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The 1977 Boston Bruins Start The Post-Bobby Orr Era

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The 1977 Boston Bruins began a new era in franchise history. The great Bobby Orr, the greatest player in franchise history was gone. Orr had led the Bruins to two Stanley Cups in 1970 and 1972, won three MVP awards and finished in the top of the three of the MVP voting seven times in a Boston career that spanned from 1967-76.

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Orr was realistically washed up by 1977, but wanted to try and continue his playing career. It was up to the Bruins that remained to carry on without him. Meaning no disrespect to Orr and his greatness on the ice, this 1977 Bruins team carried on quite well and had a strong postseason run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Boston was a balanced team in all phases. They ranked in the top five of the league both scoring goals and preventing them, both on the power play and the penalty kill. They had nine scorers between 20 and 38 goals for the season, led by three 30-plus goal scorers at center in Peter McNab, Jean Ratelle and Gregg Sheppard.

The Bruins had a strong defenseman in Brad Park, and even though Park didn’t make the All-Star team this season, he had done so in 1976 and would do so again in 1978. The goaltending had the veteran Gerry Cheevers and up-coming-Gilles Gilbert.

In short, even though there weren’t any Boston players chosen for the All-Star team in 1977, they more than made up for it in quantity.

Boston came out of the gate strong and their record reached 18-3 in late November, including a pair of wins over defending Stanley Cup champion and archrival Montreal. The Bruins hit the skids over the month of December, going through a 3-8-2 stretch that brought them down to earth. They beat the Canadiens again in January, but lost to their rivals in February.

By the end of February, Boston was 35-21-7. They didn’t keep up with Montreal over the long haul, as the Canadiens rolled to the best overall record in the NHL, but the Bruins kept up with most everyone else. They closed the season on a five-game winning streak, including a key 4-3 win at Buffalo on March 30 that made the difference in a close Adams Division race with the Sabres.

The NHL playoffs were a 12-team affair in 1977 and they were seeded without regard to conference affiliation. Boston’s 49-23-8 record had them as the 3-seed, narrowly behind the Philadelphia Flyers, and further behind Montreal.

Boston faced the Los Angeles Kings in the quarterfinals in a dangerous matchup for the Bruins. Boston’s sheer depth made them the better team over the long regular season, but the Kings had star power for a best-of-seven series. Marcel Dionne scored 53 goals and was the best center in the game. Butch Goring was a 30-goal scorer and a few years later, his acquisition by the New York Islanders would be seen as the final piece of their dynasty (1980-83).

The Bruins were also going with the 36-year-old Cheevers in goal, even though Gilbert had been the better goaltender in a reasonably equivalent playing time over the course of the regular season. Cheevers’ Goals Against Average (GAA) was 3.04, while LA countered Rogie Vaichon, a second-team All-Star trailing only Montreal’s legendary Ken Dryden.

It was a series fraught with peril for the favorite, but the Boston offense came out firing and scored 14 goals in the first two games, taking 8-3 and 6-2 wins at the Garden. Another offensive explosion out west in Game 3 allowed Boston to escape 7-6. Los Angeles rallied—they got a 7-4 win on home ice and then Vaichon delivered in Game 5 for a 3-1 win that made it a series again. But the Bruins answered by going back to LA and winning 4-3 to advance to the semifinals.

Philadelphia awaited. The Flyers had won Stanley Cups in 1974-75 as the famed “Broad Street Bullies” and knocked out the Bruins in the 1974 Finals. One year earlier in this same round, Philly had eliminated Boston. The Flyers had a 49-goal scorer in Rick Macleish and players like center Bobby Clarke, forwards Bill Barber and Reggie Leach and goalie Bernie Parent made them a superior team on paper.

But it was payback time and Boston found a way to get it done. It would be one of those series that’s hotly contested but one team consistently makes the crucial play. The Bruins stole overtime road wins of 4-3 and 5-4 to start the series. They survived 2-1 in Game 3 and then won another defensive battle, 3-0 to complete a surprising sweep.

The victories over star-laden Los Angeles and talented Philadelphia would have to be enough for the Boston faithful. No one was going to touch Montreal this year when it came time for the Finals. The Canadiens had taken four of the six spots on the 1st-team All-Star squad with Dryden, Steve Shutt, Larry Robinson and league MVP Guy Lafleur. They led the league both in scoring goals and preventing them.

This was the best team of the Montreal Dynasty that ruled the NHL from 1976-79 and the Bruins were in the way of a freight train at Finals time, losing four straight.

