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Comparing the 2022-2023 Bruins (133 points) and the 1976-1977 Canadiens (132 points)

Fenway · 2023-04-12T06:09:21+00:00

Let me start off by saying the 1976-1977 Canadiens at worst were the second-best team I have ever seen in person and the only team that may have been better was the Soviet Red Army team of the same era. Obviously, I am a Bruins diehard but I saw with my younger eyes how good that Montreal team was. As Jack Todd wrote in the Montreal Gazette today The Mighty Bruins: So the Bruins (63-12-5 for 131 points with two games to play) now have more wins than any club in the history of the NHL. They’ve broken the previous record of 62 wins held by the Red Wings and Lightning, and they will almost certainly eclipse the Canadiens record of 132 points, set in 1976-77. Would it be churlish to note that those 1976-77 Canadiens played 12 ties, so by today’s rules they would almost certainly have converted at least six of those games to wins either in overtime or the shootout, giving them 66 wins and 138 points? Or that a team that good might have won 10 of 12, giving them 70 wins and 142 points? We’ll never know. In any case, this is one helluva Boston team, built in a way that is supposed to be impossible — without No. 1 picks that yield generational offensive stars. Their one top pick, Taylor Hall, was drafted by Edmonton. With 16 goals on the season, Hall is not a key contributor. Instead, Boston has been led for years by Patrice Bergeron and Montreal favourite Brad Marchand, neither a high draft pick. Three of their top six forwards are Czechs: prolific scorer David Pastrnak (who picked up a hat trick Sunday to bring his season total to 60 goals) drafted 25th overall in 2014, veteran David Krejci, taken 63rd overall in 2004, and Pavel Zacha, drafted sixth overall in 2015 and acquired from the Devils in the off-season. Their stud defencemen are Hampus Lindholm (sixth overall in 2012) and Charlie McAvoy (14th in 2016.) Goaltender Linus Ullmark, perhaps the main reason the Bruins set this record, was Buffalo’s 12th pick, 163rd overall, in 2012. Jim Montgomery, the coach who put it all together, had washed out in Dallas because of personal, off-ice issues. When the Bruins reached out for him, it seemed like either desperation or madness. Yet here he is, a lock for the Jack Adams after a masterful performance that has the Beantown bunch marked as overwhelming favourites for the Stanley Cup. If you’re a Montreal fan, not much you can do but doff your hat and say congratulations, Bruins. Well done. Todd is correct as the 1976-1977 Habs teams did not have the bonus points in play BUT they also had an advantage in playing more games against very bad hockey teams. They played their Norris Division rivals 6 times ( yes Norris Division ) https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1977_games.html It is impossible to compare eras but I also said those Montreal teams of the late 70s were exceptional. The Bruins of that era was also a great team but they never beat Montreal when it counted and they never won a game against the Soviets. What this 2022-2023 Bruins team has accomplished in the regular season defies logic. Believe me when I say even the hardcores at HF Bruins thought this team might struggle to make the playoffs given all the injuries they had to start the season. Cam Neeley thought the team should be better and fired Bruce Cassidy and then rolled the dice on Jim Montgomery. We all know the real season begins on Monday but for those of us who are Bruins fans this has been a remarkable 6 months.

Thread starter Fenway
Start date Apr 12, 2023

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Lshap

Hardline Moderate

May 2, 2023

#136

This thread has devolved into conspiracy theories that have nothing to do with the Habs 1976/77 or Bruins 2022/23 rosters. Closed.

Reactions: 1909, Summer Rose and Bear of Bad News

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Comparing the 2022-2023 Bruins (133 points) and the 1976-1977 Canadiens (132 points)

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