Boston Sports Then and Now

This week’s Bruins history takes a look back on hockey history in Boston, focusing on some big trades, milestone victories and a few important birthdays with a special look at how the B’s have fared on games played on the extra day – Feb. 29. This is This Week in Boston Bruins History: Feb. 24-March 2.

Feb. 24:

On Feb. 24, 1934, the Bruins lost, 9-4, to the Senators in Ottawa. The nine goals allowed tied their season high for the 1933-34 season with their 9-2 loss to the same Sens on Jan. 4.

On Feb. 24, 1962, they fell to the Maple Leafs, 7-2, in Toronto in the 13th game of a 20-game winless streak. They would go on to finish the season with a record of just 15-47-8.

On Feb. 24, 1973, the B’s won their 40th game of the year, 7-5, over the Kings in Los Angeles. With their fourth straight win, they improved to 40-17-5.

On Feb. 24, 1980, Boston beat the expansion Oilers, 4-2, for the fourth straight time in their first season. They would beat them in the first meeting the following year as well before finally losing to them in their sixth meeting in January 1981.

On Feb. 24, 2004, the team played to the final 0-0 tie in their history. It came against the Islanders in the first of three consecutive overtime games for them. Felix Potvin made 33 saves for the Black and Gold.

Felix Potvin posted a 12-8-6 record for the B’s in 2004.

Feb. 25:

On Feb. 25, 1939, the Bruins finally lost their 10th game of the season, 1-0, to the Leafs in their 40th game. They would go on to win their second Stanley Cup. The Canadiens lost their 10th game of the year on Dec. 15 – to the Bruins.

On Feb. 25, 1962, the B’s allowed six or more goals for the 18th and final time of the 1961-62 season in an 8-0 loss to the Black Hawks. They would finish last in the NHL with 306 goals allowed on the season.

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Boston Bruins Die Hards were out in full force Thursday night for the Hockey Resurrection Party at the Harp Boston.

As the much anticipated puck drop for the Bruins’ season opener on Saturday the 17th approaches, many B’s fans gathered at The Harp in Boston Thursday night for the Hockey Resurrection Party. The event was organized by Ring Communications and Boston Sports Then & Now/Big Bad Bruins. 98.5 The Sports Hub and Coors Light were there for giveaways and a silent auction was held with items supplied by Sports World USA.  Among the esteemed guests were legendary TD Garden anthem singer Rene Rancourt, Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton, and former Bruin and WAAF personality Lyndon Byers.

The Bruins faithful were out in full force tonight as most of the night saw many fans shoulder to shoulder, donned in black and gold, just happy to celebrate the return of their beloved Boston Bruins.

CSNNE‘s A. Sherrod Blakely stopped by the party, and despite admitting to only having gone to one Bruins game, was still impressed by the turnout of the fans. “The Bruins are obviously a big deal in Boston” said Blakely “It’s a great, great atmosphere”. He wasn’t kidding, over 600 fans packed into the Harp Thursday night for the event.

“When I used to cover the ACC in North Carolina, the fans were very rowdy” Blakely continued “Bruins fans remind me of that, they become a part of the game”.

Among the many Bruins die-hards in attendance was a man with a Viking’s helmet and a shield sporting the Bruins’ logo, a gentleman with a fake beard and a Winter Classic jersey with Eddie Shore’s number 2 on the back, and an uncountable amount of Bruins jerseys featuring the numbers of current, former, and retired players.

Those in attendance were treated to an early preview of something they knew all too well. Rene Rancourt sang his rendition of the star spangled banner for the crowd prompting them to sing along. He then said he would be singing the Canadian anthem Saturday in French asking “anyone in here speak French?”. One man in the crowd could and Rancourt gave him the mic. After allowing the fan to sing a few lines Rene took the mic back and said to the crowd “Let’s throw this guy out of here”.

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Boston Bruins Legend #8 Cam Neely scored 55 goals in the 1989-90 season which would mark the first of his three 50 goal campaigns with the black and gold

Kicking off our list of the top five Boston Bruins teams of all time is the 1989-90 Bruins. Led by a strong front office group with the likes of Hall of Fame builder Harry Sinden as general manager and fiery young head coach in Mike Milbury the B’s exceeded all expectations that year. They also had a wealth of excellent players both complimentary and elite and were among the leagues very best. They captured the franchise’s one and only Presidents Cup in its entire eighty eight year history. This team boasted a league best 46-25-9 record that year and won the Adams Division over a high powered Montreal Canadiens team and a talented Quebec Nordiques team.

Bruins current president and Hall of Famer Cam Neely led the Bruins in scoring that year with 55 goals, 37 assists, 117 penalty minutes, and a plus 10 in 76 games. This was the first of three 50 goal campaigns for Neely. Of these 55 goals, 25 were powerplay markers and 12 were game winners which to me is impressive as he was as dominate a scorer even strength as he was on the man advantage. This was a big season for Neely and the Bruins as it was this season when “Wam Bam Cam” emerged as an elite power-forward in the NHL and re-defined that style of play.

Also having one of his many excellent seasons was captain Ray Bourque with 19 goals, 65 assists, and a plus 31 in 77 games. This was not unusual for the now Bruins Hall of Famer as he was the definition of consistency here in Boston throughout his long decorated and tenured captaincy with the team. He would capture the third of his five Norris Trophies as league’s best defenseman that year. Forward Craig Janney came in third in scoring on the team that season 24 goals, 38 assists, and a plus 3 in 55 games. Also on that team was Glen Wesley, Ken Linseman, Don Sweeney and current Bruins analysts Andy Brickley, Gord Kluzak, and Lyndon Byers.

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Big Bad Bruins Video Flashback

BST&N will bring you Big Bad Bruins video memories of their upcoming opponents. You will get to re-live the great comebacks, brawls and games from days gone by. Grab your Bruins jersey, your favorite beer or adult beverage of choice and step back into time with the Black and Gold.

Today’s opponent: Winnipeg Jets

Video #1: Current NESN Analyst Gord Kluzak Vs. Jim Kyte

Video #2:Bruins-Jets Melee ’89

Video #3: LB Highlights This Brawl From ’84

Cam Neely always took time out for the fans at Ristuccia Arena.

It was the early 90’s, hair metal was on its deathbed and grunge was emerging from the musical murky soup.

I was a high school student at Wilmington High.

I had hockey hair(aka mullet).

I lived in Wilmington, the same town that the Boston Bruins held their training camp and in season practices.

It was my rink of dreams.

Ristuccia Arena.

They built it and I came.

I was and still am a die hard Bruins fan.

I had the shiny black coat with the golden spoked B.

I played street hockey and played goalie because I was a huge fan of Andy Moog.

I had an Adam Oates jersey because I was unselfish like him and rather set up the goal than take all the glory.

I admired Cam Neely and Ray Bourque for their leadership, intensity, and desire.

And I never forgave Glen Wesley for missing the empty net in Game 1 of the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals versus Edmonton.

I bled Black and Gold.

So, I became a regular fixture outside the Ristuccia Arena.

These were my heroes.

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