1945–46 NHL season: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Professional ice hockey league season}}
The '''1945-46 NHL season''' was the 29th [[Season (sport)|season]] of the [[National Hockey League]]. Six teams each played 50 games. The [[Montreal Canadiens]] won the [[Stanley Cup]].
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox sports season
| title = 1945–46 NHL season
| league = [[National Hockey League]]
| sport = [[Ice hockey]]
| duration = October 24, 1945 – April 9, 1946
| season = Regular season
| no_of_games = 50
| no_of_teams = 6
| season_champ_name= [[Prince of Wales Trophy|Season champion]]
| season_champs = [[Montreal Canadiens]]
| MVP = [[Max Bentley]] ([[Chicago Blackhawks|Black Hawks]])
| MVP_link = Hart Memorial Trophy
| top_scorer = Max Bentley (Black Hawks)
| top_scorer_link =
| playoffs =
| playoffs_link =
| finals = Stanley Cup
| finals_link = 1946 Stanley Cup Finals
| finals_champ = [[Montreal Canadiens]]
| finals_runner-up = [[Boston Bruins]]
| playoffs_MVP =
| playoffs_MVP_link=
| nextseason_link = 1946–47 NHL season
| prevseason_link = 1944–45 NHL season
| nextseason_year = 1946–47
| prevseason_year = 1944–45
| seasonslistnames = [[List of NHL seasons|NHL]]
}}
The '''1945–46 NHL season''' was the [[List of NHL seasons|29th]] [[Season (sport)|season]] of the [[National Hockey League]]. The [[Montreal Canadiens]] won the [[Stanley Cup]], defeating the [[Boston Bruins]] for the team's sixth championship.


==League business==
Synchronized red lights to signal goals were made obligatory for all NHL rinks.
Since World War II had ended, the NHL and the [[Canadian Amateur Hockey Association]] (CAHA) reverted to the pre-war agreement not to sign any [[junior ice hockey]] players without permission. CAHA secretary [[George Dudley]] stated that tryout contracts must be honoured, and junior-aged players on NHL reserve lists must be reinstated as amateurs to return to the CAHA. The wartime practice of the NHL borrowing amateur players for three games or less was discontinued.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pros Agree Not To Sign Juniors|date=September 19, 1945|newspaper=Medicine Hat Daily News|location=Medicine Hat, Alberta|page=5 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-sep-19-1945-1553012/}}{{free access}}</ref> The NHL and the CAHA discussed updates to the financial terms of the agreement. The NHL offered a flat payment of $20,000 to signing amateurs, which Dudley felt was too low.<ref>{{cite news|title=C.A.H.A. Wants Best Deal Possible|date=May 17, 1946|newspaper=Lethbridge Herald|location=Lethbridge, Alberta|page=11|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-may-17-1971-1526358/}}{{free access}}</ref> The CAHA ultimately accepted the lump sum payment, preferring not to break its alliance with the NHL.<ref>{{cite news|title=C.A.H.A. and N.H.L. Reach Hockey Player Agreement|date=June 20, 1946|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=16 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jun-20-1946-1553878/}}{{free access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=C.A.H.A. Not Satisfied|date=December 30, 1946|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=20|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-30-1946-1553933/}}{{free access}}</ref>


Synchronized red lights to signal goals were made obligatory for all NHL rinks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://records.nhl.com/history/historical-rule-changes|title=Historical Rule Changes|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L. P.|website=records.NHL.com|accessdate=June 17, 2024}}</ref>
==Regular season==
Veterans came back to their teams this year, as [[World War II]] ended, but many found they could not regain their form. One who did regain his form was the man formerly known as "Mr. Zero" &mdash; [[Boston Bruins]]' goaltender [[Frank Brimsek]]. He was shelled in an 8-3 contest with [[Chicago]], but got better game by game. The Bruins had first place at one point, then finished second. Brimsek made the Second All-Star Team as a result.


It was rumoured in the press that [[Lester Patrick]] planned to retire as general manager of the [[New York Rangers]]. On February 22, 1946, he announced his retirement from the general manager position, however he would stay on as vice president of [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]].<ref>{{harvnb|Boucher|Frayne|1973|p=192}}</ref>
[[Max Bentley]] of Chicago led the league in scoring, and, because of the "Pony Line"
of he, his brother [[Doug Bentley|Doug]] and [[Bill Mosienko]], the Black Hawks were in first place at one point. But misfortune hit the [[Chicago Blackhawks|Hawk]]s when Doug Bentley injured his knee in a January 23 game and the team sagged.


The NHL and the [[International Ice Hockey Association]] agreed to mutually enforce suspensions for players not fulfilling a tryout contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=Allan Cup Finals Awarded To West|date=January 2, 1946|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=11|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-02-1946-1475539/}}{{free access}}</ref>
[[Frank Patrick]], former [[Pacific Coast Hockey Association]] president and former managing director for the NHL, suffered a heart attack and was not released from the hospital for several weeks.


==Teams==
A bombshell exploded on January 30, 1946 when defenceman [[Babe Pratt]] was expelled from
{| class="wikitable" style="width:auto"
the NHL for betting on games. However, he only bet on his own team and appealed his expulsion.
On his promise he would not bet on any more games, he was reinstated. Pratt missed 9 games
during his suspension.

It was rumoured in the press that [[Lester Patrick]] planned to retire as general manager of
the [[New York Rangers]]. On February 22, 1946, he finally announced his retirement, but would
stay on as vice president of [[Madison Square Garden]].

Maple Leaf [[Gaye Stewart]] led the league in goals with 37, but [[Toronto]] finished fifth and missed the playoffs.

[[Bill Durnan]] equalled [[George Hainsworth]]'s record of three consecutive [[Vezina Trophy|Vezina Trophies]] and led the league in shutouts with 4.

