1967–68 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1967–68 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 42nd season in the NHL. The team was coming off their best regular season in team history. In 1966–67, Chicago finished in first place for the first time in club history with a franchise record 94 points. The Black Hawks were then upset by the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games in the NHL semi-finals.^[1]

1967–68 Chicago Black Hawks
Division	4th East
1967–68 record	32–26–16
Home record	20–13–4
Road record	12–13–12
Goals for	212
Goals against	222
Team information
General manager	Tommy Ivan
Coach	Billy Reay
Captain	Pierre Pilote
Alternate captains	Bobby Hull Stan Mikita
Arena	Chicago Stadium
Team leaders
Goals	Bobby Hull (44)
Assists	Stan Mikita (47)
Points	Stan Mikita (87)
Penalty minutes	Gilles Marotte (122)
Plus/minus	Bobby Hull (+14)
Wins	Denis DeJordy (23)
Goals against average	Denis DeJordy (2.71)
← 1966–67 1968–69 →

Off-season

There were many changes in the NHL during the off-season. Most notably the league doubled in size, as six expansion teams began play in the 1967–68 season. The new teams added to the league were the California Seals (renamed to Oakland Seals in November), Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. The league placed all of the expansion teams in the new West Division, while the Original Six teams made up a newly created East Division. The NHL schedule also increased from 70 to 74 games.

The Black Hawks saw significant roster changes as they lost a number of players in the 1967 NHL expansion draft. The most noteworthy loss was goaltender Glenn Hall, left unprotected by the Hawks and drafted by the St. Louis Blues. Chicago also made a blockbuster trade, sending Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, and Fred Stanfield to the Boston Bruins for Pit Martin, Gilles Marotte, and Jack Norris.

Regular season

A six-game losing streak to start the season left the Black Hawks in last place. Chicago then rebounded, going 20–4–12 in their next 36 games. Poor play late in the season left the team with a 32–26–16 mark, good for 80 points and the fourth and final playoff berth from the East Division. It was the team's ninth consecutive postseason appearance.^[2]

Stan Mikita led the Hawks offense. His 40 goals and 47 assists (a league-best 87 points) won him both the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy for the second straight year. Bobby Hull led the league in goals for the sixth time in his career, as he scored 44 times and earned 75 points. Kenny Wharram had another very solid season, earning 69 points, while Doug Mohns finished with 53 points. Pat Stapleton led the defense with 38 points, while Pierre Pilote finished just behind him with 37. Newly acquired Gilles Marotte led the team in penalty minutes with 122.

Denis DeJordy saw most of the action in goal. Playing in 50 games, DeJordy recorded a career high 23 wins, along with a team best 2.71 GAA and four shutouts.^[3]

Season standings

East Division^[4]

• v
• t
• e

		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Montreal Canadiens	74	42	22	10	236	167	+69	94
2	New York Rangers	74	39	23	12	226	183	+43	90
3	Boston Bruins	74	37	27	10	259	216	+43	84
4	Chicago Black Hawks	74	32	26	16	212	222	−10	80
5	Toronto Maple Leafs	74	33	31	10	209	176	+33	76
6	Detroit Red Wings	74	27	35	12	245	257	−12	66

Record vs. opponents

Vs. East Division 1967–68 NHL records[5] Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYR TOR Total Boston — 5–3–2 5–3–2 5–5 6–2–2 2–5–3 23–18–9 Chicago 3–5–2 — 4–3–3 2–6–2 3–4–3 5–4–1 17–22–11 Detroit 3–5–2 3–4–3 — 3–6–1 3–5–2 1–8–1 13–28–9 Montreal 5–5 6–2–2 6–3–1 — 4–4–2 5–3–2 26–17–7 New York 2–6–2 4–3–3 5–3–2 4–4–2 — 7–3 22–19–9 Toronto 5–2–3 4–5–1 8–1–1 3–5–2 3–7 — 23–20–7

