70/71 Boston Bruins Vs Ken Dryden

[34Packardphaeton]

Two reasons the '70 - '71 Bruins lost to Montreal: Dryden (of course)

AND the terribly-poor play of Orr. The series never should have got

to seven games. The second game opened the door [Bost. won the

first]. After assembling a 5 - 1 lead, the Bruins surrendered six (6)

straight goals to lose, 7 - 5; and Orr was on the ice for ALL SIX!

In game 7 at home, Orr was on the ice for 3 of the 4 Hab goals.

Yes, Dryden averaged 41 saves / stops per game in this series;

total goals: M 28, B 26.

[devilkidism]

Look at the equipment goalies used back then. It's remarkable how they kept anything out of the net. How the hell can they compare goalies of today to goalies back then?

[uncl3m0key]

i agree he was brutal vs russians in 72 but take a look at his performance in 79 playoffs game 7 vs Boston he was god awful on 2 he let in to Middleton & Cashman the Lafleur goal saved his ass then vs Rangers in the Finals Scotty Bowman yanked him after Game 1 only because backup Bunny Larocque got hurt in warmups

[SteelyDam]

A good team with a great goalie will beat a great team with a good goalie everytime, so why are goalies not the top paid players on the team?

[AZAndrewG]

Dryden won the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) before winning the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year). Only player with that distinction.

[FRSDailyTimes]

This was a real Championship Matchup

[knightschwartz]

Dryden, good hockey played, terrible liberal PC politician.

[5inthehole]

Another thing to think about- The Bruins were 34-4-2 at home during the 1970-71 season and hadn't lost a home game against Les Habitants all year. Dryden turned that record on its head....unbelievable!

[andrelebaron]

Look at Dryden compared to a modern goalie. The equipment has gotten so much bigger but it's not what fans want to see.

[12gianna]

Im a Bruins fan from 1970, and I think that Ken Dryden was the greatest ever, You have to remember that all those goalies were afraid of the puck (U cant blame them), their equipment was terrible, Dryden didnt even want slap shots on him at practice because it hurt, I would love to see Dryden, Cheevers, Gilbert, Tony Esposito on and on etc etc play with the goalie gear they have now!!

[5inthehole]

@12gianna I agree with you (with apologizes to Bernie Parent) that Dryden was the best (modern) goaltender. He made so many unbelievable saves, it just left the fan to wonder what they just saw. Bernie Parent of Philly was close, but Dryden was just a bit better.

Concerning the 70-71 playoffs, I still can't believe the Bruins lost this series...they were a powerhouse. Just goes to show you how great Dryden was.

[wilmanric1]

@5inthehole Dryden was my boyhood hero. One thing though I could never understand about him. He was just not that great against the Russians!

[mp3onkyo]

@wilmanric1 You never seem that game for sure ! remove the space

w w w.youtube.com/watch?v=Asd7vGvB­r5Y

[tranquility4all]

@wilmanric1 Very few Goalies if any were that great against the Russians.

[Cheessa]

Dryden played 6 games that year in the reg season. Everyon expected Vachon in nets, but...a legend was Born.

Bruins had such a talented team, should have won more than 2 cups.

[BiffScooter1]

@Cheessa Yeah, but the WHA ripped that team apart. More precisely Boston's same as usual cheap owners did by underpaying the help. Oh well, still great memories.

[wilmanric1]

Ah, another Bruins-Habs match-up in the payoffs. Something like the 34th time they've met; the most of any two pro hockey teams.

Here's to continuing the greatest rivalry in hockey for another year!

[Andragon90]

The 70s teams are fucking legends! Legends, I tell ya!

[ycanada]

The biggest shame is that games form this pre vcr era are not available. I would buy the whole series and watch it all over. I was five years o ld when i saw this and still remeber some details.

[HOUSEOFFOURDOORS]

Dryden  8 years 6 Cups..

[laxjunkie1]

I was just scrolling 1971 and read about st cath black hawks vs quebec remparts-dionne lafleur riots death threats any video out there?????

[laxjunkie1]

I forgot I read somewhere the bruins were supposedly laughing at the 5-2 lead in the second game (I wish someone else remembered) and apparentley 1 of the habs pointed it out bye bye bruins...

