1959-60 National Hockey League season

The 1959-60 National Hockey League season was the 43rd season of the National Hockey League.

Regular Season

The year was marked by important changes in the NHL. Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante, like Clint Benedict before him, began to wear a mask in hockey games. Plante, who had asthma-related problems thorughout his career, began wearing a mask in practice shortly after a sinus operation in the 1957-58 NHL season. His first appearance with a mask in a game was on November 1, 1959, against the New York Rangers. Although many in the NHL disapproved of Plante's decision, due to traditions of the NHL at the time, everyone else followed suit after Plante went undefeated in ten games with the mask on.

Standings

Team	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Montreal Canadiens	70	40	18	12	255	178	92
Toronto Maple Leafs	70	35	26	9	199	195	79
Chicago Blackhawks	70	28	29	13	191	180	69
Detroit Red Wings	70	26	29	15	186	197	67
Boston Bruins	70	28	34	8	220	241	64
New York Rangers	70	17	38	15	187	247	49

Leading Scorers

Player	Team	GP	G	A	PTS
Bobby Hull	Chicago	70	39	42	81
Bronco Horvath	Boston	68	39	41	80
Jean Beliveau	Montreal	60	34	40	74
Andy Bathgate	New York	70	26	48	74
Henri Richard	Montreal	70	30	43	73
Gordie Howe	Detroit	70	28	45	73
Bernie Geoffrion	Montreal	59	30	41	71
Don McKenney	Boston	70	20	49	69
Vic Stasiuk	Boston	69	29	39	68
Dean Prentice	New York	70	32	34	66

Leading Goaltenders

Player	Team	GP	MINS	GA	SO	GAA
Jacques Plante	Montreal	69	4140	175	3	2.54
Glenn Hall	Chicago	70	4200	179	6	2.56
Terry Sawchuk	Detroit	58	3480	155	5	2.67
Johnny Bower	Toronto	66	3960	177	5	2.68
Don Simmons	Boston	28	1680	91	2	3.25
Harry Lumley	Boston	42	2520	146	2	3.48
Gump Worsley	New York	39	2301	135	0	3.52

Stanley Cup Playoffs

The momentum did not stop for the Habs, as they played the minimum number of games to win the Stanley Cup. After winning the Stanley Cup, Maurice Richard retired from the NHL as a champion.

All dates in 1960.

Semifinals

Montreal vs Chicago

• March 24 - Chicago 3 Montreal 4
• March 26 - Chicago 3 Montreal 4 (OT)
• March 29 - Montreal 4 Chicago 0
• March 31 - Montreal 2 Chicago 0

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4-0

Toronto vs Detroit

• March 23 - Detroit 2 Toronto 1
• March 26 - Detroit 2 Toronto 4
• March 27 - Toronto 5 Detroit 4 (3OT)
• March 29 - Toronto 1 Detroit 2 (OT)
• April 2 - Detroit 4 Toronto 5
• April 3 - Toronto 4 Detroit 2

Toronto wins best-of-seven series 4-2

Stanley Cup Finals

Montreal vs Toronto

• April 7 - Toronto 2 Montreal 4
• April 9 - Toronto 1 Montreal 2
• April 12 - Montreal 5 Toronto 2
• April 14 - Montreal 4 Toronto 0

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4-0