It seems odd to have the Second Division named after Gordie Howe, who was still playing at the time. I LOVE the idea of the Gordie Howe playoffs, so I'd maybe go with something more generic until after he retires in 1980.

1972-73 NHL Season

First Division
1. Montreal Canadiens: 120 ##
2. Boston Bruins: 107 #
3. New York Rangers: 102 ***
4. Chicago Blackhawks: 93 **
5. Detroit Red Wings: 86 *
6. Minnesota North Stars: 85 * 
7. Pittsburgh Penguins: 73
8. Toronto Maple Leafs: 64

Playoffs
4: New York Rangers over Minnesota North Stars: 3
4: Chicago Blackhawks over Detroit Red Wings: 2
4: Montreal Canadiens over Chicago Blackhawks: 2
4: Boston Bruins over New York Rangers: 3

Stanley Cup
4: Montreal Canadiens over Boston Bruins: 2

Second Division
1. Buffalo Sabres: 88 ##
2. Philadelphia Flyers: 85 #
3. Saint Louis Blues: 76 ***
4. Los Angeles Kings: 73 **
5. Atlanta Flames: 65 *
6. Vancouver Canucks: 53 *
7. California Golden Seals: 48
8. New York Islanders: 30

Playoffs
4: Saint Louis Blues over Vancouver Canucks: 0
4: Atlanta Flames over Los Angeles Kings: 3
4: Buffalo Sabres over Atlanta Flames: 2
4: Philadelphia Flyers over Saint Louis Blues: 1

Gordie Howe Cup
4: Buffalo Sabres over Philadelphia Flyers: 2

Due to expansion, both the Second Division champion and the runner up (the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins joined the First Division, while the Atlanta Flames and New York Islanders joined the Second Division, alongside the demoted Philadelphia Flyers. The Saint Louis Blues, who were returning to the NHL, were forced to join the Second Division as penance for their boycott last season.

In the First Division, the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins managed to earn a first round bye. With eight teams, there were now two teams that didn't make the playoffs, the last place (and relegated) Toronto Maple Leafs, and the seventh place Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, in the first round, the defending champion New York Rangers, bested the Minnesota North Stars in seven, while the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings in six. In the second round, the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in six, while the Boston Bruins beat the New York Rangers in seven. In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins went to six, where the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup.

 In the Second Division, the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers both earned a first round bye, in what was a close divisional race. In the end, the Sabres finished with 88 points, while the Flyers would finish at 85 points. The expansion Atlanta Flames, who were expected to miss the playoffs, finished in the top six, fifth over all to be exact. In last place, the New York Islanders finished with 30 points, the worst team in the NHL (since they finished in last in the lowest current division).

 In the Howe Cup Playoffs, in the first round, the Saint Louis Blues swept the Vancouver Canucks, who were once again the lowest seed in the playoffs. Next, the Atlanta Flames surprised the pundits by defeating the Los Angeles Kings in 7. In the second round, the Flames would fall to the Buffalo Sabres, while the Flyers defeated the Blues in 5. And finally, in the Howe Cup Finals, the Sabres defeated the Flyers in six, earning a promotion to the First Division.

Last edited by Enigmajones (11/27/2020 9:22 pm)

1974-75 NHL Season

First Division
1. Montreal Canadiens: 113 ##
2. Buffalo Sabres: 113 #
3. Philadelphia Flyers: 113 ***
4. Boston Bruins: 94 **
5. Pittsburgh Penguins: 89 *
6. New York Rangers: 88 *
7. Chicago Blackhawks: 82
8. Detroit Red Wings: 58

Playoffs
4: Philadelphia over New York: 0
4: Boston over Pittsburgh: 0
4: Montreal over Boston: 2
4: Philadelphia over Buffalo: 2

Stanley Cup
4: Montreal Canadiens over Philadelphia Flyers: 2

Second Division
1. Los Angeles Kings: 105 ##
2. New York Islanders: 88 #
3. Vancouver Canucks: 86 ***
4. Saint Louis Blues: 84 **
5. Atlanta Flames: 83 *
6. Toronto Maple Leafs: 78 *
7. Minnesota North Stars: 53
8. California Golden Seals: 51
9. Kansas City Scouts: 41

Playoffs
4: Vancouver over Toronto: 1
4: Atlanta over Saint Louis: 1
4: Los Angeles over Atlanta: 1
4: New York over Vancouver: 1

Gordie Howe Cup
4: Los Angeles Kings over New York Islanders: 2

 Before the season began, the Second Division was expanded to nine teams, with the expansion Kansas City Scouts joining the league. They would fall to the bottom of the Second Division their inaugural campaign, and would finish with a league worst 41 points. 