Vs. West Division 1967–68 NHL records Team LAK MIN OAK PHI PIT STL Total Boston 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–1–1 14–9–1 Chicago 2–1–1 3–1 3–0–1 3–1 2–1–1 2–0–2 15–4–5 Detroit 1–2–1 2–2 3–0–1 3–1 3–1 2–1–1 14–7–3 Montreal 2–2 2–1–1 3–1 2–1–1 4–0 3–0–1 16–5–3 New York 2–2 2–0–2 4–0 3–1 3–0–1 3–1 17–4–3 Toronto 2–2 2–1–1 3–1 1–3 1–2–1 1–2–1 10–11–3

Playoffs

The Hawks would open the playoffs against the New York Rangers in the East Division semifinals. The Rangers finished the season with 90 points, which was 10 more than Chicago. The series opened up with two games at Madison Square Garden in New York, and the Rangers took control of the series, winning both games for a 2–0 series lead. The series moved to Chicago Stadium for the next two games, and the Hawks responded on their home ice, winning both games to even the series up. The fifth game was played in New York, however, the Black Hawks held off the Rangers, winning the game 2–1, and took a 3–2 series lead. Chicago would wrap up the series in the sixth game at home, easily defeating the Rangers 4–1, and advance to the East Division finals.

Chicago would face the Montreal Canadiens, with the winner advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadiens had the best record in the NHL, as they earned 94 points. Montreal swept the Boston Bruins in their first playoff round. The series began at the Montreal Forum, and the Canadiens quickly took a 2–0 series lead, as they dominated the Hawks in both games, winning 9–2 and 4–1. The series moved to Chicago for the next two games, however, in the third game of the series, Montreal took a 3–0 series lead, doubling the Hawks 4–2 to put Chicago on the brink of elimination. The Black Hawks staved off elimination in the fourth game, narrowly defeating Montreal 2–1, however, in the fifth game, played in Montreal, the Canadiens ended the series with an overtime winning goal, and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.^[6]

