Bobby Orr Dominates as Bruins Crush Kings 11-2 in Boston Blowout

On November 14, 1971, the Boston Bruins delivered a ruthless performance at Boston Garden, overwhelming the Los Angeles Kings by a staggering 11-2 score. The Kings entered the matchup struggling, with just three wins in their first 16 games of the 1971-72 season and things only spiraled further once the puck dropped.

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Key Highlights

• Bobby Orr records 6 points, including a hat trick
• Bruins score 11 unanswered goals after early deficit
• Phil Esposito posts 5-point night (2G, 3A)
• Ed Westfall adds 4 points (1G, 3A)
• Boston dominates with 35 shots on goal
• Kings struggle continues with lopsided loss
• Gary Edwards faces full game in net under heavy pressure

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Los Angeles briefly held the lead after Eddie Joyal opened the scoring just over two minutes into the first period. But that early goal quickly became a footnote. Boston responded with relentless offense, turning the game into a one-sided showcase of firepower and precision.

At the center of it all was Bobby Orr, who delivered a masterclass performance with six points, two in each period. He began by assisting on Phil Esposito’s goal before scoring one of his own later in the first. Orr struck again early in the second period, then added another assist before closing out his night in style with a third-period hat trick goal.

The offensive explosion didn’t stop there. Esposito finished with five points (two goals, three assists), while Ed Westfall contributed four points with a goal and three assists. Mike Walton also found the scoresheet as Boston piled on. Orr was especially aggressive, leading all players with eight of the Bruins’ 35 shots on goal.

Despite facing a barrage all night, Kings goaltender Gary Edwards remained in net for the full 60 minutes, a tough assignment against one of the most dominant teams of the era. By the final horn, the Bruins had turned a brief early deficit into a commanding and unforgettable rout.

Bobby: My Story in Pictures

A visual celebration of Bobby Orr’s groundbreaking career — through photos and memorable moments.

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Two Goals, One Penalty Kill: Detroit’s 14-Second Shocker vs. Bruins in 1958

On December 28, 1958, at Detroit Olympia, the Detroit Red Wings pulled off one of the most stunning penalty-kill moments in NHL history against the Boston Bruins. What began as a promising night for Boston quickly turned into a nightmare, all within the span of just 14 seconds.

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🏒 Key Highlights

• December 28, 1958 matchup between Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins
• Bruins strike first, but momentum shifts after a Gordie Howe penalty
• Alex Delvecchio ties the game with a shorthanded goal
• Nick Mickoski scores another SHG just 14 seconds later
• Two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill (extremely rare)
• Delvecchio dominates with a four-point performance (1G, 3A)
• Red Wings build a 5-1 lead before a late Bruins push
• Detroit secures a 5-3 victory after the dramatic turnaround

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The Bruins struck first when former (and future) Red Wing Vic Stasiuk opened the scoring at 5:48 of the first period. Momentum appeared to stay on Boston’s side when Gordie Howe took an interference penalty shortly after. With a power play opportunity to extend their lead, the Bruins instead found themselves on the wrong end of a dramatic momentum swing.

Alex Delvecchio flipped the game on its head, scoring an unassisted shorthanded goal, his 11th of the 1958–59 season, to tie the game. Before Boston could even reset, disaster struck again. Just 14 seconds later, Nick Mickoski buried another shorthanded goal, assisted by Delvecchio and Marcel Pronovost, giving Detroit a stunning lead while still killing the same penalty.

That burst proved to be the turning point. The Red Wings took control, building a commanding 5-1 lead in the third period with additional goals from Howe, Charlie Burns, and Claude Laforge. The Bruins mounted a late push with goals from Fleming Mackell and Leo Labine, but the damage had already been done. Detroit held on for a 5-3 victory.

Delvecchio finished the night with a dominant four-point performance (one goal, three assists), showcasing his all-around brilliance. During the 1958-59 season, he recorded two shorthanded goals and would go on to total 15 in his career, including a league-leading four in 1965-66. Mickoski’s goal was his only point of the game, but it contributed to a season where he scored three shorthanded goals, half of his career total of six.

The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings: A Curated History of Hockeytown

Explore the storied history of the Detroit Red Wings — legends, moments, rivalries, and the culture that made Hockeytown iconic.

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Pete Stemkowski: A Gordie Howe Hat Trick Beside Mr. Hockey Himself (1968)

When the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings pulled off a blockbuster trade on March 3, 1968, it reshaped both franchises. Heading to Detroit was Pete Stemkowski, along with Carl Brewer, Frank Mahovlich, and Garry Unger. In return, Toronto received Paul Henderson, Norm Ullman, Floyd Smith, and Doug Barrie.

• Massive March 3, 1968 trade sends Pete Stemkowski from Toronto to Detroit
• Game played at Detroit Olympia early in the 1968–69 NHL season
• Stemkowski records an assist on Gary Bergman’s first-period goal
• Drops the gloves with rugged forward Reg Fleming just 44 seconds later
• Adds another assist on Alex Delvecchio’s game-tying goal
• Scores his first goal of the season in the third period
• Completes a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight)
• Shares the ice with Gordie Howe during the milestone performance
• Finishes the season with a career-high 21 goals
• Goes on to record five 20+ goal seasons in his NHL career

Stemkowski finished the 1967-68 season with Detroit, but it was clear early in the following year that he was ready to elevate his game. Just three games into the 1968-69 season, the Red Wings hosted the New York Rangers at the historic Detroit Olympia and Stemkowski made sure his presence was felt.

The Rangers had to contend with more than one “Big Pete” that night. Pete Mahovlich contributed a goal and an assist, but the spotlight belonged to Stemkowski. Late in the first period, he set up Gary Bergman for the game’s opening goal against goaltender Ed Giacomin. Moments later, the intensity ramped up when Stemkowski dropped the gloves with tough guy Reg Fleming, earning five minutes for fighting in a spirited exchange.

After Bob Nevin scored twice to give New York the lead, Stemkowski answered again, this time setting up Alex Delvecchio to tie the game in the second period. By the third, with Detroit in control, Stemkowski capped his performance with his first goal of the season, assisted by Delvecchio and Bruce MacGregor.

The result? A classic Gordie Howe Hat Trick, a goal, an assist, and a fight, all while sharing the ice with Gordie Howe himself. Howe had a quieter night with a single assist, but the performance from Stemkowski showed he was ready to make his mark in Detroit.

That season, Stemkowski scored 21 goals, surpassing his previous career high of 13 set with Toronto in 1966-67. It was just the beginning of a productive stretch, as he would go on to record five 20-goal seasons in his NHL career, two with Detroit and three later with the Rangers.

The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings: A Curated History of Hockeytown

Explore the storied history of the Detroit Red Wings — legends, moments, rivalries, and the culture that made Hockeytown iconic.

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