1938–39 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1938–39 Chicago Black Hawks season was the team's 13th season in the NHL. The Black Hawks finished last in the league and did not qualify for the playoffs.
==Regular Season==
Prior to the season, the Montreal Maroons announced they would be folding, leaving the NHL with seven teams, thus eliminating the need for divisions. The Black Hawks got off to a mediocre start, and after going 8–10–3, they dismissed head coach Bill Stewart and replaced him with player-coach Paul Thompson. The Hawks struggled under Thompson, going 4–18–5, and finished in last place in the NHL, missing the playoffs for the 2nd time in 3 years. Chicago had problems scoring goals, getting an NHL low 91 goals, while they gave up the 3rd most goals at 132.
During the second game of the season, on November 5, 1938 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bill Shill suffered a dislocated vertebrae and missed 20 games.Boston Globe, p.11, November 8, 1938.
Boston Bruins defenseman Jack Shewchuk was recalled and played in the February 5 match against Chicago. Before the game, goalies Frank Brimsek and Mike Karakas, who both grew up in Eveleth, Minnesota, presented their mothers with flowers. Mrs. Brimsek enjoyed the game more than Mrs. Karakas as the Bruins blanked the Black Hawks 3-0, giving Brimsek his 8th shutout.
Team captain Johnny Gottselig led the team offensively, getting team highs in goals (16), assists (23) and points (39). Joffre Desilets and Mush March would be the only other Hawks with double digit goals, with 11 and 10 goals respectively. Earl Siebert anchored the defense, scoring 15 points and had a team high 57 penalty minutes.
In goal, Mike Karakas was the starter, winning 12 games, earning 5 shutouts, and posting a GAA of 2.65.
A year after their unexpected Stanley Cup championship, the Black Hawks became the only team in the league to miss the playoffs, as they finished 7 points behind the 6th place team, the Montreal Canadiens.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	November 3 	New York Americans 	1–6 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–0–0 	2
2 	November 5 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–0 	Toronto Maple Leafs	2–0–0 	4
3 	November 6 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–2 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–0–0 	6
4 	November 13	Montreal Canadiens 	3–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–0–0 	8
5 	November 17	New York Rangers 	1–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–1–0 	8
6 	November 20	Toronto Maple Leafs	1–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–1–1 	9
7 	November 24	Chicago Black Hawks	2–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	4–2–1 	9
8 	November 26	Chicago Black Hawks	4–6 	New York Americans 	4–3–1 	9
9 	November 27	Chicago Black Hawks	1–0 	New York Rangers 	5–3–1 	11
10	December 1 	Detroit Red Wings 	4–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	5–4–1 	11
11	December 4 	Boston Bruins 	5–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	5–5–1 	11
12	December 6 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–2 	Boston Bruins 	5–6–1 	11
13	December 10	Chicago Black Hawks	1–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs	5–7–1 	11
14	December 11	New York Americans 	0–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	6–7–1 	13
15	December 15	Toronto Maple Leafs	4–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	6–7–2 	14
16	December 18	New York Rangers 	0–5 	Chicago Black Hawks	7–7–2 	16
17	December 22	Detroit Red Wings 	3–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	7–7–3 	17
18	December 25	Chicago Black Hawks	1–5 	New York Americans 	7–8–3 	17
19	December 27	Chicago Black Hawks	4–1 	Montreal Canadiens 	8–8–3 	19
20	December 29	Chicago Black Hawks	1–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	8–9–3 	19
21	January 1 	Montreal Canadiens 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	8–10–3 	19
22	January 5 	Boston Bruins 	2–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	8–11–3 	19
23	January 8 	Toronto Maple Leafs	0–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	9–11–3 	21
24	January 10 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–3 	Boston Bruins 	9–12–3 	21
25	January 12 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–6 	New York Rangers 	9–13–3 	21
26	January 14 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs	9–14–3 	21
27	January 15 	New York Rangers 	1–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	9–14–4 	22
28	January 22 	New York Americans 	1–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	9–14–5 	23
29	January 26 	Detroit Red Wings 	1–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	9–15–5 	23
30	January 29 	Montreal Canadiens 	1–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	9–16–5 	23
31	January 31 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–3 	New York Rangers 	9–17–5 	23
32	February 2 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–2 	Montreal Canadiens 	10–17–5	25
33	February 5 	Boston Bruins 	3–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	10–18–5	25
34	February 7 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–2 	New York Americans 	10–18–6	26
35	February 9 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–2 	Detroit Red Wings 	11–18–6	28
36	February 16	Detroit Red Wings 	1–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	11–18–7	29
37	February 19	Toronto Maple Leafs	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	11–19–7	29
38	February 21	Chicago Black Hawks	2–8 	Boston Bruins 	11–20–7	29
39	February 23	Chicago Black Hawks	1–3 	New York Americans 	11–21–7	29
40	February 26	Boston Bruins 	5–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	11–22–7	29
41	March 2 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–1 	New York Rangers 	12–22–7	31
42	March 4 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–1 	Toronto Maple Leafs	12–22–8	32
43	March 5 	Montreal Canadiens 	2–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	12–23–8	32
44	March 9 	New York Rangers 	8–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	12–24–8	32
45	March 12 	New York Americans 	3–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	12–25–8	32
46	March 14 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–4 	Boston Bruins 	12–26–8	32
47	March 16 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–5 	Montreal Canadiens 	12–27–8	32
48	March 19 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–3 	Detroit Red Wings 	12–28–8	32
==Playoffs==
*The Black Hawks did not qualify for the playoffs.
==Player Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Johnny Gottselig	48	16	23	39 	15
Joffre Desilets 	48	11	13	24 	28
Mush March 	47	10	11	21 	29
Cully Dahlstrom 	48	6 	14	20 	2
Bill Thoms 	36	6 	11	17 	16
Earl Robertson 	48	9 	6 	15 	13
Paul Thompson 	33	5 	10	15 	33
Earl Seibert 	48	4 	11	15 	57
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	GAA
Mike Karakas	48	2988	12	28	8	132	5 	2.65
==Awards and Records==
*Earl Seibert, Defense, NHL Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Trivia==
*Black Hawks who recorded a Hat trick this season include:
**Johnny Gottselig during the 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on November 13, 1938.
==Gallery==
1938-39-NYA-Chi.jpg|Earl Robertson stops a shot against the Black Hawks in 1938-39 season action.
==Video==
A minute worth of footage from the home opener of the Black Hawks which they won over the New York Americans 6-1. First period goals by Cully Dahlstrom and Johnny Gottselig are shown.
Blackhawks defeat Americans in an ice hockey game, Chicago, Illinois. HD Stock Footage
==See Also==
* 1938–39 NHL season
==References==
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
==External Links==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
Category:Chicago Blackhawks seasons
Category:1938 in hockey
Category:1939 in hockey