A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| 1928–29 NHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | November 15, 1928 – March 29, 1929 |
| Number of games | 44 |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Regular season | |
| Season champions | Montreal Canadiens |
| Season MVP | Roy Worters (Americans) |
| Top scorer | Ace Bailey (Maple Leafs) |
| Canadian Division champions | Montreal Canadiens |
| American Division champions | Boston Bruins |
| Stanley Cup | |
| Champions | Boston Bruins |
| Runners-up | New York Rangers |
The 1928–29 NHL season was the 12th season of the National Hockey League. Ten teams played 44 games each. This was the first Stanley Cup Finals that saw two United States-based teams compete for the cup. The Boston Bruins defeated the New York Rangers two games to none in the best-of-three final.
League business
Notable rule changes
Forward passing was permitted from the neutral zone across the blue line into the attacking zone, as long as no offensive player preceded the puck into the attacking zone; forward passing within the attacking zone was still forbidden. Regular season overtime was changed to a 10-minute, non-sudden-death format, to be played in its entirety.
During this season, the NHL office started tabulating defensive statistics, such as shots stopped, saves made and save percentage.[1]
The league was determined to increase scoring. In the final game of the season between the Rangers and Pittsburgh, forward passing in the attacking zone was allowed; kicking of the puck was allowed; and goalies were prohibited from holding the puck more than three seconds. The experiment was considered a success, and the changes were a part of the rules for the 1928–29 season.[1]
Teams
| 1928-29 National Hockey League | |||||
| Division | Team | City | Arena | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian | |||||
| Montreal Canadiens | Montreal, Quebec | Montreal Forum | 12,500 | ||
| Montreal Maroons | Montreal, Quebec | Montreal Forum | 12,500 | ||
| New York Americans | New York, New York | Madison Square Garden | 15,925 | ||
| Ottawa Senators | Ottawa, Ontario | Ottawa Auditorium | 7,500 | ||
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto, Ontario | Arena Gardens | 7,500 | ||
| American | Boston Bruins | Boston, Massachusetts | Boston Madison Square Garden | 13,909 | |
| Chicago Black Hawks | Chicago, Illinois | Chicago Coliseum Chicago Stadium |
6,000 16,000 | ||
| Detroit Cougars | Detroit, Michigan | Detroit Olympia | 15,000 | ||
| New York Rangers | New York, New York | Madison Square Garden | 15,925 | ||
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Duquesne Garden | 5,000 | ||
Regular season
Ottawa continued in financial trouble and sold Punch Broadbent to the New York Americans. They continued to erode, and at one point, rumour had it that they would be sold to a Chicago group. Frank Ahearn, the Senators owner, denied this, but admitted that the team was for sale to the highest bidder.
The New York Americans, last place finishers in 1927–28, surprised everyone by occupying first place for much of the season in the Canadian Division. They were held up by the great play of defenceman Lionel Conacher and goaltender Roy Worters. However, the Montreal Canadiens dislodged the Americans and finished first. Boston, led by rookie Tiny Thompson in goal, led the American Division.
Bruins' player George Owen was the first NHL player to regularly wear headgear for protective purposes. Prior to this, the only time protective headgear was worn was to temporarily protect injuries. Fifty-one years later the NHL mandated the use of helmets. Craig MacTavish was the last NHL player to not wear a helmet, retiring in 1997.
The Chicago Black Hawks set records for goal scoring futility, scoring on average less than one goal per game (33), while giving up a league worst 85 goals against. In one stretch from February 7 through February 28, the Hawks were shut out in eight consecutive games.[2] Forward Vic Ripley was the Hawks' leading goal scorer with only 11 goals and 2 assists for 13 points for the entire 44-game season.[3]
The season produced a record 120 shutouts in the 220 games played. George Hainsworth, Canadiens goaltender, set an NHL record that remains unmatched through the 2015–16 season of 22 shutouts and a 0.92 goals against average. Seven other goaltenders hit double digits in shutouts.[2]
Final standings
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | 44 | 22 | 7 | 15 | 71 | 43 | 465 | 59 |
| New York Americans | 44 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 53 | 53 | 486 | 50 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 44 | 21 | 18 | 5 | 85 | 69 | 541 | 47 |
| Ottawa Senators | 44 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 54 | 67 | 461 | 41 |
| Montreal Maroons | 44 | 15 | 20 | 9 | 67 | 65 | 638 | 39 |
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | 44 | 26 | 13 | 5 | 89 | 52 | 472 | 57 |
| New York Rangers | 44 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 72 | 65 | 384 | 52 |
| Detroit Cougars | 44 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 72 | 63 | 381 | 47 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 44 | 9 | 27 | 8 | 46 | 80 | 324 | 26 |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 44 | 7 | 29 | 8 | 33 | 85 | 363 | 22 |
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
Playoffs
The playoff format was revised to match the divisional first-place teams in a best-of-five semifinal. The divisional second-place teams and third-place teams played off in a two-game total-goals series to determine the participants for the other best-of-three semifinal. The semifinal winners then played off in a best-of-three series for the Cup.
Playoff bracket
| First round | Semifinals | Final | |||||||||||
| C1 | Mtl Canadiens | 0 | |||||||||||
| A1 | Boston | 3 | |||||||||||
| A1 | Boston | 2 | |||||||||||
| C2 | NY Americans | 0G | |||||||||||
| A2 | NY Rangers | 0 | |||||||||||
| A2 | NY Rangers | 1G | |||||||||||
| A2 | NY Rangers | 2 | |||||||||||
| C3 | Toronto | 0 | |||||||||||
| C3 | Toronto | 7G | |||||||||||
| A3 | Detroit | 2G | |||||||||||
Quarterfinals
(A2) New York Rangers vs. (C2) New York Americans
| March 19 | New York Rangers | 0–0 | New York Americans | Madison Square Garden III | Recap | |||
| No scoring | First period | No scoring | ||||||
| No scoring | Second period | No scoring | ||||||
| No scoring | Third period | No scoring | ||||||
| John Ross Roach | Goalie stats | Roy Worters | ||||||
| March 21 | New York Americans | 0–1 | 2OT | New York Rangers | Madison Square Garden III | Recap | ||
| No scoring | First period | No scoring | ||||||
| No scoring | Second period | No scoring | ||||||
| No scoring | Third period | No scoring | ||||||
| No scoring | Second overtime period | 19:50 – Butch Keeling (1) | ||||||
| Roy Worters | Goalie stats | John Ross Roach | ||||||
| New York Rangers won series on total goals 1–0 | |
(C3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Detroit Cougars
| March 19 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3–1 | Detroit Cougars | Olympia Stadium | Recap | |||
| Andy Blair (1) – 01:35 Art Smith (1) – 18:35 |
First period | No scoring | ||||||
| No scoring | Second period | 16:35 – George Hay (1) | ||||||
| Andy Blair (2) – 18:07 | Third period | No scoring | ||||||
| Lorne Chabot | Goalie stats | Dolly Dolson | ||||||
| March 21 | Detroit Cougars | 1–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Arena Gardens | Recap | |||
| No scoring | First period | 06:45 – Hap Day (1) 08:30 – Eric Pettinger (1) | ||||||
| No scoring | Second period | 18:00 – Red Horner (1) | ||||||
| Larry Aurie (1) – 18:50 | Third period | 19:59 – Ace Bailey (1) | ||||||
| Dolly Dolson | Goalie stats | Lorne Chabot | ||||||
| Toronto won the series on total goals 7–2 | |