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1956–57 Boston Bruins season

{{short description|NHL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox ice hockey team season

|League=NHL

|Season=1956–57

|year=1956

|Team=Boston Bruins

|Record=34–24–12

|HomeRecord=20–9–6

|RoadRecord=14–15–6

|LeagueRank=3rd

|GoalsFor=195

|GoalsAgainst=174

|GeneralManager=Lynn Patrick

|Coach=Milt Schmidt

|Captain=Fernie Flaman

|Arena=Boston Garden

|GoalsLeader=Real Chevrefils (31)

|AssistsLeader=Don McKenney (39)

|PointsLeader=Don McKenney (60)

|PIMLeader=Leo Labine (128)

|WinsLeader=Terry Sawchuk (18)

|GAALeader=Terry Sawchuk (2.38)

}}

The 1956–57 Boston Bruins were one of six teams in the 40th season of the National Hockey League. The team finished with a record of 34 wins, 24 losses, and 12 ties. Their record earned them the third seed in the Stanley Cup playoffs, where they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the final. With 21 goals and 39 assists, Center Don McKenney was the team's leading scorer.

{{TOC limit|limit=2}}

Offseason

{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

Regular season

=Final standings=

{{1956–57 NHL standings|team=BOS}}

=Record vs. opponents=

{{1956–57 NHL Record vs. opponents|team=BOS}}

Schedule and results

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 5px solid;|title=1956–57 regular season{{cite web |title=1956-57 Boston Bruins Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1957_games.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=April 3, 2025}}}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid;|title=October|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|1||T||October 11, 1956||4–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||0–0–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|2||L||October 13, 1956||0–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||0–1–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|3||W||October 14, 1956||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||1–1–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|4||L||October 17, 1956||0–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1956–57) ||1–2–1

|- {{Game-tied}}

|5||T||October 20, 1956||2–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||1–2–2

|- {{Game-tied}}

|6||T||October 21, 1956||3–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||1–2–3

|- {{Game-won}}

|7||W||October 27, 1956||1–0 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||2–2–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

|8||L||October 30, 1956||0–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||2–3–3

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid;|title=November|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|9||W||November 1, 1956||5–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||3–3–3

|- {{Game-won}}

|10||W||November 4, 1956||4–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1956–57) ||4–3–3

|- {{Game-won}}

|11||W||November 7, 1956||4–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1956–57) ||5–3–3

|- {{Game-won}}

|12||W||November 8, 1956||3–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||6–3–3

|- {{Game-won}}

|13||W||November 10, 1956||3–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||7–3–3

|- {{Game-won}}

|14||W||November 11, 1956||3–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||8–3–3

|- {{Game-won}}

|15||W||November 15, 1956||5–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||9–3–3

|- {{Game-tied}}

|16||T||November 17, 1956||4–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1956–57) ||9–3–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|17||W||November 18, 1956||4–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||10–3–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|18||L||November 22, 1956||3–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1956–57) ||10–4–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|19||W||November 24, 1956||3–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||11–4–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|20||W||November 25, 1956||3–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||12–4–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|21||L||November 28, 1956||1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1956–57) ||12–5–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|22||W||November 29, 1956||2–0 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||13–5–4

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid;|title=December|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|23||W||December 2, 1956||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||14–5–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|24||L||December 6, 1956||2–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||14–6–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|25||W||December 8, 1956||5–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||15–6–4

|- {{Game-tied}}

|26||T||December 9, 1956||1–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||15–6–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|27||W||December 13, 1956||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||16–6–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|28||L||December 15, 1956||4–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||16–7–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|29||W||December 16, 1956||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||17–7–5

|- {{Game-tied}}

|30||T||December 20, 1956||1–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||17–7–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|31||W||December 22, 1956||3–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||18–7–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|32||L||December 23, 1956||1–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||18–8–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|33||L||December 25, 1956||2–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||18–9–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|34||L||December 27, 1956||3–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||18–10–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|35||W||December 30, 1956||4–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||19–10–6

