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1970–71 Chicago Black Hawks season

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National Hockey League team season

1970–71 Chicago Black Hawks
West Division champions
Division1st West
1970–71 record49–20–9
Home record30–6–3
Road record19–14–6
Goals for277
Goals against184
Team information
General managerTommy Ivan
CoachBilly Reay
CaptainVacant
Alternate captainsStan Mikita
ArenaChicago Stadium
Team leaders
GoalsBobby Hull (44)
AssistsBobby Hull (52)
PointsBobby Hull (96)
Penalty minutesKeith Magnuson (291)
Plus/minusBill White (+51)
WinsTony Esposito (35)
Goals against averageTony Esposito (2.27)
← 1969–701971–72 →

The 1970–71 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 45th. The Black Hawks advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1965 but were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens in seven games.

Offseason

During the off-season, the NHL would expand by two teams, as the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks joined the league, and both clubs were placed in the East Division. The league also increased the schedule by two games, going from 76 to 78. The Black Hawks were moved to the West Division as part of the divisional realignment, and the club decided to strip Pat Stapleton from his team captaincy, electing to not have a captain of the team.

Regular season

Chicago started the season very well, as the team had a record of 18–4–5 in their first 27 games. The Hawks stayed hot throughout the season, and easily won the West Division with a club record 49 victories and 107 points, finishing 20 points ahead of the second place St. Louis Blues.

Offensively, the Hawks were led by Bobby Hull, who scored a team high 44 goals and 52 assists for 96 points, which placed him fifth in NHL scoring. His brother Dennis Hull also cracked the 40 goal barrier, as he scored 40 goals and added 26 assists for 66 points. Stan Mikita had another solid season, scoring 28 goals and 72 points. Pit Martin and Bryan Campbell each had very good seasons, finishing with 55 and 54 points respectively. On the blueline, Pat Stapleton led the team with 7 goals and 51 points, while Bill White chipped in with 4 goals and 25 points. White also led the club with a +51 rating. Keith Magnuson led the Hawks in toughness, setting a team record with 291 penalty minutes.

In goal, Tony Esposito led the club with 35 victories and a 2.27 GAA, along with six shutouts while appearing in 57 games. Backup goaltender Gerry Desjardins was very solid, winning 12 games while having a 2.47 GAA.

Season standings

West Division
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Chicago Black Hawks 78 49 20 9 277 184 +93 107
2 St. Louis Blues 78 34 25 19 223 208 +15 87
3 Philadelphia Flyers 78 28 33 17 207 225 −18 73
4 Minnesota North Stars 78 28 34 16 191 223 −32 72
5 Los Angeles Kings 78 25 40 13 239 303 −64 63
6 Pittsburgh Penguins 78 21 37 20 221 240 −19 62
7 California Golden Seals 78 20 53 5 199 320 −121 45


Record vs. opponents

Vs. West Division

1970–71 NHL records
Team CAL CHI LAK MIN PHI PIT STL Total
California — 1–5 1–5 2–4 2–3–1 1–4–1 1–4–1 8–25–3
Chicago 5–1 — 4–2 3–2–1 4–1–1 4–2 2–1–3 22–9–5
Los Angeles 5–1 2–4 — 0–5–1 1–2–3 4–2 2–4 14–18–4
Minnesota 4–2 2–3–1 5–0–1 — 1–2–3 3–1–2 3–1–2 18–9–9
Philadelphia 3–2–1 1–4–1 2–1–3 2–1–3 — 3–1–2 1–3–2 12–12–12
Pittsburgh 4–1–1 2–4 2–4 1–3–2 1–3–2 — 0–3–3 10–18–8
St. Louis 4–1–1 1–2–3 4–2 1–3–2 3–1–2 3–0–3 — 16–9–11

