1955 - 56 NHL season The 1955 - 56 NHL season was the 39th season of the National Hockey League . Six teams each played 70 games . The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup as they beat the Detroit Red Wings four games to one in the best - of - seven final series . League Business . At a governors meeting in December , a discussion took place concerning the uniforms worn by officials . It was contended that the present orange and black uniforms were confusing to players and fans , particularly when red uniforms are worn by either of the participating teams . Furthermore , it was pointed out that the existing uniforms showed up black on television . It was unanimously agreed that officials uniforms shoud be changed to black and white vertical stripes . With Montreal frequently racking up two or three goals on any one power play , NHL President Clarence Campbell said he ' d like the penalty rule revised to a penalized player returning to the ice when a power play goal is scored on a minor penalty . The Canadiens were the lone club to vote against the new legislation . Regular season . The streak of seven straight seasons at the top of the NHL held by the Detroit Red Wings ' dynasty came to an end as the Montreal Canadiens were tops . The Canadiens set a new record for wins in a season with 45 . The Canadiens had a new coach , their one - time great former All - Star left - winger , Hector " Toe " Blake . Dick Irvin , formerly the coach in Montreal , whom Habs ' GM Frank Selke Sr . found a little truculent , took over as coach in Chicago , but could not get them out of the cellar , though they did improve . It was sort of a homecoming for Irvin as he started his coaching career with Chicago in 1930 . Highlights . When the Hawks went to the Montreal Forum on October 22 , Irvin was presented with a set of silver flatware by William Northey , representing the Canadian Arena Company . In the game itself , rookie Henri Richard scored two goals as Montreal shut out Chicago 6 - 0 . On November 5 , Jean Beliveau scored three goals in 44 seconds as Montreal beat Boston 4 - 3 . The record for fastest hat trick still was held by Bill Mosienko with three goals in 21 seconds . On January 11 , a crowd of 15 , 570 delighted fans at Madison Square Garden watched the Rangers trounce the Canadiens 6 - 1 . Pete Conacher was a star for the Rangers with two goals . Lou Fontinato and Maurice Richard had a gala fight and Fontinato knocked out Richard with a punch that required several stitches above Richard ' s eye . Montreal routed the Rangers 9 - 4 on February 18 as Beliveau had the hat trick and Richard two . The Rocket was incensed when referee Louis Maschio gave his brother a misconduct penalty and his teammates had to cool him off . Beliveau set a record for goals by a center when he scored his 45th goal on March 15 . Maurice Richard was hurt in this game when he fell over Hawk defenceman Pierre Pilote ' s skate and went headlong into the goal . He required stitches and was taken to hospital for X - rays . The Rocket was back in the lineup on St . Patrick ' s Day as the Canadiens trounced the Rangers 7 - 2 and Richard had the hat trick . Rookie Glenn Hall had a fabulous year with 12 shutouts and a 2 . 11 goals against average for the ever - powerful Detroit Red Wings . He received the Calder Memorial Trophy over Henri " Pocket Rocket " Richard . Final standings . " Note : GP = Games played , W = Wins , L = Losses , T = Ties , Pts = Points , GF = Goals for , GA = Goals against , PIM = Penalties in minutes " Scoring leaders . " Note : GP = Games played , G = Goals , A = Assists , PTS = Points , PIM = Penalties in minutes " Debuts . The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1955 - 56 ( listed with their first team , asterisk ( * ) marks debut in playoffs ) : Last games . The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1955 - 56 ( listed with their last team ) :