1927–28 NHL season

The 1927–28 NHL season was the 11th season of the National Hockey League. Ten teams played 44 games each. The New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup beating the Montreal Maroons, becoming the first NHL team based in the United States to win it.

1927–28 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationNovember 15, 1927 – April 14, 1928
Number of games44
Number of teams10
Regular season
Season championsMontreal Canadiens
Season MVPHowie Morenz (Canadiens)
Top scorerHowie Morenz (Canadiens)
Canadian Division championsMontreal Canadiens
American Division championsBoston Bruins
Stanley Cup
ChampionsNew York Rangers
  Runners-upMontreal Maroons

League business

The O'Brien Cup, which used to go to the National Hockey Association (NHA), later the NHL league champion, would now go to the winner of the Canadian Division. The Prince of Wales Trophy, first awarded to the winner of the first game at Madison Square Garden, and later the NHL league champion, would now go to the winner of the American division.

The first indications that the Ottawa Senators were in financial trouble surfaced when they asked the league for a bigger share of road game income. Though the league entertained the Senators suggestion, the Senators did not receive this income. It was decided by the Ottawa management to sell star right wing Hooley Smith to the Montreal Maroons for an undisclosed amount of money ($22,500 it was believed). At the same time, right wing Punch Broadbent returned to Ottawa.

The Toronto Maple Leafs introduced new sweaters of blue and white, changing from the former green logo on white uniform. They are the first team in the NHL to have a set of white uniforms and a set of dark uniforms.[1][2]

Rule changes

The league changed the rule for substitution, allowing "on the fly" changes, as long as the player going off is on the bench before the substitute goes on.[3]

The league implemented new measures to increase scoring. The blue lines were introduced, dividing the rink into three zones: defending, neutral and attacking. Teams with possession in their defending zone could now pass the puck forward, and both teams could pass the puck forward in the neutral zone, although forward passing across the blue lines was still disallowed. New penalties were given for picking up the puck; and for clearing the puck out of play. Goalie leg pads were reduced in width to ten inches from twelve and goalies were disallowed from travelling more than four feet with the puck.[4] However, the new changes did not improve scoring, as the average number of goals per game decreased to 3.8, from 4.0.[5] A new ten-minute sudden-death overtime period was introduced to resolve games tied after 60 minutes. This was also ineffective, and the number of tie games doubled from 36 to 74.[5]

Regular season

The Chicago Black Hawks fired coach Pete Muldoon before the season, and coaching was split between Hugh Lehman and Barney Stanley. The Black Hawks finished last, recording only seven wins. The firing of Muldoon prompted him to publicly put "a curse" (known as the "curse of the Muldoons") on the Black Hawks, stating that the team would never win the NHL pennant. The Black Hawks would not place first in the NHL until the 1966–67 season.[6]

The Ottawa Senators, the smallest market in the league, were affected by franchises in the U.S. and sold their star right wing Hooley Smith to the Montreal Maroons for $22,500 plus the return of right wing Punch Broadbent, followed by the sale of defenceman Edwin Gorman to Toronto.

Howie Morenz, the NHL's top drawing card, dominated the scoring race and was runaway winner of the Hart Trophy. He scored 33 goals and led the league in assists as well. Despite Ottawa's financial difficulties, Alex Connell, Ottawa goalkeeper, set an all-time record with six consecutive shutouts. His record shutout sequence reached 460 minutes and 59 seconds without being scored on.[7]

Toronto, now the Maple Leafs, showed power early on and it looked like they would make the playoffs. However, injuries to Hap Day and Bill Carson doomed the team, and the Leafs sagged to fourth, out of the playoffs for the third straight year. It would take another 80 years until the Leafs missed the playoffs three straight times again.

Thanks to the great play of Eddie Shore and goaltender Hal Winkler, who tied with Connell for the leader in shutouts with 15, the Boston Bruins finished first for the first time in the American Division, while the Canadiens, who were running away with the Canadian Division at mid-season, slumped after an injury to Pit Lepine but managed to hold onto first place at season's end.