[laxjunkie1]

part1-as a hardcore 11 year old boby orr fan LIVING IN MONTREAL!! I was devastated..Dryden was FAN TAS TIC!!!I later learned he was actually DRAFTED BY THE BRUINS IN 64????Also he played college in boston.He was more comfortable in boston garden where he played (ALL HIS BIG COLLEGE GAMES) than the forum!!(probably more than some bruin players)

[laxjunkie1]

The bruins were outcoached and a bunch of party animals..the habs were a no f--- around organization..Bobby orr is the greatest hockey player EVER TO LACE UP SKATES..he WON THE SCORING RACE ....ON 1 LEG!!!!!! (gretzky played in a watered down too many xpansion teams euro woosy players league)Orr had more pims and fights either year he won the scoring than most of the top ten scorers in any of the recent years combined...DON'T GET ME STARTED!!!lol

[znogypogy]

@laxjunkie1 not taking a shot at orr's greatness or start a shit fight, but the league was watered down during orr's rookie season when it doubled in size to 12 teams. it also lost another 20 percent of it's players who jumped to the wha in 1972. the guy named gretzky did ok in the league too ; )

[razoramon989]

@laxjunkie1 from what I've read, the Habs could party with the best of them in the 70's

[5inthehole]

@razoramon989 Same with the Bruins, they were major party animals I've heard (just look at Sanderson). I think the Bruins dumped Sandy after he returned from the WHA because his partying was being disruptive to the rest of the team. I always wondered if excess partying on the Bruins behalf cost them the cup in 1974. Espo talks about it alittle in his book, but he doesn't give away the farm. He's also be traded in '75.

[12gianna]

Respond to this video... Sanderson was traded after he got into a fight with Terry O'Reilly but it was Bep Guidilon the coach of the Bruins that didnt like him and was looking for any excuse to trade him, Sinden really didnt want to which is why after the Bruins lost to the Flyers in 74 Guidilon was fired and they hired Don Cherry and please dont put or read too much in to Espos Book, he tends to exaggerate a lot, even Orr was upset with him about his book, Esposito os full of shit!!

[purpleporcupine59]

@5inthehole I saw Derek Sanderson gooned out of his gourd on Johnny Carson. He had just signed his million dollar deal with whichever WHA team it was and he said he wouldn't even take his clothes with him when he was on a road trip. he would just buy new clothes in every city. Major Coke head at the time.

[andrelebaron]

@5inthehole espo had some great stories. That guy's "injury" which was really him getting drunk and crashing through a plate glass window and that girl fucking Andre the Giant.

[solidarity4]

Boston won game 1 by 3-1. In game 2, Boston had a 5-1 lead. But Montreal came back to win 7-5! That was the turning point.

[hondahp18]

what year was the interview with dryden?

[GNick42]

When Lemaire scored that goal you could just tell the Habs were going to win the Cup. Changed the momentum in game

[jutzisr]

Dryden not the best?? Okay, fair enough...but he was truly competant and professional. Plus he was super-cool in the net. And hands down, he was the most intelligent goalie in the NHL during his time. Got himself a degree in Law School while in the NHL. Wrote a book or two. Has a lot of insight. I'm thankful we had a fella named Ken Dryden in the NHL!

[russelljdj]

Come on. All this pissing and moaning. Face it, Dryden was GREAT. I grew up a Bruins fan. Orr is the Best there EVER will be. Fuck Gretzky, LePew Lemieux, Crosby and anyone else. Cherry was the best coach The Bruins will ever have. He did more with less. But Dryden was great. The League did favor Montreal in Penalties.  It wasn't too many on the ice that killed them, it didn't help. But the Phony call on Redmond before it to close the gap.

[rf396]

@russelljdj As for Monreal being favored? ITS STILL happening today. Watch the scheduling. The B's play once a friggin week or twice at the beginning of the Season while Habs have a full load. THEN with playoffs approaching it REVERSES so that the Bruins go in tired, banged up and spent.

[journeythruthepast]

@rf396 Ok that has no basis in reality whatsoever. The Canadiens don't ever finish seasons with schedules of 2 or 3 games a week. That's how they start the year. Please, Montreal getting the scheduling breaks? If you're looking for excuses as to why the Habs traditionally beat them in the playoffs, that's about the worst.

[rebelslayer13]

I like the Bruins much more than the Habs but Dryden is better than any goalie the Bruins have ever had. Not to mention Roy. Watch out for those French Canadians.

[rebelslayer13]

@rebelslayer13 OK, Esposito may be better.

[rf396]

@rebelslayer13 Tell you what, when DRYDEN goes 32 straight games without a loss, like Cheevers did then you can make that claim, till then, not happening. i dont care how many more CUPS he has than Cheevers. ALSO remember Gerry WASTED 5 yrs in WOEFUL HOCKEY ASSOCIATION. What a friggin waste.

