1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 36th season in the NHL. The Hawks finished in 3rd in the league and lost in the 1962 Stanley Cup Finals to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4 games to 2.
==Off-season==
During the off-season, the Black Hawks traded team captain Ed Litzenberger to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Gerry Melnyk and Brian Smith. Chicago also had some problems signing some of their players, as Stan Mikita, Reg Fleming, and Dollard St. Laurent all refused to sign their contracts, however, they all eventually came to terms. Defenseman Pierre Pilote was appointed as the new team captain.
==Regular Season==
The defending champions started off the season slow, earning only one win in their first eleven games, as they had a record of 1-5-5, however, the team rebounded, and put together a 16-12-8 record in the next 36 games to get to the .500 level. The Black Hawks then got hot, as they then won six games in a row, followed shortly by a four game winning streak, as the team managed to finish the season with a 31-26-13 record, tying a club record with 75 points, and setting a team record for wins in a season at 31, which was two more than the previous high of 29 set the previous season. 1961-62 Chicago Black Hawks
Offensively, Chicago was led by Bobby Hull, who set a team record with 50 goals and 84 points. He became the third player in NHL history, Maurice Richard and Bernie Geoffrion were the others, to score 50 goals in a season. Bobby Hull Hull's 84 points tied him with Andy Bathgate of the New York Rangers for the league lead, however, since Hull scored more goals, he was awarded the Art Ross Memorial Trophy. Stan Mikita emerged as an offensive force, breaking out with a team high 52 assists and 77 points, while Bill Hay also recorded 52 assists en route to a 63 point season. Pierre Pilote led the Hawks blueline, scoring 7 goals and 42 points, while tying Mikita and Eric Nesterenko for the most penalty minutes on the team, with 97.
In goal, Glenn Hall once again played in all 70 games, setting a team record for wins with 31, and posting a 2.63 GAA, along with 9 shutouts.
Glenn Hall
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 14 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–0–1 	1
2 	October 15 	Detroit Red Wings 	2–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–0–2 	2
3 	October 17 	Boston Bruins 	3–5 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–0-2 	4
4 	October 19 	New York Rangers 	4–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–1–2 	4
5 	October 21 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–1 	Toronto Maple Leafs	1–1–3 	5
6 	October 22 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–2–3 	5
7 	October 25 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–1 	New York Rangers 	1–2–4 	6
8 	October 26 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–7 	Montreal Canadiens 	1–3–4 	6
9 	October 29 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–2 	Boston Bruins 	1–3–5 	7
10	October 31 	New York Rangers 	4–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–4–5 	7
11	November 4 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs	1–5–5 	7
12	November 5 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–3 	Boston Bruins 	2–5–5 	9
13	November 7 	Toronto Maple Leafs	0–6 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–5–5 	11
14	November 11	Chicago Black Hawks	1–2 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–6–5 	11
15	November 12	Chicago Black Hawks	1–4 	New York Rangers 	3–7–5 	11
16	November 15	Detroit Red Wings 	0–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–7–5 	13
17	November 19	Montreal Canadiens 	3–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–7–6 	14
18	November 23	Toronto Maple Leafs	5-2 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–8–6 	14
19	November 26	Detroit Red Wings 	1–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	5–8–6 	16
20	November 29	Boston Bruins 	4–7 	Chicago Black Hawks	6–8–6 	18
21	December 2 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–6 	Toronto Maple Leafs	6–9–6 	18
22	December 3 	Montreal Canadiens 	1–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	6–10–6 	18
23	December 6 	Chicago Black Hawks	8–3 	New York Rangers 	7–10–6 	20
24	December 7 	Chicago Black Hawks	5–2 	Boston Bruins 	8–10–6 	22
