The 1930–31

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

season was the team's fifth

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

in the

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

, and they were coming off a surprising season, in which they finished over .500 for the first time in team history, and making the playoffs after a two-year absence. The Hawks would go on to lose to the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

in the first round. Prior to the season, Chicago would name former team captain and player-coach

Dick Irvin James Dickinson "Dick" Irvin Jr. (or II) (July 19, 1892 – May 16, 1957) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. He played for professional teams in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, the Western Canada Hockey League, and t ...

as the head coach. The team responded with a club record 24 wins and 51 points, and finished in second place in the American Division, and make the playoffs for the 2nd straight season.

Regular season

Chicago was led offensively once again by

Johnny Gottselig Johannes “Johnny” Gottselig () (June 24, 1905 – May 15, 1986) was a professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1928 and 1945. He was the second player bo ...

, who scored a club high 20 goals and 32 points, and by

Tom Cook Thomas Cook (1808–1892) was an English businessman and founder of the Thomas Cook & Son and Thomas Cook India. Thomas Cook, alternatively referred to as Tommy Cook or Tom Cook, may also refer to: Companies/Businesses *Thomas Cook & Son, an Engl ...

, who was the team leader in assists with 14, and finished 2nd in team scoring with 29 points. Frank Ingram would have a big season, scoring a career high 17 goals. In goal, Chuck Gardiner would play in every game, and he would break the Hawks record for wins (24), shutouts (12) and GAA (1.73). The Hawks finished with the 2nd fewest goals against in the league.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1 , , November 16 , ,

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

, , 1–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–0–1 , , 1 , - , 2 , , November 20 , ,

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

, , 0–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–0–1 , , 3 , - , 3 , , November 23 , ,

, , 0–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–0–1 , , 5 , - , 4 , , November 25 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–3 , ,

, , 3–0–1 , , 7 , - , 5 , , November 27 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–0 , ,

, , 4–0–1 , , 9 , - , 6 , , November 29 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–0 , ,

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...

, , 5–0–1 , , 11 , - , - , 7 , , December 2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–2 , ,

Montreal Maroons The Montreal Maroons (officially the Montreal Professional Hockey Club) were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL). They played in the NHL from 1924–25 NHL season, 1924 to 1937–38 NHL season, 1938, winning the Sta ...

, , 5–1–1 , , 11 , - , 8 , , December 4 , ,

New York Americans The New York Americans, colloquially known as the Amerks, were a professional ice hockey team based in New York City from 1925 to 1942. They were the third expansion team in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the second to play ...

, , 2–4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 6–1–1 , , 13 , - , 9 , , December 7 , , Detroit Falcons , , 2–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 7–1–1 , , 15 , - , 10 , , December 9 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–1 , , Detroit Falcons , , 7–2–1 , , 15 , - , 11 , , December 14 , ,

, , 2–0 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 7–3–1 , , 15 , - , 12 , , December 16 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 8–3–1 , , 17 , - , 13 , , December 18 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–0 , ,

, , 8–3–2 , , 18 , - , 14 , , December 20 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–3 , ,

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

, , 8–4–2 , , 18 , - , 15 , , December 23 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–2 , , Philadelphia Quakers , , 9–4–2 , , 20 , - , 16 , , December 28 , ,

, , 3–2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 9–5–2 , , 20 , - , - , 17 , , January 1 , , Philadelphia Quakers , , 3–10 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 10–5–2 , , 22 , - , 18 , , January 4 , , Detroit Falcons , , 2–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 10–6–2 , , 22 , - , 19 , , January 6 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–5 , ,

, , 10–7–2 , , 22 , - , 20 , , January 8 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–0 , , Philadelphia Quakers , , 11–7–2 , , 24 , - , 21 , , January 11 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–0 , ,

, , 12–7–2 , , 26 , - , 22 , , January 13 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–0 , ,

, , 13–7–2 , , 28 , - , 23 , , January 15 , ,

, , 0–2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 14–7–2 , , 30 , - , 24 , , January 18 , ,

, , 1–2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 15–7–2 , , 32 , - , 25 , , January 22 , , Philadelphia Quakers , , 2–5 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 16–7–2 , , 34 , - , 26 , , January 25 , ,

, , 3–2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 16–8–2 , , 34 , - , - , 27 , , February 1 , ,

, , 4–2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 16–9–2 , , 34 , - , 28 , , February 5 , , Philadelphia Quakers , , 1–6 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 17–9–2 , , 36 , - , 29 , , February 8 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–2 , ,

, , 18–9–2 , , 38 , - , 30 , , February 10 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–2 , ,

, , 18–10–2 , , 38 , - , 31 , , February 12 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–2 , ,

, , 19–10–2 , , 40 , - , 32 , , February 15 , ,

, , 2–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 19–11–2 , , 40 , - , 33 , , February 19 , , Detroit Falcons , , 5–4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 19–12–2 , , 40 , - , 34 , , February 22 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–1 , , Detroit Falcons , , 19–12–3 , , 41 , - , 35 , , February 24 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–3 , ,

, , 19–13–3 , , 41 , - , - , 36 , , March 1 , ,

, , 0–5 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 20–13–3 , , 43 , - , 37 , , March 5 , ,

, , 0–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 21–13–3 , , 45 , - , 38 , , March 8 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–2 , ,

, , 21–14–3 , , 45 , - , 39 , , March 10 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–2 , ,

, , 21–15–3 , , 45 , - , 40 , , March 12 , ,

, , 2–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 22–15–3 , , 47 , - , 41 , , March 15 , ,

, , 2–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 22–16–3 , , 47 , - , 42 , , March 17 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–0 , , Philadelphia Quakers , , 23–16–3 , , 49 , - , 43 , , March 19 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–8 , ,

, , 23–17–3 , , 49 , - , 44 , , March 22 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–1 , , Detroit Falcons , , 24–17–3 , , 51 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

The Hawks would open the playoffs in a two-game total-goals series against the

, and for the first time in team history, the Black Hawks won the series by a score of 4–3. Next up was a two-game total-goals series against the

, and Chuck Gardiner would shine by shutting New York out in both games, as the Hawks won the series by a 3–0 score and earn a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals against the

. The Hawks would lose the first game of the best-of-five series, but then would win two in a row in overtime to take a 2–1 series lead. Montreal would respond with a 4–2 victory in game four, and then the Canadiens would put away the Black Hawks with a 2–0 win in the fifth and deciding game, ending the Black Hawks dream of winning the championship one win short.

Black Hawks 4, Maple Leafs 3

NHL quarter-finals

=(A2) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (C3) Toronto Maple Leafs

Black Hawks 3, Rangers 0

NHL semi-finals

=(A2) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (A3) New York Rangers

Canadiens 3, Black Hawks 2

Stanley Cup finals

=(C1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A2) Chicago Black Hawks

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Goaltending

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Goaltending

References

SHRP SportsThe Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 {{DEFAULTSORT:1930-31 Chicago Black Hawks season Chicago Blackhawks seasons

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...