1970–71 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1970–71 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 45th. The Black Hawks advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1965 but were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens in seven games.

1970–71 Chicago Black Hawks
West Division champions
Division1st West
1970–71 record49–20–9
Home record30–6–3
Road record19–14–6
Goals for277
Goals against184
Team information
General managerTommy Ivan
CoachBilly Reay
CaptainVacant
Alternate captainsStan Mikita
ArenaChicago Stadium
Team leaders
GoalsBobby Hull (44)
AssistsBobby Hull (52)
PointsBobby Hull (96)
Penalty minutesKeith Magnuson (291)
Plus/minusBill White (+51)
WinsTony Esposito (35)
Goals against averageTony Esposito (2.27)

Offseason

During the off-season, the NHL would expand by two teams, as the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks joined the league, and both clubs were placed in the East Division. The league also increased the schedule by two games, going from 76 to 78. The Black Hawks were moved to the West Division as part of the divisional realignment, and the club decided to strip Pat Stapleton from his team captaincy, electing to not have a captain of the team.

Regular season

Chicago started the season very well, as the team had a record of 18–4–5 in their first 27 games. The Hawks stayed hot throughout the season, and easily won the West Division with a club record 49 victories and 107 points, finishing 20 points ahead of the second place St. Louis Blues.[1]

Offensively, the Hawks were led by Bobby Hull, who scored a team high 44 goals and 52 assists for 96 points, which placed him fifth in NHL scoring. His brother Dennis Hull also cracked the 40 goal barrier, as he scored 40 goals and added 26 assists for 66 points. Stan Mikita had another solid season, scoring 28 goals and 72 points. Pit Martin and Bryan Campbell each had very good seasons, finishing with 55 and 54 points respectively. On the blueline, Pat Stapleton led the team with 7 goals and 51 points, while Bill White chipped in with 4 goals and 25 points. White also led the club with a +51 rating. Keith Magnuson led the Hawks in toughness, setting a team record with 291 penalty minutes.

In goal, Tony Esposito led the club with 35 victories and a 2.27 GAA, along with six shutouts while appearing in 57 games.[2] Backup goaltender Gerry Desjardins was very solid, winning 12 games while having a 2.47 GAA.[3]

Season standings
West Division[4]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Chicago Black Hawks7849209277184+93107
2St. Louis Blues78342519223208+1587
3Philadelphia Flyers78283317207225−1873
4Minnesota North Stars78283416191223−3272
5Los Angeles Kings78254013239303−6463
6Pittsburgh Penguins78213720221240−1962
7California Golden Seals7820535199320−12145

