Brad Park’s Final Bruins Goals Sink Sabres in 1983 Game 7

Brad Park saved his final two goals with the Boston Bruins for a night when neither could have mattered more. On April 24, 1983, the veteran defenceman scored the tying goal and overtime winner at Boston Garden, giving the Bruins a 3–2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of the Adams Division Final. In his last season with Boston, Park delivered a performance that kept the Bruins’ Stanley Cup hopes alive.

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Highlights

• Boston defeated Buffalo 3–2 in Game 7 on April 24, 1983.

• Ric Seiling scored twice to give the Sabres a 2–0 lead.

• Barry Pederson started Boston’s comeback in the second period.

• Brad Park tied the game at 9:21 of the second.

• Park scored the series-winning goal at 1:52 of overtime.

• He recorded eight points in the seven-game series.

• These were his final two Bruins goals and final NHL playoff goals.

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Buffalo had threatened to spoil the occasion. Ric Seiling scored twice to give the Sabres a 2–0 lead before Barry Pederson brought Boston within one at 6:32 of the second period. Park completed the comeback at 9:21, scoring with assists from Rick Middleton and Mike O’Connell. The Bruins had erased their deficit, but there was still a series to win.

Neither team scored in the third period, sending the deciding game into overtime. Just 1:52 into the extra session, Park beat Buffalo goaltender Bob Sauvé, with Pederson earning the assist. His second goal of the night broke both the 2–2 tie on the scoreboard and the 3–3 tie in the series, sending Boston into the Wales Conference Final.

At 34, Park remained a productive playoff performer. He finished the seven-game Buffalo series with three goals and five assists for eight points. The overtime winner was his third and final goal of the 1983 postseason. And, as it turned out, the last playoff goal of his NHL career.

The Gerry Cheevers coached Bruins next faced the New York Islanders, who ended Boston’s run in six games. Park contributed three assists, but the Islanders outscored the Bruins 30–21 before sweeping the Edmonton Oilers to capture their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup championship.

Park joined the Detroit Red Wings for the 1983–84 season and spent his final two NHL campaigns there. Detroit reached the playoffs both years but exited in the opening round each time. His Boston chapter had closed without a Stanley Cup, but his final two Bruins goals left a lasting memory: one to save Game 7, and another to win it.

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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Andre Dupont’s Overtime Goal Eliminates the Maple Leafs in 1975

It wasn't Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber or Rick MacLeish who finished off the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1975 Stanley Cup playoffs. Instead, it was rugged Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Andre "Moose" Dupont who scored the overtime goal that completed the four-game sweep.

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Highlights

• April 19, 1975 — Maple Leaf Gardens

• Philadelphia entered Game 4 leading the series 3-0

• Reggie Leach scored twice for the Flyers

• Ron Ellis scored twice for Toronto

• Regulation ended tied 3-3

• Andre Dupont scored just 1:45 into overtime

• Both of Dupont's goals against Toronto were game winners

• Philadelphia completed the four-game sweep

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On April 19, 1975, the Flyers visited Maple Leaf Gardens holding a commanding 3-0 lead in their quarter-final series. Bernie Parent had shut out Toronto in each of the previous two games, but Game 4 turned into a much different contest. The teams traded goals throughout regulation before heading to overtime tied 3-3.

Flyers and Maple Leafs Battle Through Regulation

Reggie Leach scored both Philadelphia goals in the opening period, while Ron Ellis and Blaine Stoughton answered for Toronto. Bill Barber scored the only goal of the second period to give Philadelphia a 3-2 advantage, but Ellis struck again in the third to tie the game and keep the Maple Leafs' season alive.

That lasted just 1 minute and 45 seconds into overtime. Dupont scored with an assist from Dave Schultz to give Philadelphia the 4-3 victory and complete the series sweep. Gord McRae stopped 29 of 33 shots for Toronto, while Parent turned aside 28 of 31 at the other end.

Moose Dupont Delivers Two Game-Winning Goals

The overtime winner was Dupont's second goal of the series, and both were game winners. He had also scored the decisive goal in Philadelphia's 3-0 Game 2 victory. Dupont would finish the Flyers' 1975 playoff run with just three goals in 17 games, making his two against Toronto particularly memorable.

Bobby Clarke, Tiger Williams and Borje Salming each recorded two assists in Game 4. And, fittingly for a playoff game involving the Broad Street Bullies, there was plenty of physical play. Schultz fought Dave Dunn in the second period, while Orest Kindrachuk and Errol Thompson squared off late in the third.

Another Step Toward Philadelphia's Second Stanley Cup

The victory sent the defending champion Flyers into the next round and moved them another step closer to their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship. Philadelphia would eventually defeat the Buffalo Sabres in six games in the Stanley Cup Final.

For all the star power on that Flyers roster, it was Moose Dupont who supplied the goal that officially ended Toronto's 1974-75 season.

So You Think You're a Philadelphia Flyers Fan?: Stars, Stats, Records, and Memories for True Diehards

A deep dive into Flyers history filled with stars, records, stats, and unforgettable memories from the ice — perfect for true diehards and history buffs.

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Barry Beck's Only NHL Hat Trick Came in Just His 26th Game

On December 17, 1977, Barry Beck recorded the only hat trick of his NHL career, and it came remarkably early in his rookie season. Playing just his 26th NHL game, the Colorado Rockies defenseman scored three goals and added an assist in a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota North Stars at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver.

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Highlights

• December 17, 1977 at McNichols Sports Arena

• Colorado defeated Minnesota 5-1

• Beck scored 3 goals and 1 assist

• It was just his 26th NHL game

• His first goal proved to be the game-winner

• Beck led all players with 7 shots

• Doug Favell stopped 34 of 35 shots

• It remained the only hat trick of Beck's NHL career

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The Rockies had selected Beck second overall at the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft, behind only Dale McCourt. He quickly established himself as one of the league's top rookies and would eventually finish second to New York Islanders star Mike Bossy in voting for the 1977-78 Calder Trophy. On this December night against Minnesota, Beck showed exactly why he was generating so much attention.

Colorado struck just 1:18 into the game when Beck assisted on a goal by Paul Gardner. At 11:26 of the opening period, Beck scored his 12th goal of the season, beating Minnesota goaltender Pete LoPresti. The goal, assisted by John Van Boxmeer and Chuck Arnason, would stand as the game-winner. Beck struck again at 14:37 of the second period, once more with Van Boxmeer and Arnason providing the assists, to give Colorado a commanding 4-0 lead.

Beck completed his hat trick at 3:11 of the third period, giving him four points on the night and extending the Rockies' lead to 5-0. He also led all skaters with seven shots on goal. Colorado goaltender Doug Favell nearly completed the evening with a shutout, stopping 34 of 35 shots. However, Brad Maxwell spoiled the bid with an unassisted goal with just seven seconds remaining.

LoPresti stopped 23 of 28 shots for Minnesota in the loss. The performance would remain unique throughout Beck's NHL career: despite eventually playing 615 regular-season games with the Colorado Rockies, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings, December 17, 1977 remained Barry Beck's only NHL hat trick.

Mucking in the Corners: Unearthing the 1970s' Quirkiest Hockey Tales

Dig into the wonderfully strange side of 1970s hockey with a collection of quirky stories, forgotten characters, unusual moments, and offbeat tales from one of the game’s most colorful decades.

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