1956–57 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1956–57 Chicago Black Hawks season was the team's 31st season in the NHL, and the club was coming off their third consecutive last place finish in the league in 1955–56, as they had a 19–39–12 record, earning 50 points. The struggling Black Hawks had finished in last eight times in the past ten seasons, and only one playoff appearance since 1946.

1956–57 Chicago Black Hawks
Division6th NHL
1956–57 record16–39–15
Home record12–15–8
Road record4–24–7
Goals for169
Goals against225
Team information
General managerTommy Ivan
CoachTommy Ivan
CaptainGus Mortson
ArenaChicago Stadium
Team leaders
GoalsEd Litzenberger (32)
AssistsEd Litzenberger (32)
PointsEd Litzenberger (64)
Penalty minutesGus Mortson (147)
WinsAl Rollins (16)
Goals against averageAl Rollins (3.20)

On October 1, the Hawks announced that head coach Dick Irvin resigned as head coach of the club due to ill health. Irvin was suffering from bone cancer and had been ill for the past two years, and was hospitalized in Montreal. Tommy Ivan took over for Irvin. On May 15, 1957, Dick Irvin died at the age of 64.

The Black Hawks got off to a miserable start to the season, as they had a 2–12–1 record in their first 15 games, and sat in last place in the league. The team could never overcome their bad start, and slumped all season long, finishing the year with a 16–39–15 record, earning 47 points, and finishing in last place for the fourth straight season, and the ninth time in eleven years.

Offensively, Chicago was led by Ed Litzenberger, who led the club in goals with 32, and assists with 32, recording 64 points, which was good for fifth in the NHL. His 32 goals was the team's highest total since 1943–44. Johnny Wilson had a solid year, scoring 18 goals and 48 points, while Glen Skov also cracked the 40 point barrier, as he earned 42 points. Jack McIntyre led the defense with 18 goals and 32 points, while fellow defenceman and team captain Gus Mortson had 5 goals, 23 points, and a team high 147 penalty minutes.

In goal, Al Rollins had all the playing time, winning 16 games, while posting a 3.20 GAA, and recording 3 shutouts.

Season standings

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National Hockey League[1]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Detroit Red Wings 70 38 20 12 198 157 +41 88
2 Montreal Canadiens 70 35 23 12 210 155 +55 82
3 Boston Bruins 70 34 24 12 195 174 +21 80
4 New York Rangers 70 26 30 14 184 227 −43 66
5 Toronto Maple Leafs 70 21 34 15 174 192 −18 57
6 Chicago Black Hawks 70 16 39 15 169 225 −56 47

Record vs. opponents

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1956–57 NHL Records [2]
Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYR TOR
Boston 8–5–1 7–4–3 7–4–3 5–8–1 7–3–4
Chicago 5–8–1 2–10–2 3–8–3 1–7–6 5–6–3
Detroit 4–7–3 10–2–2 4–6–4 10–3–1 10–2–2
Montreal 4–7–3 8–3–3 6–4–4 8–5–1 9–4–1
New York 8–5–1 7–1–6 3–10–1 5–8–1 3–6–5
Toronto 3–7–4 6–5–3 2–10–2 4–9–1 6–3–5