Schedule and results

Regular season

1967–68 regular season[2]
October Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points 1 October 11 New York Rangers 6–3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–1–0 0 2 October 14 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–2–0 0 3 October 15 Toronto Maple Leafs 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3–0 0 4 October 18 Boston Bruins 7–1 Chicago Black Hawks 0–4–0 0 5 October 21 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–5–0 0 6 October 22 Los Angeles Kings 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–6–0 0 7 October 25 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 New York Rangers 0–6–1 1 8 October 28 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Minnesota North Stars 1–6–1 3 9 October 29 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Detroit Red Wings 1–7–1 3
November Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points 10 November 2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Los Angeles Kings 2–7–1 5 11 November 5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 California Seals[7] 2–7–2 6 12 November 8 Montreal Canadiens 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–7–2 8 13 November 11 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Montreal Canadiens 3–7–3 9 14 November 12 St. Louis Blues 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–7–3 11 15 November 15 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 St. Louis Blues 5–7–3 13 16 November 18 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 5–7–4 14 17 November 19 Detroit Red Wings 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 5–7–5 15 18 November 22 Chicago Black Hawks 7–1 New York Rangers 6–7–5 17 19 November 23 Montreal Canadiens 7–0 Chicago Black Hawks 6–8–5 17 20 November 25 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Minnesota North Stars 7–8–5 19 21 November 26 Minnesota North Stars 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 8–8–5 21 22 November 29 Philadelphia Flyers 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 9–8–5 23
December Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points 23 December 2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Boston Bruins 9–8–6 24 24 December 3 Minnesota North Stars 4–3 Chicago Black Hawks 9–9–6 24 25 December 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–7 Chicago Black Hawks 10–9–6 26 26 December 9 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Montreal Canadiens 10–9–7 27 27 December 10 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 Philadelphia Flyers 11–9–7 29 28 December 13 New York Rangers 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 12–9–7 31 29 December 14 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Detroit Red Wings 13–9–7 33 30 December 16 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins 13–9–8 34 31 December 17 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 14–9–8 36 32 December 20 Boston Bruins 3–6 Chicago Black Hawks 15–9–8 38 33 December 23 Philadelphia Flyers 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 16–9–8 40 34 December 25 Montreal Canadiens 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 17–9–8 42 35 December 27 Chicago Black Hawks 2–7 Boston Bruins 17–10–8 42 36 December 30 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 New York Rangers 17–10–9 43 37 December 31 Oakland Seals 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 18–10–9 45
January Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points 38 January 6 Detroit Red Wings 2–6 Chicago Black Hawks 19–10–9 47 39 January 7 Boston Bruins 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 20–10–9 49 40 January 10 New York Rangers 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 20–10–10 50 41 January 13 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 Detroit Red Wings 20–10–11 51 42 January 14 St. Louis Blues 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 20–10–12 52 43 January 17 New York Rangers 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 20–11–12 52 44 January 20 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Montreal Canadiens 20–12–12 52 45 January 21 Chicago Black Hawks 0–6 Boston Bruins 20–13–12 52 46 January 24 Detroit Red Wings 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 20–14–12 52 47 January 27 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Toronto Maple Leafs 21–14–12 54 48 January 28 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks 21–15–12 54 49 January 31 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 New York Rangers 22–15–12 56
February Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points 50 February 1 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 Boston Bruins 22–15–13 57 51 February 3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Philadelphia Flyers 22–16–13 57 52 February 4 Los Angeles Kings 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 23–16–13 59 53 February 7 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 24–16–13 61 54 February 10 Chicago Black Hawks 4–6 Montreal Canadiens 24–17–13 61 55 February 11 Montreal Canadiens 6–0 Chicago Black Hawks 24–18–13 61 56 February 14 Boston Bruins 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 25–18–13 63 57 February 17 Chicago Black Hawks 7–4 Detroit Red Wings 26–18–13 65 58 February 18 Detroit Red Wings 1–7 Chicago Black Hawks 27–18–13 67 59 February 21 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0 Oakland Seals 28–18–13 69 60 February 24 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Los Angeles Kings 28–18–14 70 61 February 28 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0 Toronto Maple Leafs 29–18–14 72
March Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points 62 March 2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 St. Louis Blues 29–18–15 73 63 March 3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–4 New York Rangers 29–19–15 73 64 March 6 Boston Bruins 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 29–20–15 73 65 March 9 Chicago Black Hawks 0–5 Montreal Canadiens 29–21–15 73 66 March 10 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–4 Chicago Black Hawks 30–21–15 75 67 March 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 31–21–15 77 68 March 17 Oakland Seals 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 32–21–15 79 69 March 20 New York Rangers 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 32–22–15 79 70 March 21 Chicago Black Hawks 0–8 Boston Bruins 32–23–15 79 71 March 24 Montreal Canadiens 7–2 Chicago Black Hawks 32–24–15 79 72 March 28 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Detroit Red Wings 32–25–15 79 73 March 30 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 32–26–15 79 74 March 31 Detroit Red Wings 5–5 Chicago Black Hawks 32–26–16 80
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1968 Stanley Cup playoffs[2]
Quarterfinals vs. (2) New York Rangers – Black Hawks win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series 1 April 4 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 New York Rangers 0–1 2 April 9 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 New York Rangers 0–2 3 April 11 New York Rangers 4–7 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 4 April 13 New York Rangers 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 5 April 14 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1 New York Rangers 3–2 6 April 16 New York Rangers 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2
Semifinals vs. (1) Montreal Canadiens – Canadiens win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series 1 April 18 Chicago Black Hawks 2–9 Montreal Canadiens 0–1 2 April 20 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Montreal Canadiens 0–2 3 April 23 Montreal Canadiens 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 4 April 25 Montreal Canadiens 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 5 April 28 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Montreal Canadiens 1–4
Legend:   Win   Loss

Player stats

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Stan Mikita	72	40	47	87	14
Bobby Hull	71	44	31	75	52
Kenny Wharram	74	27	42	69	18
Doug Mohns	65	24	29	53	53
Pat Stapleton	67	4	34	38	34

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	GAA
Denis DeJordy	50	2838	23	15	11	128	4	2.71
Dave Dryden	27	1268	7	8	5	69	1	3.26
Jack Norris	7	334	2	3	0	22	1	3.95

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Stan Mikita	11	5	7	12	6
Bobby Hull	11	4	6	10	15
Pit Martin	11	3	6	9	2
Chico Maki	11	2	5	7	4
Doug Mohns	11	1	5	6	12

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
Denis DeJordy	11	662	5	6	34	0	3.08

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1967 NHL amateur draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	7	Bob Tombari	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (NOHA)