1924 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 1924 Stanley Cup
playoffs was the third and final year in which the National Hockey League
(NHL) champions, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association
(PCHA) champions, and the Western Canada Hockey League
(WCHL) champions all competed for the Stanley Cup (the PCHA and the WCHL would later merge after the season). The playoffs began on March 18, 1924, and concluded on March 25 when the NHL champion Montreal Canadiens
defeated the WCHL champion Calgary Tigers
in the final series, two games to zero.
. However, the Canadiens upset the Senators in the two-game total goal league champion series, 5 goals to 2, to win the NHL title.
Calgary finished the 1923–24 WCHL regular season with an 18–11–1 record. The Tigers then defeated the 17–11–2 second place Regina Capitals
in the WCHL championship series, tying Game 1 in Regina, 2–2, and then winning 2–0 in Calgary.
The 1923–24 PCHA season
was capped with the 13–6–1 Vancouver Maroons defeating the 14–16–1 Seattle Metropolitans
in a two-game league championship series.
claimed that Calgary and Vancouver were inferior to his. He therefore wanted the two western teams to face off against each other, and then have the Canadiens play the winner in the final round. PCHA President Frank Patrick refused to go along with that idea and instead proposed a compromise in which the host team's (Montreal's) customary contribution towards the two other clubs' travel expenses would be cut in half.
But in order to generate the additional money, Calgary and Vancouver decided to play a three-game series before going to Montreal, with the loser having to face the Canadiens in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Games were played in Vancouver, Calgary, and Winnipeg, with the Tigers coming back from a Game 1 loss to win the next two contests.
Despite this extra series between the Tigers and the Maroons, Montreal still had to defeat both western teams in order to win the Cup.
scored the game-winning goal in Montreal's 3–2 victory in the first game. In the second game, Vancouver scored first on a goal by Billy's brother, Frank Boucher
. But Billy responded with two goals of his own to give the Canadiens a 2–1 win and clinch the series.
recorded a hat-trick
as he led the Canadiens to a 6–1 victory. The second game was then moved to the artificial ice at Ottawa Auditorium in Ottawa because of poor ice conditions at Mount Royal Arena
. There, goaltender Georges Vézina
lead Montreal to a 3–0 shutout to clinch the Cup. Morenz also added another goal in the second contest, but was also leveled by Calgary right wing Cully Wilson and suffered a chipped collarbone. The Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup as a member of the NHL, their second counting the 1916 Cup win.
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
playoffs was the third and final year in which the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) champions, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association
Pacific Coast Hockey Association
The Pacific Coast Hockey Association was a professional men's ice hockey league in western Canada and the western United States, which operated from 1911 to 1924 when it then merged with the Western Canada Hockey League...
(PCHA) champions, and the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
(WCHL) champions all competed for the Stanley Cup (the PCHA and the WCHL would later merge after the season). The playoffs began on March 18, 1924, and concluded on March 25 when the NHL champion Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
defeated the WCHL champion Calgary Tigers
Calgary Tigers
The Calgary Tigers, often nicknamed the Bengals, were an ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 1920 until 1927 as members of the Big Four League, Western Canada Hockey League and Prairie Hockey League. The Tigers were revived in 1932, playing for a short-lived four years in the...
in the final series, two games to zero.
Background
Montreal finished second overall in the 1923–24 NHL regular season standings with a 13–11 record, behind the 16–8 Ottawa SenatorsOttawa Senators (original)
The Ottawa Senators were an amateur, and later, professional, ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Canada which existed from 1883 to 1954. The club was the first hockey club in Ontario, a founding member of the National Hockey League and played in the NHL from 1917 until 1934...
. However, the Canadiens upset the Senators in the two-game total goal league champion series, 5 goals to 2, to win the NHL title.
Calgary finished the 1923–24 WCHL regular season with an 18–11–1 record. The Tigers then defeated the 17–11–2 second place Regina Capitals
Regina Capitals
The Regina Capitals were a professional ice hockey team originally based in the city of Regina, Saskatchewan in the Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921.-Franchise history:...
in the WCHL championship series, tying Game 1 in Regina, 2–2, and then winning 2–0 in Calgary.
