Terry O’Reilly’s Lone Hat Trick Comes During Career Year in 1977

Terry O’Reilly’s reputation was built on toughness, leadership and intimidation, not hat tricks. But during the finest offensive season of his NHL career, even Boston’s feared enforcer had a night that defied expectations.

The 1977-78 season saw O’Reilly post career highs with 29 goals, 61 assists, and 90 points, production that earned him an eighth-place finish in Hart Trophy voting. It also produced the only three-goal game of his NHL career. That memorable performance came on November 10, 1977, when the Boston Bruins hosted the Los Angeles Kings at Boston Garden.

The evening didn’t start smoothly for Boston. Los Angeles jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the nine-minute mark of the first period on goals by Bert Wilson and Hartland Monahan. From there, however, the Bruins completely shut the door.

Stan Jonathan began the comeback at 16:47 of the opening frame, beating Rogie Vachon for his third goal of the season, with assists from O’Reilly and Jean Ratelle. The Kings would not score again.

O’Reilly took over in the second period, scoring the lone goal of the frame, his third of the season, set up by Ratelle and Brad Park. Just 32 seconds into the third period, he struck again, finishing a play created by Jonathan and Park to give Boston the lead.

After Ratelle extended the advantage to 4-2, O’Reilly completed the hat trick in dramatic fashion, scoring with just 24 seconds remaining. Jonathan and Peter McNab provided the assists on the milestone goal, sealing a 5-2 Bruins victory.

O’Reilly finished the night with four points, while Jonathan matched him with a goal and three assists. Ratelle added three points of his own, recording a goal and two helpers. O’Reilly also led all skaters with seven shots among Boston’s 24 attempts against Vachon.

Considering the Bruins lineup featured the likes of O’Reilly, Mike Milbury, and John Wensink, it’s remarkable that the game produced only three minor penalties, a relatively calm night by Boston Garden standards. Still, the lasting memory remains Terry O’Reilly’s lone career hat trick, achieved during the most productive season of his storied NHL career.

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Gregg Sheppard Scores a Hat Trick in Just His Second NHL Game

Gregg Sheppard waited more than three years in the minor leagues for his chance to crack an NHL lineup. When that opportunity finally arrived with the Boston Bruins in October 1972, he wasted no time proving he belonged.

Sheppard made his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a quiet outing that didn’t show up on the scoresheet in a 3-2 Boston victory. One night later, however, everything changed. On October 29, 1972, facing the expansion New York Islanders at the Boston Garden, Sheppard delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career.

The Islanders, still in just their eighth game as an NHL franchise, struck first on an early goal by Brian Spencer. But at 16:01 of the opening period, Sheppard answered with his first NHL goal, tying the game and setting the tone for what would become a runaway Bruins victory.

By the time Sheppard scored his second goal at 5:53 of the third period, Boston had already built a commanding 6-1 lead. He completed his hat trick at 14:22 of the third, beating Islanders goaltender Billy Smith to make it 8-1. Johnny Bucyk added another just 38 seconds later, sealing a dominant 9-1 Bruins win.

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Boston’s goaltending tandem of Ross Brooks and Ed Johnston faced only 16 shots on the night, while Smith endured a long evening, stopping 30 of 39 shots at the other end.

Sheppard’s breakout performance wasn’t a fluke. Throughout November 1972, he recorded three additional three-point games against the California Golden Seals, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Philadelphia Flyers, further cementing his place in the Bruins’ lineup.

By season’s end, Sheppard had tallied 24 goals and 50 points in 64 games during his rookie campaign. His impressive debut season earned him Calder Trophy consideration, finishing sixth in voting for NHL Rookie of the Year and marking the beginning of a solid NHL career.

Dean Prentice’s Six-Point Explosion Leads Bruins to Stunning 11–0 Rout at Maple Leaf Gardens

When the Boston Bruins hammered the Toronto Maple Leafs 11-0 on January 18, 1964, it wasn’t just another lopsided scoreline, it was a full-blown shocker. Boston entered the game buried in the basement of the six-team NHL, while Toronto was powering toward what would become its third straight Stanley Cup championship. Yet on this night at Maple Leaf Gardens, the underdog Bruins delivered one of the most astonishing road victories of the Original Six era.

Dean Prentice was at the heart of the upset, turning in one of the finest performances of his career. The veteran winger notched the fifth of his six NHL hat tricks and added three assists, giving him a six-point night. Remarkably, four of those points came in the opening period as Boston stormed out to a 6-0 lead. Prentice scored his three goals on just three shots, while linemate Andy Hebenton completed a hat trick of his own on six attempts at Don Simmons.

