The 1966–67 NHL season was the 50th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. Since the 1942–43 season, there had only been six teams in the NHL, but this was to be the last season of the Original Six as six more teams were added for the 1967–68 season. This season saw the debut of one of the greatest players in hockey history, defenceman Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup over the Montreal Canadiens; this would be the Leafs' most recent Stanley Cup, As of.
League business
President David Molson of the Canadian Arena Company announced that the Montreal Forum would undergo major alterations done in a $5 million work program commencing in April 1968.
NHL sponsorship of junior teams ceased, making all players of qualifying age not already on NHL-sponsored lists eligible for the amateur draft.
Regular season
Bobby Orr made his NHL debut on October 19, with an assist in a 6–2 win over Detroit.
Terry Sawchuk got his 99th shutout when Toronto blanked Detroit 4–0 on February 25. He got his 100th career shutout on March 4, when Toronto defeated Chicago 4–0.
Bobby Hull scored his 50th goal of the season when Chicago lost to Toronto 9–5 on March 18 at Maple Leaf Gardens. Another superlative for the Black Hawks was Stan Mikita, who tied the league scoring record with 97 points in claiming the Art Ross Trophy for the third time. Mikita was also awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as most valuable player.
The Chicago Black Hawks, who had won three Stanley Cups, finished first overall in the standings for the first time in their history, a full seventeen points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens and nineteen ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Boston Bruins missed the playoffs, their last time before their record 29-season playoff streak.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Playoffs
Despite Chicago's impressive regular season marks, it was the third seed Toronto Maple Leafs who beat the Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. Toronto won games 2, 3, 5, and 6. Montreal swept the Rangers to advance to the final.
Playoff bracket
Semifinals
(1) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (3) Toronto Maple Leafs
Despite Chicago's impressive regular season marks, it was the third seed Toronto Maple Leafs who beat the Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.
April 6
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
|
2–5
|
|
Chicago Black Hawks
|
Chicago Stadium
|
|
April 9
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
|
3–1
|
|
Chicago Black Hawks
|
Chicago Stadium
|
|
April 11
|
Chicago Black Hawks
|
|
1–3
|
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
Maple Leaf Gardens
|
|
April 13
|
Chicago Black Hawks
|
|
4–3
|
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
Maple Leaf Gardens
|
|
April 15
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
|
4–2
|
|
Chicago Black Hawks
|
Chicago Stadium
|
|
April 18
|
Chicago Black Hawks
|
|
1–3
|
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
Maple Leaf Gardens
|
|
(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) New York Rangers
Montreal swept the Rangers in the minimum four games.
April 6
|
New York Rangers
|
|
4–6
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Montreal Forum
|
|
April 8
|
New York Rangers
|
|
1–3
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Montreal Forum
|
|
April 11
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
|
3–2
|
|
New York Rangers
|
Madison Square Garden
|
|
April 13
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
|
2–1
|
OT
|
New York Rangers
|
Madison Square Garden
|
|
Finals
The Maple Leafs faced off against second-place Montreal for the Cup. The teams split the first four games, the third game in Toronto won in overtime by Toronto (on a goal by Bob Pulford against Rogie Vachon, whom Pulford would later coach in Los Angeles). The Leafs then won the next two to win the Cup on home ice.