===Final standings===
''GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties In Minutes''
<br>
''Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in '''bold'''''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! width="40%" | National Hockey League
| bgcolor="#000000" align="center" colspan="5"|'''<span style="color:orange;">1945-46 National Hockey League</span>'''
! width="5%" | GP
! width="5%" | W
! width="5%" | L
! width="5%" | T
! width="5%" | Pts
! width="7.5%" | GF
! width="7.5%" | GA
! width="7.5%" | PIM
|-
|-
|| Team || City || Arena || Capacity
| '''[[Montreal Canadiens]]''' || 50 || 28 || 17 || 5 || 61 || 172 || 134 || 337
|-
|-
| '''[[Boston Bruins]]''' || 50 || 24 || 18 || 8 || 56 || 167 || 156 || 273
| [[Boston Bruins]]
| [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]
| [[Boston Garden]]
| 13,909
|-
|-
| '''[[Chicago Black Hawks]]''' || 50 || 23 || 20 || 7 || 53 || 200 || 178 || 339
| [[Chicago Black Hawks]]
| [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
| [[Chicago Stadium]]
| 16,000
|-
|-
| '''[[Detroit Red Wings]]''' || 50 || 20 || 20 || 10 || 50 || 146 || 159 || 298
| [[Detroit Red Wings]]
| [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]], [[Michigan]]
| [[Detroit Olympia]]
| 15,000
|-
|-
| [[Montreal Canadiens]]
| [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] || 50 || 19 || 24 || 7 || 45 || 174 || 185 || 247
| [[Montreal, Quebec|Montreal]], [[Quebec]]
| [[Montreal Forum]]
| 12,500
|-
|-
| [[New York Rangers]] || 50 || 13 || 28 || 9 || 35 || 144 || 191 || 285
| [[New York Rangers]]
| [[New York, New York|New York]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
|}
| [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]]

| 15,925
===Scoring leaders===
''Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes''
{| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
|-
| [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%" | PLAYER
| [[Toronto, Ontario|Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="40%" | TEAM
| [[Maple Leaf Gardens]]
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | GP
| 12,586
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | G
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | A
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | PTS
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | PIM
|-
| [[Max Bentley]] || Chicago Black Hawks || 47 ||31 ||30 ||61 ||6
|-
| [[Gaye Stewart]] || Toronto Maple Leafs || 50 ||37 ||15 ||52 ||8
|-
| [[Toe Blake]] || Montreal Canadiens || 50 ||29 ||21 ||50 ||2
|-
| [[Clint Smith]] || Chicago Black Hawks || 50 ||26 ||24 ||50 ||2
|-
| [[Bill Mosienko]] || Chicago Black Hawks || 40 ||18 ||30 ||48 ||12
|-
| [[Maurice Richard]] || Montreal Canadiens || 50 ||27 ||21 ||48 ||50
|}
|}


==Stanley Cup playoffs==
==Regular season==
{{Location map+ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| width = 400
| caption = [[Image:Black pog.svg|10px]] 1945-46 NHL teams
| places =

{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 42.36
| lon_deg = -71.06
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = right
| label = '''[[Boston Bruins|Bruins]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 41.86
| lon_deg = -87.63
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = left
| label = '''[[Chicago Black Hawks|Black Hawks]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 42.35
| lon_deg = -83.11
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = left
| label = '''[[Detroit Red Wings|Red Wings]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 45.52
| lon_deg = -73.59
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = left
| label = '''[[Montreal Canadiens|Canadiens]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 40.76
| lon_deg = -73.99
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = right
| label = '''[[New York Rangers|Rangers]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 43.66
| lon_deg = -79.38
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = top
| label = '''[[Toronto Maple Leafs|Maple Leafs]]'''}}

}}

Veterans came back to their teams this year, as World War II ended, but many found they could not regain their form. One who did regain his form was the man formerly known as "Mr. Zero"—[[Boston Bruins]]' goaltender [[Frank Brimsek]]. He was shelled in an 8–3 contest with [[Chicago]], but got better game by game. The Bruins had first place at one point, then finished second. Brimsek made the Second All-Star Team as a result.

[[Max Bentley]] of Chicago led the league in scoring, and, because of the "Pony Line" that including him, his brother [[Doug Bentley|Doug]] and [[Bill Mosienko]], the Black Hawks were in first place at one point. But misfortune hit the [[Chicago Blackhawks|Hawk]]s when Doug Bentley injured his knee in a January 23 game and the team sagged.

[[Frank Patrick (ice hockey)|Frank Patrick]], former [[Pacific Coast Hockey Association]] president and former managing director for the NHL, suffered a heart attack and was not released from the hospital for several weeks.

A bombshell exploded on January 30, 1946, when defenceman [[Babe Pratt]] was expelled from the NHL for betting on games. However, he only bet on his own team and appealed his expulsion. On his promise he would not bet on any more games, he was reinstated. Pratt missed 9 games during his suspension.

Maple Leaf [[Gaye Stewart]] led the league in goals with 37, but [[Toronto]] finished fifth and missed the playoffs for the first time since playing at [[Maple Leaf Gardens]].

[[Bill Durnan]] equalled [[George Hainsworth]]'s record of three consecutive [[Vezina Trophy|Vezina Trophies]] and led the league in shutouts with 4.

===Final standings===
{{1945–46 NHL standings}}

==Playoffs==

===Playoff bracket===
===Playoff bracket===
{{4TeamBracket
{{4TeamBracket
| RD2=Stanley Cup Finals
| RD1=Semifinals
| RD1-seed1='''1'''
| RD1-seed1='''1'''
| RD1-team1='''[[Montreal Canadiens]]'''
| RD1-team1='''Montreal'''
| RD1-score1='''4'''
| RD1-score1='''4'''
| RD1-seed2=3
| RD1-seed2=3
| RD1-team2=[[Chicago Black Hawks]]
| RD1-team2=Chicago
| RD1-score2=0
| RD1-score2=0
| RD1-seed3='''2'''
| RD1-seed3='''2'''
| RD1-team3='''[[Boston Bruins]]'''
| RD1-team3='''Boston'''
| RD1-score3='''4'''
| RD1-score3='''4'''
| RD1-seed4=4
| RD1-seed4=4
| RD1-team4=[[Detroit Red Wings]]
| RD1-team4=Detroit
| RD1-score4=1
| RD1-score4=1
| RD2-seed1='''1'''
| RD2-seed1='''1'''
| RD2-team1='''[[Montreal Canadiens]]'''
| RD2-team1='''Montreal'''
| RD2-score1='''4'''
| RD2-score1='''4'''
| RD2-seed2=2
| RD2-seed2=2
| RD2-team2=[[Boston Bruins]]
| RD2-team2=Boston
| RD2-score2=1
| RD2-score2=1
}}
}}


==NHL awards==
===Semifinals===

{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"
====(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (3) Chicago Black Hawks====
| [[O'Brien Trophy]]: || [[Boston Bruins]]

The Montreal Canadiens finished first in the league with 61 points. The Chicago Blackhawks finished third with 53 points. This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams with the teams splitting the six previous series. They last met in the [[1944 Stanley Cup Finals]] where Montreal won in four games. Montreal won this year's ten game regular season series earning eleven of twenty points.

