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1920–21 NHL season

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(Redirected from 1921 Stanley Cup playoffs) Professional ice hockey league season
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Sports season
1920–21 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationDecember 22, 1920 – March 14, 1921
Number of games24
Number of teams4
Regular season
Top scorerNewsy Lalonde (Canadiens)
O'Brien Cup
ChampionsOttawa Senators
  Runners-upToronto St. Patricks
NHL seasons
← 1919–201921–22 →

The 1920–21 NHL season was the fourth season of the National Hockey League (NHL). Four teams each played 24 games in a split season. The Quebec franchise was transferred to Hamilton, Ontario, to become the Hamilton Tigers. The Ottawa Senators won the league championship in a playoff with the Toronto St. Patricks. The Senators went on to win the Stanley Cup by defeating the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association three games to two in a best-of-five series. This would be the last split season before the NHL changed its regular season and playoff formats.

League business

Eddie Livingstone was again talking of creating a rival league and mentioned Hamilton as a city in his league. To head this off, league president Frank Calder got the owners of the league to admit a Hamilton franchise. As Abso-Pure had built an arena, all owners agreed that it would be wise to have a franchise in Hamilton. Because Quebec had done so badly the previous season, Calder said that Quebec's players would be given to Hamilton. Although Mike Quinn was non-committal at first, he finally sold the team to Hamilton and it became the Hamilton Tigers.

Regular season

The Tigers had some trouble signing Joe Malone from the Quebec days, but he finally did sign. The Tigers were awarded two players from the Senators, Punch Broadbent and Sprague Cleghorn by NHL president Calder, but both refused to sign with the Tigers, and eventually returned to the Senators. Cleghorn was awarded to the Toronto St. Patricks and at first balked at the move, but did report. After the St. Patricks were defeated in the NHL playoffs, Cleghorn joined Ottawa in a deal. NHL president Frank Calder did not like this and the following season a trading deadline was instituted.

The Tigers stunned the Canadiens 5–0 in the team's first-ever game with Babe Dye starring and Howard Lockhart getting the only shutout of his NHL career. The Toronto St. Patricks lost Corbett Denneny to injuries and recalled Dye from Hamilton, giving them Mickey Roach in his place.

Corbett Denneny scored six goals in a game January 26, 1921, helping the Toronto St. Patricks to wallop the Hamilton Tigers 10–3. Cy Denneny wasn't about to let his brother steal the thunder and he scored six goals himself in a March 7 game as the Ottawa Senators hammered the Hamilton Tigers 12–5. For the first time, a brother combination had scored six goals in a game the same season.

Also on January 26, 1921, the Ottawa Senators left the ice with 5:13 to play in a game against the Montreal Canadiens. According to the Senators, referee Cooper Smeaton was one-sided in favour of the Canadiens. Smeaton let the Canadiens continue to play, allowing goals by Newsy Lalonde and Amos Arbour before calling the game. Smeaton denied the claim, stating "a referee is always paid and receives the same salary, regardless what team wins." Smeaton would resign over the incident, but was convinced to return to refereeing later in the season. The Senators were fined $500 by NHL president Frank Calder for the incident.

The Ottawa Senators won the first half of the split season while the Toronto St. Patricks won the second half.

Final standings

First half
GP W L T Pts GF GA
Ottawa Senators 10 8 2 0 16 49 23
Toronto St. Patricks 10 5 5 0 10 39 47
Montreal Canadiens 10 4 6 0 8 37 51
Hamilton Tigers 10 3 7 0 6 34 38
Second half
GP W L T Pts GF GA
Toronto St. Patricks 14 10 4 0 20 66 53
Montreal Canadiens 14 9 5 0 18 75 48
Ottawa Senators 14 6 8 0 12 48 52
Hamilton Tigers 14 3 11 0 6 58 94

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Note: Teams that qualified for playoffs highlighted in bold.

Playoffs

NHL Championship

After the regular season, Toronto and Ottawa played a total-goals series for the O'Brien Cup and to compete for the Stanley Cup. Ottawa won by shutting out the St. Pats in both games. Ottawa then went on to play the Vancouver Millionaires of the PCHA.


March 10 Toronto St. Pats 0–5 Ottawa Senators The Arena Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 01:45 – pp – Cy Denneny (1)
06:30 – Buck Boucher (1)
No scoring Third period 11:00 – Cy Denneny (2)
16:45 – Buck Boucher (2)
18:15 – Buck Boucher (3)
Jake Forbes Goalie stats Clint Benedict
March 14 Ottawa Senators 2–0 Toronto St. Pats Arena Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Eddie Gerard (1) - 11:00
Frank Nighbor (1) - 14:00 		Third period No scoring
Clint Benedict Goalie stats Jake Forbes
Senators won series on total goals 7–0


Stanley Cup Finals

Main article: 1921 Stanley Cup Finals

The five games were played in Denman Arena, Vancouver.


