1969-1970 Boston Bruins: Orr at the Core

1969-1970 Boston Bruins: Orr at the Core

1969-1970 Boston Bruins: Orr at the Core

Defenseman Bobby Orr had been in the National Hockey League since 1966, but his career had yet to take off like many had expected. Being on a promising team that had talent just waiting to break out, Orr would eventually lead the charge for the Boston Bruins, one of the main staples of the NHL.

In the 1969-1970 regular season the Boston Bruins went 40-17-19 with 99 points, finishing with the same amount of points as the Chicago Blackhawks in the East Division but finishing 5 wins behind. The Bruins went 3-3-2 against the Blackhawks in head-to-head play. At the Boston Garden the Bruins went 27-3-8 while they went 13-14-11 on the road. Aside from two teams the Bruins fared well in head-to-head play as they went 5-0-1 against the Los Angeles Kings, the Oakland Seals and the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-0-2 against the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1-1 against the Minnesota North Stars, 4-3-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-4 against the New York Rangers, and 3-1-2 against the St. Louis Blues.

Center Phil Esposito had 43 goals and 56 assists for 99 points with 18 power play goals, 25 power play assists and 5 game-winning goals off 405 shots. Bobby Orr emerged as one of the team’s core pillars as he had 33 goals and 87 assists for 120 points with 11 power play goals, 39 power play assists, 4 short-handed goals and 3 game-winning goals off 413 shots. Left winger John Bucyk had 31 goals and 38 assists for 69 points with 14 power play goals, 18 power play assists and 6 game-winning goals off 190 shots. Right winger John McKenzie had 29 goals and 41 assists for 70 points with 9 power play goals, 24 power play assists and 6 game-winning goals off 196 shots.

Right winger Ken Hodge had 25 goals and 29 assists for 54 points with 6 power play goals, 7 power play assists and 5 game-winning goals off 198 shots. Center Fred Stanfield had 23 goals and 35 assists for 58 points with 13 power play goals, 14 power play assists and 3 game-winning goals off 254 shots. Center Derek Sanderson had 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points with 5 power play goals, 5 power play assists and 5 short-handed goals off 179 shots. Right winger Ed Westfall had 14 goals and 22 assists with 8 short-handed goals off 158 shots. Wayne Cashman had 9 goals and 26 assists with 4 power play assists off 104 shots.

The Bruins had 2 solid goaltenders protecting their nets. Gerry Cheevers went 24-8-8, allowing 108 goals and recording a 2.72 goals against average and 4 shutouts in 2384 minutes. Eddie Johnston went 16-9-11, allowing 108 goals and recording a 2.98 goals against average and 3 shutouts in 2176 minutes.

In the first 7 games of the regular season the Bruins went 6-0-1, and it was this kind of momentum that Boston would take with them to the playoffs. In the NHL Quarterfinals against the New York Rangers the Bruins would prevail 4 games to 2. In Game 1 on April 8 at the Boston Garden the Bruins pounded the Rangers 8-2. In Game 2 on April 9 the Bruins won again by the score of 5-3. Madison Square Garden hosted Games 3 and 4, and the Rangers would get back in the series as they won 4-3 on April 11 and 4-2 on April 12. The Bruins quickly silenced the Rangers once the series was tied at 2 games apiece as they won 3-2 in Game 5 on April 14 at the Boston Garden, and then returning to Madison Square Garden for Game 6, the Bruins eliminated the Rangers with a 4-1 win on April 16.

The NHL Semifinals saw the Boston Bruins do battle against their Original Six rivals the Chicago Blackhawks, but much to Chicago’s surprise Boston wouldn’t take long to put the Eastern Division Champions away. In Game 1 on April 19 at Chicago Stadium the Bruins beat the Blackhawks 6-3. In Game 2 on April 21 the Bruins won again by the score of 4-1. In Game 3 on April 23 the Bruins beat the Blackhawks 5-2 at the Boston Garden, and then they completed the 4-game sweep with a 5-4 victory in Game 4 on April 26.

The 1970 Stanley Cup Finals was a contest between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues, but it became clear right away who the better team was. In Game 1 on May 3 at the St. Louis Arena the Bruins pounded the Blues 6-1. In Game 2 on May 5 the Bruins pounded the Blues again 6-2. The series shifted to the Boston Garden for Game 3 on May 7, and the narrative didn’t change as the Bruins beat the Blues 4-1. Finally in Game 4 on May 10 the Bruins edged out the Blues 4-3 in overtime to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 29 years.

40 seconds into overtime Bobby Orr scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal, and he provided one of the NHL’s most stunning images in its history. Blues defenseman Noel Picard was responsible for tripping Orr just as Orr fired the shot, which allowed Orr to fly through the air and raise up his arms in victory. 1969-1970 was truly Orr’s breakout season as he won the Art Ross Memorial Trophy for scoring the most points, the Hart Memorial Trophy, the James Norris Trophy, the NHL Plus-Minus Award, and the Conn Smythe Trophy for the postseason’s Most Valuable Player. In the playoffs Orr had 9 goals and 11 assists with 2 game-winning goals.

Phil Esposito had 13 goals and 14 assists with 2 game-winning goals in the playoffs while John Bucyk had 11 goals and 8 assists with 1 game-winning goal. The Boston Bruins were set to go on multiple postseason runs with the emergence of Bobby Orr.