The 2000–01 Boston Bruins season was the club's 78th season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team finished ninth in the Eastern Conference that year, failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second consecutive year, which was also the first time the team missed out on the playoffs in consecutive years since the 1965–66 season and 1966–67 season. It was also the first full season the Bruins were without longtime team captain Ray Bourque since the 1979–80 season, who would win the Stanley Cup as a member of the Colorado Avalanche at season's end and subsequently retire from the NHL.
The Bruins tied the Carolina Hurricanes in points for the regular season at 88. However, Carolina had two more wins than the Bruins, leaving the Bruins in the ninth position in the conference, narrowly missing the playoffs. Boston was without starting goaltender Byron Dafoe for much of the season, and the Bruins had to use five goaltenders throughout the season. The good news is that the Bruins saw some of their young core mature further, as Joe Thornton set a then-career high in goals with 37, and Jason Allison once again broke the 30-goal plateau.
Regular season Head coach Pat Burns was fired on October 25 and replaced by Mike Keenan.
Jason Allison was named Ray Bourque’s replacement as team captain on November 8.
Final standings
Schedule and results
|1||October 5, 2000||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (2000–01) ||0–0–1–0 ||
|2||October 7, 2000||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) ||1–0–1–0 ||
|3||October 9, 2000||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (2000–01) ||2–0–1–0 ||
|4||October 11, 2000||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2000–01) ||3–0–1–0 ||
|5||October 13, 2000||0–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (2000–01) ||3–1–1–0 ||
|6||October 14, 2000||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (2000–01) ||3–2–1–0 ||
|7||October 17, 2000||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (2000–01) ||3–3–1–0 ||
|8||October 20, 2000||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (2000–01) ||3–4–1–0 ||
|9||October 26, 2000||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (2000–01) ||4–4–1–0 ||
|10||October 28, 2000||1–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) ||4–4–1–1 ||
|11||October 29, 2000||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (2000–01) ||4–5–1–1 ||
|12||October 31, 2000||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (2000–01) ||4–6–1–1 ||
|13||November 2, 2000||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (2000–01) ||5–6–1–1 ||
|14||November 4, 2000||3–8 || style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) ||5–7–1–1 ||
|15||November 5, 2000||1–7 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) ||5–8–1–1 ||
|16||November 9, 2000||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (2000–01) ||6–8–1–1 ||
|17||November 11, 2000||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Nashville Predators (2000–01) ||6–8–2–1 ||
|18||November 16, 2000||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (2000–01) ||6–8–2–2 ||
|19||November 18, 2000||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota Wild (2000–01) ||6–9–2–2 ||
|20||November 21, 2000||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (2000–01) ||6–10–2–2 ||
|21||November 22, 2000||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (2000–01) ||7–10–2–2 ||
|22||November 24, 2000||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) ||7–11–2–2 ||
|23||November 26, 2000||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (2000–01) ||7–11–3–2 ||
|24||November 28, 2000||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01) ||8–11–3–2 ||
|25||December 1, 2000||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (2000–01) ||8–12–3–2 ||
|26||December 2, 2000||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (2000–01) ||8–13–3–2 ||
|27||December 4, 2000||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) ||8–14–3–2 ||
|28||December 6, 2000||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01) ||9–14–3–2 ||
|29||December 8, 2000||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01) ||9–14–3–3 ||
|30||December 9, 2000||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (2000–01) ||10–14–3–3 ||
|31||December 12, 2000||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) ||10–15–3–3 ||
|32||December 16, 2000||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) ||11–15–3–3 ||
|33||December 19, 2000||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) ||11–15–4–3 ||
|34||December 21, 2000||4–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) ||12–15–4–3 ||
|35||December 23, 2000||1–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (2000–01) ||12–15–4–4 ||
|36||December 27, 2000||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (2000–01) ||13–15–4–4 ||
|37||December 29, 2000||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (2000–01) ||13–16–4–4 ||
|38||December 30, 2000||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) ||13–16–5–4 ||
|39||January 1, 2001||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) ||14–16–5–4 ||
|40||January 5, 2001||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (2000–01) ||14–16–6–4 ||
|41||January 6, 2001||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (2000–01) ||14–17–6–4 ||
|42||January 9, 2001||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01) ||15–17–6–4 ||
|43||January 10, 2001||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) ||16–17–6–4 ||
