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.

---

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.

---

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.

Buy on Amazon

The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

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.

---

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   

---

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.

Buy on Amazon

The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

Bob Nevin’s Final Goals as a Ranger Eliminate the Maple Leafs in 1971 Playoffs

Bob Nevin’s NHL journey began with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he played a key role in two Stanley Cup championships before being traded to the New York Rangers in a blockbuster February 22, 1964 deal. Alongside Dick Duff, Bill Collins, Arnie Brown, and Rod Seiling, Nevin was sent to New York in exchange for Don McKenney and Andy Bathgate, missing out on Toronto’s third straight Cup later that spring.

Fast forward to April 15, 1971. Nevin delivered a playoff performance Leafs fans would rather forget. In Game 6 of the quarter-final series, the veteran forward scored both New York goals in a 2-1 overtime victory, single-handedly eliminating his former team. His first came at 12:39 of the second period, beating Jacques Plante with help from Walt Tkaczuk and Vic Hadfield. After Jim McKenny tied it late in the third, Nevin struck again at 9:07 of overtime to clinch the series.

Nevin was unstoppable that series, netting all five of his playoff goals in the six games against Toronto, along with two assists for seven points. However, his scoring touch cooled in the semi-final against Chicago, where he managed just one assist as the Rangers fell in seven games.

Just three weeks later, Nevin was dealt to the Minnesota North Stars for Bobby Rousseau. He spent two seasons in Minnesota before finishing his NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings and wrapping up his major league days with the WHA’s Edmonton Oilers.

Hockey Trivia: Bob Nevin

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

1. Bob Nevin began his NHL career with which team?
   New York Rangers
   Toronto Maple Leafs
   Minnesota North Stars
   Los Angeles Kings
2. In which playoff year did Nevin score both New York goals in game 6 to eliminate the Maple Leafs?
   1967
   1971
   1973
   1975
3. Who was the Maple Leafs goaltender Nevin scored on for the Game 6 overtime winner?
   Jacques Plante
   Johnny Bower
   Bernie Parent
   Eddie Johnston
4. After leaving the Rangers, Nevin was traded to which team?
   Chicago Blackhawks
   St. Louis Blues
   Minnesota North Stars
   Philadelphia Flyers
5. Nevin ended his major league hockey career playing in which league?
   NHL
   WHA
   AHL
   IHL