 In the First Division, the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres and the Philadelphia Flyers, all finished with 113 points, finishing in that order. As such, the Canadiens and the Sabres won the first round byes, while the Flyers would host the sixth seed New York Rangers in the postseason. In last place, the Detroit Red Wings were relegated, being 24 points behind the seventh place Chicago Blackhawks.

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs of 1975, the first round would see two sweeps. Both the higher seeds won the round, with the third seed Philadelphia Flyers sweeping the New York Rangers, and the fourth seed Boston Bruins beat the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the second round, the first seed Canadiens beat the Bruins, in a six game series. In a bit of an upset, the Flyers beat the second seed Sabres in six, winning the right to play for a Stanley Cup Final. Going up against the Canadiens, the Flyers hung on initially, winning the first two games to make it 2-0. Four games later and the Canadiens were lifting the Stanley Cup in front of a home town crowd.

 In the Second Division, the Los Angeles Kings utterly dominated the competition, finishing with 105 points, 17 points ahead of the second place New York Islanders. The Islanders were the story of the second division regular season, making their first ever playoff appearance and earning a first round bye. 

 In the Second Division Playoffs first round, both matchups went to five games. The third seed Vancouver Canucks beat out the sixth seed Toronto Maple Leafs, and the fifth seed Atlanta Flames upset the fourth seed Saint Louis Blues. In the second round, Los Angeles Kings beat the Atlanta Flames, in five, while the New York Islanders beat the Vancouver Canucks, also in five. In the Second Division Finals, the Kings beat the Islanders giving the Kings the right to enter the First Division.

1976-77 NHL Season

First Division
1. Montreal Canadiens: 132 ##
2. Philadelphia Flyers: 112 #
3. Boston Bruins: 106 ***
4. New York Islanders: 106 **
5. Buffalo Sabres: 104 *
6. Los Angeles Kings: 83 *
7. Pittsburgh Penguins: 81
8. Chicago Blackhawks: 63

Playoffs
4: Boston over Los Angeles: 1
4: Buffalo over New York: 1
4: Montreal over Buffalo: 0
4: Boston over Philadelphia: 1

Stanley Cup
4: Montreal Canadiens over Boston Bruins: 3

Second Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs: 81 ##
2. Atlanta Flames: 80 #
3. Saint Louis Blues: 73 ***
4. New York Rangers: 72 **
5. Minnesota North Stars: 64 * 
6. Cleveland Barons: 63 *
7. Vancouver Canucks: 63
8. Washington Capitals: 62 
9. Colorado Rockies: 54
10. Detroit Red Wings: 41

Playoffs
4: Cleveland over Saint Louis: 1
4: New York over Minnesota: 2
4: Toronto over Cleveland: 1
4: Atlanta over New York: 0

Gordie Howe Cup
4 :Atlanta Flames over Toronto Maple Leafs: 3

 Before the season began, the California Golden Seals, a moribund franchise relocated across the country to Cleveland. The name would be changed to the Barons, in honor of the fabled AHL team. As a Second Division team in its short life, the Barons were relatively successful, making the playoffs both seasons in Cleveland.

 In the First Division, the top five teams had over 100 points. The Montreal Canadiens, at a remarkable 132 points, finished ahead of the second place Philadelphia Flyers by 20 points. As those two teams had the bye, the first round was left to other teams. (Bruins, Islanders, Sabres & Kings) In second to last the place, the Pittsburgh Penguins stayed the hand of relegation, finishing with 81 points. Far behind them were the last place Chicago Blackhawks, who would be returning to the Second Division.

 In the first round of the 1977 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Boston Bruins tackled the Los Angeles Kings, and the New York Islanders battled the Buffalo Sabres. In the Boston-Los Angeles series, the Bruins beat the Kings in five, while the Sabres upset the New York Islanders,who were playing in their first First Division season, also in five. 

 In the second round of the 1977 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the titan Montreal Canadiens went up against the fifth seed Buffalo Sabres, while the Philadelphia Flyers took on the Boston Bruins. The Canadiens swept the Sabres, while the Bruins upset the second seed Flyers in five games.  In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Montreal Canadiens faced the Boston Bruins, a classic matchup of the original six. In the end the series would go to seven, a Montreal victory at home.

 In the Second Division of 1977, no team truly dominated. The competition was rife with low scoring games, and a fair share of ties were seen. In first place were the 81 point Toronto Maple Leafs, one point ahead of the second place Atlanta Flames. Also making the playoffs were the Saint Louis Blues (73), the New York Rangers (72), the Minnesota North Stars (64), and the Cleveland Barons (63). The Colorado Rockies also made their debut, finishing in ninth with 54 points.