There could be no doubt though, that Boston had successfully entered a new era of their franchise history. Orr was, and remains, their greatest player, an icon who could never be truly replaced. But the 1977 Boston Bruins at least showed there would be life after Orr.

The 1991 Minnesota North Stars Improbable Run To The Stanley Cup Finals

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To call the playoff run of the 1991 Minnesota North Stars improbable is to understate the case. Even by the fluid and chaotic standards of the NHL playoffs, Minnesota’s 1991 run was out of nowhere. Their 68 points was 15th among 16 playoff teams. Nor did they have an easy bracket. Five teams accumulated at least 100 points in the 1991 NHL regular season and four of them were in the Campbell Conference (the West), along with Minnesota. Yet somehow, these North Stars ended up in the Stanley Cup Finals.

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Dave Gagner led the team in scoring with 40 goals, with Brian Bellows and Mike Modano also being steady contributors. Modano, only 20-years-old, was the one key piece of the 1991 Minnesota North Stars that was still a key a part of the franchise when it won the 1999 Stanley Cup after a relocation to Dallas.

Minnesota was respectable defensively, ranking 10th in the NHL behind the play of goaltender Jon Casey. The offense ranked 15th, but when the playoffs came around, the North Stars came up with some offensive outbursts at key moments.

In the first round, with the series against the division-leading Chicago Blackhawks tied two games apiece, Minnesota won Game 5 by a 6-0 count and closed it out one game later. Minnesota then won two of three to open their series with the St. Louis Blues and then had an offensive barrage in Game 4. The 8-4 win put the series under control and Minnesota closed it out in six.

The run through the Norris Division playoffs (the Central/Midwest) would be marked with irony when we consider how this franchise won the Cup eight years later. Chicago’s goaltender was Ed Belfour and St. Louis was keyed by league MVP Brett Hull. Both players would be acquired by the then-Dallas Stars and be instrumental in that 1999 run.

The Edmonton Oilers were standing between Minnesota and a trip to the Finals in 1991. The Oilers had been the dynasty of the late 1980s, winning four Stanley Cups with Wayne Gretzky from 1984-88, then winning one without him in 1990. But the attrition of talent was taking its toll, and the Oilers were on a dark horse playoff ride similar to the one Minnesota was enjoying. This Edmonton team might have been the defending champs, but they weren’t unbeatable anymore.

Minnesota and Edmonton split the first two games. Once again, that North Star offense, awake for the spring, got unleashed. They won the third game 7-3 and then took each of the next two to punch their ticket to the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals.

It was a year of miracles for sports in Minnesota. The baseball team was beginning a year in which they would go worst-to-first and win the World Series. The hockey team nearly joined them, winning two of the first three games in the Finals over the Pittsburgh Penguins. But the run finally ended when Mario Lemieux and the Pens got it together and won three straight.

Three years later, this franchise would be in Dallas, an outrageous affront to a great hockey region like Minnesota. There is no disrespect toward Dallas intended in this—it’s clearly a big-time major league market in any sport—but when it comes to hockey, it should never have happened at Minnesota’s expense. In 2001, the NHL would return to the Twin Cities with the Wild. They have yet to reach the high the 1991 Minnesota North Stars gave the fans.

1981 NHL Playoffs: No Doubt It Was The New York Islanders

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There weren’t a ton of dramatics in the 1981 NHL playoffs, but the New York Islanders left no doubt who was best, winning their second straight Stanley Cup. The Isles had the league’s best offense, led by All-Star forward Mike Bossy and his 68 goals, and the impeccable passing skills of center Bryan Trottier. Defenseman Denis Potvin was an All-Star and Billy Smith was in net as they led a unit that was fourth-best in the NHL in goals allowed.

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New York posted the best record in the regular season and then opened the playoffs by sweeping the Toronto Maple Leafs. The next opponent up was an intriguing one—the Edmonton Oilers, who had this kid named Wayne Gretzky who won his second MVP award before turning 21. Gretzky’s Oilers eliminated the Montreal Canadiens, as the dynasty of 1976-79 continued their fall from grace. But Edmonton wasn’t ready to match up with a team like the Islanders yet, though they did stretch the series to six games.

The 1981 NHL playoffs were like most springs are in this league, which is to say they were filled with upsets. By the time we were pared down to the semi-finals, the three teams joining the Islanders had all finished third or fourth in their respective divisions.

