1924–25 Ottawa Senators season
The 1924–25 Ottawa Senators season was the club's 40th season of play and eighth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). Ottawa would finish in fourth place in the league, failing to make the playoffs for the first time since the 1917–18 NHL season, ending a streak of six straight seasons. Team business The team's ownership changed once again, a year after Ted Dey gave up the business. Frank Ahearn and Tommy Gorman reached an impasse in the management of the team. Both attempted to buy out the other. In December, Ahearn accepted Gorman's $50,000 offer for the club. In January, Gorman's offer was off, after control over all shares was not arranged. However, this may have been used as an escape clause out of the agreement, as Gorman was later to accept a position with the New York Americans. Instead, Ahearn bought out Gorman for $35,000 and Ahearn's share of the Connaught Park Racetrack in Aylmer, Quebec. Off-season The NHL would expand to six teams, as the Montreal Maroons and the first US-based team, the Boston Bruins, joined the league. The NHL also added more games to the schedule, going from 24 to 30. Regular season Cy Denneny would have another spectacular season, leading the NHL in assists, finishing 2nd to Babe Dye of the Toronto St. Pats in points, and finishing 3rd to Dye and Aurel Joliat of the Montreal Canadiens in goals. During the season, the Senators and Hamilton Tigers would play in the first-ever scoreless game in NHL regular season history on December 17. November/December November 29 – Ottawa opened the season with a road game at Barton Street Arena for a matchup against the Hamilton Tigers. King Clancy, Georges Boucher and Cy Denneny each scored a goal for the Senators, however, the Tigers scored twice in the third period, breaking a tie game to defeat Ottawa 5–3. December 3 – The Senators hosted the Montreal Canadiens for their home opener. Edwin Gorman scored his first career goal, which turned out to be the game-winning goal, as Ottawa defeated Montreal 2–1. Goaltender Alec Connell earned his first career victory. December 6 – Ottawa was on the road for their first ever visit to the Montreal Forum, as the Senators faced the expansion team, the Montreal Maroons. Edwin Gorman scored the lone Senators goal, as former Ottawa player Punch Broadbent scored twice for the Maroons, and former Senators goaltender Clint Benedict earned the win, as Ottawa lost the game 3–1. December 10 – Ottawa returned home for a matchup against the Toronto St. Patricks. Toronto took a 4–0 lead midway through the third period, however, Ottawa scored three goals in a row to get within a goal. The St. Patricks scored two goals within 10 seconds late in the third, sending Ottawa to their second loss in a row by a score of 6–3. Cy Denneny led the Senators offense with two goals and an assist. December 15 – The Senators made their first ever visit to