March 21 Ottawa Senators 1–3 Vancouver Millionaires Denman Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 15:40 - Alf Skinner (1)
18:15 - Art Duncan (1)
Jack Darragh (1) - 15:55 Second period 1:20 - Smokey Harris (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Clint Benedict Goalie stats Hugh Lehman
March 24 Ottawa Senators 4–3 Vancouver Millionaires Denman Arena Recap  
Buck Boucher (4) - 8:05
Cy Denneny (3) - 18:26 		First period 1:29 - Smokey Harris (2)
3:01 - Jack Adams (1)
10:29 - Art Duncan (1)
Jack Darragh (2) - 10:49 Second period No scoring
Punch Broadbent (1) - pp - 16:40 Third period No scoring
Clint Benedict Goalie stats Hugh Lehman
March 28 Ottawa Senators 3–2 Vancouver Millionaires Denman Arena Recap  
Jack Darragh (3) - 8:57 First period 1:59 - Lloyd Cook (1)
Cy Denneny (4) - sh - 8:22
Sprague Cleghorn (1) - 10:52 		Second period 18:02 - Jack Adams (2)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Clint Benedict Goalie stats Hugh Lehman
March 31 Ottawa Senators 2–3 Vancouver Millionaires Denman Arena Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Buck Boucher (5) - 13:43 Second period 2:22 - Alf Skinner (2)
Punch Broadbent (2) - 16:52 Third period 1:35 - Alf Skinner (3)
15:52 - pp - Lloyd Cook (2)
Clint Benedict Goalie stats Hugh Lehman
April 4 Ottawa Senators 2–1 Vancouver Millionaires Denman Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 16:26 - Alf Skinner (4)
Jack Darragh (4) - 7:27
Jack Darragh (5) - 9:40 		Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Clint Benedict Goalie stats Hugh Lehman
Ottawa won the series 3–2


Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts
Newsy Lalonde Montreal Canadiens 24 33 10 43
Cecil "Babe" Dye Hamilton Tigers / Toronto St. Pats 24 35 5 40
Cy Denneny Ottawa Senators 24 34 5 39
Joe Malone Hamilton Tigers 20 28 9 37
Frank Nighbor Ottawa Senators 24 19 10 29
Reg Noble Toronto St. Patricks 24 19 8 27
Harry Cameron Toronto St. Patricks 24 18 9 27
George "Goldie" Prodgers Hamilton Tigers 24 18 9 27
Corbett Denneny Toronto St. Patricks 20 19 7 26
Jack Darragh Ottawa Senators 24 11 15 26

Source: NHL.

Leading goaltenders

GP = Games Played, GA = Goals Against, SO = Shutouts, GAA = Goals Against Average

Name Team GP Mins W L T GA SO GAA
Clint Benedict Ottawa Senators 24 1462 14 10 0 75 2 3.08
Jake Forbes Toronto St. Patricks 20 1221 13 7 0 78 0 3.83
Georges Vezina Montreal Canadiens 24 1441 13 11 0 99 1 4.12
Howie Lockhart Hamilton Tigers 24 1454 6 18 0 132 1 5.45
Ivan Mitchell Toronto St. Patricks 4 240 2 2 0 22 0 5.50

Source: NHL

NHL Playoff scoring leader

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Frank Nighbor Ottawa Senators 2 1 3 4 2

Awards

Note:

The O'Brien Cup, still considered the championship of the NHA, was not awarded to Ottawa until November 1921. It had remained under the care of the Canadiens who had won it in 1917, until the death of their owner, George Kennedy in October 1921, when the NHL made arrangements to re-use the trophy.

Coaches

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1920–21 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

The last remaining active player to kick off their NHL career this season was Leo Reise, Sr., who played his final NHL game in the 1929–30 season, although he missed the 1924–25 and 1925–26 seasons.

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1920–21 (listed with their last team):

Free agency

Date Players Team
February 23, 1921 Leo Reise Hamilton Tigers

Transactions

November 27, 1920 To Toronto St. Patricks
Harry Cameron 		To Montreal Canadiens
Joe Matte
Goldie Prodgers
November 27, 1920 To Hamilton Tigers
Jack Coughlin
Joe Matte
Goldie Prodgers
Loan of Billy Coutu
for the 1920-21 Season 		To Montreal Canadiens
Jack McDonald
Harry Mummery
Dave Ritchie
December 16, 1920 To Hamilton Tigers
Howard Lockhart 		To Toronto St. Patricks
cash
January 4, 1921 To Montreal Canadiens
Rights to Punch Broadbent
Rights to Sprague Cleghorn 		To Hamilton Tigers
cash
January 21, 1921 To Hamilton Tigers
Mickey Roach 		To Toronto St. Patricks
cash
January 25, 1921 To Toronto St. Patricks
Sprague Cleghorn 		To Hamilton Tigers
Future Considerations

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ Dryden 2000, p. 23.
  2. Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0.
  3. Dinger 2011, p. 145.
  4. "1920–21 Regular Season – Goalie Season Stats Leaders". NHL. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  5. "O'Brien Trophy To Be Given To Ottawa". The Morning Leader. Regina, Saskatchewan. November 17, 1921. p. 14. Retrieved July 27, 2011.

External links

1920–21 NHL season
NHL
See also
NHL seasons
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