Top 10 Goaltenders in Boston Bruins History 10-6
Who are the Top 10 backstops in Boston Bruins history? Some of the names you know and some may not be as familiar to you unless you were born in 1924. Sit back, put on your pads, waffle, favorite mask, grab your stick, and journey with me through Bruins days past and present.
These are the Best Goalies in Boston Bruins history.
#10 - Pete Peeters
10. Pete Peeters – Peeters joined the Bruins in the ’82-’83 season after being traded from the Philadelphia Flyers. He paid instant dividends in his first season with Boston. Peeters posted 40 wins (8 shutouts) with a GAA of 2.36 and won the Vezina Trophy.
He would play 2 more seasons with Boston before being dealt to Washington during the ’85-’86 campaign. Peter Peeters ranks 11th on the Bruins All Time list with regular 91 regular season wins. He also earned nine wins in the playoffs.
9. Reggie Lemelin – After losing his starting job in Calgary to Mike Vernon, Rejean “Reggie” Lemelin joined the Bruins during the ’87-’88 where he shared goaltending duties with Andy Moog.
#9 - Reggie Lemelin
During his first full season with the B’s, Lemelin posted 24 wins with a GAA of 2.93, helping Boston to the Stanley Cup Finals against Edmonton. During that playoff run, he won 11 games and had a better GAA (2.64) than he did during the regular season. The Bruins rode Lemelin as Moog struggled in the post season.
The Bruins made a return trip to the Finals in ’89-’90 season. Lemelin was yet again an integral part of the team’s success. He won 22 games with a 2.80 GAA. Moog and Lemelin captured the President’s trophy for fewest goals allowed in the NHL.
The Bruins rode Moog’s hot hand in the playoffs that year. However, they would fall to the Oilers yet again in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Lemelin would play with the Bruins until the ’92-’93 season. He was limited in his last two seasons, posting just 18 wins. Lemelin currently ranks tenth on the Bruins all time regular season list with 92 wins.
8. Tim Thomas – His journey to the Bruins has been long to say the least. Thomas was originally drafted in 1994 by the Quebec Nordiques after graduating from the University of Vermont. He spent the early stages of his career playing in the minor leagues and in Europe.
In 2006-2007, Thomas took over the starting job posting a 30-29 record
#8 - Tim Thomas
with a 3.13 GAA. Thomas has become a fixture between the pipes ever since. In the 2007-2008 season, he recorded a 28-19-6 record with a 2.44 GAA and helped the Bruins return to the playoffs.
Thomas had his best career season in 2008-2009, when he posted a 36-11-7 record with a league low 2.10 GAA. His play catapulted the Bruins to the top of the Eastern Conference and to their first playoff series win in almost a decade (he went 7-4 in the playoffs with a microscopic 1.85 GAA).
Thomas has 122 career wins for Boston which is good for eighth best in franchise history. He should be able to surpass Byron Dafoe this season with just ten more wins. Thomas has solidified the goaltending position in Boston and shows that you get better with age.
7. Byron Dafoe- Byron Dafoe or “Lord Byron” as his fans know him, was traded from LA to Boston during the ’97-’98 season. He made an instant impact with his new club. During his first full season, Dafoe posted 30 wins with a GAA of 2.24 leading the Bruins to the post season.
Dafoe outdid himself the next season. He won 32 games with a microscope 1.99 GAA. He led the Bruins to the post season again and backstopped Boston to a first round series win over Carolina (this was the Bruins last series win before they defeated Montreal in the ’08-’09 playoffs). Lord Byron was recognized for his stellar play and finished third in Vezina Trophy voting.
#7 - Byron Dafoe
Dafoe and the Bruins would have a subpar season in ’09-’00. They missed the playoffs and Dafoe held out due to his contract and just earned 13 wins in 41 games.
His next season was marred by injuries, but he rebounded in ’01-’02 with 35 wins. The Bruins reached the playoffs but had a quick exit in the first round.
Dafoe would leave Boston to sign with Atlanta after the season. Dafoe ranks seventh in Bruins history with 132 wins.
6. Andy Moog – The Bruins traded goalie, Bill Ranford to the Oilers for Moog at the ’87-’88 trading deadline. Moog would only play in six games at the end of the regular season and played seven games(1-4-1) in the playoffs before making way to the hot goaltender, Reggie Lemelin(11-6 in 17 games).
Moog along with Lemelin would capture the President’s trophy for least goals allowed during the ’90 season.
#6 - Andy Moog
Both goaltenders were playing on a high level that season. Moog won 24 games with a 2.89 GAA.
Andy Moog would be the better goalie during the ’89-’90 playoffs. His record was 13-7 with a GAA of 2.21 as the Bruins had a return trip to Stanley Cup Finals for a rematch against the Oilers. Boston would fall short yet again, losing in five games.
Moog would gain a reputation as a “Hab” killer for his play against long time rival Montreal. He beat them in the ’91 and ’92 playoffs leading the Bruins to the Conference Finals both those years. The Bruins would succumb to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion, Pittsburgh Penguins.
Moog was traded to then Minnesota North Stars following the ’92-’93 season. During his playing time in Boston, Moog won 136 regular season good for sixth on the Bruins All Time wins list. He was also an integral part of two Stanley Cup Finals berths. Moog finished his Bruins career with 36 playoff wins which is the second most in team history.
Stay tuned for the Top 5 Boston Bruins Goaltenders of all time!
Let the debate begin!
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Not a bad start. I know that Cheevers will most likely be the top guy, but I am interested to see wo else is in the top 5. I disagree on Lord Byron ahead of Tim Thomas. Tank has a Vezina Trophy while Dafoe finished third. Timmy has won more games in a season than Dafoe did. I think you could put Thomas as high as 3-4 on the list but will wait to see who you have left.
Until Thomas passes Dafoe has the edge now. yes he didnt wint the vezina but back in the 90's his competition was a bit more fierce. Roy. Kolzig(in his prime) Brodeur(13 years younger). Thomas 3 or 4? No way! I will post the rest of the countdown soon. Thanks for the comments!