Two years earlier, in 1979, the New York Rangers had delayed the rise of their Big Apple rival to prominence. The Islanders had been poised that spring to rise to the top, but were upset in the semifinals by the Rangers and the Montreal dynasty got a reprieve for another year. This year’s semifinals were revenge team. It was Islanders-Rangers again, and this time the boys from Long Island rolled up 22 goals over four games in a series sweep.

The 1981 Stanley Cup Finals pitted the Islanders against the Minnesota North Stars, and it was a decisive five-game series win for New York. Center Butch Goring won the Conn Smythe Award with 10 goals/10 assists, a curious decision, given Bossy’s 17/18 and Trottier’s 11/18. But that was all there was to debate in the 1981 NHL playoffs. There was no doubt who the best team was.

A New Era & A New Champion In The 1980 Stanley Cup Playoffs

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It was a year of change in the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens’ dynasty ended. The postseason expanded to 16 teams and allowed the Edmonton Oilers, with their 18-year-old star Wayne Gretzky to get in the playoffs. And the New York Islanders won their first Stanley Cup.

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Gretzky broke into the league with 51 goals and 86 assists, as the Oilers scraped into the playoffs as the #16 seed. The bracket was not seeded with regard to conference, and though Edmonton was swept out by the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers, Gretzky won the Hart Trophy and began the league’s greatest career.

Montreal dealt with coaching transition and wasn’t as loaded as in recent years. They still had Guy Lafleur scoring 50 goals, Steve Shutt adding 47 and center Pierre LaRouche scoring 50. The Canadiens were still the #3 seed. But their dynasty came to a shocking end in the quarterfinals.

The Minnesota North Stars, led by Al McFadden and Steve Payne on the wings, came to Montreal and won the first two games. Montreal won the next three, but the North Stars grabbed Game 6, and then with the seventh game tied 2-2, McFadden put in a rebound shot with 1:26 left that ended the dynasty.

The Islanders actually had better teams the previous two years. The offensive depth wasn’t as strong in 1980, but Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy could play with anybody, and the defense was fourth in the league.

New York reached the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals against Philadelphia. The Flyers got 50 goals from Reggie Leach, and good years from Bill Barber, Brian Propp, and great passing from Bobby Clarke. 22-year-old Pete Peeters was in goal.

New York took the opener in overtime, when Denis Potvin scored the game-winner. Philadelphia exploded for eight goals and a win in Game 2, but the Islanders followed with decisive wins in Games 3 & 4. Philadelphia won Game 5.

Then on Saturday afternoon in Nassau Coliseum, Game 6 went to overtime at 4-4. The Isles’ John Tonelli fired a shot, Bob Nystrom redirected it and the puck found the back of the net. The 1980 New York Islanders had the Stanley Cup and as it turned out, they were just getting started.

1978 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Three Straight For The Montreal Canadiens

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For the third straight year, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, and there was no doubt they were the best team. Although unlike the previous two years, Montreal had to at least sweat out the Boston Bruins in the finals of the 1978 Stanley Cup playoffs.

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The Canadiens finished 16 points ahead of second-place Boston in the league’s overall standings. Guy Lafleur scored 60 goals and passed for 72 assists, winning the MVP for the second consecutive season. Defenseman Larry Robinson would join Lafleur as a first-team All-Star. Future Hall of Fame goalie Ken Dryden was again the best at his position. Montreal barreled through two playoff opponents with a combined record of 8-1 to get to the Finals.

It was not a foregone conclusion that Boston would be the opponent in a rematch of the 1977 Stanley Cup Finals. The Bruins were only two points ahead of the New York Islanders, who had the core of talent just a couple years away from becoming a dynasty themselves.

Clark Gillies, with 35 goals and 50 assists was a first-team All-Star, and he was one of six players that scored 30-plus goals in an offensive attack second only to Montreal’s. Glenn Resch gave New York a great goaltender and they had the look of a team ready to be Montreal’s dance partner in the Finals.

In the quarterfinals, the Isles were paired up with Toronto, a pretty good team, but also well behind the pace set the league’s best five teams (also including the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers). The Leafs relied on an offense that was top-heavy, with 40-plus goal scorers in Darryl Sittler and Lanny McDonald, but little depth to the attack. When New York took the first two games at home, it seemed par for the course.

Toronto turned it around and won two games at home. The home teams traded wins in Games 5 & 6, but then in Game 7, home team magic finally ran out. It went to overtime and Toronto pulled out a 2-1 win. New York, with players like 21-year-old center Bryan Trottier and forward Mike Bossy, was on their way to greatness. But they would wait their turn.