{{NHLPlayoffs
|team1=Chicago Black Hawks
|team2=Montreal Canadiens
|stadium2=[[Chicago Stadium]]
|stadium1=[[Montreal Forum]]

|date1 =March 19
|score1 =2–6
|won1 =2
|recap1 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1946/03/19/1945030111#game=1945030111,game_state=final
|1-1-1 =[[George Gee (ice hockey)|George Gee]] (1) – ''pp'' – 17:25
|1-1-2 =08:33 – [[Dutch Hiller]] (1)
|1-2-1 =''No scoring''
|1-2-2 =08:32 – [[Elmer Lach]] (1)<br>16:29 – ''pp'' – [[Billy Reay]] (1)<br>16:48 – ''pp'' – Dutch Hiller (2)
|1-3-1 =[[Bill Mosienko]] (1) – ''pp'' – 12:22
|1-3-2 =10:29 – [[Toe Blake]] (1)<br>14:40 – [[Maurice Richard]] (1)
|goalie1-1 =[[Mike Karakas]]
|goalie1-2 =[[Bill Durnan]]

|date2 =March 21
|score2 =1–5
|won2 =2
|recap2 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1946/03/21/1945030112#game=1945030112,game_state=final
|2-1-1 =[[Clint Smith]] (1) – 19:13
|2-1-2 =06:40 – [[Bob Fillion]] (1)<br>09:14 – [[Jimmy Peters Sr.|Jimmy Peters]] (1)<br>09:45 – [[Maurice Richard]] (2)
|2-2-1 =''No scoring''
|2-2-2 =10:02 – [[Ken Mosdell]] (1)
|2-3-1 =''No scoring''
|2-3-2 =14:45 – Jimmy Peters (2)
|goalie2-1 =[[Mike Karakas]]
|goalie2-2 =[[Bill Durnan]]

|date3 =March 24
|score3 =8–2
|won3 =2
|recap3 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1946/03/24/1945030113#game=1945030113,game_state=final
|3-1-1 =15:06 – [[Max Bentley]] (1)<br>18:17 – ''pp'' – [[Clint Smith]] (2)
|3-1-2 =[[Toe Blake]] (2) – 12:42<br>[[Buddy O'Connor]] (1) – ''pp'' – 14:07
|3-2-1 =''No scoring''
|3-2-2 =Buddy O'Connor (2) – 04:09<br>[[Ken Mosdell]] (2) – 09:31<br>[[Murph Chamberlain]] (1) – 15:36
|3-3-1 =''No scoring''
|3-3-2 =Toe Blake (3) – 09:40<br>[[Maurice Richard]] (3) – 10:36<br>[[Bob Fillion]] (2) – 14:34
|goalie3-1 =[[Mike Karakas]]
|goalie3-2 =[[Bill Durnan]]

|date4 =March 26
|score4 =7–2
|won4 =2
|recap4 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1946/03/26/1945030114#game=1945030114,game_state=final
|4-1-1 =11:26 – [[Bill Mosienko]] (2)
|4-1-2 =[[Toe Blake]] (4) – ''pp'' – 06:04<br>[[Maurice Richard]] (4) – ''pp'' – 12:01
|4-2-1 =10:27 – [[Red Hamill]] (1)
|4-2-2 =Toe Blake (5) – 10:54<br>[[Murph Chamberlain]] (2) – ''sh'' – 18:05
|4-3-1 =''No scoring''
|4-3-2 =[[Elmer Lach]] (2) – 09:55<br>Toe Blake (6) – ''pp'' – 17:33<br>[[Ken Reardon]] (1) – 18:42
|goalie4-1 =[[Mike Karakas]]
|goalie4-2 =[[Bill Durnan]]

|series = Montreal wins 4–0
}}

====(2) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Detroit Red Wings====

The Boston Bruins finished second in the league with 56 points. The Detroit Red Wings finished fourth with 50 points. This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams with Detroit winning the three of the four previous series. They last met in the [[1944–45 NHL season#Playoffs|previous year's Stanley Cup Semifinals]] where the Red Wings won in seven games. Boston won this year's ten game regular season series earning eleven of twenty points.

{{NHLPlayoffs
|team1=Detroit Red Wings
|team2=Boston Bruins
|stadium2=[[Olympia Stadium]]
|stadium1=[[Boston Garden]]

|date1 =March 19
|score1 =1–3
|won1 =2
|recap1 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1946/03/19/1945030121#game=1945030121,game_state=final
|1-1-1 =''No scoring''
|1-1-2 =03:11 – ''sh'' – [[Pat Egan]] (1)<br>19:05 – [[Bill Shill]] (1)
|1-2-1 =[[Harry Watson (ice hockey, born 1923)|Harry Watson]] (1) – 07:51
|1-2-2 =''No scoring''
|1-3-1 =''No scoring''
|1-3-2 =11:43 – [[Bep Guidolin]] (1)
|goalie1-1 =[[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]]
|goalie1-2 =[[Frank Brimsek]]

|date2 =March 21
|score2 =3–0
|won2 =1
|recap2 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1946/03/21/1945030122#game=1945030122,game_state=final
|2-1-1 =[[Pat Lundy]] (1) – 07:32<br>[[Jim Conacher]] (1) – 12:58
|2-1-2 =''No scoring''
|2-2-1 =''No scoring''
|2-2-2 =''No scoring''
|2-3-1 =[[Harry Watson (ice hockey, born 1923)|Harry Watson]] (2) – 19:22
|2-3-2 =''No scoring''
|goalie2-1 =[[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]]
|goalie2-2 =[[Frank Brimsek]]

|date3 =March 24
|score3 =5–2
|won3 =2
|recap3 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-det/1946/03/24/1945030123#game=1945030123,game_state=final
|3-1-1 =''No scoring''
|3-1-2 =[[Milt Schmidt]] (1) – 02:50
|3-2-1 =''No scoring''
|3-2-2 =[[Woody Dumart]] (1) – 04:51
|3-3-1 =12:42 – [[Fern Gauthier]] (1)<br>13:25 – [[Carl Liscombe]] (1)
|3-3-2 =[[Pat Egan]] (2) – 00:25<br>Milt Schmidt (2) – 01:51<br>Woody Dumart (2) – 11:10
|goalie3-1 =[[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]]
|goalie3-2 =[[Frank Brimsek]]

