The 1929–30

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

season was the Bruins' sixth

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

in the

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

. In defending its American Division title for the second straight season, the Bruins took advantage of new rules and its powerhouse lineup to set three records including most wins in a single regular season (38), most regular season wins on home ice (20), and the best single season winning percentage in NHL history (0.875) – a record which still stands. However, the club failed to defend its

Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...

title, losing in the

Stanley Cup Finals The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media, ) is the annual championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL). The winner is awarded the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional spo ...

to the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

Regular season

To combat low scoring – the previous season had the fewest goals per game recorded before or thereafter – a major rule change was implemented. Players were now allowed forward passing in the offensive zone, instead of only in the defensive and neutral zones. This led to abuse: players sat in front of the opposing net waiting for a pass, and goals scored nearly tripled league-wide. The rule was changed again mid-season in December 1929, and players were no longer allowed to enter the offensive zone before the puck, thus giving birth to the modern offside rule. In the meantime, however, Boston took advantage of the new rule from its opening match, defeating

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5–2 before a sellout crowd behind Cooney Weiland's two goals. The team was noted in the press for its skill in dealing with the new infractions called for hanging back, recording many fewer penalties than the other teams in early season play. After a rough match on November 23 against the

Montreal Maroons The Montreal Maroons (officially the Montreal Professional Hockey Club) were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL). They played in the NHL from 1924–25 NHL season, 1924 to 1937–38 NHL season, 1938, winning the Sta ...

, superstar defenseman

Eddie Shore Edward William Shore (November 25, 1902 – March 16, 1985) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, principally for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League, and the longtime owner of the Springfield Indians of the American Hocke ...

went to the hospital with multiple injuries, missing the return match against the Maroons on the 26th. Bruins' president Charles Adams presented Shore with a check for $500, purportedly $100 for each facial scar he received at the hands of the Maroons. The Bruins went on a tear starting with a 3–2 win over Pittsburgh on November 30, winning fourteen straight games through to a January 9 4–3 win against Pittsburgh; this set a new league mark for consecutive wins that would last for 52 years until the

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

broke it in

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C. ...

, and is still the third longest such streak in league history. The streak was broken by the

New York Americans The New York Americans, colloquially known as the Amerks, were a professional ice hockey team based in New York City from 1925 to 1942. They were the third expansion team in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the second to play ...

– the league's last place team at the time – on January 12. The Dynamite Line of Cooney Weiland, Dit Clapper and Dutch Gainor was responsible for most of the team's goals to that point, and by the halfway mark of the season, the Bruins had a 20–3 record, nearly twice as many wins as any other team in the league. In another unusual incident involving Shore, well known for his fighting ability, the Bruins' defenseman was challenged to a boxing match by baseball player Art Shires. While NHL President Frank Calder said that Shore's participation was up to Bruins' manager Art Ross to decide, baseball commissioner Judge

Kenesaw Mountain Landis Kenesaw Mountain Landis (; November 20, 1866 – November 25, 1944) was an American jurist who served as a United States federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and the first Commissioner of Baseball, commissioner of baseball from 1920 until his death. ...

vetoed Shires' participation, and the match was never held. The Bruins had yet another streak (broken by a

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overtime win on March 13) of seventeen games without a defeat, tying the then-league record. By season's end, Weiland led the league in scoring (one goal shy of Joe Malone's 1918 record of 44), Dit Clapper had finished third, and Dutch Gainor ninth. The Dynamite Line scored 102 of the Bruins' league record 179 goals, as many as last-place

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

managed. Among the many marks set by the Bruins in the 1930 season that remain NHL records was the fewest ties in an NHL season with 1; and the fewest losses in a season with 5. The Bruins also set a record with 38 regular season wins, a winning percentage of 0.875, and 20 consecutive home ice wins in a season. The 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens and the 1944–45 Montreal Canadiens tied the Bruins' record for most wins in a season at 38. However, the record remained unbroken for 21 years until March 11, 1951, when the 1950–51 Detroit Red Wings notched their 39th victory in a much longer 70-game season. The record for consecutive wins at home stood for 82 years, being matched by the 1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers and finally surpassed on February 14, 2012, by the 2011–12 Detroit Red Wings. As of , no team has ever broken the Bruins' single season winning percentage record of 0.875 or won 38 out of their first 44 games.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , W, , November 14, 1929, , 5–2 , , align="left", @ Detroit Cougars ( 1929–30) , , 1–0–0 , - , 2, , W, , November 16, 1929, , 6–5 , , align="left", @

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1929–30) , , 2–0–0 , - , 3, , W, , November 19, 1929, , 3–2 , , align="left",

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1929–30) , , 3–0–0 , - , 4, , W, , November 23, 1929, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 4–0–0 , - , 5, , L, , November 26, 1929, , 1–6 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 4–1–0 , - , 6, , W, , November 30, 1929, , 6–2 , , align="left", @

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

( 1929–30) , , 5–1–0 , - , - , 7, , L, , December 1, 1929, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 5–2–0 , - , 8, , W, , December 3, 1929, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 6–2–0 , - , 9, , W, , December 7, 1929, , 2–1 , , align="left", Detroit Cougars ( 1929–30) , , 7–2–0 , - , 10, , W, , December 10, 1929, , 5–4 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 8–2–0 , - , 11, , W, , December 12, 1929, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...

