1923–24 Ottawa Senators season

The 1923–24 Ottawa Senators season was the club's 39th season of play and seventh season in the NHL. Coming off a Stanley Cup Championship in 1923, they had won three cups in the previous four seasons. The Senators moved into the brand new Ottawa Auditorium prior to the season. The club had an outstanding regular season, but lost in the NHL playoffs to the Montreal Canadiens.
==Off-season==
The five-year partnership of the Ottawa Arena Club expired in 1923. The team's ownership was unified with the parent Ottawa Hockey Association which was to be owned by Frank Ahearn and Tommy Gorman. Ted Dey gave up his half-interest in the Senators first for an investment in the Association and the Auditorium, then sold his share to Ahearn and Gorman.Kitchen(2008), p. 228
==Regular Season==
thumb|right|The Senators changed their jersey colours from black, red and white to gold, red and white, with a championship patch. Jersey on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Cy Denneny led the NHL in scoring with 22 goals and 23 points, while Frank Nighbor became the first player to win the Hart Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the league. The Sens defense were led by Buck Boucher and King Clancy, who both finished among the league leaders in points.
Clint Benedict had another very solid season, as his 15 wins and 3 shutouts led the NHL, and he had a personal best GAA of 1.99.
In a game in late February, the Senators were late for a game against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal due to their train being snowbound in Hawkesbury, Ontario for the night. While out to try and get some food for his teammates Cy Denneny fell down a well, but sustained no injuries from the fall.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record	Pts
1 	December 15	Ottawa Senators 	3–2 	Hamilton Tigers 	1–0–0 	2
2 	December 19	Toronto St. Pats 	2–5 	Ottawa Senators 	2–0–0 	4
3 	December 26	Montreal Canadiens	2–3 	Ottawa Senators 	3–0–0 	6
4 	December 29	Hamilton Tigers 	3–2 	Ottawa Senators 	3–1–0 	6
5 	January 2 	Ottawa Senators 	4–3 	Toronto St. Pats 	4–1–0 	8
6 	January 5 	Toronto St. Pats 	3–7 	Ottawa Senators 	5–1–0 	10
7 	January 9 	Montreal Canadiens	1–2 	Ottawa Senators 	6–1–0 	12
8 	January 12 	Ottawa Senators 	3–2 	Hamilton Tigers 	7–1–0 	14
9 	January 16 	Ottawa Senators 	1–2 	Montreal Canadiens	7–2–0 	14
10	January 19 	Hamilton Tigers 	1–2 	Ottawa Senators 	8–2–0 	16
11	January 21 	Ottawa Senators 	3–2 	Montreal Canadiens	9–2–0 	18
12	January 23 	Ottawa Senators 	5–1 	Toronto St. Pats 	10–2–0	20
13	January 26 	Ottawa Senators 	1–5 	Hamilton Tigers 	10–3–0	20
14	January 30 	Toronto St. Pats 	2–7 	Ottawa Senators 	11–3–0	22
15	February 2 	Ottawa Senators 	0–1 	Montreal Canadiens	11–4–0	22
16	February 6 	Montreal Canadiens	0–4 	Ottawa Senators 	12–4–0	24
17	February 9 	Hamilton Tigers 	0–1 	Ottawa Senators 	13–4–0	26
18	February 13	Ottawa Senators 	2–4 	Toronto St. Pats 	13–5–0	26
19	February 16	Toronto St. Pats 	2–1 	Ottawa Senators 	13–6–0	26
20	February 21	Ottawa Senators 	0–3 	Montreal Canadiens	13–7–0	26
21	February 23	Montreal Canadiens	0–1 	Ottawa Senators 	14–7–0	28
22	February 27	Hamilton Tigers 	4–7 	Ottawa Senators 	15–7–0	30
23	March 1 	Ottawa Senators 	2–5 	Hamilton Tigers 	15–8–0	30
24	March 5 	Ottawa Senators 	8–4 	Toronto St. Pats 	16–8–0	32
==Playoffs==
===Montreal Canadiens 5, Ottawa Senators 2===
The Senators again qualified for the playoffs and faced the Canadiens for the brand new Prince of Wales Trophy. Ottawa was defending champion and had the top record for the regular season. In an upset Montreal defeated Ottawa 5–2 in a two-game total goal series. Benedict's play came under criticism, with the Senators management publicly stating he was under the weather, and privately were withholding pay from Benedict on account of drinking affecting his play. The dispute ended up in court and Benedict would be traded to the Montreal Maroons before the next season.
On March 25, the Canadiens and Calgary Tigers Stanley Cup Final game was played at the Ottawa Auditorium, due to the Mount Royal Arena in Montreal not having artificial ice. Montreal won the game and the 1924 Stanley Cup.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	March 8 	Ottawa Senators 	0–1 	Montreal Canadiens	0–1
2	March 11	Montreal Canadiens	4–2 	Ottawa Senators 	0–2
==Player Stats==
===Regular Season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
 	LW 	22	22	2 	24 	10
 	D 	21	13	10	23 	38
 	C 	20	11	6 	17 	16
 	D 	24	8 	8 	16 	26
 	RW 	22	9 	4 	13 	44
 	D 	18	5 	3 	8 	8
 	D 	24	2 	6 	8 	24
 	RW 	18	2 	0 	2 	2
 	W 	13	1 	1 	2 	8
 	RW 	19	1 	0 	1 	2
 	G 	22	0 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L	T	GA	GAA 	SO
 	1356	22	15	7	0	45	1.99	3
 	120 	2 	1 	1	0	9 	4.50	0
Team: 	1476	24	16	8	0	54	2.20	3
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
 	LW 	2 	2	0	2 	2
 	D 	2 	0	1	1 	4
 	C 	2 	0	1	1 	0
 	G 	2 	0	0	0 	0
 	RW 	2 	0	0	0 	2
 	D 	1 	0	0	0 	6
 	D 	2 	0	0	0 	6
 	RW 	2 	0	0	0 	2
 	RW 	2 	0	0	0 	2
 	D 	2 	0	0	0 	4
;Goaltending
Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA 	SO
 	120	2 	0	2	5 	2.50	0
Team: 	120	2 	0	2	5 	2.50	0
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals 
MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SO = Shutouts 
==Awards and Records==
*The Senators did not win any awards this season.
==Transactions==
==Roster==
*Benedict, Clint (G)
*Boucher, Georges (D)
*Broadbent, Punch (R)
*Campbell, Earl (D)
*Clancy, King (D)
*Darragh, Jack (R)
*Denneny, Cy (L)
*Finnigan, Frank (R)
*Graham, Leth (L)
*Hebert, Sammy (G)
*Helman, Harry (R)
*Hitchman, Lionel (D)
*Nighbor, Frank (C)
*Smylie, Rod (L)
Source: NHL.com
==Gallery==
23-24NHLExhOttawaAudOpen.jpg|Pre-season and the opening of the Auditorium.
23-24NHLOttawaHomeOpener.jpg|Home Opener
23-24OttSenLastGameGameAd.jpg|Last home game.
23-24NHLPOOttawaGameAd.jpg|Playoff game
==See Also==
* 1923–24 NHL season
==References==
* 
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
;Notes
Category:Ottawa Senators (original) seasons
Category:1923–24 in ice hockey
Category:1923–24 in Canadian ice hockey by team