Bucyk Had His Own Big Goal in Cup Clincher

BostonBruins.com - When people talk about Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup Final, there is usually only one thing that comes to mind. Bobby Orr's iconic Cup-clinching goal from that Mother's Day afternoon is one of the most recognizable moments in hockey - if not sports - history.

But there were a number of other critical plays in that championship-deciding contest, perhaps none more important than the tying tally with 6:32 to play in regulation.

With the expansion Blues just moments away from sending the series back to St. Louis for a fifth game, perhaps with a bit of momentum behind them, Johnny Bucyk made sure to dash those dreams when he potted his 11th goal of the postseason off helpers from linemate Johnny 'Pie' McKenzie and blue liner Rick Smith.

"I just remember that it was a very important goal because it tied the game and it gave us a chance to win the Cup in Boston," Bucyk said during a conference call with the media on Wednesday afternoon to mark the 50th Anniversary of the championship. "If we had lost that, we would have gone back to St. Louis and who knows what would have happened. It's not over until it's over.

"We were up 3-0 in games and if they had won that game, it could have given them some extra energy, could have changed the [series]. I'm just glad that I scored a goal to get it into overtime. We know the rest of it with Bobby and his goal flying through the air. Probably one of the greatest pictures in sports ever."

There isn't any doubt about that. Orr's legendary overtime winner just 40 seconds into the extra session clinched the Bruins' first Stanley Cup in 29 years and sent Boston into a state of bedlam for days to come.

"You keep thinking, what a way to win, what a big goal, what a great player…and we won the Stanley Cup - in Boston," said Bucyk, now in his 63rd year with the organization. "That was kind of important to me because we wanted the fans to see us win it there and see what goes on with the postgame [celebrations]. I thought of that very, very often.

"I was on the bench when he scored, so I saw every move. Saw Derek with the puck in the corner, saw Bobby moving. You visualize that all the time."

Bucyk also visualizes that moment shortly after Orr's goal when he had the chance to lift the Cup as the Bruins' top alternate captain. Thirteen seasons into his Black & Gold career, 'Chief' finally had the chance to circle the Boston Garden ice with that hallowed Cup.

"Skating with the Cup was a big thrill," said Bucyk, who turns 85 on May 12. "I did it then and I did it in New York [after the Bruins 1972 Cup win]. I think it was the last time that an individual captain would take the Cup and skate around with it. Now they do it as a group. But I was honored and very happy to do that. The Cup weighs 35 pounds. At that moment, it probably weighed like 5 pounds. It was a great, great thrill and I was honored to do it."

The championship victory was that much sweeter for Bucyk after years of heartbreak and struggles for the Black & Gold. During his first season with Boston in 1957-58 - Bucyk arrived via trade from Detroit - the Bruins fell to Montreal in the Stanley Cup Final, and then to Toronto in the semi-finals the next year.

A stretch of eight consecutive seasons without playoffs followed before a series of roster moves - Orr's emergence, the arrivals of Derek Sanderson and Gerry Cheevers, and a blockbuster trade for Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, and Fred Stanfield - spurred the golden age of Bruins hockey.

"It was really great because we had eight years where we didn't even make the playoffs and then to come back and see the team changing, you could see the wheels turning with Bobby coming and Derek coming and the big trade with Esposito, Hodge," said Bucyk, who was on a line with McKenzie and Stanfield. "That was so big to us. You just felt that the team was gonna improve, you're gonna win the Cup. We won it two years, but we should have won it back in [1971] too.

"I thought we had a better team in '71, but we did win it in '70 and that was probably one of the highlights of my career because it was the first time we won it and we won it in Boston for our fans who waited a long time. Back in those days, you couldn't get a ticket the team was so strong. A lot of good memories."

And so many more have followed. Bucyk admitted that he twice had the opportunity to leave for the upstart World Hockey Association, but ultimately decided to remain in Boston, a city that he had fallen so in love with. After the 1970 Cup victory, the Edmonton native went on to play eight more seasons with the Bruins and is still in the top two of each of the organizations' major statistical categories.

The Hockey Hall of Famer, whose No. 9 hangs in the TD Garden rafters, ranks first in goals (545) and second in games played (1,436), assists (794), and points (1,339) behind Ray Bourque.

"After a couple years things just fell right for me," said Bucyk, whose early Bruins years were defined by his time on the 'Uke Line' with Bronco Horvath and Vic Stasiuk, who were also of Ukranian descent. "I had a great career as a player and really enjoyed Boston. I hated to leave.

"I had the opportunity…when the World Hockey [Association] came in, I had a couple chance to leave, but no, I didn't want to leave Boston."

And he still hasn't. Bucyk's been with the organization ever since, retiring after the 1977-78 season before transitioning into roles as a broadcaster, the team's director of road services, and now as an ambassador.

"Well, you have to talk about the city," said Bucyk, who expects to be back on the job once he is recovered from hip surgery which has been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "They are such great fans, it's been terrific. Our ownership has been very, very good to me. Here I am still working for them 60 some-odd years. I'm just thrilled to be part of it.

"I think [Bruins president] Cam [Neely] deserves a lot of [credit]. He stood by me and asked if I would be the ambassador…the fans are so great here in Boston. And loyalty - if you're loyal to them and you work for them, you can be here for a long time. That's a proven fact now…I think that's the key is loyalty."