Top 10 Goaltenders in Boston Bruins History 5-1 3
After giving the fans of the Black and Gold a few days to ponder picks #10-#6 of the best goaltenders in Boston Bruins history, here are the top five.
Make sure your pads are on tight and your mask is snug, it’s shoot out time!
Let the debate begin.
In case you need to refresh your memory, here is the link to picks #10 – #6.
#5 - Eddie Johnston
5. Eddie Johnston – Johnston came to Boston in 1962 after stints in the
Quebec Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Johnston is the last goalie in NHL history to have played in every minute of every game. In the ’63-’64 season, he posted a record of 18-40-12 in 70 games.
In his first five years in the league, the Bruins were not a competitive club. They missed the playoffs every year. However in 1967 with the arrival of expansion, the Bruins began to build a dynasty.
After Orr and Esposito joined the club, the team began to flourish. Johnston served as the back-up to Gerry Cheevers during the Big Bad Bruins days of the 1970’s. Cheevers and Johnston backstopped Boston to two Stanley Cup titles in 1970 and 1972. Johnston had his best statistical season in ’70-’71 when he won 30 games and posted a 2.53 goals against average.
Johnston won 180 regular season games which is good for fourth all time in Boston Bruins franchise history. He played 11 seasons for Boston before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
#4 - Gilles Gilbert
4. Gilles Gilbert – Gilles Gilbert came to Boston via Minnesota to replace legend, Gerry Cheevers. Cheevers bolted for the fledgling WHA and Gilbert became the Bruins primary goalie during the ’73-’74 season.
No one replaces Cheevers, but Gilbert made Bruins fans forget him a little. Gilles won 34 games and led the Bruins to Stanley Cup Finals that year. He won ten playoff games, but Boston lost to Philadelphia, four games to two.
During the ’75-’76 season, Gilbert set a record which still stands for most consecutive wins with 17. He would finish the season with 33 wins and a GAA of 2.90.
Gerry Cheevers returned to the NHL and the Bruins during the ’76-’77 season. Gilbert and Cheevers would share goal tending duties for the next four seasons. Who knows what numbers Gilbert would have put up if he was the primary goalie?
Both goalies had career years in the ’79-’80 campaign where they both finished as runner ups for the Vezina trophy.
Gilbert would be shipped to Detroit following the season. Gilbert had 155 regular season wins (fifth all time) and 17 playoff victories (fourth all time) in his career with the Boston Bruins.
Loading ...