The Black Hawks advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1965 but were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens in seven games.
During the off-season, the NHL would expand by two teams, as the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks joined the league, and both clubs were placed in the East Division.
Keith Magnuson led the Hawks in toughness, setting a team record with 291 penalty minutes.
The Hawks opened the playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers, who had placed third in the West Division with a record of 28–33–17, earning 73 points.
Chicago's next opponent was the New York Rangers, who had finished the season in second place in the East Division with a 49–18–11 record, earning 109 points.
The Black Hawks used their home-ice advantage, and held on for a 4–2 victory, to win the series, and earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1965.
The Black Hawks opponent was the Montreal Canadiens, who finished the season in third place in the East with a 42–23–13 record, earning 97 points.
The Canadiens were the second team in NHL history, the other the 1945 Toronto Maple Leafs to win a game seven on the road in the Stanley Cup Finals.