|date4 =March 26
|score4 =4–1
|won4 =2
|recap4 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-det/1946/03/26/1945030124#game=1945030124,game_state=final
|4-1-1 =''No scoring''
|4-1-2 =[[Bobby Bauer]] (1) – 02:08<br>[[Woody Dumart]] (3) – 14:54
|4-2-1 =''No scoring''
|4-2-2 =''No scoring''
|4-3-1 =11:00 – [[Fern Gauthier]] (2)
|4-3-2 =[[Bep Guidolin]] (2) – 04:08<br>[[Terry Reardon]] (1) – 11:30
|goalie4-1 =[[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]]
|goalie4-2 =[[Frank Brimsek]]

|date5 =March 28
|score5 =3–4
|ot5 =1
|won5 =2
|recap5 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1946/03/28/1945030125#game=1945030125,game_state=final
|5-1-1 =''No scoring''
|5-1-2 =07:04 – [[Bep Guidolin]] (3)<br>14:03 – ''pp'' – [[Bobby Bauer]] (2)
|5-2-1 =[[Fern Gauthier]] (3) – 11:00
|5-2-2 =''No scoring''
|5-3-1 =[[Adam Brown (ice hockey)|Adam Brown]] (1) – 12:55<br>[[Eddie Bruneteau]] (1) – 19:13
|5-3-2 =04:24 – [[Terry Reardon]] (2)
|5-4-1 =''No scoring''
|5-4-2 =09:51 – [[Don Gallinger]] (1)
|goalie5-1 =[[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]]
|goalie5-2 =[[Frank Brimsek]]

|series = Boston won series 4–1
}}

===Stanley Cup Finals===
{{Main|1946 Stanley Cup Finals}}

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams with the teams splitting the four previous series. They last met in the [[1942–43 NHL season#Playoffs|1943 Stanley Cup Semifinals]] where Boston won in five games. Montreal won this year's ten game regular season series earning eleven of twenty points.

{{NHLPlayoffs
|team1=Boston Bruins
|team2=Montreal Canadiens
|stadium2=[[Boston Garden]]
|stadium1=[[Montreal Forum]]

|date1 =March 30
|score1 =3–4
|ot1 =1
|won1 =2
|recap1 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1946/03/30/1945030211#game=1945030211,game_state=final
|1-1-1 =''No scoring''
|1-1-2 =''No scoring''
|1-2-1 =[[Bep Guidolin]] (4) – 05:09<br>[[Woody Dumart]] (4) – 08:02
|1-2-2 =00:21 – ''pp'' – [[Butch Bouchard]] (1)<br>03:19 – [[Bob Fillion]] (3)
|1-3-1 =[[Jack Crawford (ice hockey)|Jack Crawford]] (1) – 14:04
|1-3-2 =16:23 – [[Murph Chamberlain]] (3)
|1-4-1 =''No scoring''
|1-4-2 =09:08 – [[Maurice Richard]] (5)
|goalie1-1 =[[Frank Brimsek]]
|goalie1-2 =[[Bill Durnan]]

|date2 =April 2
|score2 =2–3
|ot2 =1
|won2 =2
|recap2 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1946/04/02/1945030212#game=1945030212,game_state=final
|2-1-1 =[[Pat Egan]] (3) – 10:55
|2-1-2 =01:06 – [[Elmer Lach]] (3)
|2-2-1 =[[Bobby Bauer]] (3) – 03:04
|2-2-2 =''No scoring''
|2-3-1 =''No scoring''
|2-3-2 =10:10 – [[Butch Bouchard]] (2)
|2-4-1 =''No scoring''
|2-4-2 =16:55 – [[Jimmy Peters Sr.|Jimmy Peters]] (3)
|goalie2-1 =[[Frank Brimsek]]
|goalie2-2 =[[Bill Durnan]]

|date3 =April 4
|score3 =4–2
|won3 =2
|recap3 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-bos/1946/04/04/1945030213#game=1945030213,game_state=final
|3-1-1 =11:01 – [[Bep Guidolin]] (5)
|3-1-2 =[[Elmer Lach]] (4) – 10:14<br>[[Glen Harmon]] (1) – ''pp'' – 14:13
|3-2-1 =18:41 – [[Terry Reardon]] (3)
|3-2-2 =''No scoring''
|3-3-1 =''No scoring''
|3-3-2 =[[Ken Mosdell]] (3) – 02:45<br>[[Dutch Hiller]] (3) – 05:18
|goalie3-1 =[[Frank Brimsek]]
|goalie3-2 =[[Bill Durnan]]

|date4 =April 7
|score4 =2–3
|ot4 =1
|won4 =1
|recap4 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-bos/1946/04/07/1945030214#game=1945030214,game_state=final
|4-1-1 =''No scoring''
|4-1-2 =''No scoring''
|4-2-1 =08:05 – [[Murray Henderson (ice hockey)|Murray Henderson]] (1)
|4-2-2 =[[Maurice Richard]] (6) – 13:46
|4-3-1 =03:01 – [[Don Gallinger]] (2)
|4-3-2 =Maurice Richard (7) – 04:04
|4-4-1 =15:13 – [[Terry Reardon]] (4)
|4-4-2 =''No scoring''
|goalie4-1 =[[Frank Brimsek]]
|goalie4-2 =[[Bill Durnan]]

|date5 =April 9
|score5 =3–6
|won5 =2
|recap5 =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1946/04/09/1945030215#game=1945030215,game_state=final
|5-1-1 =[[Bill Cowley]] (1) – ''p'' – 05:42<br>[[Bobby Bauer]] (4) – 14:01
|5-1-2 =09:55 – [[Bob Fillion]] (4)<br>15:51 – [[Elmer Lach]] (5)<br>18:28 – [[Ken Mosdell]] (4)
|5-2-1 =[[Milt Schmidt]] (3) – 07:15
|5-2-2 =''No scoring''
|5-3-1 =''No scoring''
|5-3-2 =11:06 – [[Toe Blake]] (7)<br>14:05 – [[Murph Chamberlain]] (4)<br>17:13 – [[Dutch Hiller]] (4)
|goalie5-1 =[[Frank Brimsek]]
|goalie5-2 =[[Bill Durnan]]

