Summary
The Montreal Canadiens were the NHL's dominant team, scoring a record 250 goals and finishing in first place by 19 points over the surprising New York Rangers, while the Red Wings slipped into third place and the Boston Bruins finished fourth.
Rocket Richard scored his 500th goal during the season, becoming the first player to reach that plateau. Dickie Moore led the league in goals and scoring, Henri Richard led in assists, Jacques Plante had the lowest goal-against average to win the Vezina Trophy for the third year in a row, and Doug Harvey won his fourth straight Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman.
As they had the previous year, the Bruins pulled an upset in the semifinals, beating the Rangers in a six-game semifinal, and the Canadiens swept the Red Wings.
The teams split the first four games of the Stanley Cup final, but Rocket Richard won Game 5 with his sixth career playoff overtime goal and Bernie Geoffrion scored twice in a 5-3 win that gave the Canadiens their third straight championship.