Vs. East Division

1970–71 NHL records
Team BOS BUF DET MTL NYR TOR VAN Total
California 1–5 3–3 2–4 1–5 2–3–1 2–3–1 1–5 12–28–2
Chicago 3–2–1 5–0–1 6–0 3–3 3–3 2–3–1 5–0–1 27–11–4
Los Angeles 1–5 1–2–3 2–1–3 2–4 0–4–2 3–3 2–3–1 11–22–9
Minnesota 0–5–1 1–5 3–2–1 1–3–2 0–6 2–2–2 3–2–1 10–25–7
Philadelphia 0–6 3–2–1 2–3–1 1–4–1 3–2–1 3–2–1 4–2 16–21–5
Pittsburgh 1–4–1 0–2–4 3–1–2 1–3–2 0–5–1 2–3–1 4–1–1 11–19–12
St. Louis 1–4–1 4–2 5–0–1 1–3–2 2–3–1 2–3–1 3–1–2 18–16–8


Game log

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 11 California Golden Seals 1–5 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0–0 2
2 October 14 Vancouver Canucks 2–8 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0–0 4
3 October 15 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1 Detroit Red Wings 3–0–0 6
4 October 17 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Montreal Canadiens 3–1–0 6
5 October 18 St. Louis Blues 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1–1 7
6 October 22 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Boston Bruins 3–1–2 8
7 October 24 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1–2 10
8 October 25 Chicago Black Hawks 4–0 Buffalo Sabres 5–1–2 12
9 October 28 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Minnesota North Stars 5–2–2 12
10 October 31 Chicago Black Hawks 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–2–2 14
11 November 1 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 New York Rangers 6–3–2 14
12 November 4 Detroit Red Wings 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 7–3–2 16
13 November 7 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Philadelphia Flyers 7–3–3 17
14 November 8 Minnesota North Stars 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 7–3–4 18
15 November 11 Philadelphia Flyers 1–7 Chicago Black Hawks 8–3–4 20
16 November 14 New York Rangers 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 9–3–4 22
17 November 15 Vancouver Canucks 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 10–3–4 24
18 November 21 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 St. Louis Blues 10–3–5 25
19 November 22 California Golden Seals 0–9 Chicago Black Hawks 11–3–5 27
20 November 25 Montreal Canadiens 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 12–3–5 29
21 November 26 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Boston Bruins 12–4–5 29
22 November 28 Philadelphia Flyers 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 13–4–5 31
23 November 29 Los Angeles Kings 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 14–4–5 33
24 December 2 Boston Bruins 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 15–4–5 35
25 December 5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Minnesota North Stars 16–4–5 37
26 December 6 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–6 Chicago Black Hawks 17–4–5 39
27 December 9 Buffalo Sabres 1–6 Chicago Black Hawks 18–4–5 41
28 December 12 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 18–5–5 41
29 December 13 Minnesota North Stars 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 19–5–5 43
30 December 16 St. Louis Blues 3–8 Chicago Black Hawks 20–5–5 45
31 December 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 21–5–5 47
32 December 22 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 California Golden Seals 21–6–5 47
33 December 23 Chicago Black Hawks 6–4 Los Angeles Kings 22–6–5 49
34 December 26 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Vancouver Canucks 23–6–5 51
35 December 31 Chicago Black Hawks 8–3 Detroit Red Wings 24–6–5 53
36 January 2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Philadelphia Flyers 25–6–5 55
37 January 3 Chicago Black Hawks 5–3 Buffalo Sabres 26–6–5 57
38 January 6 Los Angeles Kings 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 26–7–5 57
39 January 9 Boston Bruins 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 27–7–5 59
40 January 10 Minnesota North Stars 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 27–8–5 59
41 January 13 Buffalo Sabres 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 28–8–5 61
42 January 16 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 St. Louis Blues 28–9–5 61
43 January 17 New York Rangers 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 29–9–5 63
44 January 21 Detroit Red Wings 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 30–9–5 65
45 January 23 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Boston Bruins 30–10–5 65
46 January 24 California Golden Seals 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 31–10–5 67
47 January 26 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Vancouver Canucks 31–10–6 68
48 January 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 32–10–6 70
49 January 30 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 32–11–6 70
50 January 31 Montreal Canadiens 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 33–11–6 72
51 February 3 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 New York Rangers 34–11–6 74
52 February 4 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Philadelphia Flyers 34–12–6 74
53 February 6 Chicago Black Hawks 6–2 Minnesota North Stars 35–12–6 76
54 February 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–1 Chicago Black Hawks 36–12–6 78
55 February 10 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 36–13–6 78
56 February 13 Chicago Black Hawks 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 36–14–6 78
57 February 14 Vancouver Canucks 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 37–14–6 80
58 February 17 Buffalo Sabres 1–5 Chicago Black Hawks 38–14–6 82
59 February 20 Chicago Black Hawks 1–7 Montreal Canadiens 38–15–6 82
60 February 21 Los Angeles Kings 5–7 Chicago Black Hawks 39–15–6 84
61 February 26 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 California Golden Seals 40–15–6 86
62 February 27 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Los Angeles Kings 41–15–6 88
63 March 3 Chicago Black Hawks 5–1 St. Louis Blues 42–15–6 90
64 March 5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Buffalo Sabres 42–15–7 91
65 March 6 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 42–15–8 92
66 March 10 New York Rangers 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 42–16–8 92
67 March 13 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Montreal Canadiens 43–16–8 94
68 March 14 St. Louis Blues 4–4 Chicago Black Hawks 43–16–9 95
69 March 16 Chicago Black Hawks 7–4 Vancouver Canucks 44–16–9 97
70 March 18 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Los Angeles Kings 44–17–9 97
71 March 19 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 California Golden Seals 45–17–9 99
72 March 21 Detroit Red Wings 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 46–17–9 101
73 March 24 Boston Bruins 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 47–17–9 103
74 March 27 Philadelphia Flyers 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 48–17–9 105
75 March 28 Montreal Canadiens 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks 48–18–9 105
76 March 31 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 New York Rangers 48–19–9 105
77 April 3 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Detroit Red Wings 49–19–9 107
78 April 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 49–20–9 107