25	December 9 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–3 	Detroit Red Wings 	8–11–6 	22
26	December 10	Detroit Red Wings 	3–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	8–12–6 	22
27	December 13	Boston Bruins 	2–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	8–12–7 	23
28	December 17	New York Rangers 	1–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	9–12–7 	25
29	December 21	Chicago Black Hawks	4–3 	Montreal Canadiens 	10–12–7 	27
30	December 23	Chicago Black Hawks	3–7 	New York Rangers 	10–13–7 	27
31	December 25	Toronto Maple Leafs	3–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	10–13–8 	28
32	December 27	Chicago Black Hawks	0–0 	Toronto Maple Leafs	10–13–9 	29
33	December 28	Chicago Black Hawks	2–2 	Detroit Red Wings 	10–13–10	30
34	December 30	Chicago Black Hawks	4–4 	Montreal Canadiens 	10–13–11	31
35	January 1 	Montreal Canadiens 	0–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	11–13–11	33
36	January 3 	New York Rangers 	1–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	12–13–11	35
37	January 4 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–1 	Detroit Red Wings 	12–13–12	36
38	January 6 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–6 	Toronto Maple Leafs	12–14–12	36
39	January 7 	Boston Bruins 	2–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	12–15–12	36
40	January 11 	Chicago Black Hawks	6–0 	Boston Bruins 	13–15–12	38
41	January 13 	New York Rangers 	2–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	14–15–12	40
42	January 14 	Toronto Maple Leafs	2–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	14-15–13	41
43	January 17 	Montreal Canadiens 	7–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	14–16–13	41
44	January 21 	New York Rangers 	1–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	15–16–13	43
45	January 24 	Toronto Maple Leafs	1–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	16–16–13	45
46	January 27 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–5 	Boston Bruins 	16–17–13	45
47	January 28 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–0 	New York Rangers 	17–17–13	47
48	January 31 	Detroit Red Wings 	1–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	18–17–13	49
49	February 1 	Chicago Black Hawks	7–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	19–17–13	51
50	February 3 	Boston Bruins 	3–6 	Chicago Black Hawks	20–17–13	53
51	February 4 	Toronto Maple Leafs	1–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	21–17–13	55
52	February 8 	Chicago Black Hawks	6–2 	Boston Bruins 	22–17–13	57
53	February 10	Chicago Black Hawks	1–2 	New York Rangers 	22–18–13	57
54	February 11	Montreal Canadiens 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	22–19–13	57
55	February 14	New York Rangers 	3–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	23–19–13	59
56	February 17	Chicago Black Hawks	2–6 	Montreal Canadiens 	23–20–13	59
57	February 18	Boston Bruins 	0–6 	Chicago Black Hawks	24–20–13	61
58	February 21	Detroit Red Wings 	4–6 	Chicago Black Hawks	25–20–13	63
59	February 24	Chicago Black Hawks	6–1 	Detroit Red Wings 	26–20–13	65
60	February 25	Boston Bruins 	0–8 	Chicago Black Hawks	27–20–13	67
61	February 28	Chicago Black Hawks	2–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs	27–21–13	67
62	March 1 	Chicago Black Hawks	5–4 	Boston Bruins 	28–21–13	69
63	March 4 	Montreal Canadiens 	2–5 	Chicago Black Hawks	29–21–13	71
64	March 11 	Toronto Maple Leafs	3–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	29–22–13	71
65	March 15 	Chicago Black Hawks	5–6 	Montreal Canadiens 	29–23–13	71
66	March 17 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–1 	Toronto Maple Leafs	30–23–13	73
67	March 18 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	30–24–13	73
68	March 20 	Detroit Red Wings 	0–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	31–24–13	75
69	March 24 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–5 	Montreal Canadiens 	31–25–13	75
70	March 25 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–4 	New York Rangers 	31–26–13	75
==Playoffs==
===Chicago Black Hawks 4, Montreal Canadiens 2===