|series = Montreal won series 4–1
}}

==Awards==
The NHL changed the criteria for the [[Vezina Trophy]] to award it to the goaltender who plays the most games for the team which gives up the fewest goals in the season.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Award winners
|-
| [[O'Brien Trophy (ice hockey)|O'Brien Cup]]:<br><small>(Stanley Cup runner-up)</small> || [[Boston Bruins]]
|-
|-
|[[Prince of Wales Trophy]]: || [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|[[Prince of Wales Trophy]]:<br><small>(Regular season champion)</small> || [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|-
|-
|[[Calder Memorial Trophy]]: || [[Edgar Laprade]], [[New York Rangers]]
|[[Calder Memorial Trophy]]:<br><small>(Best first-year player)</small> || [[Edgar Laprade]], [[New York Rangers]]
|-
|-
|[[Hart Memorial Trophy]]: || [[Max Bentley]], [[Chicago Black Hawks]]
|[[Hart Memorial Trophy|Hart Trophy]]:<br><small>(Most valuable player)</small> || [[Max Bentley]], [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]]
|-
|-
|[[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]]: || [[Toe Blake]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|[[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy|Lady Byng Trophy]]:<br><small>(Excellence and sportsmanship)</small> || [[Toe Blake]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|-
|-
|[[Vezina Trophy]]: || [[Bill Durnan]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|[[Vezina Trophy]]:<br><small>(Goaltender of team with lowest [[Goals against average|GAA]])</small> || [[Bill Durnan]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|}
|}


===All-Star teams===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+All-Star teams
|-
|-
! First Team !! &nbsp; Position &nbsp; !! Second Team
! First team !! &nbsp; Position &nbsp; !! Second team
|-
|-
|[[Bill Durnan]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|[[Bill Durnan]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
Line 125: Line 439:
|[[Frank Brimsek]], [[Boston Bruins]]
|[[Frank Brimsek]], [[Boston Bruins]]
|-
|-
|[[Jack Crawford]], [[Boston Bruins]]
|[[Jack Crawford (ice hockey)|Jack Crawford]], [[Boston Bruins]]
| align=center | [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]]
| align=center | [[defenceman|D]]
|[[Ken Reardon]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|[[Ken Reardon]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|-
|-
|[[Butch Bouchard]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|[[Émile Bouchard|Emile "Butch" Bouchard]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
| align=center | D
| align=center | D
|[[Jack Stewart]], [[Detroit Red Wings]]
|[[Jack Stewart (ice hockey)|Jack Stewart]], [[Detroit Red Wings]]
|-
|-
|[[Max Bentley]], [[Chicago Black Hawks]]
|[[Max Bentley]], [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]]
| align=center | [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]]
| align=center | [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]]
|[[Elmer Lach]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|[[Elmer Lach]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
Line 139: Line 453:
|[[Maurice Richard]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|[[Maurice Richard]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
| align=center | [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]]
| align=center | [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]]
|[[Bill Mosienko]], [[Chicago Black Hawks]]
|[[Bill Mosienko]], [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]]
|-
|-
|[[Gaye Stewart]], [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
|[[Gaye Stewart]], [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
Line 147: Line 461:
|[[Dick Irvin]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|[[Dick Irvin]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
| align=center | [[Coach (ice hockey)|Coach]]
| align=center | [[Coach (ice hockey)|Coach]]
|[[Johnny Gottselig]], [[Chicago Black Hawks]]
|[[Johnny Gottselig]], [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]]
|}
|}

==Player statistics==

===Scoring leaders===
''Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%" | Player
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="40%" | Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | G
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | A
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | Pts
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | PIM
|-
| [[Max Bentley]] || Chicago Black Hawks || 47 ||31 ||30 ||61 ||6
|-
| [[Gaye Stewart]] || Toronto Maple Leafs || 50 ||37 ||15 ||52 ||8
|-
| [[Toe Blake]] || Montreal Canadiens || 50 ||29 ||21 ||50 ||2
|-
| [[Clint Smith]] || Chicago Black Hawks || 50 ||26 ||24 ||50 ||2
|-
| [[Maurice Richard]] || Montreal Canadiens || 50 ||27 ||22 ||49 ||50
|-
| [[Bill Mosienko]] || Chicago Black Hawks || 40 ||18 ||30 ||48 ||12
|-
| [[Ab DeMarco]] || New York Rangers || 50 ||20 ||27 ||47 ||20
|-
| [[Elmer Lach]] || Montreal Canadiens || 50 ||13 ||34 ||47 ||34
|-
| [[Alex Kaleta]] || Chicago Black Hawks || 49 ||19 ||27 ||46 ||17
|-
| [[Billy Taylor (ice hockey b. 1919)|Billy Taylor]] || Toronto Maple Leafs || 48 ||23 ||18 ||41 ||14
|}
'''Source:''' NHL{{sfn |Dinger |2011 |p=148}}

===Leading goaltenders===

''Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="20%" | Player
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="20%" | Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | MIN
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | GA
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | GAA
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | T
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | SO
|-
|[[Bill Durnan]] || Montreal Canadiens || 40 || 2400 || 104 || 2.60 || 24 || 11 || 5 || 4
|-
|[[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]] || Detroit Red Wings || 50 || 3000 || 159 || 3.18 || 20 || 20 || 10 || 2
|-
|[[Frank Brimsek]] || Boston Bruins || 34 || 2040 || 111 || 3.26 || 16 || 14 || 4 || 2
|-
|[[Mike Karakas]] || Chicago Black Hawks || 48 || 2880 || 166 || 3.46 || 22 || 19 || 7 || 1
|-
|[[Turk Broda]] || Toronto Maple Leafs || 15 || 900 || 53 || 3.53 || 6 || 6 || 3 || 0
|-
|[[Frank McCool]] || Toronto Maple Leafs || 22 || 1320 || 81 || 3.68 || 10 || 9 || 3 || 0
|-
|[[Chuck Rayner]] || New York Rangers || 40 || 2377 || 149 || 3.76 || 12 || 21 || 7 || 1
|-
|[[Jim Henry (ice hockey)|Jim Henry]] || New York Rangers || 11 || 623 || 42 || 4.04 || 1 || 7 || 2 || 1
|-
|}

==Coaches==
*Boston Bruins: [[Dit Clapper]]
*Chicago Black Hawks: [[Johnny Gottselig]]
*Detroit Red Wings: [[Jack Adams]]
*Montreal Canadiens: [[Dick Irvin]]
*New York Rangers: [[Frank Boucher]]
*Toronto Maple Leafs: [[Hap Day]]


