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.

  

Jim Lorentz: A Pair Of 3 Assist Games For The Home Crowd In Buffalo For The Christmas Season

In 1976-77, Jim Lorentz was enjoying what would turn out to be his last really productive season in the National Hockey League. He played much of 1977-78 but contributed just nine goals and 24 points. In 1976-77, he put in good numbers with the Buffalo Sabres with 23 goals and 33 assists.

3 Assists vs. Rangers

Six of those 33 helpers came in a pair of home games in mid-December. On December 16, 1976, Buffalo hosted the New York Rangers at the Aud. All his points came in the second period and all were assists on Rick Martin goals. Rico's three goals came within a 10:02 span but was not a natural hat trick. After the second, Gilbert popped in Buffalo's sixth of the game in a 7-2 win.

Buffalo goalie Gerry Desjardins might have been caught sleeping the odd time during the game with the Rangers putting just 14 shots on net. Gerry allowed a pair of second period goals by Pat Hickey to make the game interesting. At the other end of the rink, Buffalo put 28 shots on Gilles Gratton over two periods before Doug Soetaert came on in relief and faced 12 more.

3 Assists vs. Red Wings

The Sabres left town for a match against the New York Islanders and returned home to face the Detroit Red Wings on December 19, 1976. Again, all Jim's points came in a single period, this time the third. Again, it was a connection with Rick Martin.

This game went into the third period with Buffalo up 3-1. Detroit would not score again in this match. In a span of 7:01, Martin scored two goals and Andre Savard had one. Lorentz assisted on all three and the trio finished the game with three points each. The victim in the opponents net on this night was Jim Rutherford, turning away 28 of 34 in a 6-1 loss.

About Jim Lorentz

Between 1968-69 and 1977-78, Jim Lorentz played 659 regular season and 54 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres. He recorded four career hat tricks, all with the Sabres.

Lorentz was a Stanley Cup champion with the Bruins in 1969-70, appearing in eleven of the team's 14 playoff games. He contributed a single goal in the post season run. Prior, with Boston's CHL affiliate in Oklahoma City, Jim was rookie of the year in 1967-68 and league MVP in 1968-69.