The Lunch Pail A.C. | Top 10 Moments from 1977-85

BOSTON – As the Bruins transitioned out of the days of Orr and Esposito, it could’ve become a dark period for the Black & Gold. But with Don Cherry behind the bench and the likes of Terry O’Reilly, Rick Middleton, and tough guys Stan Jonathan and John Wensink, leading the way on the ice, the Bruins remained a can’t-miss bunch.

Here are some of the most memorable Bruins moments from 1977-85:

April 8, 1978 | Bruins Set 20-Goal Record

The Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight season (falling to the Canadiens in six games) behind a prolific offensive attack that included an NHL record 11 20-goal scorers. Bob Miller sealed the record in the penultimate game of the season when he notched his 20^th goal with an empty-netter in the B’s 3-1 win over Toronto.

Peter McNab (41), Terry O’Reilly (29), Bobby Schmautz (27), Stan Jonathan (27), Jean Ratelle (25), Rick Middleton (25), Wayne Cashman (24), Gregg Sheppard (23), Brad Park (22), and Don Marcotte (20) were the others to reach the mark.

January 9, 1979 | No. 4 Raised to Rafters

Roughly three years after his departure to Chicago, Bobby Orr – some two months removed from his last NHL game – had his No. 4 raised to the Boston Garden rafters. The ceremony included a raucous standing ovation that lasted six minutes upon Orr’s introduction.

Orr had to step to the microphone for a few words to urge the crowd to allow for the program to proceed.

May 10, 1979 | Too Many Men on the Ice

While this was anything but a happy memory, it was one of the most memorable of the era as Boston lost to rival Montreal, 5-4, in Game 7 of the second round. Leading, 4-3, with 2:34 to go in regulation, Boston was called for too many men on the ice.

Guy Lafleur then tied the game with a power-play tally 40 seconds into the man advantage, before Yvon Lambert won it for the Habs at 9:33 of overtime to break the Bruins’ hearts.

August 9, 1979 | Bourque Drafted in First Round

Almost three months to the day that Boston fell to Montreal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup semifinals, Boston drafted Ray Bourque with the eighth overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft. The blue liner, who became a franchise icon and Hall of Famer, made his NHL debut on October 11, 1979, notching a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win over Winnipeg.

March 13, 1980 | Chief Heads to Garden Rafters

Roughly a year after Orr’s No. 4 was retired, the Bruins raised another icon’s number to the rafters when Johnny Bucyk’s No. 9 was honored. “Chief” – who retired two years earlier – finished his career as the team’s all-time leader in points and goals. And while Bourque surpassed his 1,339 points, Bucyk remains the Bruins’ goal leader with 545.

Spring 1980 | Bourque Makes History

Bourque became the first non-goaltender in league history to win the Calder Trophy and be named a First Team All-Star in the same season. For his rookie campaign, the blue liner – who also finished fourth in the Norris Trophy voting – tallied 65 points (17 goals, 48 assists) in 80 games and was a plus-52.

February 26, 1981 | Bruins, North Stars Clash in Record-Setting Affair

Boston and Minnesota combined for a league-record (since broken) 406 penalty minutes as the Bruins racked up 195 (also a team record) and the North Stars registered 211 - including 26 fighting majors. Boston, which won the game 5-1 at Boston Garden, also set team record for penalties in one game with 42. Keith Crowder led the Bruins with 43 penalty minutes, followed by Brad McCrimmon (34), Mike Milbury (19), Terry O'Reilly (19), Mike Gillis (15), Steve Kasper (14), and Peter McNab (12).

Spring 1982 | Kasper Wins Club’s First Selke Trophy

Long before Patrice Bergeron dominated the Selke voting with a record six victories during his 19-year career, Steve Kasper became the first – and only other – Bruin to capture the award. Kasper broke Montreal legend Bob Gainey’s stretch of four straight victories, which were the first four Selkes ever awarded.

March 29, 1983 | Peeters Has Record Year

In one of the best goaltending seasons in Bruins history, Pete Peeters set the club record with his 40^th win (since tied by Linus Ullmark in 2022-23) behind a 23-save effort against Quebec. Peeters, who captured the Vezina Trophy that season, also put forth a 31-game unbeaten streak (26-0-5) from Dec. 16, 1982-February 13, 1983 to help lead the B’s to the league’s top record.

The streak is the second longest in NHL history, trailing only Gerry Cheevers’ mark of 32 games set in 1971-72.

April 24, 1983 | Park Scores in Game 7, Middleton Sets Record

Legendary blue liner Brad Park scored one of the most memorable goals in Bruins history when he sent Boston to the Conference Finals with an overtime winner in Game 7 of the second round against the Buffalo Sabres. The tally, which came just 1:52 into the extra session, was his second of the game after tying things, 2-2, at 9:21 of the second period as Boston overcame a 2-0 deficit.

During the same series, Rick Middleton set a league record for assists (14 – since broken by Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl) and points (19) in a playoff series.

Honorable Mention

December 23, 1979 | The Shoe Incident

The Bruins, led by Terry O’Reilly and Mike Milbury ended up in the stands at the end of Boston’s 4-3 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The incident, which began after a fan swung at Stan Jonathan over the glass, is remembered most for Milbury taking the shoe off a fan and whacking him with it. O’Reilly was suspended for eight games, while Milbury and Peter McNab got six games.

December 11, 1980 | Park Hits 500 Career Assists

Park became just the second defenseman in NHL history to reach the 500-career assist plateau.

October 20, 1983 | Bruins Play First OT Game in 40 Years

After overtime was discontinued in the fall of 1942, it was brought back for the 1983-84 season. In Boston’s first OT game since March 7, 1942, the Bruins and Flyers played to a 3-3 tie. Rick Middleton, Mike Krushelnyski, and Craig MacTavish had the goals for Boston.