==Debuts==
==Debuts==
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1945-46 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1945–46 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
*[[Leo Reise]], Chicago Black Hawks
*[[Leo Reise Jr.]], Chicago Black Hawks
*[[George Gee]], Chicago Black Hawks
*[[George Gee (ice hockey)|George Gee]], Chicago Black Hawks
*[[Jimmy Peters]], Montreal Canadiens
*[[Jimmy Peters Sr.|Jimmy Peters]], Montreal Canadiens
*[[Cal Gardner]], New York Rangers
*[[Cal Gardner]], New York Rangers
*[[Edgar Laprade]], New York Rangers
*[[Edgar Laprade]], New York Rangers
*[[Tony Leswick]], New York Rangers
*[[Tony Leswick]], New York Rangers
*[[Jimmy Thomson]], Toronto Maple Leafs
*[[Jimmy Thomson (ice hockey b. 1927)|Jimmy Thomson]], Toronto Maple Leafs


==Last games==
==Last games==
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1945-46 (listed with their last team):
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1945–46 (listed with their last team):
*[[Herb Cain]], Boston Bruins
*[[Herb Cain]], Boston Bruins (Last active [[Montreal Maroons]] player)
*[[Mike Karakas]], Chicago Black Hawks
*[[Mike Karakas]], Chicago Black Hawks
*[[Carl Liscombe]], Detroit Red Wings
*[[Carl Liscombe]], Detroit Red Wings
*[[Earl Seibert]], Detroit Red Wings
*[[Earl Seibert]], Detroit Red Wings
*[[Flash Hollett]], Detroit Red Wings
*[[Flash Hollett]], Detroit Red Wings (Last active [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]] player)
*[[Mud Bruneteau]], Detroit Red Wings
*[[Mud Bruneteau]], Detroit Red Wings
*[[Syd Howe]], Detroit Red Wings
*[[Syd Howe]], Detroit Red Wings (last active [[Philadelphia Quakers (NHL)|Philadelphia Quakers]] player)
*[[Ott Heller]], New York Rangers
*[[Ott Heller]], New York Rangers
*[[Lynn Patrick]], New York Rangers
*[[Lynn Patrick]], New York Rangers
Line 177: Line 569:
*[[Mel Hill]], Toronto Maple Leafs
*[[Mel Hill]], Toronto Maple Leafs


==See also==
== See also ==
* [[1945–46 NHL transactions]]
*[[List of Stanley Cup champions]]
* [[List of Stanley Cup champions]]
*[[1945 in sports]]
*[[1946 in sports]]
* [[1945 in sports]]
* [[1946 in sports]]

== References ==
* {{Citation|last1=Boucher|first1=Frank|author1-link=Frank Boucher|last2=Frayne|first2=Trent|title=When the Rangers Were Young|year=1973|publisher=Dodd, Mead & Company|location=New York City|isbn=0-396-06852-9}}
* {{cite book |title=Years of glory, 1942–1967: the National Hockey League's official book of the six-team era |editor=Diamond, Dan |year=1994 |publisher=McClelland and Stewart |location=Toronto, ON |isbn=0-7710-2817-2}}
* {{cite book|title=Total Hockey |editor=Diamond, Dan |publisher=Total Sports |year=2000 |isbn=1-892129-85-X }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Dinger |editor-first=Ralph |year=2011 |title=The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 |publisher=Dan Diamond & Associates |isbn=978-1-894801-22-5 |location=Toronto, ON |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/nationalhockeyle0000unse_u6g5 }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Dryden |editor-first=Steve |title=Century of hockey |publisher=McClelland & Stewart Ltd. |location=Toronto, ON |year=2000 |isbn=0-7710-4179-9 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Fischler |first1=Stan |last2=Fischler |first2=Shirley
|last3=Hughes |first3=Morgan |last4=Romain |first4=Joseph |last5=Duplacey |first5=James
|year=2003 |title=The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League |publisher=Publications International Inc. |isbn=0-7853-9624-1 |location=Lincolnwood, Illinois |ref={{harvid|Fischler|2003}}}}
* {{cite book |last=McFarlane |first=Brian |title=The Story of the National Hockey League |publisher=Pagurian Press |location=New York |year=1973 |isbn=0-684-13424-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/storyofnationalh0000mcfa }}

;Notes
{{reflist}}


==References==
==External links==
*[http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/nhl1927.html Hockey Database]
* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/nhl1927.html Hockey Database]
*[http://nhl.com/ NHL.com]
* [http://nhl.com/ NHL.com]


{{1945–46 NHL season by team}}
{{NHL seasons|1945}}
{{NHL seasons|1945}}


[[de:NHL 1945/46]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:NHL, 1945-46}}
[[Category:1945–46 NHL season| ]]
[[fr:Saison LNH 1945-1946]]
[[Category:1945–46 in American ice hockey by league]]
[[ru:НХЛ в сезоне 1945-1946]]
[[Category:1945–46 in Canadian ice hockey by league]]

Latest revision as of 16:56, 15 September 2024

1945–46 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 24, 1945 – April 9, 1946
Number of games50
Number of teams6
Regular season
Season championMontreal Canadiens
Season MVPMax Bentley (Black Hawks)
Top scorerMax Bentley (Black Hawks)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsMontreal Canadiens
  Runners-upBoston Bruins
NHL seasons

The 1945–46 NHL season was the 29th season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Boston Bruins for the team's sixth championship.

League business

[edit]

Since World War II had ended, the NHL and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) reverted to the pre-war agreement not to sign any junior ice hockey players without permission. CAHA secretary George Dudley stated that tryout contracts must be honoured, and junior-aged players on NHL reserve lists must be reinstated as amateurs to return to the CAHA. The wartime practice of the NHL borrowing amateur players for three games or less was discontinued.[1] The NHL and the CAHA discussed updates to the financial terms of the agreement. The NHL offered a flat payment of $20,000 to signing amateurs, which Dudley felt was too low.[2] The CAHA ultimately accepted the lump sum payment, preferring not to break its alliance with the NHL.[3][4]

Synchronized red lights to signal goals were made obligatory for all NHL rinks.[5]

It was rumoured in the press that Lester Patrick planned to retire as general manager of the New York Rangers. On February 22, 1946, he announced his retirement from the general manager position, however he would stay on as vice president of Madison Square Garden.[6]

The NHL and the International Ice Hockey Association agreed to mutually enforce suspensions for players not fulfilling a tryout contract.[7]

Teams

[edit]
1945-46 National Hockey League
Team City Arena Capacity
Boston Bruins Boston, Massachusetts Boston Garden 13,909
Chicago Black Hawks Chicago, Illinois Chicago Stadium 16,000
Detroit Red Wings Detroit, Michigan Detroit Olympia 15,000
Montreal Canadiens Montreal, Quebec Montreal Forum 12,500
New York Rangers New York, New York Madison Square Garden 15,925
Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto, Ontario Maple Leaf Gardens 12,586

Regular season

[edit]
class=notpageimage|
1945-46 NHL teams

Veterans came back to their teams this year, as World War II ended, but many found they could not regain their form. One who did regain his form was the man formerly known as "Mr. Zero"—Boston Bruins' goaltender Frank Brimsek. He was shelled in an 8–3 contest with Chicago, but got better game by game. The Bruins had first place at one point, then finished second. Brimsek made the Second All-Star Team as a result.