Chicago would face the Montreal Canadiens in the best of seven Semi-finals for the fourth consecutive season. The Canadiens were once again heavily favored to defeat the Hawks, as they had an NHL best 98 points, which was 23 more than Chicago. Montreal opened the series off by winning the opening two games at the Montreal Forum by scores of 2-1 and 4-3 to take an early 2-0 series lead, however, as the series shifted over to Chicago Stadium, the Black Hawks took advantage, winning the next two games by scores of 4-1 and 5-3 to even up the series. The fifth game was back in Montreal, however, Chicago stayed hot, and narrowly defeated the Canadiens 4-3 to return home with a 3-2 series lead. The Hawks again took advantage of their home ice, shutting out the Canadiens 2-0, and eliminating Montreal for the second straight season, and earning a spot in the Finals.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	March 27	Chicago Black Hawks	1–2 	Montreal Canadiens 	0–1
2	March 29	Chicago Black Hawks	3–4 	Montreal Canadiens 	0-2
3	April 1 	Montreal Canadiens 	1–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	1-2
4	April 3 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–5 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–2
5	April 5 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–3 	Montreal Canadiens 	3-2
6	April 8 	Montreal Canadiens 	0–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	4-2
===Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Chicago Black Hawks 2===
Chicago would face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1962 Stanley Cup Finals. The Leafs had a strong regular season, earning 85 points, and had defeated the fourth place New York Rangers to clinch a spot in the finals. The series opened at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, and much like their previous series against the Canadiens, the Black Hawks quickly found themselves down 2-0, as Toronto won the first two games by scores of 4-1 and 3-2. The next two games were held in Chicago, and the Black Hawks continued their home ice winning streak, taking the two games by scores of 3-0 and 4-1 to pull even. The clubs were back in Toronto for the fifth game, and it was the Maple Leafs easily beating Chicago 8-4 to take a 3-2 series lead. Toronto ended Chicago's five game home winning streak in the sixth game, holding off Chicago for a 2-1 win, and ending the Hawks chance of a second straight championship. 1961-62 Chicago Black Hawks
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 10	Chicago Black Hawks	1–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs	0-1
2	April 12	Chicago Black Hawks	2–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs	0-2
3	April 15	Toronto Maple Leafs	0–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	1-2
4	April 17	Toronto Maple Leafs	1–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–2
5	April 19	Chicago Black Hawks	4–8 	Toronto Maple Leafs	2-3
6	April 22	Toronto Maple Leafs	2–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	2-4
==Player Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Bobby Hull 	70	50	34	84 	35
Stan Mikita 	70	25	52	77 	97
Bill Hay 	60	11	52	63 	34
Bronco Horvath	68	17	29	46 	21
Pierre Pilote 	59	7 	35	42 	97
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T 	GA 	SO	GAA
Glenn Hall	70	4200	31	26	13	184	9 	2.63
==Playoff Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G	A 	Pts	PIM
Stan Mikita 	12	6	15	21 	19
Bobby Hull 	12	8	6 	14 	12
Ab McDonald 	12	6	6 	12 	0
Bill Hay 	12	3	7 	10 	18
Kenny Wharram	12	3	4 	7 	8
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
Glenn Hall	12	720	6	6	31	2 	2.58
==Awards and Records==
*Art Ross Trophy: Bobby Hull
*Stan Mikita, Center, NHL First Team All-Star
*Bobby Hull, Left Wing, NHL First Team All-Star
*Pierre Pilote, Defense, NHL Second Team All-Star
*Glenn Hall, Goalie, NHL Second Team All-Star
==Gallery==
61-62NHLChiQuebecGameAd.jpg|Pre-season @ Quebec City
Williams_goal-27Jan1962.gif|Tom Williams scores his second NHL goal, January 27, 1962.
1961-62-Hay-Green-Gamble-Hull.jpg|Bill Hay, Ted Green, Bruce Gamble, Bobby Hull in 1961-62 season action.
==Video==
Game 3 of the 1962 Stanley Cup Finals between Toronto and Chicago, April 15, 1962.
1962 NHL SCF Game 3 Toronto @ Chicago 4 15 1962
==See Also==
*1961–62 NHL season
==References==
==Sources==
*Hockey-Reference
*Rauzulu's Street
*Goalies Archive
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Chicago Blackhawks seasons
Chicago Black Hawks season, 1961–62
Chicago Black Hawks season, 1961–62