1961–62) 8–3 7–10–6 20
24 W December 7, 1961 @ Boston Bruins (1961–62) 5–2 8–10–6 22
25 L December 9, 1961 @ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 0–3 8–11–6 22
26 L December 10, 1961 Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 2–3 8–12–6 22
27 T December 13, 1961 Boston Bruins (1961–62) 2–2 8–12–7 23
28 W December 17, 1961 New York Rangers (1961–62) 3–1 9–12–7 25
29 W December 21, 1961 @ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 4–3 10–12–7 27
30 L December 23, 1961 @ New York Rangers (1961–62) 3–7 10–13–7 27
31 T December 25, 1961 Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 3–3 10–13–8 28
32 T December 27, 1961 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 0–0 10–13–9 29
33 T December 28, 1961 @ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 2–2 10–13–10 30
34 T December 30, 1961 @ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 4–4 10–13–11 31
January: 7–4–2 (Home: 6–2–1 ; Road: 1–2–1) Pts. 16
# Result Date Opponent Score Record Pts
35 W January 1, 1962 Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 2–0 11–13–11 33
36 W January 3, 1962 New York Rangers (1961–62) 2–1 12–13–11 35
37 T January 4, 1962 @ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 1–1 12–13–12 36
38 L January 6, 1962 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 3–6 12–14–12 36
39 L January 7, 1962 Boston Bruins (1961–62) 0–2 12–15–12 36
40 W January 11, 1962 @ Boston Bruins (1961–62) 6–0 13–15–12 38
41 W January 13, 1962 New York Rangers (1961–62) 4–2 14–15–12 40
42 T January 14, 1962 Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 2–2 14–15–13 41
43 L January 17, 1962 Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 3–7 14–16–13 41
44 W January 21, 1962 New York Rangers (1961–62) 3–1 15–16–13 43
45 W January 24, 1962 Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 2–1 16–16–13 45
46 L January 27, 1962 @ Boston Bruins (1961–62) 3–5 16–17–13 45
47 W January 28, 1962 @ New York Rangers (1961–62) 3–0 17–17–13 47
48 W January 31, 1962 Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 4–1 18–17–13 49
February: 9–4–0 (Home: 6–1–0 ; Road: 3–3–0) Pts. 18
# Result Date Opponent Score Record Pts
49 W February 1, 1962 @ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 7–4 19–17–13 51
50 W February 3, 1962 Boston Bruins (1961–62) 6–3 20–17–13 53
51 W February 4, 1962 Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 2–1 21–17–13 55
52 W February 8, 1962 @ Boston Bruins (1961–62) 6–2 22–17–13 57
53 L February 10, 1962 @ New York Rangers (1961–62) 1–2 22–18–13 57
54 L February 11, 1962 Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 3–4 22–19–13 57
55 W February 14, 1962 New York Rangers (1961–62) 4–3 23–19–13 59
56 L February 17, 1962 @ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 2–6 23–20–13 59
57 W February 18, 1962 Boston Bruins (1961–62) 6–0 24–20–13 61
58 W February 21, 1962 Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 6–4 25–20–13 63
59 W February 24, 1962 @ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 6–1 26–20–13 65
60 W February 25, 1962 Boston Bruins (1961–62) 8–0 27–20–13 67
61 L February 28, 1962 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 2–4 27–21–13 67
March: 4–4–0 (Home: 4–0–0 ; Road: 4–2–2) Pts. 8
# Result Date Opponent Score Record Pts
62 W March 1, 1962 @ Boston Bruins (1961–62) 5–4 28–21–13 69
63 W March 4, 1962 Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 5–2 29–21–13 71
64 L March 11, 1962 Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 2–3 29–22–13 71
65 L March 15, 1962 @ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 5–6 29–23–13 71
66 W March 17, 1962 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 3–1 30–23–13 73
67 L March 18, 1962 @ Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 1–4 30–24–13 73
68 W March 20, 1962 Detroit Red Wings (1961–62) 3–0 31–24–13 75
69 L March 24, 1962 @ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 3–5 31–25–13 75
70 L March 25, 1962 @ New York Rangers (1961–62) 1–4 31–26–13 75

Playoffs

1962 Stanley Cup Playoffs
1962 Stanley Cup Semifinals vs. Montreal Canadiens – Black Hawks won series 4–2
# Result Date Opponent Score OT Series
1 L March 27, 1962 @ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 1–2 0–1
2 L March 29, 1962 @ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 3–4 0–2
3 W April 1, 1962 Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 4–1 1–2
4 W April 3, 1962 Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 5–3 2–2
5 W April 5, 1962 @ Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 4–3 3–2
6 W April 8, 1962 Montreal Canadiens (1961–62) 2–0 4–2
1962 Stanley Cup Finals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs – Maple Leafs won series 4–2
# Result Date Opponent Score OT Record
1 L April 10, 1962 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 1–4 0–1
2 L April 12, 1962 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 2–3 0–2
3 W April 15, 1962 Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 3–0 1–2
4 W April 17, 1962 Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 4–1 2–2
5 L April 19, 1962 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 4–8 2–3
6 L April 22, 1962 Toronto Maple Leafs (1961–62) 1–2 2–4

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Bobby Hull 70 50 34 84 35
Stan Mikita 70 25 52 77 97
Bill Hay 60 11 52 63 34
Bronco Horvath 68 17 29 46 21
Pierre Pilote 59 7 35 42 97

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Glenn Hall 70 4200 31 26 13 184 9 2.63

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Stan Mikita 12 6 15 21 19
Bobby Hull 12 8 6 14 12
Ab McDonald 12 6 6 12 0
Bill Hay 12 3 7 10 18
Kenny Wharram 12 3 4 7 8

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Glenn Hall 12 720 6 6 31 2 2.58

References

  1. ^ 1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks
  2. ^ Bobby Hull
  3. ^ "Glenn Hall". Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  4. ^ 1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks
  5. ^ "1961–1962 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  6. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

Sources

  • Hockey-Reference
  • Rauzulu's Street
  • Goalies Archive
  • National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
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