1943–44 Boston Bruins season

1943–44 Boston Bruins
Division	5th NHL
1943–44 record	19–26–5
Goals for	223 (2nd)
Goals against	268 (5th)
Team information
General manager	Art Ross
Coach	Art Ross
Captain	Dit Clapper
Arena	Boston Garden
Team leaders
Goals	Herb Cain (36)
Assists	Herb Cain (46)
Points	Herb Cain (82)
Penalty minutes	Bep Guidolin (58)
Wins	Bert Gardiner (17)
Goals against average	Bert Gardiner (5.17)

The 1943–44 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 20th season in the NHL. The Bruins were a high scoring team but the loss of star goalie Frank Brimsek to war service contributed to a steep increase in goals against. The Bruins finished 5th and out of the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

Regular Season

Bill Cowley's 1.97 points per game in 1943-44 was a record for nearly 40 years.

Bill Cowley had a huge lead in the scoring race and was scoring at a 2 points a game clip heading into Christmas. The press began to talk of a 100 point season until his shoulder was separated on a hit by Jack McLean of the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 8, 1944. He missed 11 games, returned briefly, then missed 3 more to a knee injury. He picked up his torrid scoring pace for the remainder of the season but limited to 36 (of 50) games, he finished 7th in league scoring with 71 points. He finished second in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy by a very narrow margin. His 1.97 points per game was an NHL record until broken by Wayne Gretzky in 1980-81.

The Art Ross Trophy was taken by teammate Herb Cain whose 82 points was, at the time, a league record. Cain finished as the runner-up for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. Art Jackson also finished in the top 10 of league scoring with 69 points. The loss of Frank Brimsek to war service saw the Bruins acquire Bert Gardiner to tend the net. Gardiner would struggle mightily and have the worst goal against average of any starting goalie in Bruins history, 5.17. He retired from pro hockey after the season ended. Gardiner did record an assist on February 29, 1944 versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bert Gardiner's 5.17 GAA was the worst in Bruins history for a starting goalie.

Gardiner was ill for the November 27, 1943 game at Toronto, requiring an emergency substitute. Reverend George Abbott suited up for his only NHL game, faced 52 shots and a one point, was knocked unconscious by a shot from Babe Pratt. Despite his efforts, the Bruins lost 7-4. With Gardiner still unable to play, Maurice Courteau played the next two games. He'd play four more for the Bruins in his only NHL season, sporting a 5.50 GAA.

In a home and home series, Gardiner was injured again during the January 25, 1944 game against the Detroit Red Wings at Boston. The Bruins were forced to employ the Wings Jimmy Franks for the return game in Detroit, which they lost 6-1. The last game of the season saw the Bruins use only 9 skaters and the loan of Leafs goalie Benny Grant in a 10-2 loss to Toronto.

Due to the weakening of talent, especially in goaltending, and lack of parity in the league, the Bruins experienced a boon of hat tricks and 4 goal games (see Trivia). The 10-9 win over the New York Rangers on March 4, 1944 and the 10-9 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on March 16, 1944 were the highest scoring games in Bruins history.

Final Standings

National Hockey League

	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Montreal Canadiens	50	38	5	7	83	234	109	557
Detroit Red Wings	50	26	18	6	58	214	177	374
Toronto Maple Leafs	50	23	23	4	50	214	174	303
Chicago Black Hawks	50	22	23	5	49	178	187	240
Boston Bruins	50	19	26	5	43	223	268	207
New York Rangers	50	6	39	5	17	162	310	253

Note: 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.