Max Bentley of Chicago led the league in scoring, and, because of the "Pony Line" that including him, his brother Doug and Bill Mosienko, the Black Hawks were in first place at one point. But misfortune hit the Hawks when Doug Bentley injured his knee in a January 23 game and the team sagged.

Frank Patrick, former Pacific Coast Hockey Association president and former managing director for the NHL, suffered a heart attack and was not released from the hospital for several weeks.

A bombshell exploded on January 30, 1946, when defenceman Babe Pratt was expelled from the NHL for betting on games. However, he only bet on his own team and appealed his expulsion. On his promise he would not bet on any more games, he was reinstated. Pratt missed 9 games during his suspension.

Maple Leaf Gaye Stewart led the league in goals with 37, but Toronto finished fifth and missed the playoffs for the first time since playing at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Bill Durnan equalled George Hainsworth's record of three consecutive Vezina Trophies and led the league in shutouts with 4.

Final standings

[edit]
National Hockey League[8]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Montreal Canadiens 50 28 17 5 172 134 +38 61
2 Boston Bruins 50 24 18 8 167 156 +11 56
3 Chicago Black Hawks 50 23 20 7 200 178 +22 53
4 Detroit Red Wings 50 20 20 10 146 159 −13 50
5 Toronto Maple Leafs 50 19 24 7 174 185 −11 45
6 New York Rangers 50 13 28 9 144 191 −47 35

Playoffs

[edit]

Playoff bracket

[edit]
Semifinals Stanley Cup Finals
      
1 Montreal 4
3 Chicago 0
1 Montreal 4
2 Boston 1
2 Boston 4
4 Detroit 1

Semifinals

[edit]

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (3) Chicago Black Hawks

[edit]

The Montreal Canadiens finished first in the league with 61 points. The Chicago Blackhawks finished third with 53 points. This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams with the teams splitting the six previous series. They last met in the 1944 Stanley Cup Finals where Montreal won in four games. Montreal won this year's ten game regular season series earning eleven of twenty points.


March 19 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
George Gee (1) – pp – 17:25 First period 08:33 – Dutch Hiller (1)
No scoring Second period 08:32 – Elmer Lach (1)
16:29 – pp – Billy Reay (1)
16:48 – pp – Dutch Hiller (2)
Bill Mosienko (1) – pp – 12:22 Third period 10:29 – Toe Blake (1)
14:40 – Maurice Richard (1)
Mike Karakas Goalie stats Bill Durnan
March 21 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Clint Smith (1) – 19:13 First period 06:40 – Bob Fillion (1)
09:14 – Jimmy Peters (1)
09:45 – Maurice Richard (2)
No scoring Second period 10:02 – Ken Mosdell (1)
No scoring Third period 14:45 – Jimmy Peters (2)
Mike Karakas Goalie stats Bill Durnan
March 24 Montreal Canadiens 8–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Toe Blake (2) – 12:42
Buddy O'Connor (1) – pp – 14:07 		First period 15:06 – Max Bentley (1)
18:17 – pp – Clint Smith (2)
Buddy O'Connor (2) – 04:09
Ken Mosdell (2) – 09:31
Murph Chamberlain (1) – 15:36 		Second period No scoring
Toe Blake (3) – 09:40
Maurice Richard (3) – 10:36
Bob Fillion (2) – 14:34 		Third period No scoring
Bill Durnan Goalie stats Mike Karakas
March 26 Montreal Canadiens 7–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Toe Blake (4) – pp – 06:04
Maurice Richard (4) – pp – 12:01 		First period 11:26 – Bill Mosienko (2)
Toe Blake (5) – 10:54
Murph Chamberlain (2) – sh – 18:05 		Second period 10:27 – Red Hamill (1)
Elmer Lach (2) – 09:55
Toe Blake (6) – pp – 17:33
Ken Reardon (1) – 18:42 		Third period No scoring
Bill Durnan Goalie stats Mike Karakas
Montreal wins 4–0


(2) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Detroit Red Wings

[edit]

The Boston Bruins finished second in the league with 56 points. The Detroit Red Wings finished fourth with 50 points. This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams with Detroit winning the three of the four previous series. They last met in the previous year's Stanley Cup Semifinals where the Red Wings won in seven games. Boston won this year's ten game regular season series earning eleven of twenty points.


March 19 Detroit Red Wings 1–3 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 03:11 – sh – Pat Egan (1)
19:05 – Bill Shill (1)
Harry Watson (1) – 07:51 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 11:43 – Bep Guidolin (1)
Harry Lumley Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
March 21 Detroit Red Wings 3–0 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Pat Lundy (1) – 07:32
Jim Conacher (1) – 12:58 		First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Harry Watson (2) – 19:22 Third period No scoring
Harry Lumley Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
March 24 Boston Bruins 5–2 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Milt Schmidt (1) – 02:50 First period No scoring
Woody Dumart (1) – 04:51 Second period No scoring
Pat Egan (2) – 00:25
Milt Schmidt (2) – 01:51
Woody Dumart (2) – 11:10 		Third period 12:42 – Fern Gauthier (1)
13:25 – Carl Liscombe (1)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Harry Lumley
March 26 Boston Bruins 4–1 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Bobby Bauer (1) – 02:08
Woody Dumart (3) – 14:54 		First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Bep Guidolin (2) – 04:08
Terry Reardon (1) – 11:30 		Third period 11:00 – Fern Gauthier (2)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Harry Lumley
March 28 Detroit Red Wings 3–4 OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 07:04 – Bep Guidolin (3)
14:03 – pp – Bobby Bauer (2)
Fern Gauthier (3) – 11:00 Second period No scoring
Adam Brown (1) – 12:55
Eddie Bruneteau (1) – 19:13 		Third period 04:24 – Terry Reardon (2)
No scoring First overtime period 09:51 – Don Gallinger (1)
Harry Lumley Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
Boston won series 4–1


Stanley Cup Finals

[edit]
Main article: 1946 Stanley Cup Finals

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams with the teams splitting the four previous series. They last met in the 1943 Stanley Cup Semifinals where Boston won in five games. Montreal won this year's ten game regular season series earning eleven of twenty points.