|44||January 13, 2001||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (2000–01) ||17–17–6–4 ||
|45||January 16, 2001||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (2000–01) ||18–17–6–4 ||
|46||January 18, 2001||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) ||18–18–6–4 ||
|47||January 19, 2001||0–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Nashville Predators (2000–01) ||18–18–6–5 ||
|48||January 22, 2001||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (2000–01) ||18–19–6–5 ||
|49||January 24, 2001||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) ||19–19–6–5 ||
|50||January 26, 2001||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) ||20–19–6–5 ||
|51||January 27, 2001||4–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (2000–01) ||21–19–6–5 ||
|52||January 30, 2001||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (2000–01) ||22–19–6–5 ||
|53||February 1, 2001||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) ||22–20–6–5 ||
|54||February 6, 2001||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) ||23–20–6–5 ||
|55||February 9, 2001||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) ||23–21–6–5 ||
|56||February 10, 2001||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) ||24–21–6–5 ||
|57||February 15, 2001||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) ||25–21–6–5 ||
|58||February 16, 2001||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (2000–01) ||25–22–6–5 ||
|59||February 18, 2001||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) ||25–23–6–5 ||
|60||February 21, 2001||2–8 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (2000–01) ||25–24–6–5 ||
|61||February 23, 2001||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (2000–01) ||25–24–6–6 ||
|62||February 24, 2001||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (2000–01) ||25–24–6–7 ||
|63||February 27, 2001||7–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (2000–01) ||26–24–6–7 ||
|64||March 1, 2001||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) ||27–24–6–7 ||
|65||March 3, 2001||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (2000–01) ||28–24–6–7 ||
|66||March 5, 2001||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) ||28–25–6–7 ||
|67||March 6, 2001||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) ||28–26–6–7 ||
|68||March 8, 2001||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (2000–01) ||28–27–6–7 ||
|69||March 10, 2001||5–7 || style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) ||28–28–6–7 ||
|70||March 15, 2001||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (2000–01) ||28–28–7–7 ||
|71||March 17, 2001||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) ||29–28–7–7 ||
|72||March 20, 2001||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01) ||29–28–8–7 ||
|73||March 22, 2001||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) ||30–28–8–7 ||
|74||March 24, 2001||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (2000–01) ||30–29–8–7 ||
|75||March 25, 2001||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (2000–01) ||31–29–8–7 ||
|76||March 28, 2001||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) ||32–29–8–7 ||
|77||March 30, 2001||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (2000–01) ||32–29–8–8 ||
|78||March 31, 2001||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (2000–01) ||33–29–8–8 ||
|79||April 2, 2001||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) ||34–29–8–8 ||
|80||April 4, 2001||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) ||35–29–8–8 ||
|81||April 6, 2001||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (2000–01) ||35–30–8–8 ||
|82||April 7, 2001||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (2000–01) ||36–30–8–8 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Bruins only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Bruins only. Player Regular season 41 C 82 36 59 95 −8 85 14 LW 82 29 46 75 6 18 19 C 72 37 34 71 −4 107 13 RW 64 28 35 63 −4 122 12 LW 77 19 39 58 6 28 51 RW 76 16 21 37 −14 27 22 LW 62 12 11 23 2 38 11 LW 81 8 15 23 −12 27 26 RW 82 7 13 20 0 37 29 RW 63 5 13 18 −1 65 18 D 58 5 12 17 −5 53 55 D 31 3 13 16 2 14 20 D 31 3 10 13 −9 41 32 D 72 2 10 12 −1 26 25 D 80 1 10 11 −2 71 64 D 62 2 8 10 −3 26 63 D 37 2 6 8 4 14 23 D 60 1 6 7 −5 48 27 D 22 1 5 6 −8 10 17 C 45 2 3 5 −12 26 62 LW 63 1 4 5 −14 200 16 LW 40 2 2 4 −6 121 10 RW 15 1 3 4 0 6 74 D 18 0 4 4 −6 30 37 RW 21 2 0 2 −3 7 27 C 17 1 1 2 −5 6 34 G 45 0 2 2 6 39 D 10 0 2 2 −3 4 53 D 3 1 0 1 −1 0 57 C 8 0 1 1 0 2 44 D 1 0 0 0 −1 0 47 G 10 0 0 0 2 38 LW 13 0 0 0 −1 26 48 LW 7 0 0 0 −3 4 72 D 10 0 0 0 −2 4 61 C 1 0 0 0 0 2 21 RW 7 0 0 0 −2 4 1 G 15 0 0 0 0 28 C 1 0 0 0 0 0 35 G 25 0 0 0 0 31 G 5 0 0 0 0
Goaltending = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Bruins only. Player Regular season 34 Byron Dafoe 45 22 14 7 1076 101 2.39 .906 2 2536 35 Peter Skudra 25 6 12 1 511 62 3.33 .879 0 1116 1 Andrew Raycroft 15 4 6 0 291 32 2.96 .890 0 649 47 John Grahame 10 3 4 0 211 28 3.57 .867 0 471 31 Kay Whitmore 5 1 2 0 94 18 5.32 .809 0 203
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Jason Allison Bill Guerin Sergei Samsonov Team Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy Jason Allison Boston Bruins 2014–15 Guide & Record Book, p.239 John P. Bucyk Award Don Sweeney Seventh Player Award Bill Guerin Three Stars Awards Jason Allison (1st)Boston Bruins 2014–15 Guide & Record Book, p. 239–40 Bill Guerin (2nd) Joe Thornton (3rd)
Milestones