Game Log

Regular Season Results
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	T	October 30, 1943	2–2	@ Montreal Canadiens (1943–44)	0–0–1
2	W	November 6, 1943	5–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44)	1–0–1
3	L	November 7, 1943	4–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1943–44)	1–1–1
4	L	November 11, 1943	4–6	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44)	1–2–1
5	W	November 13, 1943	6–2	@ New York Rangers (1943–44)	2–2–1
6	T	November 16, 1943	2–2	Montreal Canadiens (1943–44)	2–2–2
7	L	November 18, 1943	3–7	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44)	2–3–2
8	L	November 21, 1943	4–13	@ Montreal Canadiens (1943–44)	2–4–2
9	W	November 23, 1943	8–5	Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44)	3–4–2
10	W	November 25, 1943	6–2	New York Rangers (1943–44)	4–4–2
11	L	November 27, 1943	4–7	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44)	4–5–2
12	L	November 28, 1943	4–5	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44)	4–6–2
13	W	November 30, 1943	6–5	Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44)	5–6–2
14	W	December 5, 1943	5–4	Montreal Canadiens (1943–44)	6–6–2
15	T	December 7, 1943	6–6	Detroit Red Wings (1943–44)	6–6–3
16	W	December 11, 1943	9–6	New York Rangers (1943–44)	7–6–3
17	L	December 12, 1943	4–6	@ New York Rangers (1943–44)	7–7–3
18	W	December 14, 1943	4–3	Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44)	8–7–3
19	L	December 19, 1943	1–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1943–44)	8–8–3
20	W	December 21, 1943	8–5	Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44)	9–8–3
21	T	December 26, 1943	4–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1943–44)	9–8–4
22	W	December 28, 1943	5–2	Detroit Red Wings (1943–44)	10–8–4
23	L	January 1, 1944	2–5	Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44)	10–9–4
24	W	January 2, 1944	13–3	@ New York Rangers (1943–44)	11–9–4
25	W	January 4, 1944	6–4	Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44)	12–9–4
26	L	January 8, 1944	3–12	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44)	12–10–4
27	W	January 15, 1944	7–5	New York Rangers (1943–44)	13–10–4
28	L	January 16, 1944	6–8	@ New York Rangers (1943–44)	13–11–4
29	L	January 18, 1944	2–7	Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44)	13–12–4
30	L	January 22, 1944	2–6	@ Montreal Canadiens (1943–44)	13–13–4
31	L	January 23, 1944	1–4	Montreal Canadiens (1943–44)	13–14–4
32	L	January 25, 1944	3–6	Detroit Red Wings (1943–44)	13–15–4
33	L	January 29, 1944	1–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1943–44)	13–16–4
34	L	February 1, 1944	0–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44)	13–17–4
35	W	February 5, 1944	7–2	New York Rangers (1943–44)	14–17–4
36	W	February 8, 1944	3–0	Montreal Canadiens (1943–44)	15–17–4
37	W	February 10, 1944	5–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44)	16–17–4
38	L	February 13, 1944	1–4	Detroit Red Wings (1943–44)	16–18–4
39	L	February 19, 1944	4–10	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44)	16–19–4
40	L	February 20, 1944	5–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1943–44)	16–20–4
41	L	February 26, 1944	2–10	@ Montreal Canadiens (1943–44)	16–21–4
42	L	February 29, 1944	3–7	Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44)	16–22–4
43	L	March 2, 1944	2–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44)	16–23–4
44	W	March 4, 1944	10–9	New York Rangers (1943–44)	17–23–4
45	T	March 5, 1944	4–4	@ New York Rangers (1943–44)	17–23–5
46	L	March 7, 1944	4–8	Detroit Red Wings (1943–44)	17–24–5
47	W	March 12, 1944	6–5	Montreal Canadiens (1943–44)	18–24–5
48	W	March 14, 1944	6–4	Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44)	19–24–5
49	L	March 16, 1944	9–10	@ Detroit Red Wings (1943–44)	19–25–5
50	L	March 18, 1944	2–10	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44)	19–26–5

Playoffs

• The Bruins did not qualify for the post season.

Player Stats

Regular Season

Scoring

#	Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
4	Cain, HerbHerb Cain	LW	48	36	46	82	4
10	Cowley, BillBill Cowley	C	36	30	41	71	12
16	Jackson, ArtArt Jackson	C	49	28	41	69	8
14	Boll, BuzzBuzz Boll	LW	39	19	25	44	2
7	Calladine, NormNorm Calladine	C	49	16	27	43	8
12	Guidolin, BepBep Guidolin	LW	47	17	25	42	58
18	Jackson, BusherBusher Jackson	LW	42	11	21	32	25
5	Clapper, DitDit Clapper	D	50	6	25	31	13
2	Egan, PatPat Egan	D	25	11	13	24	55
6	Crawford, JackJack Crawford	D	34	4	16	20	8
11	Gallinger, DonDon Gallinger	C	23	13	5	18	6
2	Hollett, FlashFlash Hollett	D	25	9	7	16	4
8, 11, 19	Kopak, RussRuss Kopak	C	24	7	9	16	0
9, 17	Rittinger, AlanAlan Rittinger	W	19	3	7	10	0
9	Palazzari, AldoAldo Palazzari	RW	24	6	3	9	4
8, 15	Labrie, GuyGuy Labrie	D	15	2	7	9	2
15, 17	Brennan, TomTom Brennan	RW	11	2	1	3	2
9	Scherza, ChuckChuck Scherza	LW/C	9	1	1	2	6
9, 15, 19	Schmidt, ClarenceClarence Schmidt	RW	7	1	0	1	2
15	Aubuchon, OssieOssie Aubuchon	LW	9	1	0	1	0
19	Boyd, IrwinIrwin Boyd	RW	5	0	1	1	0
1	Gardiner, BertBert Gardiner	G	41	0	1	1	0
15	Schmidt, OttoOtto Schmidt	D	2	0	0	0	0
17	DeMarco, AbAb DeMarco	C	3	0	0	0	0
8	Wilkinson, JohnJohn Wilkinson	D	9	0	0	0	6
1	Abbott, GeorgeGeorge Abbott	G	1	0	0	0	0
1	Franks, JimmyJimmy Franks	G	1	0	0	0	0
1	Grant, BennyBenny Grant	G	1	0	0	0	0
1	Courteau, MauriceMaurice Courteau	G	6	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Gardiner, BertBert Gardiner	2460	41	17	19	5	212	5.17	1
Courteau, MauriceMaurice Courteau	360	6	2	4	0	33	5.50	0
Abbott, GeorgeGeorge Abbott	60	1	0	1	0	7	7.00	0
Franks, JimmyJimmy Franks	60	1	0	1	0	6	6.00	0
Grant, BennyBenny Grant	60	1	0	1	0	10	10.00	0
Team:	3000	50	19	26	5	268	5.36	1

