The 1969–70

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' 46th

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 ...

. The Bruins were coming off of a successful season in 1968–69, as they finished with a franchise record 100 points, sitting in 2nd place in the Eastern Division, however, they would lose 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 ...

in the Eastern Division finals. This year, the Bruins would go all the way to 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 ...

and win the

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 ...

Regular season

The year was marred by an infamous incident in a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues, when veteran Ted Green had an ugly stick fight with Wayne Maki of the Blues. Green suffered a fractured skull and a brain injury as a result of the fight, necessitating a permanent steel plate put in his head and missing the entirety of the season. Both were charged with assault as a result of the incident, the first time NHL players faced criminal charges as a result of on-ice violence, and were eventually acquitted. Boston got off to a quick start, going unbeaten in their first 7 games (6–0–1), which immediately was followed by a 5-game winless streak. The Bruins though would snap out of their mini-slump, and never have a 2-game losing streak for the remainder of the season, finishing the year with a 40–17–19 record, earning 99 points, which tied the

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

for 1st place in the Eastern Division. Chicago was awarded 1st place though due to having more wins than Boston, as the Hawks recorded 45. Bobby Orr had a breakout season, leading the league with 120 points, becoming the first defenseman in league history to record over 100 points, while setting an NHL record with 87 assists. Orr also scored 33 goals, which also was a record by a defenseman. Orr also provided toughness, leading the Bruins with 125 PIM. Phil Esposito had another very strong season, scoring 43 goals and earning 99 points, while John McKenzie registered 70 points. Thirty-four-year-old John Bucyk scored a career high 31 goals and tied his career best with 69 points. In goal, Gerry Cheevers received the majority of playing time, winning a team high 24 games, and having a team best 2.72 GAA and 4 shutouts. Eddie Johnston was his backup, as he won 16 games, had a 2.98 GAA, and 3 shutouts.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1 , , October 12 , ,

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 ...

, , 1–2 , , Boston Bruins , , 1–0–0 , , 2 , - , 2 , , October 15 , ,

Oakland Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967 to 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena. The ...

, , 0–6 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–0–0 , , 4 , - , 3 , , October 18 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–3 , ,

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

, , 2–0–1 , , 5 , - , 4 , , October 19 , ,

, , 0–4 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–0–1 , , 7 , - , 5 , , October 22 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–2 , ,

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

, , 4–0–1 , , 9 , - , 6 , , October 24 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–2 , ,

, , 5–0–1 , , 11 , - , 7 , , October 25 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–2 , ,

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

, , 6–0–1 , , 13 , - , 8 , , October 29 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–4 , ,

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 ...

, , 6–1–1 , , 13 , - , - , 9 , , November 1 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–9 , ,

, , 6–2–1 , , 13 , - , 10 , , November 2 , ,

, , 4–4 , , Boston Bruins , , 6–2–2 , , 14 , - , 11 , , November 5 , , St. Louis Blues , , 4–4 , , Boston Bruins , , 6–2–3 , , 15 , - , 12 , , November 8 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–3 , ,

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

, , 6–3–3 , , 15 , - , 13 , , November 10 , ,

, , 3–8 , , Boston Bruins , , 7–3–3 , , 17 , - , 14 , , November 13 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Boston Bruins , , 8–3–3 , , 19 , - , 15 , , November 15 , ,

, , 6–5 , , Boston Bruins , , 8–4–3 , , 19 , - , 16 , , November 16 , ,

, , 4–7 , , Boston Bruins , , 9–4–3 , , 21 , - , 17 , , November 21 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–2 , ,

, , 9–4–4 , , 22 , - , 18 , , November 23 , ,

, , 2–2 , , Boston Bruins , , 9–4–5 , , 23 , - , 19 , , November 26 , , Boston Bruins , , 0–3 , ,

, , 9–5–5 , , 23 , - , 20 , , November 27 , ,

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

, , 4–6 , , Boston Bruins , , 10–5–5 , , 25 , - , 21 , , November 29 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–2 , ,

, , 10–5–6 , , 26 , - , 22 , , November 30 , ,

, , 1–4 , , Boston Bruins , , 11–5–6 , , 28 , - , - , 23 , , December 4 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–4 , ,

, , 11–5–7 , , 29 , - , 24 , , December 6 , ,

, , 1–6 , , Boston Bruins , , 12–5–7 , , 31 , - , 25 , , December 7 , ,

, , 2–2 , , Boston Bruins , , 12–5–8 , , 32 , - , 26 , , December 10 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–5 , ,

, , 12–6–8 , , 32 , - , 27 , , December 11 , ,

, , 1–2 , , Boston Bruins , , 13–6–8 , , 34 , - , 28 , , December 13 , , Boston Bruins , , 5–3 , ,