 In the first round of the Second Division playoff of 1977, the Saint Louis Blues played the Cleveland Barons, while the New York Rangers took on the Minnesota North Stars. In a major upset, the Cleveland Barons embarrassed the Saint Louis Blues in five games, only ceding a loss at home to the visiting Blues in game two. In the New York Rangers-Minnesota North Stars bout, the Rangers overcame the North Stars in six, finihnging the series in Madison Square Garden. In the second round of the Second Division playoff, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the upstart Cleveland Barons in five, while the Atlanta Flames swept the New York Rangers. In the Second Division Finals, the Atlanta Flames overcame Toronto in a game seven in Toronto, winning promotion to the First Division.
 

1978-79 NHL season

First Division
1. New York Islanders: 116 ##
2. Montreal Canadiens: 115 #
3. Boston Bruins: 100 ***
4. Philadelphia Flyers: 95 **
5. Atlanta Flames: 90 *
6. Buffalo Sabres: 88 *
7. Toronto Maple Leafs: 81
8. Los Angeles Kings: 80

Playoffs
4: Boston over Buffalo: 1
4: Atlanta over Philadelphia: 1
4: New York over Atlanta: 2
4: Montreal over Boston: 3

Stanley Cup
4: New York over Montreal: 1

Second Division
1. New York Rangers: 91 ##
2. Pittsburgh Penguins: 85 #
3. Chicago Blackhawks: 73 ***
4. Minnesota North Stars: 68 **
5. Vancouver Canucks: 63 *
6. Washington Capitals: 63 *
7. Detroit Red Wings: 62
8. Saint Louis Blues: 48
9. Colorado Rockies: 42


Playoffs
4: Chicago over Washington: 3
4: Minnesota over Vancover: 0
4: New York over Minnesota: 0
4: Pittsburgh over Chicago: 3

Gordie Howe Cup
4: New York Rangers over Pittsburgh Penguins: 0

 In the First Division in 1978-1979, the top two teams in the league were the New York Islanders and the Montreal Canadiens. Although only one point was between the teams, the Islanders had 116 points and the Canadiens had 115. Both would gain the first round bye. In third, were the Boston Bruins (100), in fourth, the Philadelphia Flyers (95), in fifth the Atlanta Flames (90) and the last playoff spot was secured by the Buffalo Sabres (88). The last two spots were a close race, though eventually the Toronto Maple Leafs pulled ahead, beating out the Los Angeles Kings, with 81 to 80 points. With the end of the season, came the relegation of the Los Angeles Kings.

 In the Stanley Cup Playoff first round, the Boston Bruins faced off against the Buffalo Sabres, while the Philadelphia Flyers played the Atlanta Flames. Both series would end in five games, with the Bruins topping the Sabres, and the Flames upsetting the Flyers. In the second round, the New York Islanders came against the rival Atlanta Flames, while the Montreal Canadiens played the Boston Bruins. The matchups were interesting, because the Canadiens and Bruins were of the Original Six, while the Islanders and Flames were expansion mates. The Islanders-Flames series ended in six games, with the Islanders winning out. The Canadiens-Bruins series was a barn burner that ended in a game seven in Montreal, where the Habs beat the Bruins 6-4. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the New York Islanders embarrassed the Canadiens, who were only able to win one game, game four in Nassau Coliseum, that extended the series to an additional game, where the Islanders won 3-1.

In the Second Division in 1978-1979, another New York team was making headlines. In Madison Square the New York Rangers were the best team in the division by far. Finishing the season at 91 points, the Rangers were six points ahead of the second place Pittsburgh Penguins, as both teams had byes going into the Second Division playoffs.  In third-sixth place (in order) were the Chicago Blackhawks (73), Minnesota North Stars (68), Vancouver Canucks (63) and the Washington Capitals (63).

 In the Second Division Playoffs first round, the Chicago Blackhawks played the Washington Capitals, and the Minnesota North Stars played the Vancouver Canucks.The Chicago-Washington series went to seven, impressing many, resulting in a Blackhawks victory. The Minnesota-Vancouver series, though a far less interesting one, would end in a Minnesota sweep. In the second round, the New York Rangers swept the Minnesota North Stars, while the Pittsburgh Penguins battled the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games, ending with a Pittsburgh victory. In the Second Division Title, the New York Rangers swept the Pittsburgh Penguins, earning promotion to the First Division. It was the only season to date, where the titles were won by only New York teams. 

Last edited by Enigmajones (12/17/2020 10:32 pm)