# 1967–68 Chicago Black Hawks season

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.

## 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.
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.

### Season standings

East Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Montreal Canadiens | 74 | 42 | 22 | 10 | 236 | 167 | +69 | 94 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 74 | 39 | 23 | 12 | 226 | 183 | +43 | 90 |
| 3 | Boston Bruins | 74 | 37 | 27 | 10 | 259 | 216 | +43 | 84 |
| 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 74 | 32 | 26 | 16 | 212 | 222 | −10 | 80 |
| 5 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 74 | 33 | 31 | 10 | 209 | 176 | +33 | 76 |
| 6 | Detroit Red Wings | 74 | 27 | 35 | 12 | 245 | 257 | −12 | 66 |

### Game log

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record | Pts |
| 1 | October 11 | New York Rangers | 6–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–1–0 | 0 |
| 2 | October 14 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0–2–0 | 0 |
| 3 | October 15 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 5–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–3–0 | 0 |
| 4 | October 18 | Boston Bruins | 7–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–4–0 | 0 |
| 5 | October 21 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 0–5–0 | 0 |
| 6 | October 22 | Los Angeles Kings | 5–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–6–0 | 0 |
| 7 | October 25 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | New York Rangers | 0–6–1 | 1 |
| 8 | October 28 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–2 | Minnesota North Stars | 1–6–1 | 3 |
| 9 | October 29 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–5 | Detroit Red Wings | 1–7–1 | 3 |
| 10 | November 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–1 | Los Angeles Kings | 2–7–1 | 5 |
| 11 | November 5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | California Seals | 2–7–2 | 6 |
| 12 | November 8 | Montreal Canadiens | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–7–2 | 8 |
| 13 | November 11 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 3–7–3 | 9 |
| 14 | November 12 | St. Louis Blues | 2–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–7–3 | 11 |
| 15 | November 15 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | St. Louis Blues | 5–7–3 | 13 |
| 16 | November 18 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 5–7–4 | 14 |
| 17 | November 19 | Detroit Red Wings | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–7–5 | 15 |
| 18 | November 22 | Chicago Black Hawks | 7–1 | New York Rangers | 6–7–5 | 17 |
| 19 | November 23 | Montreal Canadiens | 7–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–8–5 | 17 |
| 20 | November 25 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | Minnesota North Stars | 7–8–5 | 19 |
| 21 | November 26 | Minnesota North Stars | 1–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 8–8–5 | 21 |
| 22 | November 29 | Philadelphia Flyers | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 9–8–5 | 23 |
| 23 | December 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | Boston Bruins | 9–8–6 | 24 |
| 24 | December 3 | Minnesota North Stars | 4–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 9–9–6 | 24 |
| 25 | December 6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2–7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 10–9–6 | 26 |
| 26 | December 9 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | Montreal Canadiens | 10–9–7 | 27 |
| 27 | December 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–0 | Philadelphia Flyers | 11–9–7 | 29 |
| 28 | December 13 | New York Rangers | 2–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 12–9–7 | 31 |
| 29 | December 14 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–1 | Detroit Red Wings | 13–9–7 | 33 |
| 30 | December 16 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 13–9–8 | 34 |
| 31 | December 17 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–9–8 | 36 |
| 32 | December 20 | Boston Bruins | 3–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 15–9–8 | 38 |
| 33 | December 23 | Philadelphia Flyers | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 16–9–8 | 40 |
| 34 | December 25 | Montreal Canadiens | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 17–9–8 | 42 |
| 35 | December 27 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–7 | Boston Bruins | 17–10–8 | 42 |
| 36 | December 30 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | New York Rangers | 17–10–9 | 43 |
| 37 | December 31 | Oakland Seals | 0–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 18–10–9 | 45 |
| 38 | January 6 | Detroit Red Wings | 2–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 19–10–9 | 47 |
| 39 | January 7 | Boston Bruins | 2–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 20–10–9 | 49 |
| 40 | January 10 | New York Rangers | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 20–10–10 | 50 |
| 41 | January 13 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–4 | Detroit Red Wings | 20–10–11 | 51 |
| 42 | January 14 | St. Louis Blues | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 20–10–12 | 52 |
| 43 | January 17 | New York Rangers | 4–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 20–11–12 | 52 |
| 44 | January 20 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 20–12–12 | 52 |
| 45 | January 21 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–6 | Boston Bruins | 20–13–12 | 52 |
| 46 | January 24 | Detroit Red Wings | 4–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 20–14–12 | 52 |
| 47 | January 27 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 21–14–12 | 54 |
| 48 | January 28 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 21–15–12 | 54 |
| 49 | January 31 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–2 | New York Rangers | 22–15–12 | 56 |
| 50 | February 1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–4 | Boston Bruins | 22–15–13 | 57 |
| 51 | February 3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–5 | Philadelphia Flyers | 22–16–13 | 57 |
| 52 | February 4 | Los Angeles Kings | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 23–16–13 | 59 |
| 53 | February 7 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 24–16–13 | 61 |
| 54 | February 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–6 | Montreal Canadiens | 24–17–13 | 61 |
| 55 | February 11 | Montreal Canadiens | 6–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 24–18–13 | 61 |
| 56 | February 14 | Boston Bruins | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 25–18–13 | 63 |
| 57 | February 17 | Chicago Black Hawks | 7–4 | Detroit Red Wings | 26–18–13 | 65 |
| 58 | February 18 | Detroit Red Wings | 1–7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 27–18–13 | 67 |
| 59 | February 21 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–0 | Oakland Seals | 28–18–13 | 69 |
| 60 | February 24 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | Los Angeles Kings | 28–18–14 | 70 |
| 61 | February 28 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–0 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 29–18–14 | 72 |
| 62 | March 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | St. Louis Blues | 29–18–15 | 73 |
| 63 | March 3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–4 | New York Rangers | 29–19–15 | 73 |
| 64 | March 6 | Boston Bruins | 5–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 29–20–15 | 73 |
| 65 | March 9 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–5 | Montreal Canadiens | 29–21–15 | 73 |
| 66 | March 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 30–21–15 | 75 |
| 67 | March 13 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 3–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 31–21–15 | 77 |
| 68 | March 17 | Oakland Seals | 1–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 32–21–15 | 79 |
| 69 | March 20 | New York Rangers | 5–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 32–22–15 | 79 |
| 70 | March 21 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–8 | Boston Bruins | 32–23–15 | 79 |
| 71 | March 24 | Montreal Canadiens | 7–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 32–24–15 | 79 |
| 72 | March 28 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Detroit Red Wings | 32–25–15 | 79 |
| 73 | March 30 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 32–26–15 | 79 |
| 74 | March 31 | Detroit Red Wings | 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.

