2014–15 Chicago Blackhawks season

The 2014–15 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 89th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926.[2] The Blackhawks finished the season with a 48–28–6 record, finishing in third place in the Central Division. They defeated the Nashville Predators in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, four games to two. In the next round, they swept the Minnesota Wild in four games. In the Western Conference Finals, the 'Hawks outlasted the Anaheim Ducks, winning the series four games to three. In the Stanley Cup Finals, they faced the Tampa Bay Lightning. On June 15, 2015, the team won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Lightning four games to two and winning the Cup at home for the first time since 1938. This was the Blackhawks' third Cup championship in six seasons. Duncan Keith received the Conn Smythe trophy as MVP of the playoffs.

2014–15 Chicago Blackhawks
Stanley Cup champions
Western Conference champions
Division3rd Central
Conference4th Western
2014–15 record48–28–6
Home record24–12–5
Road record24–16–1
Goals for229
Goals against189
Team information
General managerStan Bowman
CoachJoel Quenneville
CaptainJonathan Toews
Alternate captainsDuncan Keith
Patrick Sharp
ArenaUnited Center
Average attendance21,769 (110.4%)
Total: 892,532[1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
Indy Fuel (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsJonathan Toews (28)
AssistsMarian Hossa (39)
PointsJonathan Toews (66)
Penalty minutesAndrew Shaw (68)
Plus/minusJonathan Toews (+30)
WinsCorey Crawford (32)
Goals against averageAntti Raanta (1.89)

On December 21, 2014, the Blackhawks debuted a special decal in remembrance of the passing of assistant equipment manager Clinton "Clint" Reif who died during the season, the Blackhawks wore "CR" on their helmets for the remainder of the 2014–15 season.[3]

Off-season

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On July 14, 2014, the Blackhawks announced that Kevin Dineen, a former teammate of head coach Joel Quenneville, had been hired as an assistant coach.[4]

Pre-season

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The Chicago Blackhawks' pre-season schedule included a September 28, 2014, exhibition game held at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, against the Edmonton Oilers.[5]

Standings

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Central Division
Pos Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – St. Louis Blues 82 51 24 7 42 248 201 +47 109
2 x – Nashville Predators 82 47 25 10 41 232 208 +24 104
3 x – Chicago Blackhawks 82 48 28 6 39 229 189 +40 102
4 x – Minnesota Wild 82 46 28 8 42 231 201 +30 100
5 x – Winnipeg Jets 82 43 26 13 36 230 210 +20 99
6 Dallas Stars 82 41 31 10 37 261 260 +1 92
7 Colorado Avalanche 82 39 31 12 29 219 227 −8 90
Source: National Hockey League
x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division

Playoffs

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The Chicago Blackhawks entered the playoffs as the Central Division's third seed. The Blackhawks lost the last four games of the regular season, thus they did not win the Central Division title. After defeating the Nashville Predators four games to two in the first round, they went on to sweep the Minnesota Wild in the second round, then defeated the Anaheim Ducks four games to three in the Western Conference Final. It was only the third time in Blackhawks history that they had won a playoff series after trailing three games to two. On May 19, 2015, the Blackhawks played the longest game in their history (116:12) against the Ducks as part of the Western Conference Finals.[6] The Blackhawks defeated Anaheim in Game 7 and moved on to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals. On June 15, 2015, Chicago won the Stanley Cup in Game 6 by a 2–0 scoreline.[7][8] This marked the Blackhawks' third Stanley Cup victory in six seasons. This was the first Blackhawks Stanley Cup clinched on home ice in 77 years, having won the decisive games in 2010 and 2013 titles on the road, and the first time a Stanley Cup title has been won in Chicago since 1992 when the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium. It was also the first time any Chicago sports team won a Championship at home since the Chicago Bulls in 1997[9][10]

Schedule and results

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Pre-season

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Regular season

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Game log

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Detailed records

Playoffs

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2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player stats

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Final stats

Skaters

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Note: Pos = Position; GP = 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 

