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.

During this season, the NHL office started tabulating defensive statistics, such as shots stopped, saves made and save percentage.

The league was determined to increase scoring. In the final game of the season between the Rangers and Pittsburgh, forward passing in the attacking zone was allowed; kicking of the puck was allowed; and goalies were prohibited from holding the puck more than three seconds. The experiment was considered a success, and the changes were a part of the rules for the 1928–29 season.

Arena changes The Boston Bruins moved from Boston Arena to Boston Madison Square Garden. Due to the new Chicago Stadium, the new home of the Chicago Black Hawks, still under construction, the team played games at Chicago Coliseum through January, then played the rest of their "home" games in February and March at either Detroit Olympia in Detroit (sharing it with the Detroit Cougars) or Peace Bridge Arena in Fort Erie, Ontario.

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 mandated 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

Playoffs Playoff bracket A new playoff format was adopted with a structure similar to a double-elimination tournament with a "winners' bracket" and a "losers' or repechage bracket". The top three teams in each division qualified for the playoffs. The two division winners met in a best-of-five Stanley Cup semifinal series. 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 semifinal series. The semifinal winners then played in a best-of-three Stanley Cup Final.

Quarterfinals

(A2) New York Rangers vs. (C2) New York Americans

(C3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Detroit Cougars

Semifinals

(C1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A1) Boston Bruins

(A2) New York Rangers vs. (C3) Toronto Maple Leafs

Stanley Cup 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 game in the playoffs, and were the last team until the 1951–52 Detroit Red Wings to go undefeated in the NHL playoffs.

Awards Frank Boucher won his second consecutive Lady Byng award and George Hainsworth won his third consecutive Vezina Trophy.

1928–29 NHL awardsO'Brien Cup:(Canadian Division champion) Montreal CanadiensPrince of Wales Trophy:(American Division champion) Boston BruinsHart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Roy Worters, New York AmericansLady Byng Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Frank Boucher, New York RangersVezina 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

Coaches American Division Boston Bruins: Art Ross Chicago Black Hawks: Herb Gardiner and Dick Irvin Detroit Cougars: Jack Adams New York Rangers: Lester Patrick Pittsburgh Pirates: Odie Cleghorn

Canadian Division Montreal Canadiens: Cecil Hart Montreal Maroons: Eddie Gerard New York Americans: Tommy Gorman Ottawa Senators: Dave Gill Toronto Maple Leafs: Conn Smythe

Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1928–29 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Tiny Thompson, Boston Bruins Cooney Weiland, Boston Bruins George Owen, Boston Bruins Johnny Gottselig, Chicago Black Hawks Mush March, Chicago Black Hawks Herbie Lewis, Detroit Cougars Georges Mantha, Montreal Canadiens Armand Mondou, Montreal Canadiens Baldy Northcott, Montreal Maroons Dave Trottier, Montreal Maroons Earl Robinson, Montreal Maroons Red Horner, Toronto Maple Leafs Andy Blair, Toronto Maple Leafs

Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1928–29 (listed with their last team): Cy Denneny, Boston Bruins Duke Keats, Chicago Black Hawks Dick Irvin, Chicago Black Hawks Red Green, Detroit Cougars Herb Gardiner, Montreal Canadiens Punch Broadbent, New York Americans

See also 1928–29 NHL transactions List of Stanley Cup champions 1928 in sports 1929 in sports

References

Notes

External links Hockey Database NHL.com