1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 49th season in the NHL. The Hawks finished 3rd in the Smythe Division and defeated the Boston Bruins in the Preliminary round before losing in the Quarter-finals to the Buffalo Sabres 4 games to 1.1973-74 NHL Season Summary - Hockey-Reference.com
==Off-season==
During the off-season, the NHL made a number of changes. The league expanded by two more teams, as the Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals joined the league, making the NHL an 18 team league. The schedule was then bumped up from 78 games to 80, and the previously two division league was split into two conferences and four divisions. The Black Hawks found themselves in the newly created Smythe Division with the Minnesota North Stars, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and the expansion team Kansas City Scouts. The Smythe Division was part of the newly created Campbell Conference.
==Regular Season==
Chicago began the regular season with a strong 7-3-1 in their first eleven games, however, the team fell into a slump, and found themselves under the .500 level 26 games into the season with a record of 11-12-3. The Black Hawks would continue to hover around .500 for the rest of the season, and eventually finish the year with a 37-35-8 record, earning 82 points. Chicago's 37 victories and 82 points were their lowest totals since the 1968-69 season, while their 35 losses was the most since the team lost 39 in 1957-58. The team finished in third place in the Smythe Division, and earn a spot in the post-season as the eleventh seed.
1973-74 Chicago Black Hawks Games - Hockey-Reference.com
Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Stan Mikita, who led the club with 36 goals, 50 assists and 86 points. Jim Pappin tied Mikita with 36 goals, and added 27 assists for 63 points. Newly acquired Ivan Boldirev, who spent the previous season with the California Golden Seals, stepped in and finished second in team scoring with 67 points, as he recorded 23 goals and 44 assists. Cliff Koroll had a strong season, scoring 27 goals and 59 points, while defenseman Dick Redmond led the blueline with 14 goals and 57 points. John Marks led the Black Hawks with a +27 rating, while Phil Russell had a team high 260 penalty minutes.
In goal, Tony Esposito once again led the club with 34 victories and a 2.74 GAA, earning six shutouts in 71 games.Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Tony Esposito
===Final Standings===
Smythe Division 	GP	W 	L 	T 	GF 	GA 	Pts
Vancouver Canucks 	80	38	32	10	271	254	86
St. Louis Blues 	80	35	31	14	269	267	84
Chicago Black Hawks 	80	37	35	8 	268	241	82
Minnesota North Stars	80	23	50	7 	221	341	53
Kansas City Scouts 	80	15	54	11	184	328	41
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 9 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–2 	Detroit Red Wings 	0–1–0 	0
2 	October 13 	Atlanta Flames 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	0–2–0 	0
3 	October 16 	Boston Bruins 	0-4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–2-0 	2
4 	October 17 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–4 	Washington Capitals 	1–3–0 	2
5 	October 19 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–1 	St. Louis Blues 	2–3–0 	4
6 	October 20 	Minnesota North Stars 	0–6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–3–0 	6
7 	October 23 	Washington Capitals 	2–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–3–0 	8
8 	October 26 	Chicago Black Hawks 	9–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	5–3–0 	10
9 	October 27 	St. Louis Blues 	3–10 	Chicago Black Hawks 	6–3–0 	12
10	October 30 	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–4 	Montreal Canadiens 	6–3–1 	13
11	November 2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–3 	Kansas City Scouts 	7–3–1 	15
12	November 3 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	3–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	7–3–2 	16
13	November 6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–6 	Buffalo Sabres 	7–4–2 	16
14	November 8 	Chicago Black Hawks 	0-2 	Atlanta Flames 	7–5–2 	16
15	November 12	Chicago Black Hawks 	0–1 	Vancouver Canucks 	7-6–2 	16
16	November 13	Chicago Black Hawks 	0–2 	California Golden Seals	7–7–2 	16
17	November 16	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–1 	Los Angeles Kings 	8-7–2 	18
18	November 20	New York Islanders 	4-4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	8–7–3 	19
19	November 23	Kansas City Scouts 	0-6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	9–7–3 	21
20	November 27	Buffalo Sabres 	3–1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	9–8–3 	21
21	November 30	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–5 	Minnesota North Stars 	9–9–3 	21
22	December 1 	Minnesota North Stars 	0–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	10–9–3 	23
23	December 4 	Kansas City Scouts 	3-7 	Chicago Black Hawks 	11–9–3 	25
24	December 5 	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–3 	Philadelphia Flyers 	11–10–3	25
25	December 7 	New York Rangers 	7–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	11–11–3	25
26	December 8 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	4-1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	11–12–3	25
27	December 11	Chicago Black Hawks 	5-2 	Atlanta Flames 	12–12–3	27
28	December 14	Chicago Black Hawks 	3-6 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	12–13–3	27
29	December 15	Vancouver Canucks 	2–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	13–13–3	29
