1929–30 Boston Bruins season

The 1929–30 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' sixth season in the NHL. In defending its American Division title for the second straight season, the Bruins took advantage of new rules and its powerhouse lineup to set three records including most wins in a single regular season (38), most regular season wins on home ice (20), and the best single season winning percentage in NHL history (0.875) – a record which still stands.[1] However, the club failed to defend its Stanley Cup title, losing in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Montreal Canadiens.

1929–30 Boston Bruins
American Division champions
Division1st American
1929–30 record38–5–1
Home record21–1–0
Road record17–4–1
Goals for179 (1st)
Goals against98 (1st)
Team information
General managerArt Ross
CoachArt Ross
CaptainLionel Hitchman
ArenaBoston Garden
Team leaders
GoalsCooney Weiland (43)
AssistsDutch Gainor (31)
PointsCooney Weiland (73)
Penalty minutesEddie Shore (105)
WinsTiny Thompson (38)
Goals against averageTiny Thompson (2.23)

Regular season
See also: 1929–30 NHL season

To combat low scoring – the previous season had the fewest goals per game recorded before or thereafter[2] – a major rule change was implemented. Players were now allowed forward passing in the offensive zone, instead of only in the defensive and neutral zones.[3] This led to abuse: players sat in front of the opposing net waiting for a pass, and goals scored nearly tripled league-wide.[2] The rule was changed again mid-season in December 1929, and players were no longer allowed to enter the offensive zone before the puck, thus giving birth to the modern offside rule.[4]

In the meantime, however, Boston took advantage of the new rule from its opening match, defeating Detroit 5–2 before a sellout crowd behind Cooney Weiland's two goals.[5] The team was noted in the press for its skill in dealing with the new infractions called for hanging back, recording many fewer penalties than the other teams in early season play.[5]

After a rough match on November 23 against the Montreal Maroons, superstar defenseman Eddie Shore went to the hospital with multiple injuries, missing the return match against the Maroons on the 26th. Bruins' president Charles Adams presented Shore with a check for $500, purportedly $100 for each facial scar he received at the hands of the Maroons.[6][7]

The Bruins went on a tear starting with a 3–2 win over Pittsburgh on November 30, winning fourteen straight games through to a January 9 4–3 win against Pittsburgh; this set a new league mark for consecutive wins that would last for 52 years until the New York Islanders broke it in 1982, and is still the third longest such streak in league history.[8] The streak was broken by the New York Americans – the league's last place team at the time – on January 12.[9] The Dynamite Line of Cooney Weiland, Dit Clapper and Dutch Gainor was responsible for most of the team's goals to that point,[10] and by the halfway mark of the season, the Bruins had a 20–3 record, nearly twice as many wins as any other team in the league.[11]

In another unusual incident involving Shore, well known for his fighting ability, the Bruins' defenseman was challenged to a boxing match by baseball player Art Shires.[12] While NHL President Frank Calder said that Shore's participation was up to Bruins' manager Art Ross to decide, baseball commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis vetoed Shires' participation, and the match was never held.[7]

The Bruins had yet another streak (broken by a Chicago Black Hawks overtime win on March 13) of seventeen games without a defeat, tying the then-league record.[13] By season's end, Weiland led the league in scoring (one goal shy of Joe Malone's 1918 record of 44, Dit Clapper had finished third, and Dutch Gainor ninth.[14] The Dynamite Line scored 102 of the Bruins' league record 179 goals, as many as last-place Pittsburgh managed.[14]

Among the many marks set by the Bruins in the 1930 season that remain NHL records was the fewest ties in an NHL season with 1;[8] and the fewest losses in a season with 5.[1] The Bruins also set a record with 38 regular season wins, a winning percentage of 0.875, and 20 consecutive home ice wins in a season.

The 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens and the 1944–45 Montreal Canadiens tied the Bruins' record for most wins in a season at 38. However, the record remained unbroken for 21 years until March 11, 1951 when the 1950–51 Detroit Red Wings notched their 39th victory in a much longer 70-game season. The record for consecutive wins at home stood for 82 years, being matched by the 1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers and finally surpassed on February 14, 2012 by the 2011–12 Detroit Red Wings. As of 2023, no team has ever broken the Bruins' single season winning percentage record of 0.875 or won 38 out of their first 44 games.[15]

Final standings
American Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Boston Bruins4438511799877
Chicago Black Hawks442118511711147
New York Rangers4417171013614344
Detroit Cougars441424611713334
Pittsburgh Pirates44536310218513

[16]