The 1923–24 PCHA season
1923–24 PCHA season
The 1923–24 PCHA season was the thirteenth and last season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from November 26, 1923 until February 25, 1924. Each team played 30 games, including eight games against Western Canada Hockey League teams...
was capped with the 13–6–1 Vancouver Maroons defeating the 14–16–1 Seattle Metropolitans
Seattle Metropolitans
The Seattle Metropolitans were a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle, Washington which played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1915 to 1924. They won the Stanley Cup in 1917, becoming the first American team to do so...
in a two-game league championship series.
Pre-Cup Playoffs news
Both rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs were scheduled to be played on the NHL winner's home ice, with Montreal having to face both the PCHA and the WCHL champions. However, Canadiens owner Leo DandurandLeo Dandurand
Joseph Viateur "Léo" Dandurand , was a sportsman and businessman. He was the owner and coach of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team in the National Hockey League...
claimed that Calgary and Vancouver were inferior to his. He therefore wanted the two western teams to face off against each other, and then have the Canadiens play the winner in the final round. PCHA President Frank Patrick refused to go along with that idea and instead proposed a compromise in which the host team's (Montreal's) customary contribution towards the two other clubs' travel expenses would be cut in half.
But in order to generate the additional money, Calgary and Vancouver decided to play a three-game series before going to Montreal, with the loser having to face the Canadiens in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Games were played in Vancouver, Calgary, and Winnipeg, with the Tigers coming back from a Game 1 loss to win the next two contests.
Despite this extra series between the Tigers and the Maroons, Montreal still had to defeat both western teams in order to win the Cup.
Semi-final: Montreal Canadiens defeat Vancouver Maroons, 2 games to 0
The Canadiens swept the Maroons in two, one-goal victories in the best-of-three series. Billy BoucherBilly Boucher
William Martin Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger.Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he played in the National Hockey League for the Hamilton Tigers, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and New York Americans. He also played for the New Haven Eagles and Bronx Tigers of the...
scored the game-winning goal in Montreal's 3–2 victory in the first game. In the second game, Vancouver scored first on a goal by Billy's brother, Frank Boucher
Frank Boucher
François-Xavier "Raffles" Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. Boucher played the forward position for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Maroons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association...
. But Billy responded with two goals of his own to give the Canadiens a 2–1 win and clinch the series.
| Game-by-Game | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 18 | Montreal Canadiens | 3–2 | Vancouver Maroons | Mount Royal Arena Mount Royal Arena The Mount Royal Arena was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the corner of Mount Royal and St. Urbain Street. It was home of the National Hockey League Montreal Canadiens from 1920 to 1926, before moving to the then two year old Montreal Forum. It had a capacity of 6,000... , Montreal |
| 2 | March 20 | Montreal Canadiens | 2–1 | Vancouver Maroons | |
| Canadiens win best-of-three series 2 games to 0 | |||||
Final: Montreal Canadiens defeat Calgary Tigers, 2 games to 0
Montreal also swept Calgary in the best-of-three series to clinch the Cup. In the first game, rookie Howie MorenzHowie Morenz
Howard William Morenz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre for three National Hockey League teams: the Montreal Canadiens , the Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers...
recorded a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
as he led the Canadiens to a 6–1 victory. The second game was then moved to the artificial ice at Ottawa Auditorium in Ottawa because of poor ice conditions at Mount Royal Arena
Mount Royal Arena
The Mount Royal Arena was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the corner of Mount Royal and St. Urbain Street. It was home of the National Hockey League Montreal Canadiens from 1920 to 1926, before moving to the then two year old Montreal Forum. It had a capacity of 6,000...
. There, goaltender Georges Vézina
Georges Vézina
Joseph-Georges-Gonzague Vézina was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played seven seasons in the National Hockey Association and nine in the National Hockey League , all with the Montreal Canadiens...
lead Montreal to a 3–0 shutout to clinch the Cup. Morenz also added another goal in the second contest, but was also leveled by Calgary right wing Cully Wilson and suffered a chipped collarbone. The Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup as a member of the NHL, their second counting the 1916 Cup win.
| Game-by-Game | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 22 | Montreal Canadiens | 6–1 | Calgary Tigers | Mount Royal Arena Mount Royal Arena The Mount Royal Arena was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the corner of Mount Royal and St. Urbain Street. It was home of the National Hockey League Montreal Canadiens from 1920 to 1926, before moving to the then two year old Montreal Forum. It had a capacity of 6,000... |
| 2 | March 25 | Montreal Canadiens | 3–0 | Calgary Tigers | Ottawa Auditorium, Ottawa |
| Canadiens win best-of-three series 2 games to 0 | |||||