History repeats itself..
This is nothing new for the Habs - just ask the record breaking Bobby Orr led defending Stanley Cup winners 1971 Boston Bruins.
That year the Bruins led by a high scoring group of all stars including Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, second line winger and NHL HOFer Johnny Bucyk along with phenomenal defenseman Bobby Orr. The group were the top 4 scorers in the league that year. A feat no team has ever matched since.
1. Esposito 152 points (76 goals) 1st Team All NHL
2. Orr 139 points (37 goals a record for a defenseman at the time) 1st Team All NHL. League MVP.
3. Bucyk 116 points (51 goals) 1st Team all NHL
4. Hodge 105 points (43 goals) 1st Team All NHL.
In the first round of the playoff the Habs led by rookie goalie Ken Dryden defeated the heavily favored Bruins 4 games to 3 and went on to defeat The Western Conference Champion Chicago Blackhawks led by the great Bobby Hull in seven game to win the Stanley Cup, again led by goaltender Ken Dryden and a stout defense.
The Bruins came back in 1972 to win their 2nd Cup in three years and have not won a cup since..
The Bruins during the 70/71 regular season led the NHL with 57 wins 14 losses and 7 ties for a total of 121 points. The entire team scored a record at the time of 399 goals during the regular season while yielding 207.
The Habs finished 4th best in the NHL with a record of 42-23-12 and 97 points. Scoring 291 and yielding 216 goals.
Bruins awards and records from the 70/71 team.
Prince of Wales Trophy: || Boston Bruins
Art Ross Memorial Trophy: || Phil Esposito
Hart Memorial Trophy: || Bobby Orr
James Norris Memorial Trophy: || Bobby Orr
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: || Johnny Bucyk
Lester B. Pearson Award: || Phil Esposito
NHL Plus/Minus Award: || Bobby Orr
Johnny Bucyk, Left Wing, NHL First Team All-Star
Phil Esposito, Center, NHL First Team All-Star
Phil Esposito, Club Record, Most Points in a Season, 152
Phil Esposito, NHL Record, Most Shots on Goal in One Season (550)
Ken Hodge, Right Wing, NHL First Team All-Star
Bobby Orr, Defence, NHL First Team All-Star
Bobby Orr, Club Record, Most Assists in a Season, 102
Bobby Orr, NHL Record, Most Assists by a Defenseman in One Season (102)
Bobby Orr, NHL Record, Most Points by a Defenseman in One Season (139)
Hall of Famers: Orr, Esposito and Bucyk.
wil.
Huge congrats to The Montreal Canadiens for hanging in after being down 3 games to 1 and left for dead by almost all of hockey but still with great goaltending, superb defense and timely scoring coming back and winning their first tound series against the #1 Seeded Caps..:toast:
This is nothing new for the Habs - just ask the record breaking Bobby Orr led defending Stanley Cup winners 1971 Boston Bruins.
That year the Bruins led by a high scoring group of all stars including Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, second line winger and NHL HOFer Johnny Bucyk along with phenomenal defenseman Bobby Orr. The group were the top 4 scorers in the league that year. A feat no team has ever matched since.
1. Esposito 152 points (76 goals) 1st Team All NHL
2. Orr 139 points (37 goals a record for a defenseman at the time) 1st Team All NHL. League MVP.
3. Bucyk 116 points (51 goals) 1st Team all NHL
4. Hodge 105 points (43 goals) 1st Team All NHL.
In the first round of the playoff the Habs led by rookie goalie Ken Dryden defeated the heavily favored Bruins 4 games to 3 and went on to defeat The Western Conference Champion Chicago Blackhawks led by the great Bobby Hull in seven game to win the Stanley Cup, again led by goaltender Ken Dryden and a stout defense.
The Bruins came back in 1972 to win their 2nd Cup in three years and have not won a cup since..
The Bruins during the 70/71 regular season led the NHL with 57 wins 14 losses and 7 ties for a total of 121 points. The entire team scored a record at the time of 399 goals during the regular season while yielding 207.
The Habs finished 4th best in the NHL with a record of 42-23-12 and 97 points. Scoring 291 and yielding 216 goals.
Bruins awards and records from the 70/71 team.
Prince of Wales Trophy: || Boston Bruins
Art Ross Memorial Trophy: || Phil Esposito
Hart Memorial Trophy: || Bobby Orr
James Norris Memorial Trophy: || Bobby Orr
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: || Johnny Bucyk
Lester B. Pearson Award: || Phil Esposito
NHL Plus/Minus Award: || Bobby Orr
Johnny Bucyk, Left Wing, NHL First Team All-Star
Phil Esposito, Center, NHL First Team All-Star
Phil Esposito, Club Record, Most Points in a Season, 152
Phil Esposito, NHL Record, Most Shots on Goal in One Season (550)
Ken Hodge, Right Wing, NHL First Team All-Star
Bobby Orr, Defence, NHL First Team All-Star
Bobby Orr, Club Record, Most Assists in a Season, 102
Bobby Orr, NHL Record, Most Assists by a Defenseman in One Season (102)
Bobby Orr, NHL Record, Most Points by a Defenseman in One Season (139)
Hall of Famers: Orr, Esposito and Bucyk.
wil.
Huge congrats to The Montreal Canadiens for hanging in after being down 3 games to 1 and left for dead by almost all of hockey but still with great goaltending, superb defense and timely scoring coming back and winning their first tound series against the #1 Seeded Caps..:toast:
The Habs were the far superior team in net, on special teams, in shot blocking and discipline {e.g. not taking dumb penalties}.
The Caps were way over rated. As someone put it:
"the pens are the real # 1 seed in the east they coasted most of the year and they didnt have atl, t.b, car, and fla in their division wow it looks to me like wash was not really a #1 more of a joke if you ask me congratulations hab fans you definitely deserved it"
With such a schedule they had 54 wins compared to teams in the West who had
52, 51, 50 and 49. Detroit had only 44 but half their team spent the year in hospital.
If Washington played in the Western conference it is doubtful they would have had the
most points as at least 4 teams there are as good or better.
And the Habs, with numerous injuries throughout the season, were highly under rated.
I won't be at all surprised if they knock off Crosby & co as well, who showed a lot of
weaknesses in their series vs the Sens.
The Caps were way over rated. As someone put it:
"the pens are the real # 1 seed in the east they coasted most of the year and they didnt have atl, t.b, car, and fla in their division wow it looks to me like wash was not really a #1 more of a joke if you ask me congratulations hab fans you definitely deserved it"
With such a schedule they had 54 wins compared to teams in the West who had
52, 51, 50 and 49. Detroit had only 44 but half their team spent the year in hospital.
If Washington played in the Western conference it is doubtful they would have had the
most points as at least 4 teams there are as good or better.
And the Habs, with numerous injuries throughout the season, were highly under rated.
I won't be at all surprised if they knock off Crosby & co as well, who showed a lot of
weaknesses in their series vs the Sens.
