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1971–72 Chicago Black Hawks season

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1971–72 Chicago Black Hawks
West Division champions
Division1st West
1971–72 record46–17–15
Home record28–3–8
Road record18–14–7
Goals for256
Goals against166
Team information
General managerTommy Ivan
CoachBilly Reay
CaptainVacant
ArenaChicago Stadium
Team leaders
GoalsBobby Hull (50)
AssistsPit Martin (51)
PointsBobby Hull (93)
Penalty minutesKeith Magnuson (201)
Plus/minusBobby Hull (+54)
WinsTony Esposito (31)
Goals against averageTony Esposito (1.77)

The 1971–72 Chicago Black Hawks season was the club's 46th season in the National Hockey League, and their second consecutive first-place finish in the NHL West, with 46 victories and 107 points. In the 1972 playoffs, the Black Hawks swept the Pittsburgh Penguins in the quarter-finals before being swept by the New York Rangers in the semi-finals.

Regular season

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Chicago had an excellent start to the season, winning their opening five games, and never let up throughout the season, as they had an unbeaten streak of ten games in December to take control of the West Division. The Black Hawks finish the season with a twelve-game unbeaten streak to win their third straight divisional title, with a record of 46–17–15, tying the club record with 107 points that was set during the 1970–71 season. The Black Hawks finished 21 points ahead of the second place Minnesota North Stars.[1]

Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Bobby Hull, who scored a team high 50 goals and 93 points, which placed him seventh in league scoring. Hull also led the club with a +54 rating. Pit Martin led the club with 51 assists, and finished second in team scoring with 75 points. Dennis Hull had 30 goals and 69 points, while Stan Mikita was just behind him with 26 goals and 65 points. On defense, Pat Stapleton led the club with 41 points, while Bill White and Doug Jarrett each had 29 points. Keith Magnuson led the team in penalty minutes, as he accumulated 201.

In goal, Tony Esposito led the club with 31 victories and a 1.77 goals against average, along with nine shutouts while appearing in 48 games.[2] Backup goaltender Gary Smith won 14 games with a 2.42 goals against average and five shutouts.[3] They helped the team have a league low 166 goals against, and were awarded the Vezina Trophy for their efforts.

Season standings

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West Division[4]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Chicago Black Hawks 78 46 17 15 256 166 +90 107
2 Minnesota North Stars 78 37 29 12 212 191 +21 86
3 St. Louis Blues 78 28 39 11 208 247 −39 67
4 Pittsburgh Penguins 78 26 38 14 220 258 −38 66
5 Philadelphia Flyers 78 26 38 14 200 236 −36 66
6 California Golden Seals 78 21 39 18 216 288 −72 60
7 Los Angeles Kings 78 20 49 9 206 305 −99 49