Final standings
Canadian Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
Montreal Canadiens44261171164849659
Montreal Maroons4424146967754954
Ottawa Senators44201410785748350
Toronto Maple Leafs4418188898843644
New York Americans44112766312856328
American Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
Boston Bruins44201311777055851
New York Rangers4419169947946247
Pittsburgh Pirates4419178677639546
Detroit Cougars4419196887939544
Chicago Black Hawks4473436813437517

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

American

Canadian

Playoffs

In the Canadian Division, the Montreal Maroons beat the Ottawa Senators and then went to the limit against the Canadiens before Russell Oatman put the Maroons into the finals with a goal in overtime.

In the American Division, the New York Rangers knocked off the Pittsburgh Pirates in a rough series, and then beat Boston to go to the finals against the Montreal Maroons.

Playoff bracket
Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
C1 Mtl Canadiens 2G
C2 Mtl Maroons 3G C2 Mtl Maroons 3G
C3 Ottawa 1G C2 Mtl Maroons 2
A2 NY Rangers 3
A1 Boston 2G
A2 NY Rangers 6G A2 NY Rangers 5G
A3 Pittsburgh 4G

(A2) New York Rangers vs. (A3) Pittsburgh Pirates
March 27 Pittsburgh Pirates 0–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period 04:13 – Frank Boucher (1)
14:36 – Bun Cook (1)
18:34 – Alex Gray (1)
No scoring Second period 04:21 – Ching Johnson (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Roy Worters Goalie stats Lorne Chabot
March 29 Pittsburgh Pirates 4–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Marty Burke (1) – 14:04 First period 03:03 – Clarence Abel (1)
Rodger Smith (1) – 07:40 Second period No scoring
Rodger Smith (2) – 13:47
Baldy Cotton (1) – 18:57		 Third period 10:40 – Murray Murdoch (1)
Roy Worters Goalie stats Lorne Chabot
New York won series on total goals 6–4

(C2) Montreal Maroons vs. (C3) Ottawa Senators
March 27 Montreal Maroons 1–0 Ottawa Senators Ottawa Auditorium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Joe Lamb (1) – 09:05 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Alec Connell Goalie stats Clint Benedict
March 29 Ottawa Senators 1–2 Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 10:00 – Babe Siebert (1)
No scoring Second period 05:00 – Hooley Smith (1)
Hec Kilrea (1) – 02:00 Third period No scoring
Clint Benedict Goalie stats Alec Connell
Montreal won series on total goals 3–1

(A1) Boston Bruins vs. (A2) New York Rangers
March 31 Boston Bruins 1–1 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Harry Oliver (1) – 03:00 Third period 01:48 – Frank Boucher (2)
Hal Winkler Goalie stats Lorne Chabot
April 3 New York Rangers 4–1 Boston Bruins Boston Arena Recap  
Bill Cook (1) – 19:30 First period No scoring
Murray Murdoch (2) – 11:23
Bun Cook (2) – 16:18
Frank Boucher (3) – 17:32		 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 19:30 – Harry Oliver (2)
Lorne Chabot Goalie stats Hal Winkler
New York won series on total goals 5–2

(C1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (C2) Montreal Maroons
March 31 Montreal Canadiens 2–2 Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
Albert Leduc (1) – 10:10 First period No scoring
Art Gagne (1) – 03:55 Second period 13:55 – Jimmy Ward (1)
15:00 – Hooley Smith (2)
No scoring Third period No scoring
George Hainsworth Goalie stats Clint Benedict
April 3 Montreal Maroons 1–0 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Russell Oatman (1) – 08:22 First overtime period No scoring
Clint Benedict Goalie stats George Hainsworth
Montreal Maroons won series on total goals 3–2

Stanley Cup Finals
Main article: 1928 Stanley Cup Finals

The circus knocked the Rangers out of Madison Square Garden, and all games were played in the Montreal Forum, even though Boston offered to host the Rangers. The Maroons won game one 2–0, with Nels Stewart and goaltender Clint Benedict the stars.