[rebelslayer13]

@rf396 Jesus Christ. Are you forgetting that Dryden lost 57 of 397 games? And whether you like it or not Cups mean everything in the real world.

Dryden became a Hall of Famer first, AND at a much younger age. TSN and The Hockey News both agree that Ken Dryden is better, not to mention that Cheevers didn't even make either list. Instead of lying why don't you watch this video, you may learn something.

[rf396]

@rebelslayer13 Gee yeah I really need to watch the video. i mean its not I like I ACTUALLY grew up seeing it first hand or anything. And Of Course Im going to LET TSN and the Hockey SNOOZE GIVE ME my opinion. Yeah I dont think so. You are making the argument tha Dryden is the best, touting his individual skill, then you say cups men everything. A TEAM wins cups not an invidual so which is it? I am NOT taking away from Dryden that he was a great goaltender. Its all just opinions at days end

[rebelslayer13]

@rf396 I never said Dryden was the best. He's not the best, or even my favorite. And again, you never mentioned anything to prove that Cheevers was remotely great. Because nobody remembers him. What is a team? Oh yeah, a bunch of individuals.

And you say that teams win Cups, but it's no coincidence when one name appears multiple times. You can't be a poor goalie and have as many Cups as Dryden has. You end up with nothing, like Gerry Cheevers.

Don't you have grandchildren to visit?

[rf396]

@rebelslayer13 NOTHING? Hmmm I guess the two times that Cheevers name appears on the Cup dont count? I didnt realize you had a threshold that needed to be breached before you could acknowledge something.I also never said Dryden was a POOR goaltender either. Do I think he's the best? nope. Do i think CHEEVERS is the the best??? NOPE. In MY opinion and thats all it is...the best would be Tretiak. And NO I have no grandchildren to visit, but ill give you props for the insult

[rf396]

@rebelslayer13 and yes my typing sucks I know. Dont forget something. Cheevers blew ALOT of what he SHOULDVE had by going to the FAUX H A for 5 years. HIS fault I know, and we'll NEVER know what MIGHT've been. But take THAt into consideration. ANYONE that did that Jump gets the SHAFT from the PTB at the NHL. Bobby Hull hasnt exactly been showered with love either.

[wilmanric1]

I remember that series so very well.. Dryden was incredible. The Habs were outshot every night, and Boston was expected to whip them in five games. It was an incredible upset, all because of this kid from McGill University farm team.

[rf396]

the cheater wasnt so invincible in the summit series. In fact the Russians made him look quite average

[wilmanric1]

@rf396 The Russians made everyone look pretty average. Dryden certainly did not sparkle against them, that's for sure. He could not stonewall the Russians the way he stonewalled the Bruins. Mind you, if Dryden was a "cheater" like you suggest I don't know why the Bruins couldn't do what the Russians could do...

[rf396]

@wilmanric1 The Bruins DID on more than ONE occcasion. I dont know how old you are bud but The Habs were famous for scoring one goal then stacking the Blueline aka The Trap. THEY INVENTED IT. Its not easy to test the goaltender when you cant reach him. and the Russians didnt make Tony O look stupid. HE saved their asses. and ORR had NO problem beating Dryden. drydens biggest asset...his size was also his biggest Liabilty. shots along the ice ALWAYS beat him. To big to get down there quick

[jerryjoejimbob]

@wilmanric1 Yeah; Dryden may have been the biggest reason; but there were other reasons, too. Plainly, the Bruins played lousy team defense in the seven-game series in early April of '71. Orr played awful defense, too: he was on the ice for many, many Hab goals then.

The NHL had expanded too fast, and most of those records broken by the Bruins in that regular season were against weak competition. The Bruins happened to pick the worse time to be "flat": just as the playoffs began.

[wilmanric1]

@jerryjoejimbob Oh, I'm not disputing your points; it's so damn long ago that although I will never forget that playoff I'm starting to forget all the details. I was only 10 anyway....

No I was just replying to an unfounded suggestion by someone else that "the reason Montreal won" was because Dryden used pad that were illegal--too big, thus adding to the fact that he's already the size of a Douglas Fir tree....

[rf396]

all these years later and I still wish someone would skate of Drydens NECK!

