1919-20 NHL season

The 1919-20 NHL season was the third season of the National Hockey League. Four teams each played 24 games. The NHL's Ottawa Senators won the Stanley Cup by defeating the PCHA's Seattle Metropolitans three games to two in a best-of-five series.

[edit] Regular season

After the previous season, the NHL was struggling to make ends meet. The situation was rectified when the Toronto Arenas (who had suspended operations with two games left in the previous season) found new ownership a day before the regular season was slated to begin, and were renamed the Toronto St. Patricks. The Quebec Bulldogs, who did not ice teams in the first two seasons of the NHL due to financial concerns, finally iced a team, although they were not successful. Despite a dismal record of 2-10 in both halves of the season, the Bulldogs' Joe Malone scored seven goals in one game on January 31, 1920, a mark that still stands today. In fact, he led the league in goals with 39. But by surrendering 7.18 goals against per game, a record that stands today, Quebec finished dead last.

With the war now over, players came home and fans were now coming in larger numbers to see games. On February 21, 1920, a record crowd of 8,500 fans came to see Ottawa play Toronto at the Arena Gardens (also known as Mutual Street Arena).

[edit] Final standings

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

[edit] Leading scorers

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties In Minutes

[edit] Leading goaltenders

GP = Games Played, TOI = Time On Ice (minutes), GA = Goals Against, SO = Shutouts, GAA = Goals Against Average

[edit] Stanley Cup playoffs

All dates in 1920

Since the Ottawa Senators won both halves of the split regular season, there was no need for an NHL playoffs and the Senators were given the O'Brien Trophy and were assured a spot in the Stanley Cup Championship series. Representing the Pacific Coast Hockey Association this year was the Seattle Metropolitans, who battled in a very tight PCHA, where two wins separated its three teams. A problem arose as Seattle's green, red, and white uniforms looked almost alike to Ottawa's black, red, and white uniforms. The Senators agreed to play in white sweaters. The previous year saw the championship played out west. This year, it was played in Ottawa, but with unseasonably warm weather, the final two games were played in Toronto's Arena Gardens.

[edit] Stanley Cup Championship

Template:See also

Seattle Metropolitans vs. Ottawa Senators

Ottawa wins best-of-five series 3 games to 2 to win the Stanley Cup

[edit] NHL playoff scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

[edit] References

• NHL Official Website
• Hockey Database