1930–31 Chicago Black Hawks season explained

League:NHL
Season:1930–31
Year:1930
Team:Chicago Black Hawks
Divisionrank:2nd
Record:24–17–3
Homerecord:13–8–1
Roadrecord:11–9–2
Goalsfor:108
Goalsagainst:78
Goalsleader:Johnny Gottselig (20)
Assistsleader:Tom Cook (14)
Pointsleader:Johnny Gottselig (32)
Pimleader:Taffy Abel (45)
Winsleader:Chuck Gardiner (24)
Gaaleader:Chuck Gardiner (1.73)

The 1930–31 Chicago Black Hawks season was the team's fifth season in the NHL, and they were coming off a surprising season, in which they finished over .500 for the first time in team history, and making the playoffs after a two-year absence. The Hawks would go on to lose to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. Prior to the season, Chicago would name former team captain and player-coach Dick Irvin as the head coach. The team responded with a club record 24 wins and 51 points, and finished in second place in the American Division, and make the playoffs for the 2nd straight season.

Regular season

Chicago was led offensively once again by Johnny Gottselig, who scored a club high 20 goals and 32 points, and by Tom Cook, who was the team leader in assists with 14, and finished 2nd in team scoring with 29 points. Frank Ingram would have a big season, scoring a career high 17 goals.

In goal, Chuck Gardiner would play in every game, and he would break the Hawks record for wins (24), shutouts (12) and GAA (1.73). The Hawks finished with the 2nd fewest goals against in the league.

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 November 16 1–1 Chicago Black Hawks 0–0–1 1
2 November 20 0–1 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0–1 3
3 November 23 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0–1 5
4 November 25 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 3–0–1 7
5 November 27 Chicago Black Hawks 4–0 4–0–1 9
6 November 29 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 5–0–1 11
7 December 2 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 5–1–1 11
8 December 4 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 6–1–1 13
9 December 7 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 7–1–1 15
10 December 9 Chicago Black Hawks 0–1 7–2–1 15
11 December 14 2–0 Chicago Black Hawks 7–3–1 15
12 December 16 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 8–3–1 17
13 December 18 Chicago Black Hawks 0–0 8–3–2 18
14 December 20 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 8–4–2 18
15 December 23 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 9–4–2 20
16 December 28 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 9–5–2 20
17 January 1 3–10 Chicago Black Hawks 10–5–2 22
18 January 4 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks 10–6–2 22
19 January 6 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 10–7–2 22
20 January 8 Chicago Black Hawks 4–0 11–7–2 24
21 January 11 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0 12–7–2 26
22 January 13 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0 13–7–2 28
23 January 15 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 14–7–2 30
24 January 18 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 15–7–2 32
25 January 22 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 16–7–2 34
26 January 25 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 16–8–2 34
27 February 1 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 16–9–2 34
28 February 5 1–6 Chicago Black Hawks 17–9–2 36
29 February 8 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 18–9–2 38
30 February 10 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 18–10–2 38
31 February 12 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 19–10–2 40
32 February 15 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks 19–11–2 40
33 February 19 5–4 Chicago Black Hawks 19–12–2 40
34 February 22 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 19–12–3 41
35 February 24 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 19–13–3 41
36 March 1 0–5 Chicago Black Hawks 20–13–3 43
37 March 5 0–1 Chicago Black Hawks 21–13–3 45
38 March 8 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 21–14–3 45
39 March 10 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 21–15–3 45
40 March 12 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 22–15–3 47
41 March 15 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks 22–16–3 47
42 March 17 Chicago Black Hawks 4–0 23–16–3 49
43 March 19 Chicago Black Hawks 2–8 23–17–3 49
44 March 22 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1 24–17–3 51

Playoffs

The Hawks would open the playoffs in a two-game total-goals series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and for the first time in team history, the Black Hawks won the series by a score of 4–3. Next up was a two-game total-goals series against the New York Rangers, and Chuck Gardiner would shine by shutting New York out in both games, as the Hawks won the series by a 3–0 score and earn a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Montreal Canadiens. The Hawks would lose the first game of the best-of-five series, but then would win two in a row in overtime to take a 2–1 series lead. Montreal would respond with a 4–2 victory in game four, and then the Canadiens would put away the Black Hawks with a 2–0 win in the fifth and deciding game, ending the Black Hawks dream of winning the championship one win short.

Black Hawks 4, Maple Leafs 3

NHL quarter-finals

(A2) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (C3) Toronto Maple Leafs

Black Hawks 3, Rangers 0

NHL semi-finals

(A2) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (A3) New York Rangers

Canadiens 3, Black Hawks 2

Stanley Cup finals

(C1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A2) Chicago Black Hawks

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

PlayerGPGAPtsPIM
42 20 12 32 14
44 15 14 29 34
44 17 4 21 37
44 8 11 19 30
36 5 13 18 18

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
44 2710 24 17 3 78 12 1.73
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

PlayerGPGAPtsPIM
8 3 3 6 8
9 3 3 6 2
9 3 1 4 11
9 1 3 4 11
9 2 1 3 4

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
9 638 5 3 1 14 2 1.32
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

References