Cool-As-Ice: Strat-O-Matic’s

New Classic Hockey Seasons

By Glenn Guzzo

The three classic hockey seasons to be shipped soon fit neatly into Strat-O-Matic’s lineup.

With the 1977-78 and 1973-74 NHL seasons, gamers will be able to play seven consecutive seasons beginning 1973-74 through 1979-80. That leaves only 1971-72 and 1972-73 to complete a run of 16 seasons beginning with 1964-65.

Meanwhile, the 1950-51 NHL is the midpoint between Strat-O-Matic’s current oldest hockey seasons, 1946-47 and 1955-56. Those three seasons educate fans about the early dynasties of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens.

In ’47, the Maple Leafs began a run of three straight Stanley Cups. In ’51, Detroit had the strongest of its seven straight regular-season champs (who also won four Stanley Cups from ’49-’55, but not in ’51). And in ’56, Montreal broke Detroit’s dynasty but starting the greatest of its own, the first of five straight Stanley Cups.

1950-51

In ’51, the 101-point Red Wings were the first NHL team to reach 100 points. Star RW Gordie Howe set a league record with 86 points to win his first scoring title, a dominant 20 points better than runner-up Maurice “Rocket” Richard of Montreal. Howe led the NHL with 43 goals (one better than Richard) and 43 assists (tied with Toronto’s Teeder Kennedy).

Rookie of the Year Terry Sawchuk, who would retire many years later as the NHL’s highest-winning goaltender, got off to a big start by setting the league record for wins in a season – all 44 of Detroit’s victories.

These Red Wings had serious competition in the regular season only from Toronto, whose 41 wins and 95 points stood as franchise records until the Leafs began playing 84-game seasons in 1992-93. Detroit scored 24 more goals than Toronto, but the Leafs yielded the fewest goals in the NHL, one fewer than the Red Wings.

Toronto had the last laugh after third-place Montreal upset Detroit in the first round of the four-team playoffs. Then the Leafs disposed of the Canadiens in a five-game final. The Cup-winning goal was scored in overtime by Bill Barilko in what proved to be his final game. In the off-season he disappeared on a fishing trip and his body was not discovered for more than a decade.

Three teams fought for the final two playoff spots: Montreal, led by Richard (42 goals, 66 points), Boston, led by center Milt Schmidt (22 goals, 61 points) and New York. Chicago, finishing last for the third straight time during a seven-year hibernation in the NHL cellar, had one of its worst teams ever, with 13 wins and 36 points.

Nine of the top 11 scoring leaders were from Detroit and Toronto, including the Detroit’s future Hall of Famers, Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel and Red Kelly. Toronto’s high scorers included legendary winger Max Bentley and 30-goal men Tod Sloan and Sid Smith.

1973-74

It took seven years for one of the NHL’s 1967-68 expansion teams to win the Stanley Cup. It took the unprovoked brawling tactics of the 1973-74 Philadelphia Flyers to accomplish the task.

Forever remembered as the “Broad Street Bullies,” the Flyers also excelled when finesse was needed, thanks to its Hall-of-Fame talent: G Bernie Parent, C Bobby Clarke and LW Bill Barber. Four different Flyers scored at least 32 goals, including nifty Rich MacLeish, who also scored the Cup winner in a classic 1-0 finale in the seven-game battle with high-powered Boston.

The 112-point Flyers could not match the offensive firepower of 113-point Boston in the regular season, but Parent, who had returned this season from the WHL to lead the NHL with 47 wins and a 1.89 goals-against-average, was at his best at the end against the league’s dominant offense.

Philadelphia also led the league by killing 88 percent of its penalties – necessary, because Dave Schultz’ record 384 penalty minutes led seven Flyers with more than 100 PIM each.

Boston, whose 349 goals were the most in the NHL by far, had the league’s top four scorers: Phil Esposito (68 goals, 77 assists), Bobby Orr (32 goals, 90 assists), Ken Hodge (50 goals, 55 assists) and Wayne Cashman (30 goals, 59 assists). Esposito centered LW Cashman and RW Hodge on a line that was nearly impossible to stop, especially when, as usual, nonpareil defenseman Orr was on the ice at the same time.