Murray Oliver led all skaters with nine shots, contributing two goals and two assists in the offensive explosion. John Bucyk also chipped in a four-point night with a goal and three helpers, adding even more punch to a Bruins attack that seemed unstoppable. At the other end, goaltender Ed Johnston stopped all 26 Toronto shots, including six from the always-entertaining Eddie Shack, to secure the shutout.

The victory extended Boston’s modest winning streak to three games, including a 6-3 triumph over Toronto just two games earlier. Although the Bruins managed only a tie against Montreal the following day before sliding back into their struggles, this run briefly lifted them out of an 0-10-1 slump. In fact, five of Boston’s 18 wins in the 1963-64 season came against the Maple Leafs, making Toronto their most generous opponent in an otherwise tough campaign.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Dean Prentice

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Dean Prentice began his NHL career with which team?
New York Rangers
Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings

2. Which team was Dean Prentice playing for during the mid-1960s, when he came closest to reaching the Stanley Cup Final?
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Chicago Black Hawks
Minnesota North Stars

3. Which major milestone did Dean Prentice surpass during his NHL career?
300 career NHL goals
1,000 career NHL assists
600 penalty minutes
100 power-play goals

4. Dean Prentice was selected to the NHL All-Star Game how many times?
Three
Five
Six
Seven

5. Dean Prentice scored a memorable shorthanded penalty shot goal in 1964 while injured. Which team was he playing for at the time?
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins

How Gump Worsley Became Part of Bobby Orr’s First NHL Milestone

Bobby Orr’s legend didn’t take long to spark. After notching an assist in his NHL debut, the Boston Bruins’ rookie phenom waited only two more games before lighting the lamp for the first time. The date: October 23, 1966. The setting: a packed Boston Garden ready to witness the beginning of something special.

The Montreal Canadiens entered the third period with a 2-1 lead, but momentum flipped at 4:13, when Orr ripped home an unassisted goal to tie the game 2-2. It was one of three shots he fired at veteran netminder Gump Worsley, who, unfortunately for him, became the answer to a great hockey trivia question: Who allowed Bobby Orr’s first NHL goal?

Boston couldn’t complete the comeback. Jean-Guy Talbot scored the late game-winner at 17:55, a shorthanded tally against Eddie Johnston while Jim Roberts sat for tripping. Earlier, Pit Martin had given Boston its first goal on a power play in the opening period.

For Orr, though, the night marked the start of a remarkable scoring journey. He finished his rookie year with 13 goals, capturing the Calder Trophy, and ultimately produced 270 career goals across 657 games, despite injuries cutting his career short. His peak came in 1974-75, when he scored an incredible 46 goals from the blue line. He added 26 playoff goals and helped bring two Stanley Cups to Boston.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Bobby Orr's Rookie Season

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. How many goals did Bobby Orr score during his Calder Trophy–winning rookie season?

9
13
17

2. Orr recorded his first NHL point (an assist) in which type of game?

His NHL debut
His third NHL game
His first road game

3. Which goaltender allowed Bobby Orr’s first NHL goal?

Eddie Giacomin
Gump Worsley
Glenn Hall

4. Which Boston Bruins teammate scored the team’s first goal in the game where Orr scored his first?

Johnny Bucyk
Eddie Shack
Pit Martin

5. How many points did Bobby Orr finish with in his rookie season?

34
41
48

Gerry Cheevers’ 40-Save Shutout And Wild Brawl Highlight Boston's 10-0 Playoff Win

On April 2, 1969, the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs opened their playoff series with one of the wildest games in Stanley Cup history. The Bruins dominated from start to finish, crushing Toronto 10-0, but the storyline was far more than just the score.

Goaltender Gerry Cheevers stood tall in net, stopping all 40 shots sent his way. While it might seem like a goalie in a 10-0 win would have little to do, Cheevers was busy all night and even got into a fight with Toronto’s Forbes Kennedy late in the game.

Key Highlights From Game 1

• The 10-0 victory remains the second-highest scoring shutout in Stanley Cup playoff history, behind Montreal’s 11-0 win over Toronto in 1944.

• Phil Esposito had a monster night, scoring four goals and adding two assists for six points. His four-goal game still ties him for sixth on the all-time playoff list.

• Toronto’s Forbes Kennedy racked up 38 penalty minutes, the sixth most ever in a single NHL playoff game.