( 1929–30) , , 9–2–0 , - , 12, , W, , December 15, 1929, , 8–4 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 10–2–0 , - , 13, , W, , December 17, 1929, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 11–2–0 , - , 14, , W, , December 21, 1929, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 12–2–0 , - , 15, , W, , December 25, 1929, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 13–2–0 , - , 16, , W, , December 26, 1929, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 14–2–0 , - , 17, , W, , December 28, 1929, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 15–2–0 , - , - , 18, , W, , January 1, 1930, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 16–2–0 , - , 19, , W, , January 4, 1930, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 17–2–0 , - , 20, , W, , January 7, 1930, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 18–2–0 , - , 21, , W, , January 9, 1930, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 19–2–0 , - , 22, , L, , January 12, 1930, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 19–3–0 , - , 23, , W, , January 14, 1930, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 20–3–0 , - , 24, , L, , January 16, 1930, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 20–4–0 , - , 25, , W, , January 19, 1930, , 5–4 , , align="left", @ Detroit Cougars ( 1929–30) , , 21–4–0 , - , 26, , W, , January 21, 1930, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 22–4–0 , - , 27, , W, , January 23, 1930, , 2–1 OT, , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 23–4–0 , - , 28, , W, , January 25, 1930, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 24–4–0 , - , 29, , W, , January 28, 1930, , 6–0 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 25–4–0 , - , - , 30, , T, , February 2, 1930, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 25–4–1 , - , 31, , W, , February 4, 1930, , 3–1 , , align="left", Detroit Cougars ( 1929–30) , , 26–4–1 , - , 32, , W, , February 11, 1930, , 6–5 OT, , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 27–4–1 , - , 33, , W, , February 12, 1930, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 28–4–1 , - , 34, , W, , February 15, 1930, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 29–4–1 , - , 35, , W, , February 16, 1930, , 4–2 , , align="left", @ Detroit Cougars ( 1929–30) , , 30–4–1 , - , 36, , W, , February 18, 1930, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 31–4–1 , - , 37, , W, , February 23, 1930, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 32–4–1 , - , 38, , W, , February 25, 1930, , 7–0 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 33–4–1 , - , - , 39, , W, , March 1, 1930, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 34–4–1 , - , 40, , W, , March 4, 1930, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 35–4–1 , - , 41, , W, , March 11, 1930, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 36–4–1 , - , 42, , L, , March 13, 1930, , 2–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1929–30) , , 36–5–1 , - , 43, , W, , March 15, 1930, , 5–2 , , align="left", Detroit Cougars ( 1929–30) , , 37–5–1 , - , 44, , W, , March 18, 1930, , 9–2 , , align="left",

( 1929–30) , , 38–5–1 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

As the American Division champions, Boston enjoyed a first round bye in the playoffs, and faced the

, the Canadian Division champions, in the semifinals in a best-of-five series. The first game of the series was a grueling overtime match in which Bruins' coach Art Ross was noted for ceaseless criticism of the officiating and the ice condition, to the annoyance of the home crowd in Montreal, won on a Harry Oliver overtime goal at the 45 minute mark. The Bruins won the second match handily on two goals from Clapper, partially due to an injury forcing Montreal star Babe Siebert out only a few minutes into the game, but with Siebert's return in the third game the match was much closer. Unusually, Montreal starter Buck Boucher broke a leg 24 minutes into overtime, and his replacement, little-used defenseman Archie Wilcox, scored the game winner at the 26 minute mark. Siebert did not dress for the final game, and the Bruins overwhelmed the Maroons to reach the Cup finals, behind two goals from Marty Barry, earning the Bruins a rest while they waited for their next opponents. The Bruins were heavily favored to retain the

, but were shocked in the first game of the best-of-three Finals by the play of Canadiens' goaltender George Hainsworth, who shut out the Bruins' powerful offense. In the second game, Montreal went out to a three-goal lead until Eddie Shore began a rally with a goal that spurred the Bruins to tie the match, before the Canadiens scored the final goal to win the Cup. It was the first time all season long the Bruins had lost two games in a row, and the stunning defeat of the regular season champions in such a short series spurred the league to change the Cup Finals to a best-of-five series for subsequent years. , - , 1 , , March 20 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–1 , , Montreal Maroons , , 1–0 , - , 2 , , March 22 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–2 , , Montreal Maroons , , 2–0 , - , 3 , , March 25 , , Montreal Maroons , , 1–0 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–1 , - , 4 , , March 27 , , Montreal Maroons , , 1–5 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–1 , - , - , 1 , , April 1 , ,

, , 3–0 , , Boston Bruins , , 0–1 , - , 2 , , April 3 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–4 , ,

, , 0–2 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Playoffs

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Awards and records

* Highest single season winning percentage: .875 (still stands) * Most wins: 38 (still a record for 50-game season and less) * Fewest losses: 5 (still stands) * Fewest ties: 1 (still stands) * Longest consecutive game winning streak: 14 (currently third all time) * Longest consecutive home game winning streak: 20 (second all time) * Most goals: 179 (still a record for 50-game season and less) * Most goals by a forward line: Dynamite Line, 102 (Weiland, Clapper, Gainor) * Most points by a player: 73, Cooney Weiland *

Vezina Trophy The Vezina Trophy ( ) is awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the thirty-two List of NHL general managers, NHL general managers vote to dete ...

(fewest goals allowed): Tiny Thompson * NHL scoring leader: Cooney Weiland *

Prince of Wales Trophy The Prince of Wales Trophy, also known as the Wales Trophy, is a team award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL). Named for Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and then Duke of Windsor), it has been awarded for different ac ...

: Boston Bruins ''NB: Up through the 1930 season, the NHL did not select end-of-season All-Star Teams.''

Transactions

* Traded Bill Hutton and

Art Gagne Art is a diverse range of cultural activity centered around ''works'' utilizing creative or imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an expression of emotional power, conceptual ideas, tec ...

for Harry Connor.

References

* * * * *

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:1929-30 Boston Bruins Season Stanley Cup championship seasons Boston Bruins seasons

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

1920s in Boston 1930s in Boston

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

See also

References

Footnotes