1927–28 Montreal Maroons season



The 1927–28 Montreal Maroons season was the 4th season of the Maroons franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Maroons finished 2nd in the Canadian Division and lost in the 1928 Stanley Cup Finals to the New York Rangers 3 games to 2.

Off-season
On October 7, 1927, James Strachan traded Punch Broadbent back to the Ottawa Senators for Hooley Smith and $22,500. Smith was tough, talented and excellent at digging pucks off the boards.

Regular Season
Newly acquired Hooley Smith was matched with Nels Stewart and Babe Siebert to form the NHL's hockey's first power forward unit, the "S Line." All three were well-paid and received under-the-table bonuses which they earned with rough play and goal scoring.

In their first meeting with the cross-town rival Montreal Canadiens, Stewart garnered a major and four minor penalties while Seibert had two minors as the teams fought to a 1-1 draw.

Goalie Flat Walsh played his only game of the season on November 29, 1927 in relief of Clint Benedict in the 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Fred Brown played his first NHL game during the 1-0 loss to the Detroit Cougars on February 16, 1928. He played the rest of the regular season (15 games total, scoring once) and 9 playoff games, the sum total of his NHL career.

Stewart and Siebert were top five in the league in penalty minutes while Stewart finished top five in goals and points.

New York Rangers 3, Montreal Maroons 2
The circus knocked the Rangers out of Madison Square Garden, and all games were played in the Montreal Forum, even though Boston offered to host the Rangers. The Maroons won Game 1 by 2–0, with Nels Stewart and goaltender Clint Benedict the stars.

Drama took over in Game 2 when Nels Stewart fired a hard shot that struck New York goaltender Lorne Chabot in the eye. He could not continue, and the Rangers needed a goaltender. However, Maroons coach Eddie Gerard refused to let the Rangers use Alex Connell or minor league goaltender Hugh McCormick. Lester Patrick, the Rangers coach, in anger, decided to don the pads himself. The Rangers then checked any Maroon who got near Patrick. Bill Cook scored, putting the Rangers ahead 1–0, but Nels Stewart was not to be denied and scored, tying the game. In overtime, Frank Boucher got the winner for the Rangers and they carried Patrick, tears streaming down his eyes, off the ice. Patrick stopped 17 of 18 shots he faced.

Joe Miller, New York Americans goalie, was allowed to take Chabot's place in goal and he played well in a 2–0 loss in Game 3. However, Frank Boucher starred as the Rangers took the next two games and the Stanley Cup. Drama almost took place in the final game when Miller was badly cut on a shot, but he was able to continue. The crowd became unruly at times and referee Mike Rodden took abuse for disallowed goals by Maroon players.

Player Stats
*According to NHL game sheets, Fred Brown played 15 regular season games and Frank Carson did not play in the post season.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts

Awards and Records

 * The Maroons did not win any awards this season.

Transactions

 * Sell Reg Noble to the Detroit Cougars on October 4, 1927.
 * Trade Punch Broadbent to the Ottawa Senators for Hooley Smith on October 7, 1927.

Trivia

 * Maroons who had a hat trick this season include:
 * Nels Stewart had a four goal game during the 8-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 24, 1928.