Playoffs

The Hawks opened the playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers, who had placed third in the West Division with a record of 28–33–17, earning 73 points. The series opened with two games at Chicago Stadium, and the Black Hawks, who won a club record 30 games at home, continued their dominance, easily defeating the Flyers 5–2 and 6–2 to take a 2–0 series lead. The series moved to the Philadelphia Spectrum for the next two games, however, the Hawks were too much to handle for the Flyers, as Chicago won a close third game by a 3–2 score, before sweeping Philadelphia out of the playoffs with a 6–2 win in the fourth game.

Chicago's next opponent was the New York Rangers, who had finished the season in second place in the East Division with a 49–18–11 record, earning 109 points. The Rangers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in their first playoff series. Since the Black Hawks won their division, they were given a home-ice advantage in the series. The series opened up with two games at Chicago Stadium, however, the Rangers took a 1–0 series lead, defeating the Hawks in overtime by a 2–1 score. Chicago evened the series in the next game, shutting out New York 3–0. The series shifted to Madison Square Garden for the next two games, and the Rangers won the third game of the series by a 4–1 score, however, Chicago fought back in the fourth game, demolishing New York 7–1 to once again even the series. The fifth game was back in Chicago, and the Hawks took the series lead for the first time with a 3–2 overtime victory. Back in New York for the sixth game, the Rangers pushed the series to the limit, with their second overtime victory of the series, setting up a seventh and deciding game in Chicago. The Black Hawks used their home-ice advantage, and held on for a 4–2 victory, to win the series, and earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1965.