Game log

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Regular season

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 11 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Detroit Red Wings 0–1–0 0
2 October 12 New York Rangers 3–0 Chicago Black Hawks 0–2–0 0
3 October 14 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–0 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3–0 0
4 October 18 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Montreal Canadiens 0–3–1 1
5 October 21 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 New York Rangers 0–4–1 1
6 October 25 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Detroit Red Wings 0–5–1 1
7 October 27 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–6–1 1
8 October 30 Boston Bruins 0–4 Chicago Black Hawks 1–6–1 3
9 November 1 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 Boston Bruins 1–7–1 3
10 November 3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–6 Montreal Canadiens 1–8–1 3
11 November 4 Montreal Canadiens 1–0 Chicago Black Hawks 1–9–1 3
12 November 8 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–9–1 5
13 November 10 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–10–1 5
14 November 11 Detroit Red Wings 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks 2–11–1 5
15 November 15 Boston Bruins 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 2–12–1 5
16 November 17 Chicago Black Hawks 6–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–12–1 7
17 November 18 New York Rangers 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–12–2 8
18 November 22 Montreal Canadiens 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–12–2 10
19 November 24 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Detroit Red Wings 4–13–2 10
20 November 25 Detroit Red Wings 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 4–13–3 11
21 November 29 Boston Bruins 2–0 Chicago Black Hawks 4–14–3 11
22 December 1 Chicago Black Hawks 0–7 Montreal Canadiens 4–15–3 11
23 December 2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Boston Bruins 4–16–3 11
24 December 5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 New York Rangers 4–16–4 12
25 December 7 Montreal Canadiens 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks 4–17–4 12
26 December 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks 4–18–4 12
27 December 13 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Boston Bruins 4–19–4 12
28 December 15 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Detroit Red Wings 4–20–4 12
29 December 16 Detroit Red Wings 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 5–20–4 14
30 December 21 New York Rangers 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 5–21–4 14
31 December 23 Boston Bruins 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 6–21–4 16
32 December 25 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Boston Bruins 7–21–4 18
33 December 27 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 New York Rangers 7–22–4 18
34 December 29 Chicago Black Hawks 3–6 Toronto Maple Leafs 7–23–4 18
35 December 30 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 8–23–4 20
36 January 1 Montreal Canadiens 6–2 Chicago Black Hawks 8–24–4 20
37 January 3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Montreal Canadiens 8–24–5 21
38 January 5 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 New York Rangers 8–25–5 21
39 January 6 Boston Bruins 4–4 Chicago Black Hawks 8–25–6 22
40 January 11 New York Rangers 7–4 Chicago Black Hawks 8–26–6 22
41 January 12 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Toronto Maple Leafs 8–27–6 22
42 January 13 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–1 Chicago Black Hawks 8–27–7 23
43 January 19 Detroit Red Wings 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 8–28–7 23
44 January 20 Montreal Canadiens 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 9–28–7 25
45 January 24 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Detroit Red Wings 9–29–7 25
46 January 26 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 Montreal Canadiens 9–29–8 26
47 January 27 New York Rangers 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 9–30–8 26
48 January 30 Chicago Black Hawks 7–2 New York Rangers 10–30–8 28
49 January 31 Chicago Black Hawks 0–2 Boston Bruins 10–31–8 28
50 February 2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 10–31–9 29
51 February 3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–6 Chicago Black Hawks 11–31–9 31
52 February 7 New York Rangers 4–4 Chicago Black Hawks 11–31–10 32
53 February 9 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 Detroit Red Wings 11–32–10 32
54 February 10 Detroit Red Wings 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 11–32–11 33
55 February 16 Boston Bruins 5–6 Chicago Black Hawks 12–32–11 35
56 February 17 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 12–33–11 35
57 February 23 Detroit Red Wings 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 13–33–11 37
58 February 24 Boston Bruins 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 14–33–11 39
59 February 27 Chicago Black Hawks 6–6 New York Rangers 14–33–12 40
60 February 28 Chicago Black Hawks 0–4 Boston Bruins 14–34–12 40
61 March 2 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 15–34–12 42
62 March 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–0 Chicago Black Hawks 15–34–13 43
63 March 7 New York Rangers 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 15–34–14 44
64 March 9 Chicago Black Hawks 4–6 Montreal Canadiens 15–35–14 44
65 March 10 Montreal Canadiens 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 16–35–14 46
66 March 12 Detroit Red Wings 4–3 Chicago Black Hawks 16–36–14 46
67 March 14 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Detroit Red Wings 16–37–14 46
68 March 17 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Boston Bruins 16–38–14 46
69 March 23 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 Montreal Canadiens 16–39–14 46
70 March 24 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 New York Rangers 16–39–15 47

Season stats

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Scoring leaders

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Player GP G A Pts PIM
Ed Litzenberger 70 32 32 64 48
Johnny Wilson 70 18 30 48 24
Glen Skov 67 14 28 42 69
Nick Mickoski 70 16 20 36 24
Jack McIntyre 70 18 14 32 32

Goaltending

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Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Al Rollins 70 4200 16 39 15 224 3 3.20

References

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  1. ^ "1956–1957 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  2. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

Sources

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