1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season

1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks
Division3rd Smythe
Conference7th Campbell
1974–75 record37–35–8
Home record24–12–4
Road record13–23–4
Goals for268
Goals against241
Team information
General managerTommy Ivan
CoachBilly Reay
CaptainVacant
Alternate captainsDoug Jarrett
Stan Mikita
Bill White
ArenaChicago Stadium
Team leaders
GoalsJim Pappin
Stan Mikita (36)
AssistsStan Mikita (50)
PointsStan Mikita (86)
Penalty minutesPhil Russell (260)
Plus/minusJohn Marks (+27)
WinsTony Esposito (34)
Goals against averageTony Esposito (2.74)

The 1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 49th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off a 41–14–23 record in 1973–74, earning 105 points, and finishing in second place in the West Division. Then, the Black Hawks upset the heavily favored Boston Bruins in the NHL preliminary series before losing to the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL quarter-finals.[1]

During the off-season, the NHL made a number of changes. The league expanded by two more teams, as the Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals joined the league, making the NHL an 18 team league. The schedule was then bumped up from 78 games to 80, and the previously two division league was split into two conferences and four divisions. The Black Hawks found themselves in the newly created Smythe Division with the Minnesota North Stars, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and the expansion team Kansas City Scouts. The Smythe Division was part of the newly created Campbell Conference.

Chicago began the regular season with a strong 7–3–1 in their first eleven games, however, the team fell into a slump, and found themselves under the .500 level 26 games into the season with a record of 11–12–3. The Black Hawks would continue to hover around .500 for the rest of the season, and eventually finish the year with a 37–35–8 record, earning 82 points. Chicago's 37 victories and 82 points were their lowest totals since the 1968–69 season, while their 35 losses was the most since the team lost 39 in 1957–58. The team finished in third place in the Smythe Division, and earn a spot in the post-season as the eleventh seed. [2]

Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Stan Mikita, who led the club with 36 goals, 50 assists and 86 points. Jim Pappin tied Mikita with 36 goals, and added 27 assists for 63 points. Newly acquired Ivan Boldirev, who spent the previous season with the California Golden Seals, stepped in and finished second in team scoring with 67 points, as he recorded 23 goals and 44 assists. Cliff Koroll had a strong season, scoring 27 goals and 59 points, while defenseman Dick Redmond led the blueline with 14 goals and 57 points. John Marks led the Black Hawks with a +27 rating, while Phil Russell had a team high 260 penalty minutes.

In goal, Tony Esposito once again led the club with 34 victories and a 2.74 GAA, earning six shutouts in 71 games.[3]

The Hawks opened the playoffs against the fifth seeded Boston Bruins in a best of three preliminary round. The Bruins finished the season with a 40–26–14 record, earning 94 points, and a second-place finish in the Adams Division. The series opened with a game at the Boston Garden, and the heavily favored Bruins easily disposed the Black Hawks by a score of 8–2. The series moved to Chicago Stadium for the next game, and the Hawks responded, with a 4–3 overtime victory, to set up a third and final game back in Boston. Chicago would complete the upset, stunning the Bruins by a score of 6–4 in the third game, to advance to the NHL quarter-finals.

Chicago's next opponent in a best of seven series was the second seeded Buffalo Sabres, who had a record of 49–16–15, earning 113 points, and a first-place finish in the Adams Division. The series started with two games at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. The Sabres used their home ice advantage, and quickly took a 2–0 series lead with wins of 4–1 and 3–1. The series moved to Chicago for the next two games, and the Hawks cut into the Sabres lead with a 5–4 overtime win in the third game. Buffalo responded in the fourth game though, as they cruised to a 6–2 win. The Sabres closed out the series in the fifth game back in Buffalo, winning the game 3–1.

Season standings

Final standings

Smythe Division[4]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Vancouver Canucks 80 38 32 10 271 254 +17 86
2 St. Louis Blues 80 35 31 14 269 267 +2 84
3 Chicago Blackhawks 80 37 35 8 268 241 +27 82
4 Minnesota North Stars 80 23 50 7 221 341 −120 53
5 Kansas City Scouts 80 15 54 11 184 328 −144 41

Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents


Game log

Regular season

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

Chicago Black Hawks 2, Boston Bruins 1

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 8 Chicago Black Hawks 2–8 Boston Bruins 0–1
2 April 10 Boston Bruins 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1
3 April 11 Chicago Black Hawks 6–4 Boston Bruins 2–1

Buffalo Sabres 4, Chicago Black Hawks 1

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 13 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Buffalo Sabres 0–1
2 April 15 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Buffalo Sabres 0–2
3 April 17 Buffalo Sabres 4–5 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2
4 April 20 Buffalo Sabres 6–2 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3
5 April 22 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Buffalo Sabres 1–4

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Stan Mikita 79 36 50 86 48
Ivan Boldirev 80 24 43 67 54
Jim Pappin 71 36 27 63 94
Cliff Koroll 80 27 32 59 27
Dick Redmond 80 14 43 57 90

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Tony Esposito 71 4219 34 30 7 193 6 2.74
Michel Dumas 3 121 2 0 0 7 0 3.47
Mike Veisor 9 460 1 5 1 36 0 4.70

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Cliff Koroll 8 3 5 8 8
John Marks 8 2 6 8 34
Stan Mikita 8 3 4 7 8
Ivan Boldirev 8 4 2 6 2
Dick Redmond 8 2 3 5 0

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Michel Dumas 1 19 0 0 1 0 3.16
Tony Esposito 8 472 3 5 34 0 4.32

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1974 NHL amateur draft held via conference call at the NHL office in Montreal.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 16 Grant Mulvey  Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
2 34 Alain Daigle  Canada Trois-Rivières Ducs (QMJHL)
3 52 Bob Murray  Canada Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)
4 70 Terry Ruskowski  Canada Swift Current Broncos (WCHL)
5 88 Dave Logan  Canada Laval National (QMJHL)
6 106 Bob Volpe  Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
7 124 Eddie Mio  Canada Colorado College (NCAA)
8 141 Mike St. Cyr  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
9 158 Steve Colp  United States Michigan State University (NCAA)
10 173 Rick Fraser  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
11 188 Jean Bernier  Canada Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)
12 200 Dwayne Byers  Canada Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
13 210 Glen Ing  Canada Victoria Cougars (WCHL)

Awards, records and honors

References

  1. ^ 1974–75 NHL Season Summary – Hockey-Reference.com
  2. ^ 1973–74 Chicago Black Hawks Games – Hockey-Reference.com
  3. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Tony Esposito". Archived from the original on February 17, 2008. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  4. ^ "1974-1975 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  5. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  6. ^ Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, p.424, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6

Sources