1961–62 NHL season

Did You Know?

• Hockey Night in Canada on CBC Television televised Saturday night regular season games and Stanley Cup playoff games, but games were not broadcast in their entirety until the 1968–69 season.
• This was the second consecutive season that the NHL did not have an American national broadcaster until the 1965–66 season.

Pre-season

The Montreal Canadiens traded Doug Harvey and Albert Langlois to the New York Rangers for Lou Fontinato; Harvey became player-coach of the Rangers. Jean Beliveau tore knee ligaments in an exhibition game in Trail, British Columbia, following a knee injury to Dickie Moore.

Regular season

Glenn Hall received a standing ovation before the NHL All-star game, which the All-stars won 3–1 over the Black Hawks. Doug Harvey scored in his debut as player-coach as the Rangers beat the Bruins 6–2 in Boston; later, Andy Bathgate had a hat trick and Camille Henry two goals in a 6–3 win over Boston. Montreal defeated the Rangers 3–1 in their home opener with two goals from Henri Richard, playing alongside the injured Beliveau and Moore; Harvey received an ovation in a Ranger uniform.

Earl Ingarfield Sr. had a hat trick on November 19 as the Rangers beat Toronto 5–3. Three nights later, Harvey had three assists and Gump Worsley a shutout in a 4–0 win over Detroit, putting the Rangers into first place; the next night Harvey scored the winner in a 4–3 victory over Boston. Ab McDonald had a hat trick on December 6 as Chicago routed the Rangers 8–3 at Madison Square Garden; Bill Hay had four assists. Toronto took first place on January 10 with a 7–5 win over Boston; Frank Mahovlich scored two goals on his 24th birthday and Dave Keon also had two.

Glenn Hall played his 500th consecutive game on January 17 but lost 7–3 to Montreal; Bobby Hull scored two goals, including his 20th, and Hall received a car from Black Hawks president James D. Norris. Percy LeSueur, former Ottawa goaltender, died on January 28 at age 79. Bobby Hull scored four goals on February 1 as Chicago beat Detroit 7–4.