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results
Regular season schedule
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1WNovember 14, 19295–2@ Detroit Cougars (1929–30)1–0–0
2WNovember 16, 19296–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1929–30)2–0–0
3WNovember 19, 19293–2New York Rangers (1929–30)3–0–0
4WNovember 23, 19294–3@ Montreal Maroons (1929–30)4–0–0
5LNovember 26, 19291–6Montreal Maroons (1929–30)4–1–0
6WNovember 30, 19296–2@ Pittsburgh Pirates (1929–30)5–1–0
7LDecember 1, 19291–3@ Chicago Black Hawks (1929–30)5–2–0
8WDecember 3, 19293–1Montreal Canadiens (1929–30)6–2–0
9WDecember 7, 19292–1Detroit Cougars (1929–30)7–2–0
10WDecember 10, 19295–4Pittsburgh Pirates (1929–30)8–2–0
11WDecember 12, 19293–2@ Ottawa Senators (1929–30)9–2–0
12WDecember 15, 19298–4@ New York Americans (1929–30)10–2–0
13WDecember 17, 19296–2Ottawa Senators (1929–30)11–2–0
14WDecember 21, 19294–1Chicago Black Hawks (1929–30)12–2–0
15WDecember 25, 19296–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1929–30)13–2–0
16WDecember 26, 19294–2@ New York Rangers (1929–30)14–2–0
17WDecember 28, 19293–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1929–30)15–2–0
18WJanuary 1, 19305–2New York Americans (1929–30)16–2–0
19WJanuary 4, 19304–2@ Montreal Maroons (1929–30)17–2–0
20WJanuary 7, 19303–0New York Rangers (1929–30)18–2–0
21WJanuary 9, 19304–3@ Pittsburgh Pirates (1929–30)19–2–0
22LJanuary 12, 19302–3@ New York Americans (1929–30)19–3–0
23WJanuary 14, 19305–1Ottawa Senators (1929–30)20–3–0
24LJanuary 16, 19301–2@ Chicago Black Hawks (1929–30)20–4–0
25WJanuary 19, 19305–4@ Detroit Cougars (1929–30)21–4–0
26WJanuary 21, 19305–1Chicago Black Hawks (1929–30)22–4–0
27WJanuary 23, 19302–1 OTNew York Americans (1929–30)23–4–0
28WJanuary 25, 19302–1@ Montreal Canadiens (1929–30)24–4–0
29WJanuary 28, 19306–0Pittsburgh Pirates (1929–30)25–4–0
30TFebruary 2, 19303–3 OT@ New York Rangers (1929–30)25–4–1
31WFebruary 4, 19303–1Detroit Cougars (1929–30)26–4–1
32WFebruary 11, 19306–5 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1929–30)27–4–1
33WFebruary 12, 19304–3@ Pittsburgh Pirates (1929–30)28–4–1
34WFebruary 15, 19305–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1929–30)29–4–1
35WFebruary 16, 19304–2@ Detroit Cougars (1929–30)30–4–1
36WFebruary 18, 19303–2Montreal Maroons (1929–30)31–4–1
37WFebruary 23, 19303–2@ New York Rangers (1929–30)32–4–1
38WFebruary 25, 19307–0Pittsburgh Pirates (1929–30)33–4–1
39WMarch 1, 19302–1@ Ottawa Senators (1929–30)34–4–1
40WMarch 4, 19305–2Montreal Canadiens (1929–30)35–4–1
41WMarch 11, 19304–3Chicago Black Hawks (1929–30)36–4–1
42LMarch 13, 19302–3 OT@ Chicago Black Hawks (1929–30)36–5–1
43WMarch 15, 19305–2Detroit Cougars (1929–30)37–5–1
44WMarch 18, 19309–2New York Rangers (1929–30)38–5–1

Playoffs

As the American Division champions, Boston enjoyed a first round bye in the playoffs, and faced the Montreal Maroons, the Canadian Division champions, in the semi-finals in a best-of-five series. The first game of the series was a grueling overtime match in which Bruins' coach Art Ross was noted for ceaseless criticism of the officiating and the ice condition, to the annoyance of the home crowd in Montreal,[18] won on a Harry Oliver overtime goal at the 45 minute mark. The Bruins won the second match handily on two goals from Clapper, partially due to an injury forcing Montreal star Babe Siebert out only a few minutes into the game,[19] but with Siebert's return in the third game the match was much closer. Unusually, Montreal starter Buck Boucher broke a leg 24 minutes into overtime, and his replacement, little-used defenseman Archie Wilcox, scored the game winner at the 26 minute mark.[19] Siebert did not dress for the final game, and the Bruins overwhelmed the Maroons to reach the Cup finals, behind two goals from Marty Barry, earning the Bruins a rest while they waited for their next opponents.[20]

