Gary Edwards And The Kings Hand Defending Stanley Cup Champions An Opening-Night Loss

The defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins opened their 1972-73 NHL season at home on October 8, 1972, but the Los Angeles Kings spoiled the celebration. Behind an outstanding performance from goaltender Gary Edwards, the Kings walked out of Boston Garden with a 4-2 victory.

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Highlights

• October 8, 1972 at Boston Garden

• Los Angeles defeated Boston 4-2

• Gary Edwards stopped 36 of 38 shots

• Boston's Mike Walton recorded seven shots

• Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr were held pointless

• Serge Bernier scored the third-period game-winner

• Boston went on to finish with 51 wins and 107 points

• Edwards appeared in 286 NHL regular-season games during his career

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Los Angeles had opened its season with a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, making this their second game of the campaign. Edwards got the start in goal and turned aside 36 of Boston's 38 shots. Mike Walton fired seven shots without scoring, while Bruins superstars Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr were both held off the scoresheet.

Boston actually struck first. Dallas Smith scored just 2:16 into the opening period with an assist from Fred Stanfield. The lead didn't last. Mike Corrigan and Butch Goring responded for Los Angeles before the end of the period, sending the Kings to the dressing room with a 2-1 advantage. Carol Vadnais tied the game late in the second period, with Stanfield picking up his second assist of the night.

The deciding goal came at 11:47 of the third period when Serge Bernier beat Boston goaltender Eddie Johnston to put Los Angeles ahead 3-2. Bill Lesuk sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 19:38. Edwards did the rest, completing his 36-save performance and helping the Kings hand Boston a loss in its season opener.

The victory wasn't a sign of things to come for Los Angeles. The Kings finished the 1972-73 regular season four points short of the final playoff position in the West Division. Boston quickly recovered from the opening-night setback, winning 51 games and finishing with 107 points, second overall in the NHL behind the Montreal Canadiens.

Edwards appeared in 27 games for Los Angeles that season. Although he had been the Kings' primary goaltender in 1971-72, Rogie Vachon soon took over the number-one role. Edwards went on to play 286 NHL regular-season games and 11 playoff games between 1968-69 and 1981-82, appearing with the St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars, Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Bob MacMillan's Shorthanded Goal Sinks The Sabres In 1976

Bob MacMillan was beginning to establish himself as an NHL regular with the St. Louis Blues during the 1975-76 season. Originally a first-round pick of the New York Rangers in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft, the Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island native spent two seasons in the WHA before splitting 1974-75 between the Rangers and the AHL's Providence Reds. A move to St. Louis gave MacMillan a fresh start, and on January 13, 1976, he played a major role in a convincing victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

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Highlights

• January 13, 1976: St. Louis defeated Buffalo 7-3

• Bob MacMillan recorded 2 goals and 1 assist

• His first goal was unassisted and shorthanded

• The shorthanded goal ultimately stood as the game-winner

• MacMillan and Garry Unger each finished with three points

• MacMillan put seven shots on Buffalo goalie Gary Bromley

• Yves Belanger stopped 31 of 34 shots

• MacMillan later won the 1978-79 Lady Byng Trophy

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Buffalo opened the scoring when Brian Spencer scored the first of his two goals on the night. The Blues quickly answered, with MacMillan and Red Berenson setting up Garry Unger at 9:46 of the opening period. From there, St. Louis took control and Buffalo would not regain the lead.

MacMillan produced one of the game's biggest moments early in the second period. With Bert Wilson serving a penalty, MacMillan scored an unassisted shorthanded goal on Buffalo goaltender Gary Bromley at 1:46. The goal gave St. Louis a 4-1 advantage and ultimately stood as the game-winner in a 7-3 Blues victory.

MacMillan wasn't finished. At 11:54 of the second period, he scored his second goal of the game, this time with assists going to Jerry Butler and Unger. MacMillan finished the night with two goals, one assist and seven shots on goal. Unger also recorded two goals and an assist, while Blues goaltender Yves Belanger stopped 31 of Buffalo's 34 shots.

MacMillan went on to enjoy a lengthy NHL career from 1974-75 through 1984-85, appearing in 753 regular-season games and another 31 in the playoffs. He played for the Rangers, Blues, Atlanta and Calgary Flames, Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks. A six-time 20-goal scorer, MacMillan reached a career-high 38 goals in 1977-78 and won the Lady Byng Trophy the following season.

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Phil Esposito Records 3 Points In His Final Game Against The Bruins

Phil Esposito had been gone from the Boston Bruins for more than five years by the time he entered his final NHL season in 1980-81. Still, Boston was where Esposito enjoyed the greatest years of his legendary career, winning two Stanley Cups, five Art Ross Trophies and two Hart Trophies with the Bruins. Even late in his career with the New York Rangers, a matchup with his former club undoubtedly carried a little extra meaning.

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Highlights

• Phil Esposito's final NHL game against Boston came November 26, 1980.

• The Rangers defeated the Bruins 6-4 at Madison Square Garden.

• Esposito recorded one goal and two assists.

• He assisted on both of Ron Greschner's first two goals.

• Esposito's goal was his fifth of 1980-81 and the third-last of his NHL career.

• Greschner and Steve Vickers each scored twice for New York.

• Esposito's final game at Boston Garden came October 9, 1980.

• He assisted on the Rangers' opening goal in that final Boston appearance.

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Esposito faced the Bruins for the final time on November 26, 1980 at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers entered the game struggling badly but came away with a 6-4 victory, just their fifth win through the first 23 games of the season. Esposito played a major role in the victory, recording a goal and two assists before the game was even half over.

Ron Greschner opened the scoring at 10:05 of the first period, beating Boston goaltender Rogie Vachon with assists going to Esposito and Don Maloney. Just 40 seconds into the second period, Greschner struck again, this time with helpers from Esposito and Dave Silk. At 7:54, Esposito got a goal of his own, scoring his fifth of the season with Greschner picking up the assist.

That goal turned out to be the third-last of Esposito's NHL career. Greschner and Steve Vickers each scored twice in the 6-4 Rangers victory, while Esposito finished his final appearance against his former team with three points.

Esposito's final game at Boston Garden had come earlier that season, on October 9, 1980 in the 1980-81 season opener. The Bruins won that game decisively, 7-2, but Esposito still made his presence felt. He assisted on Mike Allison's goal just 2:44 into the first period, giving the Rangers an early lead. It was the final appearance in Boston for a player whose years with the Bruins had established him as one of the greatest goal scorers of his generation.

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