Other teams carded in this set:

n Chicago (105 pts), led by G Tony Esposito’s 10 shutouts and 2.04 goals-against-average, plus three 30-goal men (Stan Mikita, Pit Martin, Jim Pappin).

n Montreal (99 pts), with high-scorers Yvan Cournoyer (40 goals), Pete Mahovlich (36) and Frank Mahovlich (31).

n New York Rangers (94 pts), with eight men who scored 21-36 goals, topped by RW Rod Gilbert (36) and bolstered by superb two-way defenseman Brad Park (25 goals, 82 points), the highest-scoring defenseman in the league not named Orr. G Eddie Giacomin won 30 games.

n Toronto (86 pts), led by C Darryl Sittler (38 goals, 84 points), five 20-goal men and G Doug Favell (2.71 GAA).

The computer has more treats: Buffalo’s Rick Martin (52 goals), Detroit’s Mickey Redmond (51), Minnesota’s Bill Goldsworthy (48) and Pittsburgh’s high-flying line of C Syl Apps (24 goals, 61 assists) setting up LW Lowell MacDonald (43 goals) and RW Jean Pronovost (40 goals).

1977-78

It hardly seems possible, but the 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens were nearly as dominant as the record-setting, 60-win team of the season before. This version was a mere 59-10-11, good for 129 points and the third of four straight Stanley Cups in a dynasty loaded with superstar players.

The ’78 Canadiens scored nearly twice as many goals (359) as they allowed (183), overpowering the NHL in both categories and on the power-play, where Montreal scored on an astonishing 32 percent of its chances.

The Habs had repeat MVP and repeat scoring leader Guy Lafleur (60 goals, 132 points) and his Hall of Fame linemates, LW Steve Shutt (49 goals) and C Jacques Lemaire (36 goals, 61 assists). Thirteen Canadiens scored double-figure goals. And LW Bob Gainey won the league’s first Selke award as best defensive forward, his first of four straight.

Repeat Vezina goalies Ken Dryden (2.05 GAA) and Bunny Larocque backed up star defensemen Larry Robinson (13 goals, 52 assists), Guy Lapointe (13 goals) and Serge Savard.

Other teams carded in this set:

n Boston (112 pts): The Cup runners-up again. C Peter McNab had 41 goals and 10 other Bruins scored 20-29, including D Brad Park.

n New York Islanders (113 pts): Won their first Patrick Division crown with great firepower – rookie RW Mike Bossy (53 goals), C Bryan Trottier (46 goals, and 123 points, second to Lafleur), D Dennis Potvin (30 goals, 94 points, by far the league’s highest-scoring defenseman) and three other 30-goal men.

n Buffalo (105 pts): C Gilbert Perreault (41goal, 89 points) and RW Danny Gare (39 goals)

n Philadelphia (105 pts): G Bernie Parent (2.22 GAA) made the Flyers the only team close to allowing as few as Montreal. Bill Barber (41 goals) and Bobby Clarke (89 points) supplied the offense.

n Chicago (83 pts): Ivan Boldirev (35g) helped the Hawks win the league’s weakest division.

The computer has such attractions as the 92-point Toronto Maple Leafs, led by C Darryl Sittler (45-72-117), RW Lanny McDonald (47-40-87) and D Borje Salming (16-60-76) G Mike Palmateer (2.74 GAA). Atlanta’s best team (87 points) is here, with a dozen double-figure goal-scorers and G Dan Bouchard (2.75 GAA). So are the high-scoring New York Rangers, with Pat Hickey (40 goals), Phil Esposito (38) and five 20-goal men, including D Ron Greschner (24-48-72). Los Angeles had a pair of high-scoring centers in Marcel Dionne (36-43-79) and Butch Goring (37-36-73). Jean Pronovost scored 40 goals for Pittsburgh.