Record vs. opponents

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Schedule and results

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 9 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 St. Louis Blues 1–0–0 2
2 October 10 Detroit Red Wings 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0–0 4
3 October 13 St. Louis Blues 0–1 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0–0 6
4 October 16 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 Minnesota North Stars 4–0–0 8
5 October 17 Los Angeles Kings 0–4 Chicago Black Hawks 5–0–0 10
6 October 20 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 New York Rangers 5–1–0 10
7 October 21 Chicago Black Hawks 5–2 Buffalo Sabres 6–1–0 12
8 October 23 Chicago Black Hawks 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–1–0 14
9 October 24 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Philadelphia Flyers 7–2–0 14
10 October 26 Chicago Black Hawks 5–2 Detroit Red Wings 8–2–0 16
11 October 30 Chicago Black Hawks 5–1 Los Angeles Kings 9–2–0 18
12 October 31 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Vancouver Canucks 9–3–0 18
13 November 3 Philadelphia Flyers 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 10–3–0 20
14 November 6 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Montreal Canadiens 10–4–0 20
15 November 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 11–4–0 22
16 November 10 Boston Bruins 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 12–4–0 24
17 November 14 California Golden Seals 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 13–4–0 26
18 November 17 Vancouver Canucks 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 14–4–0 28
19 November 20 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Boston Bruins 14–5–0 28
20 November 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–7 Chicago Black Hawks 15–5–0 30
21 November 24 Montreal Canadiens 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 15–5–1 31
22 November 27 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 15–5–2 32
23 November 28 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 16–5–2 34
24 November 30 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Vancouver Canucks 16–6–2 34
25 December 3 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 California Golden Seals 16–7–2 34
26 December 5 Los Angeles Kings 0–7 Chicago Black Hawks 17–7–2 36
27 December 8 New York Rangers 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 17–7–3 37
28 December 9 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Buffalo Sabres 18–7–3 39
29 December 11 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs 19–7–3 41
30 December 12 Minnesota North Stars 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 20–7–3 43
31 December 15 Buffalo Sabres 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 21–7–3 45
32 December 18 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Minnesota North Stars 22–7–3 47
33 December 19 St. Louis Blues 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 23–7–3 49
34 December 22 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 California Golden Seals 24–7–3 51
35 December 26 Los Angeles Kings 3–6 Chicago Black Hawks 25–7–3 53
36 December 29 Boston Bruins 5–1 Chicago Black Hawks 25–8–3 53
37 January 2 Philadelphia Flyers 2–6 Chicago Black Hawks 26–8–3 55
38 January 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 26–8–4 56
39 January 8 Chicago Black Hawks 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins 27–8–4 58
40 January 9 Montreal Canadiens 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 28–8–4 60
41 January 12 Chicago Black Hawks 5–5 New York Rangers 28–8–5 61
42 January 15 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Boston Bruins 28–9–5 61
43 January 16 Minnesota North Stars 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 29–9–5 63
44 January 19 California Golden Seals 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 30–9–5 65
45 January 20 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Philadelphia Flyers 30–10–5 65
46 January 23 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–4 Chicago Black Hawks 31–10–5 67
47 January 27 Vancouver Canucks 0–4 Chicago Black Hawks 32–10–5 69
48 January 29 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 33–10–5 71
49 January 30 Detroit Red Wings 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 34–10–5 73
50 February 1 Chicago Black Hawks 4–7 Los Angeles Kings 34–11–5 73
51 February 4 Chicago Black Hawks 6–2 Vancouver Canucks 35–11–5 75
52 February 6 Minnesota North Stars 0–5 Chicago Black Hawks 36–11–5 77
53 February 9 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 New York Rangers 36–12–5 77
54 February 10 Chicago Black Hawks 1–7 Montreal Canadiens 36–13–5 77
55 February 12 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Detroit Red Wings 36–13–6 78
56 February 13 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 37–13–6 80
57 February 15 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 St. Louis Blues 38–13–6 82
58 February 16 Philadelphia Flyers 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 38–13–7 83
59 February 20 Boston Bruins 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks 38–14–7 83
60 February 23 Buffalo Sabres 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks 38–15–7 83
61 February 24 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Buffalo Sabres 38–16–7 83
62 February 26 California Golden Seals 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 39–16–7 85
63 February 27 Vancouver Canucks 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 39–16–8 86
64 March 1 Chicago Black Hawks 6–4 Los Angeles Kings 40–16–8 88
65 March 3 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 California Golden Seals 40–16–9 89
66 March 5 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Minnesota North Stars 40–17–9 89
67 March 8 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 New York Rangers 40–17–10 90
68 March 11 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Montreal Canadiens 40–17–11 91
69 March 12 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 Detroit Red Wings 41–17–11 93
70 March 15 New York Rangers 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 42–17–11 95
71 March 18 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 42–17–12 96
72 March 19 Buffalo Sabres 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 42–17–13 97
73 March 23 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Philadelphia Flyers 43–17–13 99
74 March 25 Chicago Black Hawks 5–5 Boston Bruins 43–17–14 100
75 March 26 St. Louis Blues 0–4 Chicago Black Hawks 44–17–14 102
76 March 29 Montreal Canadiens 5–5 Chicago Black Hawks 44–17–15 103
77 April 1 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0 St. Louis Blues 45–17–15 105
78 April 2 Detroit Red Wings 1–6 Chicago Black Hawks 46–17–15 107