Drama took over in game two when Nels Stewart fired a hard shot that struck New York goaltender Lorne Chabot in the eye. He could not continue, and the Rangers needed a goaltender. However, when coach Eddie Gerard refused to let the Rangers use Alex Connell or minor league goaltender Hugh McCormick, Lester Patrick, Ranger coach, in anger, decided to don the pads himself.[7] The Rangers then body-blasted any Maroon who got near Patrick. Bill Cook scored, putting the Rangers ahead 1–0, but Nels Stewart was not to be denied and scored, tying the game. In overtime, Frank Boucher got the winner for the Rangers and they carried Patrick, tears streaming down his eyes, off the ice. Patrick stopped 17 of 18 shots he faced.[7]

Joe "Red Light" Miller, New York Americans goalie, was allowed to take Chabot's place in goal and he played well in a 2–0 loss in game three. However, Frank Boucher starred as the Rangers took the next two games, and the Stanley Cup. Drama almost took place in the final game when Miller was badly cut on a shot, but he was able to continue. The crowd became unruly at times and referee Mike Rodden took abuse for disallowed goals by Maroon players. Even NHL president Frank Calder was a target of some fans for not intervening. The Rangers became the second American team to win the Cup and the first NHL American team to do so. In addition, the Rangers became the first team to win the Stanley Cup at the Montreal Forum which was only repeated in 1989

April 5 New York Rangers 0–2 Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 10:48 – Red Dutton (1)
No scoring Third period 05:56 – Merlyn Phillips (1)
Lorne Chabot Goalie stats Clint Benedict
April 7 New York Rangers 2–1 OT Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Bill Cook (1) – 00:30 Third period 18:51 – Nels Stewart (1)
Frank Boucher (4) – 07:05 First overtime period No scoring
Lorne Chabot Goalie stats Clint Benedict
April 10 New York Rangers 0–2 Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 09:00 – Nels Stewart (2)
No scoring Third period 17:20 – Babe Siebert (2)
Lorne Chabot Goalie stats Clint Benedict
April 12 New York Rangers 1–0 Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Frank Boucher (5) – 13:13 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Lorne Chabot Goalie stats Clint Benedict
April 14 New York Rangers 2–1 Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
Frank Boucher (6) – 17:05 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Frank Boucher (7) – 15:16 Third period 17:16 – Merlyn Phillips (2)
Lorne Chabot Goalie stats Clint Benedict
New York won series 3–2

Awards

The terms for awarding the O'Brien Cup and the Prince of Wales Trophy were changed to honour the top finisher in each of the NHL's divisions. Howie Morenz won the Hart Trophy, the first of three times he would be named most valuable player. Frank Boucher won the Lady Byng, the first of seven times he would win the award. George Hainsworth won the Vezina Trophy for the second consecutive year.

1927–28 NHL awards
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)		Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens
Lady Byng Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)		Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
O'Brien Cup:
(Canadian Division champions)		Montreal Canadiens
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(American Division champions)		Boston Bruins
Vezina Trophy:
(Fewest goals allowed)		George Hainsworth, Montreal Canadiens

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts
Howie MorenzMontreal Canadiens43331851
Aurel JoliatMontreal Canadiens44281139
Frank BoucherNew York Rangers44231235
George HayDetroit Cougars42221335
Nels StewartMontreal Maroons4127734
Art GagneMontreal Canadiens44201030
Bun CookNew York Rangers44141428
Bill CarsonToronto Maple Leafs3220626
Frank FinniganOttawa Senators3820525
Bill CookNew York Rangers4318624
Duke KeatsDetroit Cougars/Chicago Black Hawks38141024

Source: NHL[10]

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shut outs; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Mins GA SO GAA
George HainsworthMontreal Canadiens44273048131.05
Alex ConnellOttawa Senators44276057151.24
Hal WinklerBoston Bruins44278070151.51
Roy WortersPittsburgh Pirates44274076111.66
Clint BenedictMontreal Maroons4426907661.70

Source: hockey-reference.com[11]

Coaches

American Division

Canadian Division

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1927–28 (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 1927–28 (listed with their last team):* Denotes last game was in the playoffs.

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, Publishers. 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.
  • Ross, J. Andrew (2015). Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 978-0-8156-3383-9.
Notes
  1. "1927–28 – The Hockey Uniform Database". nhluniforms.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  2. "Toronto Maple Leafs 2011–12 Media Guide" (PDF). Toronto Maple Leafs. 2011. p. 193. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2011.
  3. Duplacey 1996, p. 33.
  4. Ross 2015, p. 168.
  5. Ross 2015, p. 169.
  6. McFarlane 1973, p. 40.
  7. Dryden 2000, p. 30.
  8. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  9. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  10. Dinger 2011, p. 146.
  11. "1927–28 NHL Season Goalie Statistics". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
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