The 1970-71 Boston Bruins were one of the NHL’s most explosive offensive teams ever assembled. With stars like Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito leading the attack, Boston overwhelmed opponents night after night. But on February 7, 1971, the Bruins ran into a veteran goaltender who simply refused to crack.
Highlights
Gump Worsley stopped 63 of 67 shots against the Bruins in 1971
The 41-year-old goalie earned Minnesota a dramatic 4-4 tie in Boston
Bobby Orr fired 13 shots but recorded only one assist
Phil Esposito was held scoreless despite 10 shots on goal
Minnesota jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first period
The two teams combined for an incredible 99 shots in the game
Worsley’s 63-save effort was one of the first 60-save games in NHL history
The legendary performance remains one of hockey’s greatest goaltending displays
At 41 years old, Gump Worsley delivered one of the greatest performances of his long NHL career for the Minnesota North Stars. Facing an incredible 67 shots from the Bruins, Worsley stopped 63 of them to earn Minnesota a hard-fought 4-4 tie in Boston. At the time, no NHL goalie had ever recorded 60 or more saves in a game since the league began officially tracking shots on goal.
Minnesota stunned the crowd early by racing out to a 3-0 lead before the first period was even halfway finished. Goals by Jude Drouin, Charlie Burns and Bill Goldsworthy put the Bruins on their heels. Boston eventually clawed back, but Worsley’s steady play kept the North Stars alive through wave after wave of pressure.
Even the Bruins’ biggest stars were frustrated. Orr fired 13 shots on goal but managed only a single assist on a goal by Ken Hodge. Esposito unleashed 10 shots of his own yet failed to score. Boston goalie Gerry Cheevers was also busy, facing 32 shots as the two Hall of Fame netminders combined to see 99 shots in the game.
The performance became even more legendary as the years passed. Only a handful of NHL goalies have since recorded 60-save games. Ron Tugnutt later topped the list with a remarkable 70-save-plus performance for the Quebec Nordiques against Boston in 1991. But Worsley’s effort remains one of the most remarkable displays of endurance and poise ever seen from a goaltender, especially considering he was just months away from turning 42 years old.
Stories From The Epic History Of NHL Hockey (Volume IV)
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