The Smythe Division, filled with teams mostly from the Midwest, was awful. Its champion was not a serious title contender and the Chicago Blackhawks of 1978 were no exception. Their veteran goaltender, 34-year-old Tony Esposito could still get it done and was the reason the Blackhawks won the division, but the lack of offense kept them 8th-best in the league.

Just how far Chicago was removed from being a true contender was shown when Boston administered a four-game sweep in the quarterfinals, with only two of the games being close.

After Boston rolled Philadelphia in five games, they had their shot at the champs. The Bruins didn’t have a great offensive player, but the offense was balanced and defenseman Brad Park was a first-team All-Star. Still, when they dropped a 3-2 overtime decision in Game 2, to make it six straight Finals losses to Montreal, it looked like another year to break out the brooms.

Boston goalie Gerry Cheevers delivered a shutout in Game 3 though, a 4-0 win. Then late in Game 4, trailing 3-2, Park stuck in the game-tying goal and Boston won in overtime. Montreal won Game 5, but Parks scored the opening goal in Game 6 back in the Garden to give hope.

Alas, the Canadiens did what great teams do and that’s snuff out hope. Dryden didn’t allow another goal and Montreal sealed a third straight Cup with a 4-1 win. Robinson took home the Conn Smythe Award as MVP of the 1978 Stanley Cup playoffs. The dynasty thundered on. 

2001 Stanley Cup Finals: A True Championship Showdown

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The NHL playoffs are notorious for their unpredictability, so the chance to watch a true showdown in the Finals between the two best teams doesn’t happen very often. In fact, it’s only happened once in the last 24 years. Fortunately, that one time–the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals between the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche–was all it was billed to be, going the full seven games.

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Colorado had the best team in hockey, with center Joe Sakic winning the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league MVP. Sakic was second in the league in goals and fifth in assists.

The Avalanche got scoring help from Milan Hejduk, while Peter Forsberg and Alex Tangua were both excellent passers.

The big new addition was 40-year-old defenseman Ray Borque. One of the greatest to ever play the sport, Borque had played more games than any player who hadn’t won a Stanley Cup. His lifelong team, the Boston Bruins, traded him, so he could get a chance to erase that distinction.

New Jersey was led on the scoring front by Patrik Elias, who scored 40 goals and had 56 assists, and he got help from Alexander Mogilny. The skilled passers on the Devils were Petr Sykora and Scott Gomez.

Both teams had goalies that were among the best of their era. Patrick Roy was in net for the Avalanche and Martin Brodeur for the Devils. Each team had a championship pedigree. The Devils were the defending champion and had also hoisted the Cup in 1995. Colorado won it all in 1996, and had been to the conference finals three of the previous four years.

The Avalanche and Devils had similar playoff runs, each pushed to the brink in a seven-game second-round series before surviving and each closing out their conference finals in five games. The final showdown was set to begin in the Rocky Mountains.

Sakic and Colorado came out firing immediately. The MVP scored two goals and had an assist, as the Avalanche routed the Devils 5-0. New Jersey came back and made Game 2 a tough, grinding affair, where each team got just 20 shots on goal. The Devils squeaked out a 2-1 win and sent the series back east tied up.

The great goaltenders each had poor moments in the middle two games. Brodeur played poorly, allowing three goals in spite of his defense limiting shots in front of him. Borque broke a 1-1 tie early in the third period with a power play goal.

Then in Game 4, in spite of New Jersey dominating shots to the tune of 35-12, the game was still tied with 2:37 left. Then Roy mishandled a puck behind the net and created a gimme goal that gave the Devils a series-tying 3-2 win.

New Jersey played its best game of the Finals back in Denver for Game 5. Mogilny scored and dished an assist, and role player Sergei Brynlin did the same. The 4-1 win gave the Devils a chance to repeat on home ice. But Brodeur came up small in a big moment, allowing four goals in spite of facing just 18 shots and Roy spun a shutout.

It set the stage for Game 7 back in the Rockies. It was Tangua, normally a passer, who lit the lamp, scoring twice. Sakic added another goal and Colorado won the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals with a 3-1 win. Roy, after taking heat for his Game 4 mess-up and then being beaten the following game, ended the postseason with a 93.4% save rate and a 1.70 goals-against average, a full half-goal better than his regular season numbers. He was named winner of the Conn Smythe Award, as postseason MVP.

The Colorado Avalanche had won of the NHL’s great Stanley Cup showdowns in recent memory and at long last, Ray Borque was finally a champion.