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CaptainCrunch · 02-09-2024, 05:50 PM

1918-1919

This could be considered a bitter sweet season. World War 1 had ended but the optimism was tempered by the Spanish Flu epidemic that was sweeping Europe.

Seattle won the PCHA title eliminating Vancouver in a 2 game series outscoring them 7-5. In the East The Canadians were the first half champions with a 10-8 record. The Sens were the second half champions. In a two game series the Habs beat the Sens to face Seattle in the Stanley Cup Finals.

1918-1919 featured a key rule change as the NHL added two bluelines and permitted forward passing in the neutral zone. The NHL also put in new rules prohibiting substitutions for penalized players. Minors were three minutes, majors 5 minutes, and you couldn't substitute for a player with a match penalty. The NHL also started tracking assists.

The Canadians had to travel across the continent by train as the finals would take place in Seattle. In the first game, Seattle bombed Montreal 7-0. The second game the Canadians beat Seattle 4-2. Seattle rebounded to beat George Vezina 7 times to destroy the Habs 7-2. Game 4 ended 0-0 after 20 minutes of overtime. Game 5 was considered a classic as the Habs came back from a 3 goal deficit to beat Seattle. The series was deadlocked 2-2-1 with the cup up for grabs.

These thrilling games were overshadowed by the rapidly spreading flu pandemic, And people were concerned with such large public gatherings. Things took a turn for the worst as fans reported that the players looked exhausted and Montreal defenseman Joe Hall was rushed to the hospital during game 5. Billy Couture, Jack McDonald, Newsy Lalonde and Louis Berlinquette were bed ridden and Montreal Manager George Kennedy was also extremely sick. There was discussions around using Victoria players to step in for the ailing Montreal Players, and a week later Joe Hall died from the Flu and for the first time in history and only time the Stanley Cup finals were cancelled and the Cup was not awarded. We wouldn't see a season without a championship awarded until 2005.

Trivia
Quebec fails to state its intentions for the season and the NHL continues to be a 3 tearm league.

The Canadians and Sens won the first and second half season titles to fight for the NHL title. Toronto last years Stanley Cup champion finishes 5-13
Montreal's Newsy Lalonde wins the NHL scoring title with 21 goals and 30 points in 18 games.
Ottawa's Clint Benedict leads the NHL with a GAA of 2.94, he had a league worst 5.18 gaa in the inaugural season of the NHL.
Joe Hall leads the league in penalties with 83 minutes.
Hobart "Hobey" Baker considered to be one of the greatest players of his time who refused to turn professional is killed while testing a fighter planed on December 21, 1918.
Odie Cleghorn who was considered to be one of the toughest players of all time and used a strategy of spitting tabacco juice in opposing players faces notches 23 goals in the regular season 7 goals in the two game series against Ottawa and notched 2 goals in the Stanley Cup finals.

02-09-2024, 05:50 PM	#19
CaptainCrunch Norm! Join Date: Jun 2002 Exp:	1918-1919 This could be considered a bitter sweet season. World War 1 had ended but the optimism was tempered by the Spanish Flu epidemic that was sweeping Europe. Seattle won the PCHA title eliminating Vancouver in a 2 game series outscoring them 7-5. In the East The Canadians were the first half champions with a 10-8 record. The Sens were the second half champions. In a two game series the Habs beat the Sens to face Seattle in the Stanley Cup Finals. 1918-1919 featured a key rule change as the NHL added two bluelines and permitted forward passing in the neutral zone. The NHL also put in new rules prohibiting substitutions for penalized players. Minors were three minutes, majors 5 minutes, and you couldn't substitute for a player with a match penalty. The NHL also started tracking assists. The Canadians had to travel across the continent by train as the finals would take place in Seattle. In the first game, Seattle bombed Montreal 7-0. The second game the Canadians beat Seattle 4-2. Seattle rebounded to beat George Vezina 7 times to destroy the Habs 7-2. Game 4 ended 0-0 after 20 minutes of overtime. Game 5 was considered a classic as the Habs came back from a 3 goal deficit to beat Seattle. The series was deadlocked 2-2-1 with the cup up for grabs. These thrilling games were overshadowed by the rapidly spreading flu pandemic, And people were concerned with such large public gatherings. Things took a turn for the worst as fans reported that the players looked exhausted and Montreal defenseman Joe Hall was rushed to the hospital during game 5. Billy Couture, Jack McDonald, Newsy Lalonde and Louis Berlinquette were bed ridden and Montreal Manager George Kennedy was also extremely sick. There was discussions around using Victoria players to step in for the ailing Montreal Players, and a week later Joe Hall died from the Flu and for the first time in history and only time the Stanley Cup finals were cancelled and the Cup was not awarded. We wouldn't see a season without a championship awarded until 2005. Trivia Quebec fails to state its intentions for the season and the NHL continues to be a 3 tearm league. The Canadians and Sens won the first and second half season titles to fight for the NHL title. Toronto last years Stanley Cup champion finishes 5-13 Montreal's Newsy Lalonde wins the NHL scoring title with 21 goals and 30 points in 18 games. Ottawa's Clint Benedict leads the NHL with a GAA of 2.94, he had a league worst 5.18 gaa in the inaugural season of the NHL. Joe Hall leads the league in penalties with 83 minutes. Hobart "Hobey" Baker considered to be one of the greatest players of his time who refused to turn professional is killed while testing a fighter planed on December 21, 1918. Odie Cleghorn who was considered to be one of the toughest players of all time and used a strategy of spitting tabacco juice in opposing players faces notches 23 goals in the regular season 7 goals in the two game series against Ottawa and notched 2 goals in the Stanley Cup finals. __________________ My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!