Boston Bruins 3, Montreal Maroons 1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1March 20Boston Bruins2–1Montreal Maroons1–0
2March 22Boston Bruins4–2Montreal Maroons2–0
3March 25Montreal Maroons1–0Boston Bruins2–1
4March 27Montreal Maroons1-5Boston Bruins3-1

The Bruins were heavily favored to retain the Stanley Cup, but were shocked in the first game of the best-of-three Finals by the play of Canadiens' goaltender George Hainsworth, who shut out the Bruins' powerful offense. In the second game, Montreal went out to a three-goal lead until Eddie Shore began a rally with a goal that spurred the Bruins to tie the match, before the Canadiens scored the final goal to win the Cup. It was the first time all season long the Bruins had lost two games in a row,[21] and the stunning defeat of the regular season champions in such a short series spurred the league to change the Cup Finals to a best-of-five series for subsequent years.[22]

Montreal Canadiens 2, Boston Bruins 0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 1Montreal Canadiens3–0Boston Bruins0–1
2April 3Boston Bruins3–4Montreal Canadiens0–2

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM
Cooney WeilandC4443307327
Dit ClapperRW/D4441206148
Dutch GainorC4218314939
Marty BarryC4418153334
Eddie ShoreD42121931105
Harry OliverRW401652112
Percy GalbraithLW/D44791638
George OwenD42941331
Bill CarsonC44741124
Mickey MacKayC3745913
Lionel HitchmanD3927958
Bill HuttonD/RW162022
Art GagneRW60116
Harry ConnorLW130004
Myles LaneD30000
Bob TaylorRW80006
Tiny ThompsonG440000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Tiny Thompson2680443851982.193
Team:2680443851982.193

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM
Marty BarryC633614
Cooney WeilandC61562
Dit ClapperRW/D64044
Percy GalbraithLW/D61348
Harry OliverRW62136
George OwenD60226
Bill CarsonC61016
Lionel HitchmanD610114
Eddie ShoreD610126
Harry ConnorLW60000
Dutch GainorC30000
Myles LaneD60000
Mickey MacKayC60004
Tiny ThompsonG60000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Tiny Thompson432633121.670
Team:432633121.670

[23]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records
  • Highest single season winning percentage: .875 (still stands)
  • Most wins: 38 (still a record for 50 game season and less)
  • Fewest losses: 5 (still stands)
  • Fewest ties: 1 (still stands)
  • Longest consecutive game winning streak: 14 (currently third all time)
  • Longest consecutive home game winning streak: 20 (second all time)
  • Most goals: 179 (still a record for 50 game season and less)
  • Most goals by a forward line: Dynamite Line, 102 (Weiland, Clapper, Gainor)
  • Most points by a player: 73, Cooney Weiland
  • Vezina Trophy (fewest goals allowed): Tiny Thompson
  • NHL scoring leader: Cooney Weiland
  • Prince of Wales Trophy: Boston Bruins

NB: Up through the 1930 season, the NHL did not select end-of-season All-Star Teams.

Transactions

See also

References
  • Coleman, Charles L. (1969), Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol II., Sherbrooke: National Hockey League, OCLC 7485243
  • Klein, Jeff Z.; Reif, Karl-Eric (1997), The Klein & Reif Hockey Compendium, Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, ISBN 978-0-7710-4529-5
  • Vautour, Kevin (1997), The Bruins Book, Toronto: ECW Press, ISBN 978-1-55022-334-7

Footnotes
  1. NHL Guide 2004, p. 154.
  2. Diamond 1998, p. 57.
  3. Coleman 1969, p. 83.
  4. Coleman 1969, p. 87.
  5. Coleman 1969, p. 85.
  6. Coleman 1969, p. 86.
  7. Vautour 1997, p. 52.
  8. NHL Guide 2004, p. 155.
  9. Coleman 1969, p. 88.
  10. Vautour 1997, p. 53.
  11. Coleman 1969, p. 89.
  12. "Eddie Shore Wants Shot At Art Shires". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Associated Press. January 13, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  13. Coleman 1969, p. 91.
  14. Coleman 1969, p. 95.
  15. "NHL Team Records". HockeyCentral.co.uk. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  16. Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0.
  17. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  18. Coleman 1969, p. 98.
  19. Coleman 1969, p. 99.
  20. Coleman 1969, p. 100.
  21. Coleman 1969, p. 104.
  22. Coleman 1969, p. 128.
  23. "1929-30 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
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