[wilmanric1]

@rf396 IS your name Don Cherry? ;^)

[rf396]

NO but I WAS lucky enough to watch him coach the Bruins and to meet him at The Grapevine in Missisaugua (sic) some years later. LOVE THE GUY. Im just an OLD diehard fan and was on the wrong side of 2-1, 3-2 too many times. Dryden was a cheater. Despite his size he used OVERSIZED pads, and gloves, as if being 9 feet tall WASNT enough. They call HIM the greatest?? When HE goes 32 straight games without a loss like Cheevers, THEN people can talk to me about greatest. Till then, hes a cheater

[wilmanric1]

@rf396 Dryden a cheater? No. Sorry. Try again. That's the first time I've ever heard that allegation in the last 38-odd years. If Dryden was cheating then I would have expected the other coaches of the era to have screamed blue murder. Grapes wasn't exactly known for being shy, you know.

[rf396]

Well Im not looking to have a pissing contest with you, BUT, I was THERE and Grapes and The Bruins DID consistently call dryden out. Trouble was, they KNEW something was amiss but they couldnt put their finger on it. They would constantly challenge HIS STICK, which always passed but they could see something they just didnt think outside the box. Since that time its been confirmed. THIS I will do. I WILL search and see if I can come up with my source, and If I cant you can call me on it. ok?

[wilmanric1]

@rf396 That's totally fair. One problem with the 'net is there are too many unfounded allegations flying around. If you get facts, I'll shut my yap!

BTW, I'm 50 this year. I'm a Habs fan from the cradle, in part because everyone else in my family was a Leafs fan ('cept for dad, who was Blackhawks). I'm from Western Canada, where in the '60' & 70's it was sacrilege to support the Habs. Made it all the more fun....

Cheers.

[wilmanric1]

@wilmanric1 I always figured it backfired on them too. I'd often watch the Habs go a goal up and then "go defensive." The Habs had to skate, skate, skate, or it went to pot. I'd wail "nooooo, you bloody idiots!"

Great days.

[russelljdj]

@rf396

Oversized pads? Imagine if he came out with the stuff they have today. I was thinking watching this how small his pads and glove and blocker are compared with today. Imagine if Orr had the new light skates and sticks made from metal from Jupiter. Wow!

[rf396]

@russelljdj ahahahahah ok You got me on that one! Sticks from Jupiter??? VERY funny Thanks you just made my day!

[wilmanric1]

@russelljdj Sorry, but I don't beleive Dryden's pads were oversized. Why? Because it surely would have been discovered, don't ya think?? I mean really, wouldn't it have taken a simple tape-measure to prove it?

[piddlefish]

omg - i am flush with memories.... as a HAB fan, fantastic memories.

[andrelebaron]

Game 2 of the quarter finals against the Bruins in 71 is my all time favourite Canadiens game. that's what won the Cup.

[Scoclamor]

@andrelebaron I help you with that...

[5inthehole]

We Bruins fans hated him when he was playing, but now we can appreciate Dryden for what he became- one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. He was something to see during those golden years of NHL hockey. Only Lafleur and Lemare sickened me more! 3 great player.

[Scoclamor]

@5inthehole Add Robinson (Remember the goal in game 5 of '78?), Savard and Lapoint to that, as well!

[altfactor]

The 1971 championship season ws no fluke for Montreal.

With Ken Dryden leading the way, they won five more Stanley Cups that decade.

[Scoclamor]

@altfactor And 4 straight at the end, averaging 59 wins the first three years of those 4 in a row. '73 and '79 had 52 wins each!

[DonQwantsyou]

Blocked by the LONG ARM of dryden

[gcdcjccc]

in my view, as well as his obvious talent Dryden's mental part of the game was key. he was always calm, cool, and collected. would never succumb to pressure

[Scoclamor]

@gcdcjccc Sometimes he did against USSR, but on the whole, and in game 8 of '72, he was there when the money was on the table!

[HabsDude1909]

Dryden is the best Habs goaltender of all time.

[hoosierlooker]

That opening round series turned in game 2, Boston was up 1-0 in the series and had a 5-1 lead in the third period. Montreal came back to win 7-5. Eventually, the series went to a 7th game in Boston and the Bruins did not show up. Habs won 4-1.

[TheTopcat45]

That was one great Bruins team he beat!!

[Scoclamor]

@TheTopcat45 '71 Bruins and '86 Oilers were the best teams not to win the Stanley Cup!

