1971-1972 Boston Bruins: Crushing the Ice

1971-1972 Boston Bruins: Crushing the Ice

1971-1972 Boston Bruins: Crushing the Ice

The 1969-1970 campaign of the Boston Bruins was a successful one as the team found key stars they could rely on going forward. It wouldn’t take long for the Bruins to get back in a position where they could hoist the Stanley Cup. The 1970’s was certainly a decade that Boston hockey fans could look back on and appreciate.

The Boston Bruins went 54-13-11 with 119 points in the 1971-1972 NHL season, finishing in 1st place in the East Division. They finished 10 points ahead of the New York Rangers. The Bruins were nearly flawless in head-to-head play as they went 6-0 against the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks, 5-0-1 against the Minnesota North Stars, 5-1 against the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers, 4-1-1 against the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-2 against the California Golden Seals, 3-1-2 against the Buffalo Sabres, and 2-1-3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Center Phil Esposito had 66 goals and 67 assists for 133 points with 28 power play goals, 24 power play assists and 16 game-winning goals off 426 shots. Defenseman Bobby Orr had 37 goals and 80 assists for 117 points with 11 power play goals, 25 power play assists, 4 short-handed goals and 4 game-winning goals off 353 shots. Left winger John Bucyk had 32 goals and 51 assists for 83 points with 13 power play goals, 32 power play assists and 7 game-winning goals off 174 shots. Center and right winger Mike Walton had 28 goals and 28 assists for 56 points off 236 shots.

Center Derek Sanderson had 25 goals and 33 assists for 58 points with 7 short-handed goals off 198 shots. Center Fred Stanfield had 23 goals and 56 assists for 79 points with 21 power play assists off 168 shots. Left winger Wayne Cashman had 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 goals off 150 shots. Right winger John McKenzie had 22 goals and 47 assists for 69 points with 10 power play goals and 21 power play assists off 133 shots. Right winger Ed Westfall had 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points with 5 game-winning goals off 123 shots. Right winger Ken Hodge had 16 goals and 40 assists for 56 points off 140 shots.

The Bruins had 2 goaltenders who did just enough to shut down opposing offenses during the regular season, Gerry Cheevers went 27-5-8, allowing 101 goals in 2420 minutes, recording a 2.50 goals against average and 2 shutouts. Eddie Johnston went 27-8-3, allowing 102 goals in 2260 minutes, recording a 2.71 goals against average and 2 shutouts.

The Bruins had their own way of crushing the ice, and the playoffs revealed that their way was the most effective way. In the NHL Quarterfinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins prevailed in 5 games. In Game 1 on April 5 at the Boston Garden the Bruins shut out the Leafs 5-0. In Game 2 on April 6 the Bruins lost to the Leafs 4-3 in overtime. In Game 3 on April 8 at the Maple Leaf Gardens the Bruins shut out the Leafs 2-0. In Game 4 on April 9 the Bruins beat the Leafs 5-4. In Game 5 on April 11 at the Boston Garden the Bruins beat the Leafs 3-2.

In the NHL Semifinals the Bruins faced the St. Louis Blues, and they made quick work of the Blues. In Game 1 on April 18 at the Boston Garden the Bruins beat the Blues 6-1. In Game 2 on April 20 the Bruins crushed the Blues 10-2. In Game 3 on April 23 at the St. Louis Arena the Bruins beat the Blues 7-2. In Game 4 on April 25 the Bruins eliminated the Blues with a 5-3 victory.

The Stanley Cup Finals featured the top 2 teams in the East Division as the Boston Bruins squared off against the New York Rangers. In Game 1 on April 30 at the Boston Garden the Bruins beat the Rangers 6-5. In Game 2 on May 2 the Bruins won 2-1. In Game 3 on May 4 at Madison Square Garden the Rangers beat the Bruins 5-2. In Game 4 on May 7 the Bruins beat the Rangers 3-2. In Game 5 on May 9 at the Boston Garden the Rangers beat the Bruins 3-2.

Returning to Madison Square Garden for Game 6 on May 11 the Bruins shut out the Rangers 3-0 to win their 2nd Stanley Cup in 3 years. Though he scored a goal early on Bobby Orr would receive 10 minutes in the penalty box for arguing with a referee named Art Skow. However, once he spent his time and got out of the box, Orr played a key roll in killing a penalty for the Bruins. Wayne Cashman sealed the deal for Boston as he scored the team’s other 2 goals.

Orr would win the Conn Smythe Trophy as a result of his great play in the Stanley Cup Finals, and he would also win the Norris Trophy. Phil Esposito won the Art Ross Trophy. Having also won the Prince of Wales Trophy, the Boston Bruins cemented their place in NHL history as one of the best teams in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.