Game log
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPts
1October 11California Golden Seals1–5Chicago Black Hawks1–0–02
2October 14Vancouver Canucks2–8Chicago Black Hawks2–0–04
3October 15Chicago Black Hawks2–1Detroit Red Wings3–0–06
4October 17Chicago Black Hawks2–6Montreal Canadiens3–1–06
5October 18St. Louis Blues2–2Chicago Black Hawks3–1–17
6October 22Chicago Black Hawks3–3Boston Bruins3–1–28
7October 24Chicago Black Hawks1–0Toronto Maple Leafs4–1–210
8October 25Chicago Black Hawks4–0Buffalo Sabres5–1–212
9October 28Chicago Black Hawks1–2Minnesota North Stars5–2–212
10October 31Chicago Black Hawks5–2Pittsburgh Penguins6–2–214
11November 1Chicago Black Hawks2–5New York Rangers6–3–214
12November 4Detroit Red Wings2–4Chicago Black Hawks7–3–216
13November 7Chicago Black Hawks1–1Philadelphia Flyers7–3–317
14November 8Minnesota North Stars3–3Chicago Black Hawks7–3–418
15November 11Philadelphia Flyers1–7Chicago Black Hawks8–3–420
16November 14New York Rangers1–2Chicago Black Hawks9–3–422
17November 15Vancouver Canucks2–4Chicago Black Hawks10–3–424
18November 21Chicago Black Hawks3–3St. Louis Blues10–3–525
19November 22California Golden Seals0–9Chicago Black Hawks11–3–527
20November 25Montreal Canadiens3–5Chicago Black Hawks12–3–529
21November 26Chicago Black Hawks2–3Boston Bruins12–4–529
22November 28Philadelphia Flyers1–3Chicago Black Hawks13–4–531
23November 29Los Angeles Kings3–5Chicago Black Hawks14–4–533
24December 2Boston Bruins3–4Chicago Black Hawks15–4–535
25December 5Chicago Black Hawks4–1Minnesota North Stars16–4–537
26December 6Toronto Maple Leafs2–6Chicago Black Hawks17–4–539
27December 9Buffalo Sabres1–6Chicago Black Hawks18–4–541
28December 12Chicago Black Hawks1–2Toronto Maple Leafs18–5–541
29December 13Minnesota North Stars2–5Chicago Black Hawks19–5–543
30December 16St. Louis Blues3–8Chicago Black Hawks20–5–545
31December 20Pittsburgh Penguins1–2Chicago Black Hawks21–5–547
32December 22Chicago Black Hawks2–5California Golden Seals21–6–547
33December 23Chicago Black Hawks6–4Los Angeles Kings22–6–549
34December 26Chicago Black Hawks4–2Vancouver Canucks23–6–551
35December 31Chicago Black Hawks8–3Detroit Red Wings24–6–553
36January 2Chicago Black Hawks3–1Philadelphia Flyers25–6–555
37January 3Chicago Black Hawks5–3Buffalo Sabres26–6–557
38January 6Los Angeles Kings4–2Chicago Black Hawks26–7–557
39January 9Boston Bruins3–4Chicago Black Hawks27–7–559
40January 10Minnesota North Stars3–2Chicago Black Hawks27–8–559
41January 13Buffalo Sabres2–4Chicago Black Hawks28–8–561
42January 16Chicago Black Hawks2–3St. Louis Blues28–9–561
43January 17New York Rangers3–4Chicago Black Hawks29–9–563
44January 21Detroit Red Wings0–2Chicago Black Hawks30–9–565
45January 23Chicago Black Hawks2–6Boston Bruins30–10–565
46January 24California Golden Seals3–5Chicago Black Hawks31–10–567
47January 26Chicago Black Hawks3–3Vancouver Canucks31–10–668
48January 28Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Chicago Black Hawks32–10–670
49January 30Chicago Black Hawks1–3Pittsburgh Penguins32–11–670
50January 31Montreal Canadiens1–4Chicago Black Hawks33–11–672
51February 3Chicago Black Hawks4–2New York Rangers34–11–674
52February 4Chicago Black Hawks2–6Philadelphia Flyers34–12–674
53February 6Chicago Black Hawks6–2Minnesota North Stars35–12–676
54February 7Pittsburgh Penguins0–1Chicago Black Hawks36–12–678
55February 10Toronto Maple Leafs3–2Chicago Black Hawks36–13–678
56February 13Chicago Black Hawks4–5Pittsburgh Penguins36–14–678
57February 14Vancouver Canucks1–3Chicago Black Hawks37–14–680
58February 17Buffalo Sabres1–5Chicago Black Hawks38–14–682
59February 20Chicago Black Hawks1–7Montreal Canadiens38–15–682
60February 21Los Angeles Kings5–7Chicago Black Hawks39–15–684
61February 26Chicago Black Hawks3–1California Golden Seals40–15–686
62February 27Chicago Black Hawks4–1Los Angeles Kings41–15–688
63March 3Chicago Black Hawks5–1St. Louis Blues42–15–690
64March 5Chicago Black Hawks2–2Buffalo Sabres42–15–791
65March 6Chicago Black Hawks2–2Toronto Maple Leafs42–15–892
66March 10New York Rangers4–2Chicago Black Hawks42–16–892
67March 13Chicago Black Hawks4–1Montreal Canadiens43–16–894
68March 14St. Louis Blues4–4Chicago Black Hawks43–16–995
69March 16Chicago Black Hawks7–4Vancouver Canucks44–16–997
70March 18Chicago Black Hawks2–3Los Angeles Kings44–17–997
71March 19Chicago Black Hawks4–2California Golden Seals45–17–999
72March 21Detroit Red Wings0–2Chicago Black Hawks46–17–9101
73March 24Boston Bruins1–2Chicago Black Hawks47–17–9103
74March 27Philadelphia Flyers1–3Chicago Black Hawks48–17–9105
75March 28Montreal Canadiens2–1Chicago Black Hawks48–18–9105
76March 31Chicago Black Hawks2–4New York Rangers48–19–9105
77April 3Chicago Black Hawks4–1Detroit Red Wings49–19–9107
78April 4Toronto Maple Leafs3–2Chicago Black Hawks49–20–9107

Playoffs

The Hawks opened the playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers, who had a record of 28–33–17, earning 73 points, while placing third in the West Division. The series opened with two games at Chicago Stadium, and the Black Hawks, who won a club record 30 games at home, continued their dominance, easily defeating the Flyers 5–2 and 6–2 to take a 2–0 series lead. The series moved to the Philadelphia Spectrum for the next two games, however, the Hawks were too much to handle for the Flyers, as Chicago won a close third game by a 3–2 score, before sweeping Philadelphia out of the playoffs with a 6–2 win in the fourth game.