• Pat Quinn delivered a brutal hit that knocked young Bobby Orr out of the game.

• Including the regular season finale, Toronto suffered three straight shutouts, with Boston taking Game 2 by a 7-0 score.

The Chaos Unfolds

The mayhem peaked at 16:14 of the third period after a whistle in the Boston zone. Kennedy tried to take on nearly the entire Bruins roster, including Cheevers. Things crossed the line when he punched linesman George Ashley and then attacked John “Pie” McKenzie, who held his own in the scrap. That game turned out to be Kennedy’s last in the NHL.

Meanwhile, Esposito fired 13 of Boston’s 51 shots at Toronto’s goaltending duo of Bruce Gamble and Johnny Bower, who were left shell-shocked. Esposito continued his hot streak with three more points in Game 2 and scored again in Game 4 as Boston swept the Maple Leafs out of the postseason.

About Gerry Cheevers

Between 1961-62 and 1979-80, Gerry Cheevers played 418 regular season and 88 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. He also appeared in 191 regular season and 19 playoff games in the WHA with the Cleveland Crusaders between 1972-73 and 1975-76. The two-time Stanley Cup champion was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Gerry Cheevers

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. With which NHL team did Gerry Cheevers win two Stanley Cups?
   Toronto Maple Leafs
   Boston Bruins
   Cleveland Barons
   
2. Cheevers was famous for his goalie mask, decorated with what design?
   Flames
   Stitches
   Shamrocks
   
3. Gerry Cheevers also played in the WHA. Which team did he join?
   Cleveland Crusaders
   Winnipeg Jets
   Quebec Nordiques
   
4. In what year was Gerry Cheevers inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?
   1985
   1990
   2001
   
5. Which unique distinction did Cheevers’ Bruins hold in the early 1970s?
   Highest-scoring team in NHL history
   Longest unbeaten streak ever
   Most consecutive shutouts
   

Gerry Cheevers Shuts Out Maple Leafs for First NHL Blank in 1966

Before he became one of the NHL’s most recognizable goaltenders, complete with his trademark mask artwork, Gerry Cheevers was just a rookie fighting for a spot on a struggling Boston Bruins team. By the end of his career, Cheevers would rack up 26 shutouts, most of them during the Bruins’ powerhouse years, but the very first came on November 10, 1966, against the defending Stanley Cup champion Toronto Maple Leafs.

Cheevers had a brief history with Toronto, appearing in two games for the Maple Leafs back in 1961-62. By the start of the 1966-67 season, he had just seven NHL games under his belt. The Bruins, despite boasting future stars like rookie Bobby Orr, were still a last-place club searching for brighter days.

That night at the Boston Garden, Cheevers was unbeatable. He stopped all 31 shots he faced, including some prime scoring chances from Toronto’s veteran forwards. Murray Oliver made life easier for his young netminder by scoring the game-winning goal just 1:17 into the first period. Johnny Bucyk, Pit Martin, and Wayne Connelly added insurance markers, giving Boston a 4-0 win.

Remarkably, the Bruins managed just 23 shots of their own, but made the most of them. Toronto starter Terry Sawchuk surrendered three goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Bruce Gamble for the third period, who allowed one goal on five shots.

It was a rare high point in a rough year for Boston, one of only 17 wins all season, and their lone shutout victory. The team also suffered through several lopsided losses, including an 11-2 drubbing by Montreal and a 10-2 loss to Chicago. But change was coming fast. Just three seasons later, Cheevers, Orr, and the Bruins would be Stanley Cup champions.

About Gerry Cheevers

Between 1961-62 and 1979-80, Gerry Cheevers played 418 regular season and 88 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. In the WHA, he appeared in 191 regular season and 19 playoff games between 1972-73 and 1975-76, all with the Cleveland Crusaders. Gerry was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Gerry Cheevers

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. How many career NHL shutouts did Gerry Cheevers record?

18
26
31

2. Before joining the Boston Bruins full-time, Cheevers briefly played for which NHL team?

Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers

3. In addition to his NHL career, Cheevers was also a star goaltender in which rival league during the 1970s?

World Hockey Association (WHA)
International Hockey League (IHL)
American Hockey League (AHL)

4. Gerry Cheevers is famous for his goalie mask design, which featured what unique artwork?

Team logo pattern
Stitches marking where pucks had hit his mask
Flames across the front

5. How many Stanley Cups did Cheevers win as a player with the Boston Bruins?

One
Two
Three

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Gerry Cheevers [Video]