1967–68 Chicago Black Hawks season explained

League:NHL
Season:1967–68
Year:1967
Team:Chicago Black Hawks
Divisionrank:4th
Record:32–26–16
Homerecord:20–13–4
Roadrecord:12–13–12
Goalsfor:212
Goalsagainst:222
Goalsleader:Bobby Hull (44)
Assistsleader:Stan Mikita (47)
Pointsleader:Stan Mikita (87)
Plusminusleader:Bobby Hull (+14)
Pimleader:Gilles Marotte (122)
Winsleader:Denis DeJordy (23)
Gaaleader:Denis DeJordy (2.71)

The 1967–68 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 42nd season in the NHL. The team was coming off their best regular season in team history. In 1966–67, Chicago finished in first place for the first time in club history with a franchise record 94 points. The Black Hawks were then upset by the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games in the NHL semi-finals.[1]

Off-season

There were many changes in the NHL during the off-season. Most notably the league doubled in size, as six expansion teams began play in the 1967–68 season. The new teams added to the league were the California Seals (renamed to Oakland Seals in November), Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. The league placed all of the expansion teams in the new West Division, while the Original Six teams made up a newly created East Division. The NHL schedule also increased from 70 to 74 games.

The Black Hawks saw significant roster changes as they lost a number of players in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. The most noteworthy loss was goaltender Glenn Hall, left unprotected by the Hawks and drafted by the St. Louis Blues. Chicago also made a blockbuster trade, sending Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, and Fred Stanfield to the Boston Bruins for Pit Martin, Gilles Marotte, and Jack Norris.

Regular season

A six-game losing streak to start the season left the Black Hawks in last place. Chicago then rebounded, going 20–4–12 in their next 36 games. Poor play late in the season left the team with a 32–26–16 mark, good for 80 points and the fourth and final playoff berth from the East Division. It was the team's ninth consecutive postseason appearance.[2]

Stan Mikita led the Hawks offense. His 40 goals and 47 assists (a league-best 87 points) won him both the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy for the second straight year. Bobby Hull led the league in goals for the sixth time in his career, as he scored 44 times and earned 75 points. Kenny Wharram had another very solid season, earning 69 points, while Doug Mohns finished with 53 points. Pat Stapleton led the defense with 38 points, while Pierre Pilote finished just behind him with 37. Newly acquired Gilles Marotte led the team in penalty minutes with 122.

Denis DeJordy saw most of the action in goal. Playing in 50 games, DeJordy recorded a career high 23 wins, along with a team best 2.71 GAA and four shutouts.[3]

Game log

Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 11 6–3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–1–0 0
2 October 14 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 0–2–0 0
3 October 15 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3–0 0
4 October 18 7–1 Chicago Black Hawks 0–4–0 0
5 October 21 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 0–5–0 0
6 October 22 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–6–0 0
7 October 25 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 0–6–1 1
8 October 28 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 1–6–1 3
9 October 29 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 1–7–1 3
10 November 2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 2–7–1 5
11 November 5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 2–7–2 6
12 November 8 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–7–2 8
13 November 11 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 3–7–3 9
14 November 12 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–7–3 11
15 November 15 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 5–7–3 13
16 November 18 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 5–7–4 14
17 November 19 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 5–7–5 15
18 November 22 Chicago Black Hawks 7–1 6–7–5 17
19 November 23 7–0 Chicago Black Hawks 6–8–5 17
20 November 25 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 7–8–5 19
21 November 26 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 8–8–5 21
22 November 29 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 9–8–5 23
23 December 2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 9–8–6 24
24 December 3 4–3 Chicago Black Hawks 9–9–6 24
25 December 6 2–7 Chicago Black Hawks 10–9–6 26
26 December 9 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 10–9–7 27
27 December 10 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 11–9–7 29
28 December 13 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 12–9–7 31
29 December 14 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 13–9–7 33
30 December 16 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 13–9–8 34
31 December 17 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 14–9–8 36
32 December 20 3–6 Chicago Black Hawks 15–9–8 38
33 December 23 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 16–9–8 40
34 December 25 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 17–9–8 42
35 December 27 Chicago Black Hawks 2–7 17–10–8 42
36 December 30 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 17–10–9 43
37 December 31 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 18–10–9 45
38 January 6 2–6 Chicago Black Hawks 19–10–9 47
39 January 7 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 20–10–9 49
40 January 10 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 20–10–10 50
41 January 13 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 20–10–11 51
42 January 14 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 20–10–12 52
43 January 17 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 20–11–12 52
44 January 20 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 20–12–12 52
45 January 21 Chicago Black Hawks 0–6 20–13–12 52
46 January 24 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 20–14–12 52
47 January 27 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 21–14–12 54
48 January 28 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks 21–15–12 54
49 January 31 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 22–15–12 56
50 February 1 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 22–15–13 57
51 February 3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 22–16–13 57
52 February 4 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 23–16–13 59
53 February 7 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 24–16–13 61
54 February 10 Chicago Black Hawks 4–6 24–17–13 61
55 February 11 6–0 Chicago Black Hawks 24–18–13 61
56 February 14 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 25–18–13 63
57 February 17 Chicago Black Hawks 7–4 26–18–13 65
58 February 18 1–7 Chicago Black Hawks 27–18–13 67
59 February 21 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0 28–18–13 69
60 February 24 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 28–18–14 70
61 February 28 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0 29–18–14 72
62 March 2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 29–18–15 73
63 March 3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–4 29–19–15 73
64 March 6 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 29–20–15 73
65 March 9 Chicago Black Hawks 0–5 29–21–15 73
66 March 10 0–4 Chicago Black Hawks 30–21–15 75
67 March 13 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 31–21–15 77
68 March 17 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 32–21–15 79
69 March 20 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 32–22–15 79
70 March 21 Chicago Black Hawks 0–8 32–23–15 79
71 March 24 7–2 Chicago Black Hawks 32–24–15 79
72 March 28 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 32–25–15 79
73 March 30 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 32–26–15 79
74 March 31 5–5 Chicago Black Hawks 32–26–16 80

