with a best-of-five Norris Division semi-final series against the Minnesota North Stars, who finished the season with the best record in the division at 39-31-10, earning 88 points, which was 20 more than the Black Hawks. Chicago had eliminated the North Stars from the playoffs during the previous two seasons, in 1982 and 1983. The series opened with two games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and Hawks, led by two third period goals by Al Secord and 34 saves by Murray Bannerman stunned the North Stars and took the first game by a 3-1 score. Despite heavily outshooting and outplaying the Black Hawks in the second game, Minnesota and Chicago were tied at three after two periods. In the third period, the North Stars put the game away, scoring three times, en route to a 6-5 win and tying the series at 1-1. The series shifted to Chicago Stadium for the next two games, and the North Stars easily handed the Black Hawks a 4-1 loss in the third game to take the series lead. In the fourth game, Chicago's Troy Murray scored a late third period goal, helping the Hawks to a 4-3 victory, and force a fifth and deciding game back in Minnesota. In the fifth game, the North Stars Dennis Maruk led the way with two goals, as Minnesota defeated Chicago 4-1 and eliminated the Black Hawks. Player statistics Regular season Scoring Goaltending Playoffs Scoring Goaltending Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; Awards and records Transactions Draft picks Chicago's draft picks at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. Farm teams See also 1983–84 NHL season References External links Chicago Blackhawks seasons Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Chicago