The 1970–71 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 47th season in the NHL. As defending champions, Boston set many NHL records. They earned 57 wins and 121 points, surpassing the previous records set by the 1968–69 Montreal Canadiens. They also scored 399 goals to shatter their own record set in 1968–69, and their goal differential of +192 surpassed the previous record set by the 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens as well. The NHL's top four scorers (Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, Johnny Bucyk, and Ken Hodge), each with over 100 points, were all Bruins; previously, there had only been four players in the history of the NHL with 100-point seasons, and no other NHL franchise has ever produced the top four scorers in a season (the Bruins replicated the feat in 1973–74). With 76 goals and 152 points, Esposito broke Bobby Hull's single season record for goals, as well as his own single season points record, both set in 1968–69. Finally, with 102 assists, Orr broke the single season record for most assists that he set the previous year.
However, the team's unprecedented offence was shut down by rookie goaltender Ken Dryden, who guided the Montreal Canadiens to a seven-game upset against the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs.
All of the Bruins' aforementioned records have since been broken: The Montreal Canadiens earned 58 wins and 127 points in 1975–76. The Bruins reclaimed the record in 2023 with 65 wins and 135 points, beating the aforementioned Canadiens in 2022-23 Montreal earned a goal differential of +216 in 1976–77. Wayne Gretzky scored 109 assists and 164 points in 1980–81. Gretzky scored 92 goals while the Edmonton Oilers scored 417 total goals in 1981–82.
Offseason Bobby Orr signed the NHL's first one million dollar contract (to be paid out over five years).Numbelievable!, p.79, Michael X. Ferraro and John Venziano, Triumph Books, 2007, Chicago, Illinois,
NHL draft
Round Overall Player 1 3 Reggie Leach 1 4 Rick MacLeish 1 9 Ron Plumb 1 13 Bob Stewart 2 27 Dan Bouchard 3 41 Ray Brownlee 4 55 Gord Davies 5 69 Bob Roselle 6 83 Murray Wing 7 96 Glenn Siddall
Regular season The 1970–71 Bruins set an NHL record by having 10 different skaters score 20 goals or more in a season.National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p.174, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, The record was broken by the 1977–78 Bruins when they had 11 different skaters with 20 goals or more.
Playoffs The postseason ended quickly for the Bruins as they lost in the opening round to the Montreal Canadiens and their rookie goaltender Ken Dryden in a seven-game upset.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
|1||W||October 11, 1970||7–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||1–0–0
|2||W||October 14, 1970||8–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||2–0–0
|3||W||October 16, 1970||5–1 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||3–0–0
|4||W||October 18, 1970||5–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||4–0–0
|5||T||October 22, 1970||3–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||4–0–1
|6||W||October 25, 1970||4–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||5–0–1
|7||L||October 29, 1970||3–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||5–1–1
|8||W||October 31, 1970||6–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1970–71) ||6–1–1
|9||W||November 1, 1970||5–0 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||7–1–1
|10||L||November 5, 1970||0–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||7–2–1
|11||T||November 7, 1970||2–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||7–2–2
|12||W||November 8, 1970||6–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||8–2–2
|13||W||November 10, 1970||6–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||9–2–2
|14||L||November 14, 1970||2–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||9–3–2
|15||L||November 15, 1970||1–2 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||9–4–2
|16||W||November 18, 1970||8–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||10–4–2
|17||W||November 21, 1970||5–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||11–4–2
|18||W||November 22, 1970||4–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||12–4–2
|19||T||November 24, 1970||5–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||12–4–3
|20||W||November 26, 1970||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||13–4–3
|21||T||November 28, 1970||3–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1970–71) ||13–4–4
|22||W||November 29, 1970||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||14–4–4
|23||L||December 2, 1970||3–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||14–5–4
|24||T||December 3, 1970||4–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||14–5–5
|25||W||December 5, 1970||4–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||15–5–5
|26||W||December 6, 1970||6–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||16–5–5
|27||W||December 10, 1970||8–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||17–5–5
|28||W||December 12, 1970||1–0 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||18–5–5
|29||W||December 13, 1970||6–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||19–5–5
|30||W||December 16, 1970||6–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||20–5–5
|31||W||December 19, 1970||7–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||21–5–5
|32||W||December 20, 1970||7–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||22–5–5
|33||W||December 23, 1970||2–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||23–5–5
|34||W||December 25, 1970||8–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||24–5–5
|35||L||December 26, 1970||2–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||24–6–5
|36||W||December 30, 1970||6–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||25–6–5
|37||W||January 1, 1971||9–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||26–6–5
|38||W||January 3, 1971||5–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||27–6–5
