1959–60 NHL season

The 1959–60 NHL season was the 43rd season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens were the Stanley Cup winners as they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs four games to none for their fifth straight Stanley Cup.
== Regular season ==
The year was marked by important changes in the NHL. Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante, like Clint Benedict before him, began to wear a mask in hockey games. Plante, who had asthma-related problems throughout his career, began wearing a mask in practice shortly after a sinus operation in 1957. His first appearance with a mask in a game was on November 1, 1959, against the New York Rangers. Although many in the NHL disapproved of Plante's decision, due to traditions of the NHL at the time, many followed suit after Plante went undefeated in ten games with the mask on.
Phil Watson suffered an ulcer and was quietly dismissed as Ranger coach and replaced by Alf Pike. Gump Worsley was demoted to Springfield of the AHL and Worsley screamed he was finished with hockey. But he reported to Springfield anyway. Eddie Shore, known for his criticism of his players, gave Worsley a surprise vote of confidence. Gump played well for the Indians.
There was trouble brewing for Rangers right-winger sniper Andy Bathgate, who'd ripped open Plante's nose on the night of the goalie mask's official NHL debut, when, in an article in True Magazine, ghosted by Dave Anderson, he listed the names of players whom he considered guilty of the dangerous act of spearing. This was brought to the attention of NHL President Clarence Campbell, who then fined Bathgate $500 and Ranger general manager Muzz Patrick $100 on the grounds the article was prejudicial to and against the welfare of the league.
Gump Worsley, demoted to Springfield of the AHL, was brought back up as Marcel Paille was even worse in goal. Gump and the Rangers beat the Canadiens 8-3 in his first game back. Then a week later, Gump got bombed 11-2. Nothing had changed. Later against Chicago, Worsley suffered an injury that finished him for the season. Hawks' winger Bobby Hull skated over his catching glove and severed two tendons in his fingers. Al Rollins was called up to replace him. Later, Olympic hero Jack McCartan played a few games for the Rangers and played very well.
This regular season, like the two preceding it and the two following it, belonged to the Montreal Canadiens as they were in the midst of five straight first overall finishes and at the tail end of five straight Stanley Cup victories. The Detroit Red Wings, who were dead last and missed the playoffs the previous season, squeaked into the playoffs riding a Hart Memorial Trophy performance by their ageless star right-winger Gordie Howe.
This season marked the first season of the Original Six era during which every active player had played for Original Six teams only. Ken Mosdell, the last player to play for another team, retired the previous season. 
=== Final standings ===
National Hockey League	GP	W 	L 	T 	Pts	GF 	GA 	PIM
Montreal Canadiens 	70	40	18	12	92 	255	178	756
Toronto Maple Leafs 	70	35	26	9 	79 	199	195	859
Chicago Black Hawks 	70	28	29	13	69 	191	180	970
Detroit Red Wings 	70	26	29	15	67 	186	197	538
Boston Bruins 	70	28	34	8 	64 	220	241	932
New York Rangers 	70	17	38	15	49 	187	247	850
== Stanley Cup playoffs ==
All dates in 1960
The momentum did not stop for the Habs as they played the minimum number of games to win the Stanley Cup. Montreal, in the process, became the last Cup winners in NHL history to go undefeated in the playoffs to date. After winning the Stanley Cup, Maurice Richard retired from the NHL as a champion.
===Playoff bracket===
===Semifinals===
Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks had lead the league in scoring, but the well-oiled machine called the Montreal Canadiens managed to hold him to only one goal as the Canadiens swept the Black Hawks in four. The Toronto Maple Leafs, though, had a slightly tougher time against the Gordie Howe led Detroit Red Wings as it took the Leafs 6 games, including one in triple overtime, to win the series.
