After 3 Years In The Minors, Gregg Sheppard Bursts Onto Scene With The Bruins In 1972-73

It looked like it would be four years in the minors for Gregg Sheppard. He started the 1972-73 season in the AHL with the Boston Braves. However, after posting ten points in eight games, the NHL Bruins finally gave Sheppard a shot at the big show.

Gregg's first game was Boston's tenth of the 1972-73 NHL season and his performance was pretty lackluster in a 3-2 Bruins win against Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens. In game two, however, Sheppard got the ball (puck) rolling.

Hat Trick In Second Game

Against the expansion New York Islanders at Boston Garden, Sheppard recorded his first of six NHL career hat tricks, putting three goals on six shots past New York goalie Billy Smith. The Bruins came out on top in a 9-1 blowout.

Was it a lucky game against a team that had played just a handful of games in their young NHL existence? Sheppard was about to have a month of November that would prove he deserved to stay with the Bruins. 

More on that game in our Facebook Article: Gregg Sheppard 2nd Game Hat Trick

Hot November

Sheppard played 13 games for the Bruins in November, 1972. The rookie scored eight goals over that time while adding nine assists for 17 points. He had three more three point games to go with his second game hat trick. 

Against the California Golden Seals on November 3, Gregg had two goals and an assist in a 6-6 tie. He scored the first and last goals of a six goal second period. Both were scored on Gilles Meloche and both were assisted by Don Marcotte. In that second frame, he also assisted on a Garnet Bailey goal. The only player to outscore him in the game was Joey Johnston of the Golden Seals who scored a hat trick and added an assist.

On November 19, 1972, the Bruins hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs and won 6-5. Sheppard scored a pair on Ron Low, including the game winning goal at 8:21 of the third. Again, both his goals were assisted by Marcotte. Gregg added an assist on a Mike Walton goal for the three point game.

On November 26, the Bruins took out the Philadelphia Flyers 6-4 at the Boston Garden. Gregg scored Boston's sixth goal of the game at 4:20 of the second period on Doug Favell, unassisted. That made the score 6-1 and resulted in Favell being replaced by Michel Belhumeur. The goal went with assists on markers by Bobby Orr and Don Marcotte for his last three point game of the month.

The Rest Of The 1972-73 NHL Season

That would it for the three point games in 1972-73 for Sheppard. However, he finished up the campaign with 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points over 64 games. This got him some consideration for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year, finishing tied for sixth in voting with Phil Russell of the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Taking the Calder that year was Steve Vickers of the New York Rangers. It was a fairly tight race with runner-up Bill Barber of the Philadelphia Flyers not far behind. Also in the running were Billy Harris, Jim Schoenfeld and Dan Bouchard.

Bernie Parent As A Toronto Maple Leaf

Bernie Parent wasn't with the Toronto Maple Leafs long. He came to Toronto via a January 31, 1971 trade with the Philadelphia Flyers that saw Bruce Gamble and Mike Walton in the other direction. His arrival in Toronto put him in tandem with goaltending idol Jacques Plante.

In that back half of 1970-71, Bernie played in 18 games, putting up a modest 2.66 goals against average. He played in four playoff games, all against the New York Rangers, going 2-2 with nine goals against.

1971-72 was Parent's only full season in Toronto and he gave the team a chance to reach the post season. Playing 47 regular season games, Bernie recorded a 2.57 goals against average with three shutouts and a .915 save percentage. He often faced 30 or more shots in a game on a team that scored just nine more goals than the lowest scoring team in the league, ironically the Philadelphia Flyers.

Despite the lack of goal production, with the help of Parent, Toronto was also stingy on allowing goals and ended the season with a +1 on 209 for and 208 against. They also squeaked into the playoffs with a four point edge over the Detroit Red Wings for the final spot in the East Division. They fell to the Boston Bruins four games to one in the opening round.

The Shutouts

Bernie put up three shutouts in 1971-72 for the Maple Leafs. One was a 34 save affair against the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 23, 1972. Jim Rutherford also had a great game in net for the Pens, allowing just two goals on 40 shots in the 2-0 Toronto win. Brad Selwood scored the winning goal at 13:14 of the first period on the power play, assisted by Dave Keon and Jim Harrison.

Near the start of the season, Parent and Vancouver goalie Dunc Wilson battled to a 0-0 draw with both recording the blank. Wilson made 34 stops while Bernie had a quieter night with just 20 shots going his way.

The third was a 23 save 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings. A young Billy Smith allowed the four goals while making 24 saves. A Ron Ellis goal just 3:37 into the game, assisted by Dave Keon, was all the Leafs needed for the victory.

Biggest Win Of 1971-72

On January 15, 1972, Toronto hosted the New York Rangers at Maple Leaf Gardens. Bernie allowed three goals but made 42 saves to help the Buds knock off the powerful Blue Shirts 4-3. Dave Keon scored the winning goal on Ed Giacomin with just 23 seconds left in the game, assisted by Billy MacMillan.

Out of Toronto and Beyond

Bernie Parent jumped to the World Hockey Association for the league's inaugural 1972-73 season. It marked his return to Philadelphia, playing for the Blazers. He lasted one year in the WHA before returning to the NHL and the Philadelphia Flyers. His arrival was just in time to help the Broad Street Bullies to consecutive Stanley Cup wins.

Between 1965-66 and 1978-79, Bernie Parent played 608 regular season and 71 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers. He was a two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner and two-time Vezina Trophy winner. Bernie was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.

Eddie Westfall Scores A Pair Of Shorthanded Game Winners For The Boston Bruins In 1968-69

Ed Westfall is known for his penalty killing abilities. With 26 of his 231 regular season goals in the NHL scored while shorthanded, he was a predecessor to what they now call the "Power Kill". In 1968-69 with the Boston Bruins, he had four shorthanded markers and four game winning goals. On two occasions, his shorties were the game winners.

On February 2, 1969, the Bruins hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Boston Garden. At 9:59 of the second period, Westfall scored on Roy Edwards, assisted by Don Awrey while teammate Derek Sanderson was in the box serving a minor penalty for high sticking. The goal made the score 3-0 for the home team. The goal would hold as the game winner in the 4-2 Boston win.

Later that month, on February 27, 1969, the Bruins were on the road for a game against the Oakland Seals at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. 2:25 into the game, Westfall scored shorthanded on Chris Worthy, assisted by Boston goalie Ed Johnston. The goal was shorthanded with Ron Murphy in the box for hooking. 

That goal was also all the Bruins needed and Westfall's shorthanded marker was the game winning goal in a 9-0 shutout. In the match, Ed also assisted on a pair of goals by Eddie Shack for a three point game. Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge also had three point games in the lopsided win.

Over that 1968-69 NHL season, Westfall also had shorthanded goals against the Minnesota North Stars and New York Rangers. His other two game winning goals were scored on the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. He continued his power kill in the playoffs with one shorty each against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. He had just three total goals in the playoffs.