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

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

Awards and Records

• The Bruins set the team record for most goals scored in an away game in the 13-3 win over the New York Rangers on January 2, 1944.
• Bill Cowley sets the then NHL record for most career assists with 264 in the 6-4 win over the Chicago Black Hawks on January 4, 1944.
• Herb Cain sets the then NHL record for most points in a season with 82.
• NHL Scoring Leader: Herb Cain
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Bill Cowley, Runner-up
• Lady Byng Trophy: Herb Cain, Runner-up
• Bill Cowley, Centre, NHL First Team All-Star
• Herb Cain, Left Wing, NHL Second Team All-Star
• Dit Clapper, Defence, NHL Second Team All-Star

Transactions

• Purchase Bert Gardiner from the Montreal Canadiens on October 28, 1943.
• Sell Ab DeMarco, Chuck Scherza and Oscar Aubuchon to the New York Rangers on November 25, 1943.
• Trade Flash Hollett to the Detroit Red Wings for Pat Egan on January 5, 1944. Egan wears the #2 jersey Eddie Shore made famous, which Hollett had taken to wearing.
• Sell Aldo Palazzari for $3,000 to New York on February 22, 1944.

Trivia

• Chuck Scherza scored in his first NHL game versus the Montreal Canadiens on October 30, 1943 as did Russ Kopak versus the Detroit Red Wings on December 7, 1943.
• The Bruins played a charity game in Ottawa on February 24, 1944 versus the Kiwanis All-Stars to raise money for War Bonds.
• Goalie Bert Gardiner recorded an assist on a goal by Bill Cowley during the 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 29, 1944.
• A confusing development saw Joe "Otto" Schmidt wear Milt Schmidt's #15 jersey for 2 games. Then Clarence Schmidt played 2 games also wearing #15.
• Bill Cowley had a 6 point game during the 10-9 win over the New York Rangers on March 4, 1944.
• Bruins who recorded a Hat trick this season include:
  • Buzz Boll had a 4 goal game during the 6-2 win over New York on November 25, 1943.
  • Bill Cowley during the 8-5 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 21, 1943.
  • Herb Cain during the 13-3 win over New York on January 2, 1944.
  • Art Jackson during the 7-5 win over New York on January 15, 1944.
  • Bill Cowley had a 4 goal game during the 10-9 win over New York on March 4, 1944.
  • Herb Cain during the 4-4 tie with New York on March 5, 1944.
  • Bill Cowley during the 10-9 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on March 16, 1944.
  • Busher Jackson during the 10-9 loss to Detroit on March 16, 1944.

Gallery

Pre-season @ Quebec City

Chuck Scherza, Don Gallinger, Bep Guidolin, November 1943.

Reverend George Abbott was forced into service during a 7-4 loss to the Leafs, November 27, 1943.

Program from the February 24, 1944 charity game in Ottawa featuring a Royal Canadian Air Cadet on the cover.

Lineup for the February 24, 1944 charity game in Ottawa.

Herb Cain won the scoring title in 1943-44 with a record 82 points.

Jack Crawford, John Wilkinson in the 1943-44 season.

See Also

• 1943–44 NHL season