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The 1954-55 NHL season was the 38th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. The Detroit Red Wings were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Montreal Canadiens four games to three in the best-of-seven final series.
Regular season
With three games left in the season, Maurice "Rocket" Richard, the famous 50-in-50 goal scorer, got into a stick-swinging fight with Hal Laycoe of Boston Bruins and he then punched linesman Cliff Thompson. NHL President Clarence Campbell suspended the Rocket for the remaining three games of the season and the playoffs. At the time, the Canadiens held a two point lead over the Red Wings for first overall in the NHL and Richard held a two point lead over teammate Bernie Geoffrion for the NHL scoring lead. Geoffrion ended up passing Richard in total points and was awarded the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL leading scorer. Two days after the Campbell handed out the suspension, Richard attended a game at the Montreal Forum between the Canadiens and Red Wings. The Wings assumed a 4-1 lead,and then NHL president Clarence Campbell rubbed salt into the fans wounds when he showed up near the end of the first period. He was showered with pig's feet and other debris, and a fan punched him. One fan rubbed a tomato on his chest. Then a policeman, realizing the president's life was in danger, threw a tear gas bomb near the Canadiens goal during the intermission. A stampede for the exits commenced, and the fire director ordered the game called off for the safety of the public. A riot ensued that ended the game and carried over to the next day. The Red Wings won the game by forfeit and eventually went on to take first overall in the NHL for a record seventh straight season.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes| National Hockey League | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Red Wings | 70 | 42 | 17 | 11 | 95 | 204 | 134 | 827 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 70 | 41 | 18 | 11 | 93 | 228 | 157 | 890 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 70 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 70 | 147 | 135 | 990 |
| Boston Bruins | 70 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 67 | 169 | 188 | 863 |
| New York Rangers | 70 | 17 | 35 | 18 | 52 | 150 | 210 | 690 |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 70 | 13 | 40 | 17 | 43 | 161 | 235 | 733 |
Scoring leaders
Stanley Cup playoffs
Playoff bracket
NHL awards
See also
- List of Stanley Cup champions
- 8th National Hockey League All-Star Game
- National Hockey League All-Star Game
- 1954 in sports
- 1955 in sports
References
"1954-55 NHL season"