Chicago Black Hawks vs. Montreal Canadiens
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
March 24	Chicago Black Hawks	3 	Montreal Canadiens 	4 	
March 26	Chicago Black Hawks	3 	Montreal Canadiens 	4 	(OT)
March 29	Montreal Canadiens 	4 	Chicago Black Hawks	0 	
March 31	Montreal Canadiens 	2 	Chicago Black Hawks	0 	
Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0
Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
March 23	Detroit Red Wings 	2 	Toronto Maple Leafs	1 	
March 26	Detroit Red Wings 	2 	Toronto Maple Leafs	4 	
March 27	Toronto Maple Leafs	5 	Detroit Red Wings 	4 	(3OT)
March 29	Toronto Maple Leafs	1 	Detroit Red Wings 	2 	(OT)
April 2 	Detroit Red Wings 	4 	Toronto Maple Leafs	5 	
April 3 	Toronto Maple Leafs	4 	Detroit Red Wings 	2 	
Toronto wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2
===Final===
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 7 	Toronto Maple Leafs	2 	Montreal Canadiens 	4 	
April 9 	Toronto Maple Leafs	1 	Montreal Canadiens 	2 	
April 12	Montreal Canadiens 	5 	Toronto Maple Leafs	2 	
April 14	Montreal Canadiens 	4 	Toronto Maple Leafs	0 	
Montreal wins best-of-seven series four games to none
==Awards==
*Prince of Wales Trophy: 	Montreal Canadiens
*Art Ross Memorial Trophy: 	Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
*Calder Memorial Trophy: 	Bill Hay, Chicago Black Hawks
*Hart Memorial Trophy: 	Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
*James Norris Memorial Trophy 	Doug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens
*Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: 	Don McKenney, Boston Bruins
*Vezina Trophy: 	Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens
===All-Star teams===
First team 	  Position  	Second team
Glenn Hall, Chicago Black Hawks 	G 	Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens
Doug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens 	D 	Allan Stanley, Toronto Maple Leafs
Marcel Pronovost, Detroit Red Wings	D 	Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks
Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens 	C 	Bronco Horvath, Boston Bruins
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings 	RW 	Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks 	LW 	Dean Prentice, New York Rangers
==Player statistics==
===Scoring leaders===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
Player 	Team 	GP	G 	A 	Pts
Bobby Hull 	Chicago Black Hawks	70	39	42	81
Bronco Horvath 	Boston Bruins 	68	39	41	80
Jean Beliveau 	Montreal Canadiens 	60	34	40	74
Andy Bathgate 	New York Rangers 	70	26	48	74
Henri Richard 	Montreal Canadiens 	70	30	43	73
Gordie Howe 	Detroit Red Wings 	70	28	45	73
Bernie Geoffrion	Montreal Canadiens 	59	30	41	71
Don McKenney 	Boston Bruins 	70	20	49	69
Vic Stasiuk] 	Boston Bruins 	69	29	39	68
Dean Prentice 	New York Rangers 	70	32	34	66
===Leading goaltenders===
Note: GP = Games played; MIN = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shut outs; AVG = Goals against average
Player 	Team 	GP	MINS	GA 	SO	AVG
Jacques Plante	Montreal Canadiens 	69	4140	175	3 	2.54
Glenn Hall 	Chicago Black Hawks	70	4200	179	6 	2.56
Terry Sawchuk 	Detroit Red Wings 	58	3480	155	5 	2.67
Johnny Bower 	Toronto Maple Leafs	66	3960	177	5 	2.68
Don Simmons 	Boston Bruins 	28	1680	91 	2 	3.25
Harry Lumley 	Boston Bruins 	42	2520	146	2 	3.48
Gump Worsley 	New York Rangers 	39	2301	135	0 	3.52
==Team Photos==
59-60BosBru.jpg|Boston Bruins
59-60ChiBH.jpg|Chicago Black Hawks
59-60DetRW.jpg|Detroit Red Wings
59-60MtlCdn.jpg|Montreal Canadiens
59-60NYR.jpg|New York Rangers
59-60TorML.jpg|Toronto Maple Leafs
==References==
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;Notes
==External links==
*Hockey Database
*NHL.com
Category:1959 in ice hockey
Category:1960 in ice hockey