# 1959–60 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1959–60 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 34th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off of a third-place finish in 1958–59, as they finished the season with a club record 28 wins, and tying a club record with 69 points, and earned their first playoff berth since 1953. Chicago then lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round, losing in six games.

## Regular season

After winning the season opener, the Black Hawks would struggle, going on a 14-game winless streak to fall into last place in the league. Chicago would snap out of their slump, and in their next 26 games, the Hawks would have a record of 11–10–5, bringing them back into the playoff race with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and Detroit Red Wings. The Black Hawks would then get very hot, posting a record of 16–8–5 in their remaining 29 games to finish the season with a 28–29–13 record, which was identical to the previous season, and once again finish in third place in the league, earning a playoff spot. This was the first time since the 1940–41 and 1941–42 seasons that the Black Hawks had consecutive playoff appearances.
Offensively, Chicago was led by Bobby Hull, who scored a team record 39 goals, and finished at the top of the NHL scoring race with a club record 81 points, winning the Art Ross Trophy. Rookie Bill Hay finished second to Hull in team scoring, earning 18 goals and 55 points, and winning the Calder Memorial Trophy. Tod Sloan had another solid season, scoring 20 goals and 40 points. Pierre Pilote led the defense, scoring 7 goals and 45 points, while Stan Mikita led the club with 110 penalty minutes.
In goal, Glenn Hall played in all 70 games, winning 28 of them, while posting a 2.56 GAA, and earning 6 shutouts.

### Season standings

National Hockey League vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Montreal Canadiens | 70 | 40 | 18 | 12 | 255 | 178 | +77 | 92 |
| 2 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 70 | 35 | 26 | 9 | 199 | 195 | +4 | 79 |
| 3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 70 | 28 | 29 | 13 | 191 | 180 | +11 | 69 |
| 4 | Detroit Red Wings | 70 | 26 | 29 | 15 | 186 | 197 | −11 | 67 |
| 5 | Boston Bruins | 70 | 28 | 34 | 8 | 220 | 241 | −21 | 64 |
| 6 | New York Rangers | 70 | 17 | 38 | 15 | 187 | 247 | −60 | 49 |

### Record vs. opponents

1959–60 NHL Records :
| Team | BOS | CHI | DET | MTL | NYR | TOR |
| Boston | — | 5–6–3 | 5–8–1 | 4–8 | 8–4–2 | 6–6–2 |
| Chicago | 6–5–3 | — | 4–8–2 | 3–7–4 | 11–1–2 | 4–8–2 |
| Detroit | 8–5–1 | 8–4–2 | — | 2–7–5 | 4–6–4 | 4–9–1 |
| Montreal | 8–4 | 7–3–4 | 7–2–5 | — | 6–6–2 | 10–3–1 |
| New York | 4–8–2 | 1–11–2 | 6–4–4 | 6–6–2 | — | 2–9–3 |
| Toronto | 6–6–2 | 8–4–2 | 9–4–1 | 3–10–1 | 9–2–3 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

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

## Playoffs

Chicago would face the Montreal Canadiens in the best of seven NHL semi-final for the second consecutive season. The Canadiens finished the season with an NHL best 92 points, and had won four consecutive Stanley Cups. The series opened up with two games at the Montreal Forum, and the Canadiens took a 2–0 series lead by winning both games by scores of 4–3, including an overtime win in the second game. The series moved to Chicago Stadium for the next two games, however, it was the Canadiens who stayed hot, shutting out the Black Hawks 4–0 in the third game, followed by another shutout victory in the fourth game, as Montreal won the game 2–0, and swept the series in four games.

### Montreal Canadiens 4, Chicago Black Hawks 0

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | March 24 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–4 | Montreal Canadiens | 0–1 |
| 2 | March 26 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–4 | Montreal Canadiens | 0–2 |
| 3 | March 29 | Montreal Canadiens | 4–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–3 |
| 4 | March 31 | Montreal Canadiens | 2–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–4 |

## Player stats
### Regular season
#### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Bobby Hull | 70 | 39 | 42 | 81 | 68 |
| Bill Hay | 70 | 18 | 37 | 55 | 31 |
| Pierre Pilote | 70 | 7 | 38 | 45 | 100 |
| Tod Sloan | 70 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 54 |
| Ron Murphy | 63 | 15 | 21 | 36 | 18 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA |
| Glenn Hall | 70 | 4200 | 28 | 29 | 13 | 179 | 6 | 2.56 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Bill Hay | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Kenny Wharram | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Ted Lindsay | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Bobby Hull | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Ron Murphy | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Glenn Hall | 4 | 249 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 3.37 |