1922–23 Ottawa Senators season

The Senators opened the 1922-23 season on the road against the Hamilton Tigers on December 16. Ottawa would lose a close game by a score of 4–3 in overtime, as Goldie Prodgers scored the winner for Hamilton. Four nights later, the Senators opened the home portion of their schedule, as they defeated the Toronto St. Patricks 7–2, as Punch Broadbent and Eddie Gerard each scored twice for Ottawa.

The Senators hit the road for a game against the Montreal Canadiens on December 23, as Clint Benedict recorded the shutout and Cy Denneny scored twice in a 3–0 victory. Four nights later, the Canadiens travelled to Ottawa to complete the home-and-home series, as despite two goals by Frank Nighbor, the teams battled to a 2–2 draw.

Ottawa played their final game of December at home against the Hamilton Tigers. Frank Nighbor scored two goals and the team was led by superb goaltending from Clint Benedict, as Ottawa defeated Hamilton 4–1.

The Senators finished with a 3-1-1 record in the month of December, earning seven points. Ottawa was in first place in the NHL standings, two points ahead of the second place Montreal Canadiens.

Ottawa opened the new year on the road with a game in Toronto against the Toronto St. Patricks on January 3. The Senators Cy Denneny scored twice, including the tying goal with five minutes remaining in the third, however, Toronto defeated Ottawa on an overtime goal by Babe Dye to win 3–2. The two teams met again three nights later in Ottawa, as the Senators, on a late third period goal by Punch Broadbent, which was his second goal of the game, hung on to defeat the St. Patricks 2–1.

On January 10, the Montreal Canadiens visited Ottawa, as the Senators, led by a three-goal game by Punch Broadbent, defeated the Canadiens 6–2. Following this game, Ottawa embarked on a two-game road trip. The first game was played in Hamilton on January 13, as the Senators were blown out by a score of 8–1 to the Hamilton Tigers. The road trip continued with a game played against the Montreal Canadiens, as the Canadiens defeated the Senators 2–1, making it the first time that the Senators lost consecutive games during the season.

Ottawa returned home on January 20, and ended their brief two game losing streak with a solid 2–0 win over the Hamilton Tigers, as Clint Benedict earned the shutout. Ottawa returned to the road for a game in Toronto four nights later, and the Toronto St. Patricks defeated the Senators on an overtime goal by Reg Noble 2–1. The road trip continued on to a game in Hamilton on January 27, as the Tigers broke out to a 4–0 lead after the first period. The Senators fought back, and eventually won the game on an overtime goal by Punch Broadbent, as the final score was 6-5 for Ottawa.

The Senators returned to home ice for their final game of the month against the Toronto St. Patricks on January 31. The Senators hung on to defeat the St. Patricks by a score of 2–1, behind the strong goaltending of Clint Benedict.

The club earned a record of 5-4-0 in nine games played in January. Overall, Ottawa had a win-loss record of 8-5-1 at the end of the month, earning 17 points, and hanging onto first place in the NHL, one point ahead of the second place Montreal Canadiens.

The Senators opened February with a road game against the Montreal Canadiens on February 3, as the Canadiens defeated Ottawa 4–1, dropping the Senators into second place in the NHL standings. Four nights later, the two clubs met again, this time in Ottawa, as the Senators regained first place with a 3–0 victory, as Georges Boucher scored twice and Clint Benedict earned the shutout.

On February 10, the Hamilton Tigers visited Ottawa, and the Senators, led by two goal games by Eddie Gerard and Georges Boucher, defeated the Tigers 8–3. Four nights later, on Valentine's Day, the Senators travelled to Toronto to play against the Toronto St. Patricks, as the St. Patricks defeated the Senators 6–4. History was made in this game, as the third period of play was broadcast on radio by CFCA, which was the first radio broadcast of an NHL game.

The Senators returned for a two-game home stand beginning on February 17, as Ottawa shutout the Montreal Canadiens 2–0, with Clint Benedict earning the shutout. In the second game of the home stand, the Senators defeated the Toronto St. Patricks 6–1, as Cy Denneny led the team with four goals in the win.

Ottawa briefly returned on the road for a game in Hamilton on February 24, as the Senators, led by another four goal game by Cy Denneny, defeated the Hamilton Tigers 5–1. The month concluded with the Senators and Tigers meeting in Ottawa on February 28, as the Senators, led by a three-goal game by Georges Boucher defeated Hamilton 6–3.

Ottawa finished February with a 6-2-0 record during eight games. Overall, the Senators record was 14-7-1, earning 29 points, as the club had clinched first place in the NHL standings, earning a berth in the NHL finals.

Ottawa concluded the season with a two-game road trip. On March 3, the Senators were shutout by the Montreal Canadiens 1–0, as Georges Vezina earned the shutout for the Canadiens. Two nights later, the Senators ended the regular season with a 2–0 loss to the Toronto St. Patricks, as Toronto goaltender John Ross Roach earned the shutout.

Ottawa had a 0-2-0 record in two games in March. Overall, the Senators finished the season 14-9-1, earning 29 points and finishing in first place in the NHL standings.

[1][2] Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
         Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

The Senators returned home on Friday, April 6, 1923, from Vancouver. Greeted by Ottawa Mayor Plant, and accompanied by the Governor-Generals Foot Guards and the Ottawa Silver Band, the team paraded through Ottawa's downtown streets.[3] A banquet was held for the team on Monday, April 19, where each of the ten team members received a gold watch. According to Mayor Plant, "this is a citizens' banquet, not a civic one, as the citizens believe you have given Ottawa the best advertising it has ever had."[4]

Scoring

Goaltending

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The Senators never did engrave their name on the Cup for their 1923 championship. It was not until the trophy was redesigned in 1948 that the words "1923 Ottawa Senators" was put onto its then-new collar.