| 1928–29 NHL season | |
| League: | National Hockey League |
| Sport: | Ice hockey |
| Duration: | November 15, 1928 – March 29, 1929 |
| Season: | Regular season |
| No Of Games: | 44 |
| No Of Teams: | 10 |
| Season Champs: | Montreal Canadiens |
| Mvp: | Roy Worters (Americans) |
| Mvp Link: | Hart Memorial Trophy |
| Top Scorer: | Ace Bailey (Maple Leafs) |
| Conf1: | Canadian Division |
| Conf1 Champ: | Montreal Canadiens |
| Conf2: | American Division |
| Conf2 Champ: | Boston Bruins |
| Finals: | Stanley Cup |
| Finals Link: | 1929 Stanley Cup Finals |
| Finals Champ: | Boston Bruins |
| Finals Runner-Up: | New York Rangers |
| Nextseason Link: | 1929–30 NHL season |
| Prevseason Link: | 1927–28 NHL season |
| Nextseason Year: | 1929–30 |
| Prevseason Year: | 1927–28 |
| Seasonslistnames: | NHL |
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.[1]
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.
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
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.
See main article: 1929 Stanley Cup Finals. The Bruins won their first Stanley Cup defeating the Rangers. In the process, Boston became one of the few Cup winners in history to not lose a single game in the playoffs, and the last team until 1952 to go undefeated in the playoffs.
Frank Boucher won his second consecutive Lady Byng award and George Hainsworth won his third consecutive Vezina Trophy.
| 1928–29 NHL awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| O'Brien Cup
| Montreal Canadiens | |
| Prince of Wales Trophy
| Boston Bruins | |
| Hart Trophy
| Roy Worters, New York Americans | |
| Lady Byng Trophy
| Frank Boucher, New York Rangers | |
| Vezina Trophy
| George Hainsworth, Montreal Canadiens | |
Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
| PLAYER | TEAM | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 44 | 22 | 10 | 32 | 78 | ||
| Montreal Maroons | 44 | 21 | 8 | 29 | 74 | ||
| Detroit Cougars | 43 | 18 | 9 | 27 | 14 | ||
| Montreal Canadiens | 42 | 17 | 10 | 27 | 47 | ||
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 44 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 41 | ||
| New York Rangers | 44 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 8 | ||
| Boston Bruins | 43 | 17 | 6 | 23 | 24 | ||
| New York Rangers | 43 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 41 | ||
| Montreal Maroons | 44 | 14 | 8 | 22 | 46 | ||
| Ottawa Senators | 44 | 15 | 4 | 19 | 71 |
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | Team | GP | W | L | T | Mins | GA | SO | GAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | 44 | 22 | 7 | 15 | 2800 | 43 | 22 | 0.92 | ||
| Boston Bruins | 44 | 26 | 13 | 5 | 2710 | 52 | 12 | 1.15 | ||
| New York Americans | 44 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 2390 | 46 | 13 | 1.15 | ||
| Detroit Cougars | 38 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 2750 | 63 | 10 | 1.37 | ||
| New York Rangers | 44 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 2760 | 65 | 13 | 1.41 |
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1928–29 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1928–29 (listed with their last team):