### Chicago Black Hawks 4, New York Rangers 2

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | New York Rangers | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 9 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2 | New York Rangers | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 11 | New York Rangers | 4–7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2 |
| 4 | April 13 | New York Rangers | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 |
| 5 | April 14 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–1 | New York Rangers | 3–2 |
| 6 | April 16 | New York Rangers | 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 | Montreal Canadiens | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 20 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–4 | Montreal Canadiens | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 23 | Montreal Canadiens | 4–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–3 |
| 4 | April 25 | Montreal Canadiens | 1–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 |
| 5 | April 28 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–4 | Montreal Canadiens | 1–4 |

## Player stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Stan Mikita | 72 | 40 | 47 | 87 | 14 |
| Bobby Hull | 71 | 44 | 31 | 75 | 52 |
| Kenny Wharram | 74 | 27 | 42 | 69 | 18 |
| Doug Mohns | 65 | 24 | 29 | 53 | 53 |
| Pat Stapleton | 67 | 4 | 34 | 38 | 34 |

### Goaltending

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

## Playoff stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Stan Mikita | 11 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 6 |
| Bobby Hull | 11 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 15 |
| Pit Martin | 11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| Chico Maki | 11 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Doug Mohns | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Denis DeJordy | 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.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 7 | Bob Tombari | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (NOHA) |