, , 14–6–8 , , 36 , - , 29 , , December 14 , ,

, , 1–2 , , Boston Bruins , , 15–6–8 , , 38 , - , 30 , , December 18 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–3 , , St. Louis Blues , , 15–6–9 , , 39 , - , 31 , , December 20 , , Boston Bruins , , 6–4 , ,

, , 16–6–9 , , 41 , - , 32 , , December 21 , ,

, , 5–2 , , Boston Bruins , , 16–7–9 , , 41 , - , 33 , , December 25 , ,

, , 1–7 , , Boston Bruins , , 17–7–9 , , 43 , - , 34 , , December 28 , , Boston Bruins , , 5–4 , ,

, , 18–7–9 , , 45 , - , 35 , , December 31 , , Boston Bruins , , 1–5 , ,

, , 18–8–9 , , 45 , - , - , 36 , , January 3 , , Boston Bruins , , 6–2 , ,

, , 19–8–9 , , 47 , - , 37 , , January 7 , , Boston Bruins , , 6–1 , ,

, , 20–8–9 , , 49 , - , 38 , , January 10 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–4 , ,

, , 20–9–9 , , 49 , - , 39 , , January 11 , ,

, , 3–6 , , Boston Bruins , , 21–9–9 , , 51 , - , 40 , , January 15 , ,

, , 3–6 , , Boston Bruins , , 22–9–9 , , 53 , - , 41 , , January 17 , ,

, , 1–0 , , Boston Bruins , , 22–10–9 , , 53 , - , 42 , , January 18 , ,

, , 3–6 , , Boston Bruins , , 23–10–9 , , 55 , - , 43 , , January 22 , ,

, , 3–3 , , Boston Bruins , , 23–10–10 , , 56 , - , 44 , , January 24 , , Boston Bruins , , 1–8 , ,

, , 23–11–10 , , 56 , - , 45 , , January 25 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Boston Bruins , , 24–11–10 , , 58 , - , 46 , , January 29 , ,

, , 5–6 , , Boston Bruins , , 25–11–10 , , 60 , - , 47 , , January 31 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–3 , ,

, , 25–11–11 , , 61 , - , - , 48 , , February 1 , ,

, , 6–7 , , Boston Bruins , , 26–11–11 , , 63 , - , 49 , , February 4 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–8 , ,

, , 26–12–11 , , 63 , - , 50 , , February 5 , ,

, , 1–5 , , Boston Bruins , , 27–12–11 , , 65 , - , 51 , , February 7 , ,

, , 2–2 , , Boston Bruins , , 27–12–12 , , 66 , - , 52 , , February 8 , , St. Louis Blues , , 1–7 , , Boston Bruins , , 28–12–12 , , 68 , - , 53 , , February 11 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–2 , , St. Louis Blues , , 29–12–12 , , 70 , - , 54 , , February 14 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–0 , ,

, , 30–12–12 , , 72 , - , 55 , , February 17 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–3 , ,

, , 30–12–13 , , 73 , - , 56 , , February 18 , , Boston Bruins , , 5–5 , ,

, , 30–12–14 , , 74 , - , 57 , , February 21 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–2 , ,

, , 31–12–14 , , 76 , - , 58 , , February 22 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–6 , ,

, , 31–13–14 , , 76 , - , 59 , , February 26 , ,

, , 3–5 , , Boston Bruins , , 32–13–14 , , 78 , - , 60 , , February 28 , ,

, , 0–3 , , Boston Bruins , , 33–13–14 , , 80 , - , - , 61 , , March 1 , , St. Louis Blues , , 1–3 , , Boston Bruins , , 34–13–14 , , 82 , - , 62 , , March 4 , , Boston Bruins , , 1–3 , , St. Louis Blues , , 34–14–14 , , 82 , - , 63 , , March 7 , , Boston Bruins , , 5–5 , ,

, , 34–14–15 , , 83 , - , 64 , , March 8 , ,

, , 0–2 , , Boston Bruins , , 35–14–15 , , 85 , - , 65 , , March 11 , , Boston Bruins , , 0–0 , ,

, , 35–14–16 , , 86 , - , 66 , , March 14 , , Boston Bruins , , 1–2 , ,

, , 35–15–16 , , 86 , - , 67 , , March 15 , ,

, , 5–5 , , Boston Bruins , , 35–15–17 , , 87 , - , 68 , , March 19 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Boston Bruins , , 36–15–17 , , 89 , - , 69 , , March 21 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–5 , ,

, , 36–16–17 , , 89 , - , 70 , , March 22 , ,

, , 0–5 , , Boston Bruins , , 37–16–17 , , 91 , - , 71 , , March 25 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–1 , ,

, , 38–16–17 , , 93 , - , 72 , , March 28 , ,

, , 5–5 , , Boston Bruins , , 38–16–18 , , 94 , - , 73 , , March 29 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–2 , ,

, , 38–16–19 , , 95 , - , - , 74 , , April 1 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–6 , ,

