Johnny Bucyk and Bob Perreault Spark Bruins Upset Over Canadiens in 1962-63 Opener

The gap between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins couldn’t have been wider heading into the 1962-63 NHL season. Montreal had just finished atop the standings with 42 wins and 98 points in 1961-62, while Boston languished in last place with only 15 victories. On paper, the season opener looked like a mismatch. On the ice, it told a very different story.

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Highlights

• Bruins stunned Canadiens 5-0 in 1962-63 season opener

• Johnny Bucyk scored twice and added an assist

• Bucyk’s opening goal came just 4:23 into the first period

• Doug Mohns recorded 2 goals and 1 assist

• Bob Perreault made 28 saves for a shutout in his 10th NHL game

• Game played at Boston Garden on October 11, 1962

• Bruins won just 1 of their first 17 games after opener

• Boston finished season with only 14 wins despite hot start

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On October 11, 1962, at Boston Garden, the Bruins stunned the hockey world with a dominant 5-0 victory. Johnny Bucyk wasted no time setting the tone, scoring the game-winning goal just 4:23 into the first period against legendary goaltender Jacques Plante. Bucyk added another goal later in the game and chipped in an assist, finishing with a three-point performance that energized the home crowd.

Boston’s offensive push didn’t stop there. Doug Mohns delivered a standout performance of his own, recording two goals and an assist. Contributions from players like Wayne Connelly and Murray Oliver helped round out a relentless Bruins attack that overwhelmed Montreal from start to finish.

In goal, Bob Perreault authored one of the most surprising performances of the night. Appearing in just his tenth NHL game, and his first since the 1958-59 season, Perreault turned aside all 28 shots he faced to secure the shutout. Though his NHL career was brief, he built a remarkable legacy in the minors, capturing four Calder Cup championships in the AHL and another title with the San Francisco Seals in the WHL.

As memorable as the victory was, it proved to be a rare bright spot for Boston that season. The Bruins would go on to win just one of their first 17 games and finished the 1962-63 campaign with only 14 victories, one fewer than the previous year. Against Montreal, Boston managed just two wins in 14 meetings, including a narrow 2-1 triumph on Valentine’s Day, underscoring how fleeting that opening-night magic truly was.

Boston Bruins: Greatest Moments and Players

A celebration of the iconic history of the Boston Bruins — from legendary players to unforgettable moments.

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Stan Mikita’s OT Heroics Spark Chicago’s Final Playoff Win Before Historic Losing Streak

On April 17, 1975, at Chicago Stadium, Stan Mikita delivered a clutch overtime performance that would unknowingly mark the end of an era for the Chicago Blackhawks. Facing the Buffalo Sabres in Game 3 of their quarter-final series, the Blackhawks were already down 2-0 and fighting to stay alive in the 1974-75 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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Highlights

• Stan Mikita scored the overtime winner in Game 3 on April 17, 1975

• Chicago defeated Buffalo 5-4 for their only win of the series

• Mikita had a 3-point game (1 goal, 2 assists)

• The Blackhawks were already down 2-0 in the series at the time

• Chicago lost the next two games and was eliminated

• That victory became their last playoff win for nearly 5 years

• The team went on to lose 16 straight playoff games (NHL record)

• The streak finally ended on April 8, 1980, with an OT goal by Doug Lecuyer   

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Chicago controlled much of the game but couldn’t shake Buffalo. Holding a 4-3 lead after two periods, the Blackhawks saw their advantage disappear when Jim Schoenfeld tied the game midway through the third. With momentum hanging in the balance, the game headed into sudden-death overtime.

Just 2:31 into the extra frame, Mikita stepped up in vintage fashion. Scoring his third goal of the playoffs, he beat Gerry Desjardins with a perfectly timed finish, assisted by Cliff Koroll and Dick Redmond. Mikita’s overtime winner capped off a dominant three-point performance, as he also assisted on earlier goals by Redmond and Koroll.

What no one could have predicted at the time was the historical weight of that goal. Chicago would go on to lose the next two games and the series, and that victory would stand as their last playoff win for nearly five years. The Blackhawks then endured a staggering 16-game postseason losing streak, a record that still stands in NHL history.

Despite the drought, Chicago continued to qualify for the playoffs each year, only to fall short repeatedly. They were swept by the Montreal Canadiens in 1976, eliminated quickly by the New York Islanders in 1977, pushed but lost to Boston in 1978, and swept again by the Islanders in 1979.

The streak finally ended on April 8, 1980, when Doug Lecuyer scored an overtime winner against Mike Liut. Though Mikita had retired by then, Tony Esposito was a constant presence in both the 1975 victory and the 1980 breakthrough, a rare bridge between two vastly different moments in Blackhawks playoff history.

Forever a Blackhawk

A tribute to Stan Mikita — one of the greatest Chicago Blackhawks of all time and a Hall of Famer.

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Paul Henderson Explodes for 5 Points in Red Wings Comeback Win

On October 27, 1966, the Detroit Red Wings hosted the New York Rangers at Detroit Olympia, still searching for their first win of the young 1966-67 season. After dropping their first four games, frustration was building, until Paul Henderson delivered a performance for the ages.

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Game Highlights

• Paul Henderson records 4 goals and 5 points

• First of four career NHL hat tricks for Henderson

• Red Wings earn first win after 0-4 start

• Detroit rallies from 2-0 deficit

• Henderson scores natural hat trick in second period

• Henderson & Norm Ullman combine for 9 points

• Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio held pointless

• High-scoring battle ends in 5-4 Detroit victory

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The game didn’t start in Detroit’s favour. The Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Bernie Geoffrion and Don Marshall, putting the Red Wings on the brink of a fifth straight loss. But momentum began to shift midway through the second period when Norm Ullman got Detroit on the board, finishing a play set up by Henderson.

Just 31 seconds later, Henderson struck for his first goal of the night, assisted by Ullman and Gary Bergman, igniting the home crowd and completely flipping the script. From there, Henderson took over.

He completed a natural hat trick with more than five minutes remaining in the second period, turning a 2-0 deficit into a Red Wings lead in stunning fashion. Although Marshall added another for New York just before the period ended to keep things tight, Henderson wasn’t finished.

At 12:55 of the third period, Henderson scored his fourth goal of the game, his fifth point overall, to seal the victory for Detroit. It was a dominant individual effort that powered the Red Wings to a much-needed 5-4 win.

Henderson and Ullman were unstoppable together, combining for five goals and four assists while accounting for 13 of Detroit’s 49 shots on Ed Giacomin. Remarkably, legends Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio were held off the scoresheet entirely.

Despite the loss, the Rangers saw strong production from their own stars. The trio of Geoffrion, Marshall, and Phil Goyette, all former Montreal Canadiens, combined for eight points in a game that showcased offensive firepower on both sides.

1972: The Series That Changed Hockey Forever

A compelling look at the iconic 1972 Summit Series — how it reshaped international hockey and captivated fans around the world.

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