30	December 18	Detroit Red Wings 	5–7 	Chicago Black Hawks 	14–13–3	31
31	December 21	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–3 	New York Islanders 	14–13–4	32
32	December 22	Toronto Maple Leafs 	0–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	15–13–4	34
33	December 26	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–3 	Buffalo Sabres 	15–14–4	34
34	December 28	Philadelphia Flyers 	1–2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	16–14–4	36
35	December 29	St. Louis Blues 	2-5 	Chicago Black Hawks 	17–14–4	38
36	December 31	Los Angeles Kings 	3-1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	17–15–4	38
37	January 1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–6 	New York Rangers 	17–16–4	38
38	January 4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–6 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	17–17–4	38
39	January 5 	Montreal Canadiens 	6–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	17–18–4	38
40	January 8 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	5–7 	Chicago Black Hawks 	18–18–4	40
41	January 11 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–5 	Boston Bruins 	18–19–4	40
42	January 12 	New York Rangers 	2-4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	19-19–4	42
43	January 15 	Vancouver Canucks 	1–2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	20–19–4	44
44	January 18 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–4 	Kansas City Scouts 	20-20–4	44
45	January 19 	California Golden Seals	1–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	21–20–4	46
46	January 23 	New York Islanders 	1-3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	22–20–4	48
47	January 25 	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–1 	St. Louis Blues 	23–20–4	50
48	January 26 	California Golden Seals	2–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	24–20–4	52
49	January 29 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–6 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	24–21–4	52
50	February 1 	New York Rangers 	4–1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	24–22–4	52
51	February 2 	New York Islanders 	1–1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	24–22–5	53
52	February 4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–3 	Kansas City Scouts 	24–22–6	54
53	February 5 	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–1 	Minnesota North Stars 	25–22–6	56
54	February 7 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–3 	Vancouver Canucks 	25–23–6	56
55	February 9 	Los Angeles Kings 	2-1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	25–24–6	56
56	February 12	Boston Bruins 	3–8 	Chicago Black Hawks 	26–24–6	58
57	February 13	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–4 	Philadelphia Flyers 	26–25–6	58
58	February 15	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–12 	Montreal Canadiens 	26–26–6	58
59	February 16	Montreal Canadiens 	6–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	26–27–6	58
60	February 19	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–2 	New York Rangers 	26–27–7	59
61	February 22	Washington Capitals 	3–10 	Chicago Black Hawks 	27–27–7	61
62	February 23	Atlanta Flames 	0–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	28–27–7	63
63	February 25	Chicago Black Hawks 	6–2 	Washington Capitals 	29–27–7	65
64	February 28	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–3 	Atlanta Flames 	30–27–7	67
65	March 2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	2-6 	Boston Bruins 	30–28–7	67
66	March 5 	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–2 	California Golden Seals	31–28–7	69
67	March 7 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–2 	Vancouver Canucks 	31-29–7	69
68	March 8 	Chicago Black Hawks 	6–1 	Los Angeles Kings 	32–29–7	71
69	March 12 	St. Louis Blues 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	32–30–7	71
70	March 15 	Chicago Black Hawks 	5–2 	Minnesota North Stars 	33–30–7	73
71	March 16 	Vancouver Canucks 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	33–31–7	73
72	March 20 	Chicago Black Hawks 	6–2 	Detroit Red Wings 	34–31-7	75
73	March 22 	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–4 	New York Islanders 	34–32–7	75
74	March 23 	Detroit Red Wings 	4–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	34–32–8	76
75	March 26 	Buffalo Sabres 	1–5 	Chicago Black Hawks 	35–32–8	78
76	March 29 	Philadelphia Flyers 	5–2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	35–33–8	78
77	March 30 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–4 	Philadelphia Flyers 	35–34–8	78
78	April 3 	Kansas City Scouts 	4–6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	36-34–8	80
79	April 5 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–4 	St. Louis Blues 	36–35–8	80
80	April 6 	Minnesota North Stars 	0–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	37-35–8	82
==Playoffs==
The Hawks opened the playoffs against the fifth seeded Boston Bruins in a best of three preliminary round. The Bruins finished the season with a 40-26-14 record, earning 94 points, and a second place finish in the Adams Division. The series opened with a game at the Boston Garden, and the heavily favored Bruins easily disposed the Black Hawks by a score of 8-2. The series moved to Chicago Stadium for the next game, and the Hawks responded, with a 4-3 overtime victory, to set up a third and final game back in Boston. Chicago would complete the upset, stunning the Bruins by a score of 6-4 in the third game, to advance to the NHL quarter-finals.
