The Chicago Blackhawks had a less than stellar regular season leading up to the 1934 playoffs, winning 20 games, losing 17 and tying 11. That was enough to get them in the postseason, though.
In the first round they faced the Montreal Canadiens. Playoff series were only two games in those days. The goals from both games were added up, and the highest-scoring team advanced. The Hawks won the series four goals to three.
In the second round of the playoffs, the Hawks faced another Montreal team, the Maroons. After a shutout victory in the first game, the Hawks went on to win the second game with a goal total of six to two.
On to the Cup, where the Hawks would face the league-leading and modern-day rival Detroit Red Wings.
The Stanley Cup didn’t use total goals to award the champion. A best of five series would determine the champion. The Hawks won the first two games in Detroit. The Red Wings took game three in Chicago. The Hawks needed to win game four to keep the series from returning to Detroit. Both teams failed to score during regulation, and it took 30 minutes and five seconds of overtime before Mush March pushed a slap shot past the Red Wings goalie. This was the first Stanley Cup championship for the Chicago Blackhawks.
To learn more about the 1934 Stanley Cup and the tragic hero of the Hawks, goalie Chuck Gardiner, check out The Chicago Black Hawks Story by George Vass or Hockey Chicago Style by Paul Greenland.
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