|39||W||January 7, 1971||6–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||28–6–5
|40||L||January 9, 1971||3–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||28–7–5
|41||W||January 10, 1971||7–4 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||29–7–5
|42||W||January 14, 1971||9–5 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||30–7–5
|43||L||January 16, 1971||2–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||30–8–5
|44||W||January 17, 1971||9–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||31–8–5
|45||W||January 23, 1971||6–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||32–8–5
|46||W||January 24, 1971||4–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||33–8–5
|47||T||January 27, 1971||2–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1970–71) ||33–8–6
|48||W||January 28, 1971||6–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||34–8–6
|49||W||January 31, 1971||6–0 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||35–8–6
|50||W||February 3, 1971||7–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||36–8–6
|51||W||February 6, 1971||4–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||37–8–6
|52||T||February 7, 1971||4–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||37–8–7
|53||W||February 9, 1971||6–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1970–71) ||38–8–7
|54||W||February 11, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||39–8–7
|55||W||February 14, 1971||5–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||40–8–7
|56||L||February 16, 1971||4–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||40–9–7
|57||W||February 19, 1971||5–0 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||41–9–7
|58||L||February 20, 1971||4–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||41–10–7
|59||W||February 23, 1971||6–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||42–10–7
|60||W||February 25, 1971||8–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||43–10–7
|61||W||February 28, 1971||4–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||44–10–7
|62||W||March 2, 1971||6–0 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||45–10–7
|63||W||March 4, 1971||7–0 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||46–10–7
|64||W||March 6, 1971||6–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||47–10–7
|65||W||March 7, 1971||4–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||48–10–7
|66||W||March 10, 1971||8–1 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||49–10–7
|67||W||March 11, 1971||7–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||50–10–7
|68||W||March 13, 1971||6–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||51–10–7
|69||W||March 16, 1971||11–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||52–10–7
|70||W||March 18, 1971||7–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||53–10–7
|71||W||March 20, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||54–10–7
|72||L||March 21, 1971||5–7 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||54–11–7
|73||L||March 24, 1971||1–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||54–12–7
|74||L||March 27, 1971||3–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1970–71) ||54–13–7
|75||L||March 28, 1971||1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1970–71) ||54–14–7
|76||W||March 31, 1971||6–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||55–14–7
|77||W||April 3, 1971||8–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||56–14–7
|78||W||April 4, 1971||7–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||57–14–7
Legend:
Playoffs
Quarterfinals: (E1) Boston Bruins vs. (E3) Montreal Canadiens
Player statistics
Regular season = Indicates league leader
Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG C 78 76 76 152 717125116 D 78 37 102 139 91124535 LW 78 51 65 116 8362205 RW 78 43 62 105 11371407 LW 77 21 58 79 10059403 RW 65 31 46 77 120271103 LW 75 24 52 76 1232803 C 71 29 34 63 13039160 D/RW 78 25 34 59 4858075 LW 69 22 24 46 4435005 D 73 7 38 45 6894021 D 78 5 37 42 6037000 LW 75 15 13 28 3020062 D 74 4 21 25 14140001 D 67 4 19 23 4430001 C 22 3 5 8 1011000 RW 23 2 4 6 07000 LW 36 0 6 6 444000 G 38 0 1 1 60000 C 2 0 0 0 00000 G 40 0 0 0 40000 LW 6 0 0 0 0−1000 D 1 0 0 0 40000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO 2280 38 30 6 2 96 2.53 4 2400 40 27 8 5 109 2.72 3 Team: 4680 78 57 14 7 205 2.63 7
Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG D 7 5 7 12 25111 C 7 3 7 10 6200 LW 7 3 4 7 0100 LW 7 2 5 7 0000 RW 7 2 5 7 6000 LW 7 3 2 5 15001 RW 7 2 3 5 22101 C 7 2 1 3 13000 D/RW 7 1 2 3 2010 D 7 0 3 3 26000 C 5 2 0 2 19100 D 7 1 0 1 25000 D 7 0 0 0 17000 LW 1 0 0 0 10000 LW 4 0 0 0 0000 G 6 0 0 0 4000 G 1 0 0 0 0000 RW 3 0 0 0 0000 LW 4 0 0 0 0000 D 6 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO 360 6 3 3 21 3.50 0 60 1 0 1 7 7.00 0 Team: 420 7 3 4 28 4.00 0
Awards and records Prince of Wales Trophy: || Boston Bruins Art Ross Trophy: || Phil Esposito Hart Memorial Trophy: || Bobby Orr James Norris Memorial Trophy: || Bobby Orr Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: || Johnny Bucyk Lester B. Pearson Award: || Phil EspositoNational Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p.222, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, NHL Plus/Minus Award: || Bobby Orr Johnny Bucyk, Left Wing, NHL First Team All-Star Phil Esposito, Center, NHL First Team All-Star Phil Esposito, Club Record, Most Points in a Season, 152 Phil Esposito, NHL Record, Most Shots on Goal in One Season (550)National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 187, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, Ken Hodge, Right Wing, NHL First Team All-Star Bobby Orr, Defence, NHL First Team All-Star Bobby Orr, Club Record, Most Assists in a Season, 102 Bobby Orr, NHL Record, Most Assists by a Defenseman in One Season (102)National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 183, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, Bobby Orr, NHL Record, Most Points by a Defenseman in One Season (139)
References Bruins on Hockey Database