Chicago's next opponent was the New York Rangers, who had finished the season with a 49–18–11 record, earning 109 points, and a second-place finish in the East Division. The Rangers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in their first playoff series. Since the Black Hawks won their division, they were given home ice advantage in the series. The series opened up with two games at Chicago Stadium, however, the Rangers took a 1–0 series lead, defeating the Hawks in overtime by a 2–1 score. Chicago evened the series in the next game, shutting out New York 3–0. The series shifted to Madison Square Garden for the next two games, and the Rangers won the third game of the series by a 4–1 score, however, Chicago fought back in the fourth game, demolishing New York 7–1 to once again even the series. The fifth game was back in Chicago, and the Hawks took the series lead for the first time with a 3–2 overtime victory. Back in New York for the sixth game, the Rangers would push the series to the limit, with their second overtime victory of the series, setting up a seventh and deciding game in Chicago. The Black Hawks used their home ice advantage, and held on for a 4–2 victory, to win the series, and earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1965.

The Black Hawks opponent was the Montreal Canadiens, who finished the season with a 42–23–13 record, earning 97 points, which was good for third place in the East. Montreal then upset the heavily favored Boston Bruins in the first round, followed by defeating the Minnesota North Stars in the second round. The series opened with two games at Chicago Stadium, and the Hawks took a commanding 2–0 series lead, defeating the Canadiens 2–1 and 5–3. The series shifted to the Montreal Forum for the next two games, and the Canadiens evened the series with two home wins of their own, by scores of 4–2 and 5–2. The fifth game returned to Chicago, and the Black Hawks stayed hot at home, shutting out Montreal 2–0 to take a 3–2 series lead. The Hawks, looking to wrap up the series in the sixth game in Montreal, however, the Canadiens forced a seventh and deciding game, winning by a score of 4–3. In the seventh game at Chicago Stadium, where the Hawks were 7–1 during the playoffs, the Black Hawks would have a 2–0 lead halfway through the game, but the Canadiens cut into the lead when Jacques Lemaire scored on a shot from center ice that got past Hawks goaltender Tony Esposito. The Canadiens tied the game at two before the end of the second when Henri Richard scored, setting up an intense third period. Richard once again scored 2:34 into the period, giving Montreal a 3–2 lead, and Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden kept the Black Hawks off the scoreboard for the rest of the game, as Montreal would win the Stanley Cup in dramatic fashion for their third championship in four years. The Canadiens were the second team in NHL history, the other the 1945 Toronto Maple Leafs to win a game seven on the road in the Stanley Cup final.

Chicago Black Hawks 4, Philadelphia Flyers 0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 7Philadelphia Flyers2–5Chicago Black Hawks1–0
2April 8Philadelphia Flyers2–6Chicago Black Hawks2–0
3April 10Chicago Black Hawks3–2Philadelphia Flyers3–0
4April 11Chicago Black Hawks6–2Philadelphia Flyers4–0

Chicago Black Hawks 4, New York Rangers 3
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 18New York Rangers2–1Chicago Black Hawks0–1
2April 20New York Rangers0–3Chicago Black Hawks1–1
3April 22Chicago Black Hawks1–4New York Rangers1–2
4April 25Chicago Black Hawks7–1New York Rangers2–2
5April 27New York Rangers2–3Chicago Black Hawks3–2
6April 29Chicago Black Hawks2–3New York Rangers3–3
7May 2New York Rangers2–4Chicago Black Hawks4–3

Montreal Canadiens 4, Chicago Black Hawks 3
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1May 4Montreal Canadiens1–2Chicago Black Hawks1–0
2May 6Montreal Canadiens3–5Chicago Black Hawks2–0
3May 9Chicago Black Hawks2–4Montreal Canadiens2–1
4May 11Chicago Black Hawks2–5Montreal Canadiens2–2
5May 13Montreal Canadiens0–2Chicago Black Hawks3–2
6May 16Chicago Black Hawks3–4Montreal Canadiens3–3
7May 18Montreal Canadiens3–2Chicago Black Hawks3–4

Season stats

Scoring leaders
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Bobby Hull7844529632
Stan Mikita7424487285
Dennis Hull7840266616
Pit Martin6222335540
Bryan Campbell7817375426

Goaltending
PlayerGPTOIWLTGASOGAA
Tony Esposito5733253514612662.27
Gerry Desjardins22121712634902.42
Gilles Meloche2120200603.00
Ken Brown118000103.33

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Bobby Hull1811142516
Stan Mikita185131816
Pat Stapleton18314174
Cliff Koroll18791618
Jim Pappin181041424

Goaltending
PlayerGPTOIWLGASOGAA
Tony Esposito1811511174222.19

Roster
1970–1971 Chicago Black Hawks Roster
Goaltenders

Defensemen

Wingers

Centers

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
114Dan Maloney CanadaLondon Knights (OHA)
228Michel Archambault CanadaDrummondville Rangers (QMJHL)
342Len Frig CanadaCalgary Centennials (WCHL)
456Walt Ledingham CanadaUniversity of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
570Gilles Meloche CanadaVerdun Maple Leafs (QMJHL)

See also

References
  1. "1970-71 Chicago Black Hawks Schedule and Results".
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-06-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-06-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "1970–1971 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.

Sources
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