Goaltenders

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Regular season
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Corey Crawford 57 57 3,332:32 32 20 5 126 2.27 1,661 .924 2 0 1 8
Scott Darling 14 13 832:31 9 4 0 27 1.94 419 .936 1 0 0 0
Antti Raanta 14 12 792:11 7 4 1 25 1.89 389 .936 2 0 0 0
Totals 82 4,957:14 48 28 6 174 2.11 2,469 .930 5 0 1 8
Playoffs
Player GP GS TOI W L GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Corey Crawford 20 19 1,223:48 13 6 47 2.31 616 .924 2 0 0 0
Scott Darling 5 4 297:46 3 1 11 2.21 171 .936 0 0 0 0
Totals 23 1,521 16 7 58 2.28 787 .926 2 0 0 0

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Blackhawks. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only.
Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Notable achievements

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Awards

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Milestones

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All Star Game

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Chicago Blackhawks NHL All-Star representatives at the 2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio at Nationwide Arena.


Transactions

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The Blackhawks have been involved in the following transactions during the 2014–15 season.

Draft picks

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Below are the Chicago Blackhawks' selections made at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 27–28, 2014, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[46]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/junior/club team (league)
1 20[a] Nick Schmaltz C   United States Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
3 83[b] Matheson Iacopelli RW   United States Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
3 88 Beau Starrett C/LW   United States South Shore Kings (USPHL PRE.)
4 98[c] Frederik Olofsson LW   Sweden Chicago Steel (USHL)
5 141[d] Luc Snuggerud D   United States Eden Prairie High School (USHS–MN)
5 148 Andreas Soderberg D   Sweden Skellefteå AIK Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
6 178 Dylan Sora C   Canada Aurora Tigers (OJHL)
6 179[e] Ivan Nalimov G   Russia SKA Saint Petersburg-2 (Russia-Jr.)
7 208 Jack Ramsey RW   United States Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Draft notes
  • a The San Jose Sharks' first-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on June 27, 2014, that sent a first-round pick in 2014 (27th overall) and Florida's third-round pick in 2014 (62nd overall) to San Jose in exchange for the Rangers sixth-round pick in 2014 (179th overall) and this pick.[15]
  • The Chicago Blackhawks' first-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a trade on June 27, 2014, that sent a first-round pick in 2014 (20th overall) and the Rangers sixth-round pick in 2014 (179th overall) to Chicago in exchange for Florida's third-round pick in 2014 (62nd overall) and this pick.[15]
  • The Chicago Blackhawks' second-round pick went to the Arizona Coyotes as the result of a trade on March 4, 2014, that sent David Rundblad and Mathieu Brisebois to Chicago in exchange for this pick.[47]
  • b The Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round pick (previously acquired by the Calgary Flames) went to the Chicago Blackhawks as a result of a trade on June 28, 2014, that sent Brandon Bollig to the Flames in exchange for this pick.[16]
  • c The Toronto Maple Leafs' fourth-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade June 30, 2013, that sent Dave Bolland to Toronto in exchange for a second-round pick in 2013, Anaheim's fourth-round pick in 2013 and this pick.[48]
  • The Chicago Blackhawks fourth-round pick went to the New York Islanders as a result of a trade on February 6, 2014, that sent Peter Regin and Pierre-Marc Bouchard to Chicago in exchange for this pick.[49]
  • d The San Jose Sharks' fifth-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on June 30, 2013, that sent Anaheim's fourth-round pick in 2013 and a fifth-round pick in 2013 to San Jose in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2013 and this pick.[50]
  • e The New York Rangers' sixth-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on June 27, 2014, that sent a first-round pick and Florida's third-round pick both in 2014 (27th and 62nd overall) to San Jose in exchange for a first-round pick in 2014 (20th overall) and this pick.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "2014–2015 NHL Attendance – National Hockey League – ESPN". ESPN.
  2. ^ National Hockey League (2013). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2014. Diamond Sports Data, Inc. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-894801-26-3.
