While this doesn't really affect the overall point of your post, it's worth noting that recording of empty-net points prior to the 1960's is unreliable and spotty at best. Take this game for example:
Montréal Canadiens - New York Rangers - Mar 14, 1948 | NHL.com
NHL Gamecenter - Montréal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers, Mar 14, 1948 - summary, stats, boxscore, play by play, recap and more.
www.nhl.com
Maurice Richard is not accounted for any empty-net goals for that game (or for that whole season either).
However, if you look at periodical newspaper article, this is what it says about the game:
"The score indicated a one-sided game but the contest definitely was far from that, until the final minute. Then with the Ranger goalie, Jim Henry, on the sidelines, the sharp-eyed Richard banged two long shots into the empty net to put the game completely out of reach of the Blue Shirts."
Rangers Lose to Canadiens and Drop to 4th Place as Bruins Down Detroit; MONTREAL SIX TOPS BLUE SHIRTS, 6 TO 3 Triumph Keeps Canadiens in Race, Thwarts Ranger Bid to Gain Play-Off Berth RICHARD SCORES 4 GOALS Game Is Close Until He Nets Twice for Vict
Maurice Richard personally kept the Canadiens of Montreal from definite elimination in the National Hockey League race last night. The famed rocket of the Habitants accounted for four goals as his team carved out a surprise 6-to-3 victory over the New York Rangers while a capacity crowd of...
timesmachine.nytimes.com
That's far from the only occasion of such error of accounting empty-net goals by the NHL prior to 1960's. So players like Richard, Howe and Beliveau actually have more empty-net points than their stat totals show.