, , 38–17–19 , , 95 , - , 75 , , April 4 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–2 , ,

, , 39–17–19 , , 97 , - , 76 , , April 5 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Boston Bruins , , 40–17–19 , , 99 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

In the playoffs, Boston faced the

in the quarterfinals, which finished in 4th place in the Eastern Division with 92 points, seven less than the Bruins. The series opened at the Boston Garden, and the Bruins continued their winning ways at home, taking the first two games to take an early series lead. The series then moved to

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

in New York for the next two games, and the Rangers responded with two close wins, tying the series up at two games each. Boston returned home for game 5, and took a 3–2 series lead with a hard-fought 3–2 win, going on to beat the Rangers in game 6 on the road 4–1 to advance to the Eastern Division finals. The Bruins opponent for the division finals was the

, which finished with 99 points (the same as Boston, but with more wins, so Chicago was awarded home ice for the series). Boston surprised the Chicago fans by taking the first two games held at

Chicago Stadium Chicago Stadium was an indoor arena in Chicago from 1929 to 1995. When it was built, it was the largest indoor arena in the world with a maximum seating capacity of 26,000. It was the home of the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and ...

with relative ease to take a 2–0 series lead. Boston then won game 3 by a 5–2 score at the Boston Garden, taking a commanding 3–0 lead in the series. The Black Hawks kept game 4 close, but lost the game 5–4, as Boston swept Chicago to advance to the

Finals for the first time since 1958.

vs. St. Louis Blues Boston faced the winner of the Western Division, the St. Louis Blues, making its 3rd straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance. The Blues had been swept by the

in both their previous appearances in the Finals. St. Louis defeated the

and

to reach the Finals. The series opened at the St. Louis Arena, and the Bruins had no problems at all in their first two games, defeating the Blues by scores of 6–1 and 6–2 to take a 2–0 series lead. The series shifted to Boston for the next two games, and the Bruins dominated game 3, winning 4–1. St. Louis forced the 4th game into sudden death; however the Bruins, on an overtime goal by Bobby Orr, won 4–3, thus winning an NHL record 10th straight playoff game and their first Stanley Cup since 1941. The still photo of Orr flying through the air after scoring ''"The Goal"'' — he had been tripped in the act of shooting by Blues defenseman Noel Picard — became one of the most iconic images of hockey history, and was the basis of a bronze sculpture of the event outside the

TD Garden TD Garden (named the FleetCenter from opening until 2005 and TD Banknorth Garden until 2009) is a multi-purpose arena in Boston. It is located directly above the MBTA's North Station, and it replaced the original Boston Garden upon opening i ...

's main entrance in 2010, the date of the event's 40th anniversary. , - , 1 , , April 8 , ,

, , 2–8 , , Boston Bruins , , 1–0 , - , 2 , , April 9 , ,

, , 3–5 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–0 , - , 3 , , April 11 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–4 , ,

, , 2–1 , - , 4 , , April 12 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–4 , ,

, , 2–2 , - , 5 , , April 14 , ,

, , 2–3 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–2 , - , 6 , , April 16 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–1 , ,

, , 4–2 , - , - , 1 , , April 19 , , Boston Bruins , , 6–3 , ,

, , 1–0 , - , 2 , , April 21 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–1 , ,

, , 2–0 , - , 3 , , April 23 , ,

, , 2–5 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–0 , - , 4 , , April 26 , ,

, , 4–5 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–0 , - , - , 1 , , May 3 , , Boston Bruins , , 6–1 , , St. Louis Blues , , 1–0 , - , 2 , , May 5 , , Boston Bruins , , 6–2 , , St. Louis Blues , , 2–0 , - , 3 , , May 7 , , St. Louis Blues , , 1–4 , , Boston Bruins , , 3–0 , - , 4 , , May 10 , , St. Louis Blues , , 3–4 , , Boston Bruins , , 4–0 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Playoffs

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Awards and records

* Bobby Orr,

Art Ross Trophy The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League (NHL) player who leads the league in Point (ice hockey), points at the end of the regular season. It was presented to the league by former player, general manager, and head coach Art Ros ...

* Bobby Orr,

Conn Smythe Trophy The Conn Smythe Trophy () is awarded annually to the most valuable player (MVP) of his team during the National Hockey League's (NHL) Stanley Cup playoffs. It is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime owner, general manager, and head coach of the ...

* Bobby Orr,

Hart Memorial Trophy The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The original tr ...

* Bobby Orr, Norris Trophy * Bobby Orr, NHL Plus/Minus Award * Bobby Orr, NHL Record, Plus/Minus +124

Draft picks

Boston's draft picks at the 1969 NHL amateur draft

References

SHRP SportsThe Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 {{DEFAULTSORT:1969-70 Boston Bruins Season Stanley Cup championship seasons Boston Bruins seasons

1969 in Boston Bruins

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Draft picks

See also

References