  3. ^ "Blackhawks statement regarding the passing of Clint Reif". Blackhawks.com. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  4. ^ Whyno, Stephen (July 14, 2014). "Kevin Dineen back in the NHL with Chicago Blackhawks". The Globe and Mail.
  5. ^ "Blackhawks announce 2014 preseason game in Saskatoon".
  6. ^ Scott Powers (May 20, 2015). "By the numbers: Blackhawks-Ducks, Game 2". ESPN. Retrieved May 20, 2015. Going 116:12, the game was the longest in the Blackhawks' franchise history
  7. ^ "With Blackhawks' 3 Stanley Cups in 6 Years, Chicago Runneth Over". New York Times. June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  8. ^ "Blackhawks claim third Stanley Cup in six seasons with shutout of Lightning". ESPN. June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  9. ^ "Another Cup proves Blackhawks are among the era's best". ESPN. June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "Blackhawks seize their third Stanley Cup in six seasons". Chicago Tribune. June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  11. ^ "Getzlaf, Kane, Bobrovsky named three stars". NHL. January 2, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e "2015 NHL All-Star selections highlighted by three Columbus Blue Jackets". NHL. January 10, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Foligno, Toews named NHL All-Star Game captains". NHL. January 14, 2015.
  14. ^ "Hossa, Toffoli and Rinne named stars of the week". NHL. February 16, 2015.
  15. ^ a b c d "Blackhawks select Schmaltz in first round of the 2014 NHL draft and acquire picks from San Jose". June 27, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  16. ^ a b "Blackhawks acquire draft pick from Calgary for Bollig". Chicago Blackhawks. June 28, 2014.
  17. ^ "Blackhawks acquire prospects from Islanders for Leddy". blackhawks.nhl.com. October 4, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  18. ^ "Blackhawks acquire Erixon in exchange for Morin". blackhawks.nhl.com. December 14, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  19. ^ "Blackhawks acquire Forsling". blackhawks.nhl.com. January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  20. ^ "Blackhawks acquire Abbott from Maple Leafs". blackhawks.nhl.com. February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  21. ^ "Blackhawks acquire Timonen from Flyers". blackhawks.nhl.com. February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  22. ^ "Blackhawks acquire Antoine Vermette from Coyotes". blackhawks.nhl.com. February 28, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  23. ^ "Blackhawks acquire Andrew Desjardins from San Jose Sharks". blackhawks.nhl.com. March 2, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  24. ^ a b c Blackhawks agree to terms with three
  25. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Richards
  26. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Cumiskey
  27. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Leighton
  28. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Carcillo
  29. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Baun
  30. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Kero
  31. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Gustafsson
  32. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Panarin
  33. ^ "Rangers Agree to Terms with Forward Kevin Hayes". Blueshirts United. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  34. ^ Maple Leafs claim Tim Erixon from Chicago
  35. ^ a b Blackhawks agree to terms with Smith and Raanta
  36. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Morin
  37. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Regin
  38. ^ a b Blackhawks agree to terms with Toews and Kane
  39. ^ Blackhawks agree to extension with Darling
  40. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Hinostroza
  41. ^ Blackhawks agree to terms with Paliotta
  42. ^ "Blackhawks hire Dineen as assistant coach". Chicago Blackhawks. July 14, 2014.
  43. ^ "Blackhawks hire Dineen as assistant coach". chatsports.com. January 21, 2014.
  44. ^ "Chicago's Nordstrom banned two games for boarding". NHL. March 13, 2015.
  45. ^ "Blackhawks' Shaw fined for diving/embellishment". NHL. March 30, 2015.
  46. ^ "Cats Win NHL Draft Lottery". April 15, 2014.
  47. ^ "Blackhawks acquire David Rundblad from Coyotes". National Hockey League. March 4, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  48. ^ "MAPLE LEAFS TRADE THREE PICKS TO BLACKHAWKS FOR F BOLLAND". TSN. June 30, 2013. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  49. ^ "Blackhawks acquire forwards Regin and Bouchard from New York". Chicago Blackhawks. February 6, 2014.
  50. ^ "Sharks Conclude 2013 Draft With Seven Selections". San Jose Sharks. June 30, 2013.