March 30 Boston Bruins 3–4 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Bep Guidolin (4) – 05:09
Woody Dumart (4) – 08:02 		Second period 00:21 – pp – Butch Bouchard (1)
03:19 – Bob Fillion (3)
Jack Crawford (1) – 14:04 Third period 16:23 – Murph Chamberlain (3)
No scoring First overtime period 09:08 – Maurice Richard (5)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Bill Durnan
April 2 Boston Bruins 2–3 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Pat Egan (3) – 10:55 First period 01:06 – Elmer Lach (3)
Bobby Bauer (3) – 03:04 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 10:10 – Butch Bouchard (2)
No scoring First overtime period 16:55 – Jimmy Peters (3)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Bill Durnan
April 4 Montreal Canadiens 4–2 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Elmer Lach (4) – 10:14
Glen Harmon (1) – pp – 14:13 		First period 11:01 – Bep Guidolin (5)
No scoring Second period 18:41 – Terry Reardon (3)
Ken Mosdell (3) – 02:45
Dutch Hiller (3) – 05:18 		Third period No scoring
Bill Durnan Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
April 7 Montreal Canadiens 2–3 OT Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Maurice Richard (6) – 13:46 Second period 08:05 – Murray Henderson (1)
Maurice Richard (7) – 04:04 Third period 03:01 – Don Gallinger (2)
No scoring First overtime period 15:13 – Terry Reardon (4)
Bill Durnan Goalie stats Frank Brimsek
April 9 Boston Bruins 3–6 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Bill Cowley (1) – p – 05:42
Bobby Bauer (4) – 14:01 		First period 09:55 – Bob Fillion (4)
15:51 – Elmer Lach (5)
18:28 – Ken Mosdell (4)
Milt Schmidt (3) – 07:15 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 11:06 – Toe Blake (7)
14:05 – Murph Chamberlain (4)
17:13 – Dutch Hiller (4)
Frank Brimsek Goalie stats Bill Durnan
Montreal won series 4–1


Awards

[edit]

The NHL changed the criteria for the Vezina Trophy to award it to the goaltender who plays the most games for the team which gives up the fewest goals in the season.

Award winners
O'Brien Cup:
(Stanley Cup runner-up)		 Boston Bruins
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Regular season champion)		 Montreal Canadiens
Calder Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player)		 Edgar Laprade, New York Rangers
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)		 Max Bentley, Chicago Black Hawks
Lady Byng Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)		 Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens
Vezina Trophy:
(Goaltender of team with lowest GAA)		 Bill Durnan, Montreal Canadiens
All-Star teams
First team   Position   Second team
Bill Durnan, Montreal Canadiens G Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins
Jack Crawford, Boston Bruins D Ken Reardon, Montreal Canadiens
Emile "Butch" Bouchard, Montreal Canadiens D Jack Stewart, Detroit Red Wings
Max Bentley, Chicago Black Hawks C Elmer Lach, Montreal Canadiens
Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens RW Bill Mosienko, Chicago Black Hawks
Gaye Stewart, Toronto Maple Leafs LW Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens
Dick Irvin, Montreal Canadiens Coach Johnny Gottselig, Chicago Black Hawks

Player statistics

[edit]

Scoring leaders

[edit]

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Max Bentley Chicago Black Hawks 47 31 30 61 6
Gaye Stewart Toronto Maple Leafs 50 37 15 52 8
Toe Blake Montreal Canadiens 50 29 21 50 2
Clint Smith Chicago Black Hawks 50 26 24 50 2
Maurice Richard Montreal Canadiens 50 27 22 49 50
Bill Mosienko Chicago Black Hawks 40 18 30 48 12
Ab DeMarco New York Rangers 50 20 27 47 20
Elmer Lach Montreal Canadiens 50 13 34 47 34
Alex Kaleta Chicago Black Hawks 49 19 27 46 17
Billy Taylor Toronto Maple Leafs 48 23 18 41 14

Source: NHL[9]

Leading goaltenders

[edit]

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
Bill Durnan Montreal Canadiens 40 2400 104 2.60 24 11 5 4
Harry Lumley Detroit Red Wings 50 3000 159 3.18 20 20 10 2
Frank Brimsek Boston Bruins 34 2040 111 3.26 16 14 4 2
Mike Karakas Chicago Black Hawks 48 2880 166 3.46 22 19 7 1
Turk Broda Toronto Maple Leafs 15 900 53 3.53 6 6 3 0
Frank McCool Toronto Maple Leafs 22 1320 81 3.68 10 9 3 0
Chuck Rayner New York Rangers 40 2377 149 3.76 12 21 7 1
Jim Henry New York Rangers 11 623 42 4.04 1 7 2 1

Coaches

[edit]

Debuts

[edit]

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1945–46 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

Last games

[edit]

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1945–46 (listed with their last team):

See also

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References

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  • Boucher, Frank; Frayne, Trent (1973), When the Rangers Were Young, New York City: Dodd, Mead & Company, ISBN 0-396-06852-9
  • 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.
Notes
  1. ^ "Pros Agree Not To Sign Juniors". Medicine Hat Daily News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. September 19, 1945. p. 5.Free access icon
  2. ^ "C.A.H.A. Wants Best Deal Possible". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. May 17, 1946. p. 11.Free access icon
  3. ^ "C.A.H.A. and N.H.L. Reach Hockey Player Agreement". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. June 20, 1946. p. 16.Free access icon
  4. ^ "C.A.H.A. Not Satisfied". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. December 30, 1946. p. 20.Free access icon
  5. ^ "Historical Rule Changes". records.NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L. P. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Boucher & Frayne 1973, p. 192
  7. ^ "Allan Cup Finals Awarded To West". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. January 2, 1946. p. 11.Free access icon
  8. ^ "1945–1946 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  9. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 148.
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