[jerryjoejimbob]

@TheTopcat45 To be sure, Dryden gave the Habs an honest chance to win. Total goals in that series was 28 for Montreal; 26 for Boston. Boston surrendered a full four (4) goals per game, Stanley Cup opening series, '71. Yes,

the Bruins came into the series tired and "flat". Fault the coaching for not properly preparing them for the playoffs,

in which they would not be facing weak expansion teams. Also, Bruin team defense was awful----including Orr, on the ice for many Hab goals.

[DonQwantsyou]

@jerryjoejimbob I wouldn't say B's defense awful but they could have their moments. I agree with all your other points about that B's team. Also T. Johnson made BIG mistake to start Johnston in game 2, we used to call him 'swiss cheese", and he was not a big game goaler like Cheevers. I noticed also Orr on ice for all M goals in 3rd period if you check out video, Bruins-Canadiens 1971, just google it. Johnston sucked but Orr also erractic in "71 series due to knee problems, but didn't admit it

[Forsure3333]

Who was the regular Habs goalie and why did not he play?

[Merti63]

The regular goalie that year was Rogie Vachon. Goog goalie, but could'nt offer strong performances night after night at that time of his career. That's why the Habs looked for someone else. I don't think they would have won the cup that year without Dryden. . As Dryden himself wrote in his book The Game, the Canadiens in 1970-71 were a team in transition with old players like Beliveau and Richard, and young players like Savard and Dryden himself. The only one in his prime was Cournoyer.

[Scoclamor]

@Merti63 And the Big M and Lapoint!

Vachon? Excellent somehow in the 1976 CC!

[DonQwantsyou]

@Scoclamor I remember the 4-2 Montreal win in Jan. 1971, but that might have been only victory during season Habs had vs B's that year. I remember an interview that Bruins T.V. had with a Montreal writer during game oneof playoffs and he said that the Habs had to try Dryden in games 1 in Boston because Vachon and Myre were "very weak".

[jerryjoejimbob]

@DonQwantsyou Yes, it was the only Hab win over the Bruins that regular season----Boston won all the others.

I remember Channel 38 interviewing old Bruin, Cooney Weiland, early in the series, who claimed that "Montreal

HAD to go back to Vachon . ."  That may have been after the second period of the second game, Bruins leading,

5-2. The Habs got five straight in the third period to gain "the split", opening the door to the 7-game upset. BTW, Orr was on the ice for six of those goals!

[Forsure3333]

@Forsure3333 Thanks for the clarification. I'll get Dryden's book!

[DonQwantsyou]

@Forsure3333 Phil Myre and roggie Vachon split the duties that year, but the B's torched both of them 6-3 and 7-2 a week before the playoffs began, so the C's had to try Dryden.

[Scoclamor]

@DonQwantsyou But the Habs did beat them, 4-2 in a Feb or Jan game that I have on tape, gotta post it here. They looked dangerous, the Habs did in that game, no Dryden or Big M!

[5inthehole]

As a die hard Bruins fan, I hated the man during his career but now appreciate Ken Dryden for the unbelievable talent he truely was. The save you see on this video against Chicago's #8 (at 1:42) was routine for Dryden. With great respect to Bernie Parent and Hasek, he's the best goaltender I've ever see play. What a unbelievable talent he was and he left the game on his own terms.

[Habsfan0206]

@5inthehole, and Dryden was a Boston draft pick!!

[imagood]

@Habsfan0206 cept he never played for boston

[Scoclamor]

@Habsfan0206 and he was traded for 3 guys who NEVER played in the NHL!

[hatecrew333]

What a career! 6 cups in 8 seasons!!

[RichYan33]

Oh GAWD!! Those all gold unies the Kings were wearing!!

[BackEddy29]

You should have seen the skates the California Golden Seals wore back then...they were white, like a figure skaters.

[Scoclamor]

@BackEddy29 Charles O Finley's idea!

[BackEddy29]

@Scoclamor yeah, i had a buddy actually wear those skates when he played for the Seals, at 40,000$ per year...can you believe it!

[karlssonb]

Jag älskade NHL ... Men .... Typ ......

Svenk hockey .. Rysk .. Finländsk .. är ju bättre .!!!

Men har man man hela MEDIA slickande in the asshole !!.. så ... Lycka Till !!!

[5inthehole]

That damb Octopus! Boy we Bruins fans really "hated" him but we never seen better in an NHL net. One of the best, if not the best, ever. Thank you Ken Dryden. Now go drop dead! LOL!

[newfiefab]

what makes it worse is that he was drafted by the bruins and they traded him way

[Scoclamor]

@5inthehole Give the Bruins some credit, the took the Habs to seven. They were up 5-1 late in the second period of game 2.

And then...