The Black Hawks opponent was the Montreal Canadiens, who finished the season in third place in the East with a 42–23–13 record, earning 97 points. Montreal then upset the heavily favored Boston Bruins in the first round, followed by defeating the Minnesota North Stars in the second round. The series opened with two games at Chicago Stadium, and the Hawks took a commanding 2–0 series lead, defeating the Canadiens 2–1 and 5–3. The series shifted to the Montreal Forum for the next two games, and the Canadiens evened the series with two home wins of their own, by scores of 4–2 and 5–2. The fifth game returned to Chicago, and the Black Hawks stayed hot at home, shutting out Montreal 2–0 to take a 3–2 series lead with a chance to win the Stanley Cup in Montreal for game 6. However, the Canadiens forced a seventh and deciding game, winning by a score of 4–3. In the seventh game at Chicago Stadium, where the Hawks were 7–1 during the playoffs, the Black Hawks led 2–0 halfway through the game, but the Canadiens cut into the lead when Jacques Lemaire scored on a shot from center ice that got past Hawks goaltender Tony Esposito. The Canadiens tied the game at two before the end of the second when Henri Richard scored, setting up an intense third period. Richard once again scored 2:34 into the period, giving Montreal a 3–2 lead, and Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden kept the Black Hawks off the scoreboard for the rest of the game, as Montreal would win the Stanley Cup in dramatic fashion for their third championship in four years. The Canadiens were the second team in NHL history, the other the 1945 Toronto Maple Leafs to win a game seven on the road in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Chicago Black Hawks 4, Philadelphia Flyers 0

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 7 Philadelphia Flyers 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0
2 April 8 Philadelphia Flyers 2–6 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0
3 April 10 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 Philadelphia Flyers 3–0
4 April 11 Chicago Black Hawks 6–2 Philadelphia Flyers 4–0

Chicago Black Hawks 4, New York Rangers 3

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 18 New York Rangers 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks 0–1
2 April 20 New York Rangers 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1
3 April 22 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 New York Rangers 1–2
4 April 25 Chicago Black Hawks 7–1 New York Rangers 2–2
5 April 27 New York Rangers 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2
6 April 29 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 New York Rangers 3–3
7 May 2 New York Rangers 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3

Montreal Canadiens 4, Chicago Black Hawks 3

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 May 4 Montreal Canadiens 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0
2 May 6 Montreal Canadiens 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0
3 May 9 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Montreal Canadiens 2–1
4 May 11 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 Montreal Canadiens 2–2
5 May 13 Montreal Canadiens 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2
6 May 16 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Montreal Canadiens 3–3
7 May 18 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Bobby Hull 78 44 52 96 32
Stan Mikita 74 24 48 72 85
Dennis Hull 78 40 26 66 16
Pit Martin 62 22 33 55 40
Bryan Campbell 78 17 37 54 26

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Tony Esposito 57 3325 35 14 6 126 6 2.27
Gerry Desjardins 22 1217 12 6 3 49 0 2.42
Gilles Meloche 2 120 2 0 0 6 0 3.00
Ken Brown 1 18 0 0 0 1 0 3.33

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Bobby Hull 18 11 14 25 16
Stan Mikita 18 5 13 18 16
Pat Stapleton 18 3 14 17 4
Cliff Koroll 18 7 9 16 18
Jim Pappin 18 10 4 14 24

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Tony Esposito 18 1151 11 7 42 2 2.19

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 14 Dan Maloney  Canada London Knights (OHA)
2 28 Michel Archambault  Canada Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL)
3 42 Len Frig  Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
4 56 Walt Ledingham  Canada University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
5 70 Gilles Meloche  Canada Verdun Maple Leafs (QMJHL)

See also

References

  1. "1970-71 Chicago Black Hawks Schedule and Results".
  2. "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Tony Esposito". Archived from the original on February 17, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
  3. "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Gerry Desjardins". Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
  4. "1970–1971 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  5. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

Sources

Chicago Blackhawks seasons
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1960s
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Highlighted seasons indicate Stanley Cup championship
1970–71 NHL season
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