1928–29 NHL season

The 1928–29 NHL season was the 12th season of the National Hockey League. Ten teams played 44 games each. This was the first Stanley Cup final that saw two United States-based teams compete for the cup. The Boston Bruins defeated the New York Rangers two games to none in the best-of-three final.
==League business==
===Notable rule changes===
Forward passing was permitted from the neutral zone across the blue line into the attacking zone, as long as no offensive player preceded the puck into the attacking zone; forward passing within the attacking zone was still forbidden. Regular season overtime was changed to a 10-minute, non-sudden-death format, to be played in its entirety.
===Playoff format===
The playoff format was revised to match the divisional first-place teams in a best-of-five semi-final. The divisional second-place teams and third-place teams played off in a two-game total-goals series to determine the participants for the other best-of-three semi-final. The semi-final winners then played off in a best-of-three series for the Cup.
==Regular season==
Ottawa continued in financial trouble and sold Punch Broadbent to the New York Americans. They continued to erode, and at one point, rumour had it that they would be sold to a Chicago group. Frank Ahearn, the Senators owner, denied this, but admitted that the team was for sale to the highest bidder.
The New York Americans, last place finishers in 1927–28, surprised everyone by occupying first place for much of the season in the Canadian Division. They were held up by the great play of defenceman Lionel Conacher and goaltender Roy Worters. However, the Montreal Canadiens dislodged the Americans and finished first. Boston, led by rookie Tiny Thompson in goal, led the American Division.
Bruins' player George Owen was the first NHL player to regularly wear headgear for protective purposes. Prior to this, the only time protective headgear was worn was to temporarily protect injuries. Fifty-one years later the NHL would mandate the use of helmets. Craig MacTavish was the last NHL player to not wear a helmet, retiring in 1997.
The Chicago Black Hawks set records for goal scoring futility, scoring on average less than one goal per game (33), while giving up a league worst 85 goals against. In one stretch from February 7 through February 28, the Hawks were shut out in eight consecutive games. Forward Vic Ripley was the Hawks' leading goal scorer with only 11 goals and 2 assists for 13 points for the entire 44-game season.
The season produced a record 120 shutouts in the 220 games played. George Hainsworth, Canadiens goaltender, set an NHL record that remains unmatched through the 2015–16 season of 22 shutouts and a 0.92 goals against average. Seven other goaltenders hit double digits in shutouts.
===Final standings===
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold
Canadian Division 	GP	W 	L 	T 	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Montreal Canadiens 	44	22	7 	15	59 	71	43	465
New York Americans 	44	19	13	12	50 	53	53	486
Toronto Maple Leafs	44	21	18	5 	47 	85	69	541
Ottawa Senators 	44	14	17	13	41 	54	67	461
Montreal Maroons 	44	15	20	9 	39 	67	65	638
American Division 	GP	W 	L 	T 	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Boston Bruins 	44	26	13	5 	57 	89	52	472
New York Rangers 	44	21	13	10	52 	72	65	384
Detroit Cougars 	44	19	16	9 	47 	72	63	381
Pittsburgh Pirates 	44	9 	27	8 	26 	46	80	324
Chicago Black Hawks	44	7 	29	8 	22 	33	85	363
==Playoffs==
The playoffs were now between division finishers of each division, rather than a division champion from each division. The Boston Bruins knocked off the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Rangers beat the New York Americans, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Detroit Cougars. The Rangers defeated Toronto to advance to the final against Boston.
===First round===
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
March 19	Montreal Canadiens	0 	Boston Bruins 	1 	
March 21	Montreal Canadiens	0 	Boston Bruins 	1 	
March 23	Boston Bruins 	3 	Montreal Canadiens	2 	
Boston wins best-of-five series 3–0. Boston received a bye to the final.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
March 19	New York Rangers 	0 	New York Americans	0 	
March 21	New York Americans	0 	New York Rangers 	1 	2OT
New York Rangers win two-game, total goals series 1–0
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
March 19	Toronto Maple Leafs	3 	Detroit Red Wings 	1 	
March 21	Detroit Red Wings 	1 	Toronto Maple Leafs	4 	
Toronto wins two-game, total goals series 7–2
===Second round===
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
March 24	Toronto Maple Leafs	0 	New York Rangers 	1 	
March 26	New York Rangers 	2 	Toronto Maple Leafs	1 	OT
New York Rangers win best-of-three series 2–0
===Finals===
The Bruins won their first Stanley Cup defeating the Rangers. In the process, Boston became one of the few Cup winners in history to not lose a single game in the playoffs, and the last team until 1952 to go undefeated in the playoffs.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
March 28	New York Rangers	0 	Boston Bruins 	2 	
March 29	Boston Bruins 	2 	New York Rangers	1 	
Boston wins best-of-three series 2–0
==Awards==
1928–29 NHL awards 	1928–29 NHL awards
O'Brien Cup:(Canadian Division champion) 	Montreal Canadiens
Prince of Wales Trophy:(American Division champion)	Boston Bruins
Hart Trophy:(Most valuable player) 	Roy Worters, New York Americans
Lady Byng Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) 	Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
Vezina Trophy:(Fewest goals allowed) 	George Hainsworth, Montreal Canadiens
==Player statistics==
===Scoring leaders===
Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
PLAYER 	TEAM 	GP	G 	A 	PTS	PIM
Ace Bailey 	Toronto Maple Leafs	44	22	10	32 	78
Nels Stewart 	Montreal Maroons 	44	21	8 	29 	74
Carson Cooper 	Detroit Cougars 	43	18	9 	27 	14
Howie Morenz 	Montreal Canadiens 	42	17	10	27 	47
Andy Blair 	Toronto Maple Leafs	44	12	15	27 	41
Frank Boucher 	New York Rangers 	44	10	16	26 	8
Harry Oliver 	Boston Bruins 	43	17	6 	23 	24
Bill Cook 	New York Rangers 	43	15	8 	23 	41
Jimmy Ward 	Montreal Maroons 	44	14	8 	22 	46
Frank Finnigan	Ottawa Senators 	44	15	4 	19 	71
Source: NHL.
===Leading goaltenders===
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Player 	Team 	GP	W 	L 	T 	Mins	GA	SO	GAA
George Hainsworth	Montreal Canadiens	44	22	7 	15	2800	43	22	0.92
Tiny Thompson 	Boston Bruins 	44	26	13	5 	2710	52	12	1.15
Roy Worters 	New York Americans	44	16	12	10	2390	46	13	1.15
Dolly Dolson 	Detroit Cougars 	38	19	16	9 	2750	63	10	1.37
John Ross Roach 	New York Rangers 	44	21	13	10	2760	65	13	1.41
Source: hockey-reference.com
==Team Photos==
28-29BosBru.jpg|Boston Bruins
28-29Chibh.jpg|Chicago Black Hawks
28-29DetCou.jpg|Detroit Cougars
28-29MtlCdn.jpg|Montreal Canadiens
28-29NYA.jpg|New York Americans
28-29NYR.jpg|New York Rangers
28-29OttSen.jpg|Ottawa Senators
28-29PitPir.jpg|Pittsburgh Pirates
28-29TorML.jpg|Toronto Maple Leafs
==References==
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;Notes
==External links==
*Hockey Database
*NHL.com
Category:1928 in ice hockey
Category:1929 in ice hockey