Chicago's next opponent in a best of seven series was the second seeded Buffalo Sabres, who had a record of 49-16-15, earning 113 points, and a first place finish in the Adams Division. The series started with two games at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. The Sabres used their home ice advantage, and quickly took a 2-0 series lead with wins of 4-1 and 3-1. The series moved to Chicago for the next two games, and the Hawks cut into the Sabres lead with a 5-4 overtime win in the third game. Buffalo responded in the fourth game though, as they cruised to a 6-2 win. The Sabres closed out the series in the fifth game back in Buffalo, winning the game 3-1.
===Chicago Black Hawks 2, Boston Bruins 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 8 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–8 	Boston Bruins 	0-1
2	April 10	Boston Bruins 	3–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	1-1
3	April 11	Chicago Black Hawks	6–4 	Boston Bruins 	2-1
===Buffalo Sabres 4, Chicago Black Hawks 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 13	Chicago Black Hawks	1–4 	Buffalo Sabres 	0-1
2	April 15	Chicago Black Hawks	1–3 	Buffalo Sabres 	0-2
3	April 17	Buffalo Sabres 	4–5 	Chicago Black Hawks	1-2
4	April 20	Buffalo Sabres 	6–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	1-3
5	April 22	Chicago Black Hawks	1–3 	Buffalo Sabres 	1-4
==Player Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Stan Mikita 	79	36	50	86 	48
Ivan Boldirev	80	24	43	67 	54
Jim Pappin 	71	36	27	63 	94
Cliff Koroll 	80	27	32	59 	27
Dick Redmond 	80	14	43	57 	90
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	GAA
Tony Esposito	71	4219	34	30	7	193	6 	2.74
Michel Dumas 	3 	121 	2 	0 	0	7 	0 	3.47
Mike Veisor 	9 	460 	1 	5 	1	36 	0 	4.70
==Playoff Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Cliff Koroll 	8 	3	5	8 	8
John Marks 	8 	2	6	8 	34
Stan Mikita 	8 	3	4	7 	8
Ivan Boldirev	8 	4	2	6 	2
Dick Redmond 	8 	2	3	5 	0
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
Michel Dumas 	1 	19 	0	0	1 	0 	3.16
Tony Esposito	8 	472	3	5	34	0 	4.32
==Awards and Records==
*Lester Patrick Trophy: Tommy Ivan Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009-10, p.424, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6
==Draft Picks==
Chicago's draft picks at the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft held via conference call at the NHL office in Montreal, Quebec.
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	16 	Grant Mulvey 	 	Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
2 	34 	Alain Daigle 	 	Trois-Rivières Ducs (QMJHL)
3 	52 	Bob Murray 	 	Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)
4 	70 	Terry Ruskowski	 	Swift Current Broncos (WCHL)
5 	88 	Dave Logan 	 	Laval National (QMJHL)
6 	106	Bob Volpe 	 	Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
7 	124	Eddie Mio 	 	Colorado College (NCAA)
8 	141	Mike St. Cyr 	 	Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
9 	158	Steve Colp 	 	Michigan State University (NCAA)
10 	173	Rick Fraser 	 	Oshawa Generals (OHA)
11 	188	Jean Bernier 	 	Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)
12 	200	Dwayne Byers 	 	Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
13 	210	Glen Ing 	 	Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
==Video==
Nearly 20 minutes of highlights of the March 16, 1975 Canucks-Black Hawks game. Gary Smith is concussed during a goal by Phil Russell and leaves the game to be replaced by Ken Lockett.
NHL Action Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks (Mar. 16, 1975)
==References==
==Sources==
*Hockey-Reference
*Rauzulu's Street
*Goalies Archive
*HockeyDB
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Chicago Blackhawks seasons
Category:1974 in hockey
Category:1975 in hockey