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid;|title=January|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|36||W||January 1, 1957||5–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1956–57) ||20–10–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|37||L||January 5, 1957||2–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||20–11–6

|- {{Game-tied}}

|38||T||January 6, 1957||4–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||20–11–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|39||W||January 10, 1957||2–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||21–11–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|40||L||January 12, 1957||1–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||21–12–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|41||L||January 13, 1957||1–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||21–13–7

|- {{Game-tied}}

|42||T||January 17, 1957||2–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||21–13–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|43||L||January 19, 1957||1–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||21–14–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|44||L||January 20, 1957||2–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||21–15–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|45||L||January 26, 1957||3–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1956–57) ||21–16–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|46||W||January 27, 1957||5–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||22–16–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|47||W||January 31, 1957||2–0 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||23–16–8

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid;|title=February|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|48||W||February 2, 1957||2–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||24–16–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|49||W||February 3, 1957||4–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1956–57) ||25–16–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|50||L||February 6, 1957||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1956–57) ||25–17–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|51||W||February 7, 1957||1–0 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||26–17–8

|- {{Game-tied}}

|52||T||February 9, 1957||2–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||26–17–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|53||W||February 10, 1957||5–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||27–17–9

|- {{Game-tied}}

|54||T||February 13, 1957||2–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||27–17–10

|- {{Game-lost}}

|55||L||February 16, 1957||5–6 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||27–18–10

|- {{Game-lost}}

|56||L||February 17, 1957||2–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||27–19–10

|- {{Game-lost}}

|57||L||February 20, 1957||2–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1956–57) ||27–20–10

|- {{Game-won}}

|58||W||February 23, 1957||5–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||28–20–10

|- {{Game-lost}}

|59||L||February 24, 1957||3–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||28–21–10

|- {{Game-won}}

|60||W||February 28, 1957||4–0 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||29–21–10

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid;|title=March|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|61||L||March 2, 1957||2–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1956–57) ||29–22–10

|- {{Game-won}}

|62||W||March 3, 1957||5–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||30–22–10

|- {{Game-lost}}

|63||L||March 7, 1957||2–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||30–23–10

|- {{Game-won}}

|64||W||March 9, 1957||4–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||31–23–10

|- {{Game-tied}}

|65||T||March 10, 1957||3–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1956–57) ||31–23–11

|- {{Game-won}}

|66||W||March 13, 1957||2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1956–57) ||32–23–11

|- {{Game-tied}}

|67||T||March 16, 1957||2–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1956–57) ||32–23–12

|- {{Game-won}}

|68||W||March 17, 1957||6–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1956–57) ||33–23–12

|- {{Game-won}}

|69||W||March 21, 1957||2–0 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1956–57) ||34–23–12

|- {{Game-lost}}

|70||L||March 23, 1957||2–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1956–57) ||34–24–12

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win (2 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss (0 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#ffc|Tie (1 point)|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

Playoffs

: See 1957 Stanley Cup Finals.

{{4TeamBracket

| RD2=Stanley Cup Finals

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=Detroit Red Wings

| RD1-score1=1

| RD1-seed2=3

| RD1-team2=Boston Bruins

| RD1-score2=4

| RD1-seed3=2

| RD1-team3=Montreal Canadiens

| RD1-score3=4

| RD1-seed4=4

| RD1-team4=New York Rangers

| RD1-score4=1

| RD2-seed1=3

| RD2-team1=Boston Bruins

| RD2-score1=1

| RD2-seed2=2

| RD2-team2=Montreal Canadiens

| RD2-score2=4

}}

The Boston Bruins were seeded third in the Stanley Cup Semi-finals, where they defeated the top seeded Detroit Red Wings 4–1. In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Bruins were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens 4–1.

