1970-71
I think when people think of the toughest teams in hockey, obviously the first thought are the 1970's Broad Street Bullies. The Flyers under Freddy Shero made terrorizing brutality and institution. When we talk about the goon era of hockey we look at videos of the Flyers, it even bled into the 1972 Canada Russia Series, or even the shrill cry of "They're going home" when the Flyers brutalized the touring Russian hockey team.
But in this discussion we tend to forget about the Big Bad Bruins. But beyond the physical aspects of that team, they terrified opposing goalies and defensemen, In 1970-71 the Bruins scored 399 goals 108 more then the next best offensive team. Phil Esposito shattered the goal scoring record by hitting the twin 76 times, breaking the record by 18 goals. His 152 points shattered the old record by 26 points. Bobby Orr skated off with the Hart and the Norris again Orr set the NHL record for goals by defensemen with 37 and his 102 assists set a new record as well.
Boston's depth was breath taking, they had the leagues top 4 scorers, Johnny Bucyk had 116 points, Ken Hodge 105 points, the Bruins had 7 of the top 10 scorers, and were the odds on favorite to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.
Boston was set to meet the Canadians in the first round of the playoffs, and the Canadians chances were somewhere between a snowballs chance in hell and me having a torrid love affair with Nancy Wilson of Heart.
The Canadians had missed the playoffs last year, and in December Claude Ruel resigned as coach and replaced with Al MacNeil (Flames fans remember him right? He was the first coach in Calgary Flames history and led the team to the Conference finals in year 1 ).
The Canadians had trouble scoring goals, but Sam Pollock moved the aquire Frank Mahovlich from Detroit but the Club was still terrible in goal. But Sam Pollock made the decision to elevate rookie goalie Ken Dryden from the American league, and Al McNeil played him through the stretch and into the playoffs.
At the same time McNeil was not exactly beloved by the Canadians francophone players. You see Al couldn't speak a lick of French and this rankled players like Henri Richard. This relationship got worse and more public as the season and playoffs went on.
The Bruins looked at the Canadians and sniffed, their fans and most fans thought the Bruins would run the Habs out of the ring, and it felt true when the Bruins pumped 3 goals past Dryden in game 1. In game 2 it got worse for the Habs as the bruins jumped 2 a 5-1 lead, but their over confidence played a huge part in what happened next. With the Bruins playing the role of fat cats, the Habs roared back to erased the deficit and win game 2 7-5.
Suddenly behind the brilliant goaltending of Dryden, the Habs forced a game 7 against the Bruins who were befuddled by Dryden who seemed all arms and legs and completely unflappable. In game 7 the Bruins seemed to be completely defeated and the Habs felt bullet proof behind their goaltender. The Habs pulled off the massive upset winning 4-2.
Dryden carried the Canadians to a Stanley Cup victory with a 7 game win over the Black Hawks in the finals. Dryden would go into win 5 cups in his short 7 year career and retired when he basically decided that he was over the whole hockey thing.
As for McNeil the Stanley Cup winning miracle man. During the playoffs Henri Richard did an interview proclaiming that he was incompetent, and tensions continued to rise between McNeil and the Francophone players. Even though Richard and McNeil hugged it out after winning the cup, they didn't repair their relationship and McNeil resigned and took the role of Head Coach in Atlanta's final year in Georgia.
Trivia
To save lives the NHL puts a limit of a half inch curve on hockey sticks due to the insanity of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita who invented the banana curve.
The NHL screams "Here we grow again" and add Buffalo and Vancouver to the NHL family.
Vancouver and Buffalo are both placed in the Eastern Division while the hawks move to the West.
The Hall of fame inducts 4 new members, Babe Dye, Bill Gadsby, Tom Johnson and Bob LeBel.
NHL Amateur draft
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_NHL_amateur_draft
NHL Expansion draft
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_NHL_expansion_draft
The Bruins install a new head coach in Tom Johnson as Harry Sinden wants to focus on his GM duties.
The Canadians acquire Frank Mahovlich from the Wings for Mickey Redmond, Bill Collins, and Guy Charron.
Under newly hired coach Punch Imlach and lead by first round pick Gil Perreault who scores 37 points, the Sabres finish 5th in the East with 24 wins.
The Canucks led by coach Hal Laycoe finish 6th in the east. Tough guy Rosie Paiement scores 34 goals.
After a poor start the Blues fire Arbour and replace him with Scotty Bowman.
Bobby Clarke snears his way to 63 points and leads the flyers to a 3rd place finish.
Andy Bathgate comes out of retirement and scores 15 goals for the Pens who finish last in the West.
The Seals now known as the California Seals allow a league worst 320 goals and finish dead last in the league.
Chicago's Keith Magnuson leads the league in penalties with 291 minutes.
Jacque Plante, now a Leaf leads the league with a 1.88 gaa.
In the East, the Habs upset the Bruins, while the Rangers beat the Leafs in 6 games.
In the West, Chicago rips the Flyers a new one with a sweep, The North Stars upset the Blues in 6 games.
The league debuts a new playoff format and the Habs face the Stars and beat then in 6 games, The Hawks and Rangers battle tooth and nail through 7 games, before the Hawks end it with a 4-2 win.
In the finals the Habs beat the Hawks in 7 games to win their 5th cup in the last 7 years.
Ken Dryden takes home the Conn Smythe trophy.
Phil Esposito wins the first Lester B. Pearson award, which goes to the leagues most outstanding player as voted on by the players.
Bobby Orr wins both the Hart and Norris Trophy.
Johnny Bucyk wins the Lady Byng.
Gil Perreault takes the Calder.
The Ranger's goaltending duo of Ed Giacomin and Gills Villemure win the Vezina.
Jean Ratelle wins the Masterton.
Quebec lead by Guy Lafleur wins the Memorial Cup.
Boston University wins the NCAA Championship beating Minnesota.
The Soviet Union smashes its way to its 9th straight World Championship.
Debuts
- Reggie Leach, Boston Bruins
- Ivan Boldirev, Boston Bruins
- Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo Sabres
- Jerry Korab, Chicago Black Hawks
- Gilles Meloche, Chicago Black Hawks
- Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens
- Rick MacLeish, Philadelphia Flyers
- Curt Bennett, St. Louis Blues
- Rene Robert, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Darryl Sittler, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Dale Tallon, Vancouver Canucks
Last Games