Playoffs

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The Hawks opened the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished fourth in the West Division with a record of 26–38–14, earning 66 points. The series opened with two games at Chicago Stadium, and the Black Hawks, who had a record of 28–3–8 at home, continued their dominance, as they defeated the Penguins 3–1 and 3–2 to take a 2–0 series lead. The series moved to the Pittsburgh Civic Arena for the next two games, however, it was the Black Hawks who continued to stay hot, as they shutout the Penguins 2–0 in the third game, and finished off the series sweep with a 6–5 overtime win in the fourth game.

Chicago's next opponent was the New York Rangers for the second straight year, who had finished the season with a 48–17–13 record, earning 109 points, and a second-place finish in the East Division. The Rangers defeated the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Montreal Canadiens in their first playoff series. Since the Black Hawks won their division, they were given a home-ice advantage in the series for the second straight year. The series opened up with two games at Chicago Stadium, however, it was the Rangers who struck first, defeating the Hawks 3–2, then taking the second game in Chicago by a score of 5–3 to take an early 2–0 series lead. Chicago did not get themselves back in the series, as New York won the third game 3–2, and the Rangers completed the sweep of the Black Hawks with a 6–2 thumping in the fourth game.

Chicago Black Hawks 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 0

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0
2 April 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0
3 April 8 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–0
4 April 9 Chicago Black Hawks 6–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–0

New York Rangers 4, Chicago Black Hawks 0

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 16 New York Rangers 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 0–1
2 April 18 New York Rangers 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–2
3 April 20 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 New York Rangers 0–3
4 April 23 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 New York Rangers 0–4

Player stats

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Regular season

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Scoring leaders
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Bobby Hull 78 50 43 93 24
Pit Martin 78 24 51 75 56
Dennis Hull 78 30 39 69 10
Stan Mikita 74 26 39 65 46
Jim Pappin 64 27 21 48 38
Goaltending
Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Tony Esposito 48 2780 31 10 6 82 9 1.77
Gary Smith 28 1540 14 5 6 62 5 2.42
Gerry Desjardins 6 360 1 2 3 21 0 3.50

Playoffs

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Scoring leaders
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Christian Bordeleau 8 3 6 9 0
Bobby Hull 8 4 4 8 6
Jim Pappin 8 2 5 7 4
Pit Martin 8 4 2 6 4
Dennis Hull 8 4 2 6 4
Goaltending
Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Gary Smith 2 120 1 1 3 1 1.50
Tony Esposito 5 300 2 3 16 0 3.20
Gerry Desjardins 1 60 1 0 5 0 5.00

Transactions

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September 9, 1971 To California Golden Seals

Kerry Bond
Gerry Desjardins
Gerry Pinder

To Chicago Black Hawks

Gary Smith

October 18, 1971 To California Golden Seals

Gilles Meloche
Paul Shmyr

To Chicago Black Hawks

Gerry Desjardins

Draft picks

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Chicago's draft picks at the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 12 Dan Spring  Canada Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
2 26 Dave Kryskow  Canada Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
3 40 Bob Peppler  Canada St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
4 54 Clyde Simon  Canada St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
5 68 Dean Blais  United States University of Minnesota (NCAA)
6 80 Jim Johnston  Canada University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

Farm teams

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ 1971–72 Chicago Black Hawks Games – Hockey-Reference.com
  2. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history: Tony Esposito". Archived from the original on February 17, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
  3. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history: Gary Smith". Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
  4. ^ "1971–1972 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  5. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

Sources

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