April 20
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
|
2–6
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Montreal Forum
|
|
April 22
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
|
3–0
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Montreal Forum
|
|
April 25
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
|
2–3
|
2OT
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
Maple Leaf Gardens
|
|
April 27
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
|
6–2
|
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
Maple Leaf Gardens
|
|
April 29
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
|
4–1
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Montreal Forum
|
|
May 2
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
|
1–3
|
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
Maple Leaf Gardens
|
|
Awards
Mid-season
- Awards
- Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
- Calder Memorial Trophy: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
- Hart Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
- James Norris Memorial Trophy: Harry Howell, New York Rangers
- Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
- Vezina Trophy: Ed Giacomin, New York Rangers
- All-Star teams
First Team |
Position |
Second Team
|
Ed Giacomin, New York Rangers
|
G
|
Charlie Hodge, Montreal Canadiens
|
Harry Howell, New York Rangers
|
D
|
Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
|
Pierre Pilote, Chicago Blackhawks
|
D
|
Tim Horton, Toronto Maple Leafs
|
Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
|
C
|
Norm Ullman, Detroit Red Wings
|
Rod Gilbert, New York Rangers
|
RW
|
Ken Wharram, Chicago Blackhawks
|
Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks
|
LW
|
Don Marshall, New York Rangers
|
Second Half
- Awards
- Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
- Calder Memorial Trophy: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
- Hart Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
- James Norris Memorial Trophy: Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks
- Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
- Vezina Trophy: Denis DeJordy, Chicago Black Hawks
- All-Star teams
First Team |
Position |
Second Team
|
Ed Giacomin, New York Rangers
|
G
|
Denis DeJordy, Chicago Black Hawks
|
Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks
|
D
|
Harry Howell, New York Rangers
|
Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
|
D
|
Tim Horton, Toronto Maple Leafs
|
Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
|
C
|
Norm Ullman, Detroit Red Wings
|
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
|
RW
|
Ken Wharram, Chicago Black Hawks
|
Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
|
LW
|
Doug Mohns, Chicago Black Hawks
|
End of season
- Awards
- Prince of Wales Trophy: Chicago Black Hawks
- Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
- Calder Memorial Trophy: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
- Conn Smythe Trophy: Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Hart Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
- James Norris Memorial Trophy: Harry Howell, New York Rangers
- Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
- Vezina Trophy: Glenn Hall & Denis DeJordy, Chicago Black Hawks
- Lester Patrick Trophy: Gordie Howe, Charles F. Adams, James E. Norris
- All-Star teams
Ed Giacomin, New York Rangers
|
G
|
Glenn Hall, Chicago Black Hawks
|
Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks
|
D
|
Tim Horton, Toronto Maple Leafs
|
Harry Howell, New York Rangers
|
D
|
Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
|
Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
|
C
|
Norm Ullman, Detroit Red Wings
|
Kenny Wharram, Chicago Black Hawks
|
RW
|
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
|
Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
|
LW
|
Don Marshall, New York Rangers
|
Player statistics
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
Player
|
Team
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts
|
PIM
|
Stan Mikita |
Chicago Black Hawks |
70 |
35 |
62 |
97 |
12
|
Bobby Hull |
Chicago Black Hawks |
66 |
52 |
28 |
80 |
52
|
Norm Ullman |
Detroit Red Wings |
68 |
26 |
44 |
70 |
26
|
Ken Wharram |
Chicago Black Hawks |
70 |
31 |
34 |
65 |
21
|
Gordie Howe |
Detroit Red Wings |
69 |
25 |
40 |
65 |
53
|
Bobby Rousseau |
Montreal Canadiens |
68 |
19 |
44 |
63 |
58
|
Phil Esposito |
Chicago Black Hawks |
69 |
21 |
40 |
61 |
40
|
Phil Goyette |
New York Rangers |
70 |
12 |
49 |
61 |
6
|
Doug Mohns |
Chicago Black Hawks |
61 |
25 |
35 |
60 |
58
|
Henri Richard |
Montreal Canadiens |
65 |
21 |
34 |
55 |
28
|
Source: NHL.
Leading goaltenders
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
|
Glenn Hall |
Chicago Black Hawks |
32 |
1664 |
66 |
2.38 |
19 |
5 |
5 |
2
|
Denis DeJordy |
Chicago Black Hawks |
44 |
2536 |
104 |
2.46 |
22 |
12 |
7 |
4
|
Charlie Hodge |
Montreal Canadiens |
37 |
2055 |
88 |
2.60 |
11 |
15 |
7 |
3
|
Ed Giacomin |
New York Rangers |
68 |
3981 |
173 |
2.61 |
30 |
27 |
11 |
9
|
Johnny Bower |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
27 |
1431 |
63 |
2.64 |
12 |
9 |
3 |
2
|
Terry Sawchuk |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
28 |
1409 |
66 |
2.81 |
15 |
5 |
4 |
2
|
Roger Crozier |
Detroit Red Wings |
58 |
3256 |
182 |
3.35 |
22 |
29 |
4 |
4
|
Eddie Johnston |
Boston Bruins |
34 |
1880 |
116 |
3.70 |
8 |
21 |
2 |
0
|
Team Photos
References
- (1994) in Diamond, Dan: 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.
- (2000) in Diamond, Dan: Total Hockey. Kingston, NY: Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.
- (2011) The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
- (2000) Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd.. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9.
- (2003) The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, IL: 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.
- Notes
External links