1971-72 Boston Bruins: Stanley Cup Run

1971-72 Boston Bruins: Stanley Cup Run

1971-1972 Boston Bruins: Crushing the Ice

The 1969-70 campaign was a successful one for the Boston Bruins, as the team found the key stars it could rely on going forward. It wouldn’t take long for the Bruins to get back into position to hoist the Stanley Cup, and the 1971-72 Boston Bruins delivered exactly that. The 1970s were certainly a decade that Boston hockey fans could look back on and appreciate.

Regular Season Dominance

The Boston Bruins went 54-13-11 with 119 points in the 1971-72 NHL season, finishing in first 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, going 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.

Statistical Standouts

Scoring Leaders

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 on 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 on 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 on 174 shots. Center and right winger Mike Walton had 28 goals and 28 assists for 56 points on 236 shots.

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

Goaltending

The Bruins had two goaltenders who did just enough to shut down opposing offenses during the regular season. Gerry Cheevers went 27-5-8, allowing 101 goals in 2,420 minutes, recording a 2.50 goals-against average and 2 shutouts. Eddie Johnston went 27-8-3, allowing 102 goals in 2,260 minutes, recording a 2.71 goals-against average and 2 shutouts.

The Road to the Stanley Cup

The 1971-72 Boston Bruins had their own way of crushing the ice, and the playoffs proved that their approach was the most effective one in the league.

Quarterfinals: Ousting the Maple Leafs

In the NHL Quarterfinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins prevailed in five 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 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.

Semifinals: Sweeping the Blues

In the NHL Semifinals, the Bruins faced the St. Louis Blues and made quick work of them. 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.

Stanley Cup Finals: Downing the Rangers

The Stanley Cup Finals featured the top two 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 second Stanley Cup in three years. Though he scored a goal early, Bobby Orr received 10 minutes in the penalty box for arguing with referee Art Skov. Once his time was up, however, Orr played a key role in killing off a penalty for the Bruins. Wayne Cashman sealed the deal for Boston, scoring the team’s other two goals.

Trophies and a Place in History

Orr won the Conn Smythe Trophy as a result of his outstanding play in the Stanley Cup Finals, and he also won the Norris Trophy. Esposito won the Art Ross Trophy. Having also claimed the Prince of Wales Trophy, the 1971-72 Boston Bruins cemented their place in NHL history as one of the best teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s.