1972 Stanley Cup Finals

The 1972 Stanley Cup Finals were played from April 30 to May 11, 1972 between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers. The Bruins would win the best-of-seven series four games to two.

Paths to the Final

Boston defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 and the St. Louis Blues 4–0 to advance to the finals. New York defeated the defending champion Montreal Canadiens 4–2 and the Chicago Black Hawks 4–0 to set up an "Original Six" finals.

The series

In a rematch of the 1929 Finals, Boston was led by Bobby Orr, who scored 4 goals and 4 assists in the final, including the Cup winner, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the second time.

Game one

Game one in Boston saw both teams play poorly and Boston prevailed 6–5 on Ken Hodge's hat trick. Gary Doak of the Rangers was ejected from the game after a heated argument with referee Bill Friday over a penalty he received at 18:50 of the first period.

Game two

Game two had Gilles Villemure replace Ed Giacomin in goal for the Rangers. He played well, but the Bruins did too and won 2–1.

Game three

In New York, Giacomin was back in goal for game three as the Rangers won 5–2. Brad Park opened the scoring with a power play goal and scored another in the first period. Rod Gilbert also had two goals in the game.

Game four

Giacomin was having trouble with a knee he injured during the Chicago series and lost game four 3–2.

Game five

Game five in Boston had Villemure again replace Giacomin and Bobby Rousseau's goal at 12:45 of the third period was the winner in a 3–2 win for the Rangers.

Game six

Game six in New York saw Boston play flawlessly and Gerry Cheevers picked up a shutout, 3–0. Bobby Orr played just magnificent with a goal and an assist. Wayne Cashman scored two goals, one of which trickled in behind Gilles Villemure.

Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers

"Boston wins the series 4–2."

"Bobby Orr won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP."

Boston Bruins 1972 Stanley Cup champions

Stanley Cup champion
centers=*7 Phil Esposito (A.Capt.)
*11 Mike Walton
*17 Fred Stanfield
*22 Derek Sanderson
*25 Garry Peters†
defence=*4 Bobby Orr
*6 Ted Green (A. Capt.)
*10 Carol Vadnais
*20 Dallas Smith
*26 Don Awrey
goaltenders=*1 Eddie Johnston
*30 Gerry Cheevers
wingers=*8 Ken Hodge Sr.
*9 John Bucyk (A. Capt.)
*12 Wayne Cashman
*14 Garnet "Ace" Bailey
*18 Ed Westfall (A. Capt.)
*19 John McKenzie
*21 Don Marcotte
*27 Chris Hayes†
non-players=
* Weston Adams Sr. (Chairman/Owner), Weston Adams Jr. (President/Owner)
* Shelby Davis, Charles Mulcahy Jr., Ed Powers (Vice Presidents),
* Milt Schmidt (General Manager), Tom Johnson (Head Coach)
* Dan Canney(Trainer), John Forristall (Ass't Trainer)
engraving-notes=
* The Boston Bruins were misspelled as BQSTQN BRUINS with two "Q"'s instead O's. Boston was spelled correctly on Replica Cup created in 1992–93.
* Every winning member engraved on the Stanley Cup with Boston in 1972 already appeared on the Stanley Cup. This is only time in Stanley Cup history, that at least one member engraved on the Cup was not a first time winner.
*In 1970, Boston included three players on the Stanley Cup who did not play for them. In 1972 Chris Hayes† (his only NHL game) and Garry Peters† both played in the finals, but names were not engraved on the Stanley Cup.|

ee also

* List of Stanley Cup champions
* 1971–72 NHL season

References

*
* Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books, 12, 50. ISBN 1–55168–261–3.