Player statistics

=Regular season=

;Scoring

class="wikitable sortable" width="60%"
ALIGN="center"

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Player

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" title="Position"| Pos

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Games played" | GP

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Goals" | G

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Assists" | A

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Points" | Pts

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Penalties in Minutes" | PIM

align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Don|McKenney}}

C6921396031
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Real|Chevrefils}}

LW7031174838
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Leo|Labine}}

RW67182947128
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Vic|Stasiuk}}

LW6424164069
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Doug|Mohns}}

LW/D686344089
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Fleming|MacKell}}

C6522173973
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Johnny|Peirson}}

RW6813263941
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Jerry|Toppazzini}}

RW5515233826
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Larry|Regan}}

RW6914193329
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Cal|Gardner}}

C7012203266
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Fern|Flaman}}

D6862531108
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Allan|Stanley}}

D606253145
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Bob|Armstrong|Bob Armstrong (ice hockey, born 1931)}}

D571151679
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Leo|Boivin}}

D55281055
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Jack|Bionda}}

D3523543
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Jack|Caffery|Jack Caffery (ice hockey)}}

C4722420
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Bob|Beckett}}

C180332
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Al|Nicholson}}

LW50110
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Dick|Cherry}}

D60004
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Norm|Defelice}}

G100002
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Floyd|Hillman}}

D600010
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Ed|Panagabko}}

C10000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|George|Ranieri}}

LW20000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Terry|Sawchuk}}

G3400014
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Don|Simmons|Don Simmons (ice hockey)}}

G260000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Floyd|Smith|dab=ice hockey}}

RW230006

;Goaltending

class="wikitable sortable" width="60%"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Player

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Minutes played" |MIN

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Games played in"|GP

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Wins"|W

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF"title="Losses"| L

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Ties"|T

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Goals against"|GA

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Goals against average"|GAA

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF"title="Shut-outs"| SO

align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Terry|Sawchuk}}

20403418106812.382
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Don|Simmons|Don Simmons (ice hockey)}}

1560261394632.424
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Norm|Defelice}}

60010352303.000
align="center"

| align="right" | Team:

4200703424121742.496

=Playoffs=

;Scoring

class="wikitable sortable" width="60%"
ALIGN="center"

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Player

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" title="Position"| Pos

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Games played" | GP

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Goals" | G

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Assists" | A

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Points" | Pts

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Penalties in Minutes" | PIM

align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Fleming|MacKell}}

C105384
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Don|McKenney}}

C101564
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Leo|Labine}}

RW1032514
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Leo|Boivin}}

D1023512
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Doug|Mohns}}

LW/D102352
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Real|Chevrefils}}

LW102134
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Cal|Gardner}}

C102132
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Vic|Stasiuk}}

LW102132
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Bob|Armstrong|Bob Armstrong (ice hockey, born 1931)}}

D1003310
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Fern|Flaman}}

D1003319
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Johnny|Peirson}}

RW1003312
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Larry|Regan}}

RW802210
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Buddy|Boone}}

RW1010112
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Jack|Caffery|Jack Caffery (ice hockey)}}

C101014
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Jack|Bionda}}

D1001114
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Jerry|Toppazzini}}

RW100112
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Don|Simmons|Don Simmons (ice hockey)}}

G100000

;Goaltending

class="wikitable sortable" width="60%"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Player

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Minutes played" |MIN

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Games played in"|GP

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Wins"|W

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF"title="Losses"| L

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Goals against"|GA

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Goals against average"|GAA

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Shut-outs"| SO

align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Don|Simmons|Don Simmons (ice hockey)}}

6001055292.902
align="center"

| align="right" | Team:

6001055292.902

{{cite web |publisher=hockey-reference.com |accessdate=2009-06-09 |title=1956-57 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1957.html}}

{{Hockey season stats note}}

Awards and records

26-year-old RW Larry Regan was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the Rookie of the Year.

Transactions

{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

Farm teams

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{Boston Bruins}}

{{Boston Bruins seasons}}

{{1956–57 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1956-57 Boston Bruins season}}

Category:Boston Bruins seasons

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Category:1950s in Boston