Playoffs

The Hawks would open the playoffs against the New York Rangers in the East Division semi-finals. The Rangers finished the season with 90 points, which was 10 more than Chicago. The series opened up with two games at Madison Square Garden in New York, and the Rangers took control of the series, winning both games for a 2–0 series lead. The series moved to Chicago Stadium for the next two games, and the Hawks responded on their home ice, winning both games to even the series up. The fifth game was played in New York, however, the Black Hawks held off the Rangers, winning the game 2–1, and took a 3–2 series lead. Chicago would wrap up the series in the sixth game at home, easily defeating the Rangers 4–1, and advance to the East Division finals.

Chicago would face the Montreal Canadiens, with the winner advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadiens had the best record in the NHL, as they earned 94 points. Montreal swept the Boston Bruins in their first playoff round. The series began at the Montreal Forum, and the Canadiens quickly took a 2–0 series lead, as they dominated the Hawks in both games, winning 9–2 and 4–1. The series moved to Chicago for the next two games, however, in the third game of the series, Montreal took a 3–0 series lead, doubling the Hawks 4–2 to put Chicago on the brink of elimination. The Black Hawks staved off elimination in the fourth game, narrowly defeating Montreal 2–1, however, in the fifth game, played in Montreal, the Canadiens ended the series with an overtime winning goal, and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.[4]

Chicago Black Hawks 4, New York Rangers 2

Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 4 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 0–1
2 April 9 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 0–2
3 April 11 4–7 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2
4 April 13 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2
5 April 14 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1 3–2
6 April 16 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2

Montreal Canadiens 4, Chicago Black Hawks 1

Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 18 Chicago Black Hawks 2–9 0–1
2 April 20 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 0–2
3 April 23 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3
4 April 25 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3
5 April 28 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 1–4

Player stats

Scoring leaders

PlayerGPGAPtsPIM
72 40 47 87 14
71 44 31 75 52
74 27 42 69 18
65 24 29 53 53
67 4 34 38 34

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
50 2838 23 15 11 128 4 2.71
27 1268 7 8 5 69 1 3.26
7 334 2 3 0 22 1 3.95

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

PlayerGPGAPtsPIM
11 5 7 12 6
11 4 6 10 15
11 3 6 9 2
11 2 5 7 4
11 1 5 6 12

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
11 662 5 6 34 0 3.08

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1967 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Sources

Notes and References

  1. http://hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1967.html 1966–67 NHL Season Summary – Hockey-Reference.com
  2. http://hockey-reference.com/teams/CBH/1968_games.html 1967–68 Chicago Black Hawks Games – Hockey-Reference.com
  3. Web site: Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Denis Dejordy . 2008-05-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080228133613/http://www.goaliesarchive.com/hawks/indexdejordy.html . 2008-02-28 . dead .
  4. http://hockey-reference.com/teams/CBH/1968.html 1967–68 Chicago Black Hawks Statistics – Hockey-Reference.com

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