1960–61 Boston Bruins season

{{Infobox ice hockey team season

|League=NHL

|Season=1960–61

|year=1960

|Team=Boston Bruins

|Record=15–42–13

|HomeRecord=13–17–5

|RoadRecord=2–25–8

|LeagueRank=6th

|GoalsFor=176

|GoalsAgainst=254

|GeneralManager=Lynn Patrick

|Coach=Milt Schmidt

|Captain=Fernie Flaman

|AltCaptain=

|Arena=Boston Garden

|GoalsLeader=Don McKenney (26)

|AssistsLeader=Jerry Toppazzini (35)

|PointsLeader=Jerry Toppazzini (50)

|PIMLeader=Jim Bartlett (95)

|WinsLeader=Bruce Gamble (12)

|GAALeader=Don Simmons (3.23)

}}

The 1960–61 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 37th season in the NHL.

Offseason

= Trades and Transfers =

June 7: The Boston Bruins purchase centre Billy Carter from the Montreal Canadiens for a reported sum of over $20000.{{Cite news |date=June 8, 1960 |title=Bruins Buy Play Making Rookie From Canadiens |pages=10 |work=The Lewiston Journal |agency=Associated Press}}

Regular Season Overview

October 6: Boston 1 ─ New York 2{{Cite news |date=October 6, 1960 |title=Bruins Bow in Opener |pages=41 & 44 |work=The Boston Globe |agency=Associated Press}}

The Bruins began their season with a loss away against the New York Rangers.

Period 1: At 7:30 the Rangers scored after Andy Bathgate flicked the puck into the net on a pass from Bill Gadsby. At 17:36 the Bruins scored via Doug Mohns taking a loose puck on a power play in front of the net due to Rangers Len in front of the net.

Period 3: At 6:13 Len Ronson scored for the Rangers by tipping the puck into the net after a blue-line shot by Jim Morrison.

October 8: Boston 1 ─ Montreal 1{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Dink |date=October 10, 1960 |title=Goaltenders Star In Saturday Game |pages=20 |work=The Montreal Gazette}}{{Cite news |date=October 9, 1960 |title=LaBine Goal Gives B's Tie at Montreal |pages=86 |work=The Boston Globe |agency=Associated Press}}

The second game of the Bruins' season ended in a 1─1 tie against the Montreal Canadiens.

Period 1: At 10:45 the Canadiens scored on a power play caused by Fern Flaman hooking. Dickie Moore tipped the puck past Don Simmons on a blast by Bernie Geoffrion.

Period 2: At 18:12 the Bruins scored after Leo Labine used Montreal's Doug Harvey as a screen to score from an angle.

Regular season

= Trades and Transfers =

November 27: The Boston Bruins trade Jean-Guy Gendron to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for André Pronovost.{{Cite news |date=November 28, 1960 |title=B's Trade Gendron For Montreal Wing |pages=15 & 17 |work=The Boston Globe}}
January 24: The Boston Bruins complete a five-player trade with the Detroit Red Wings: The Bruins receive left-wingers Gary Aldcorn and Tom McCarthy as well as centre Murray Oliver; the Red Wings receive right-wingers Vic Stasiuk and Leo Labine.{{Cite news |last=Ralby |first=Herb |date=January 25, 1961 |title=Why Did Bruins Make Trade? Patrick: We Want Strength...... Down The Middle |pages=25 |work=The Boston Globe}}
January 30: The Boston Bruins trade Don Simmons to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Ed Chadwick.{{Cite news |date=January 31, 1961 |title=Simmons Balks B's-Leafs Deal |pages=33–34 |work=The Boston Globe}}

=Final standings=

=Record vs. opponents=

Schedule and results

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 5px solid;|title=1960–61 regular season{{cite web |title=1960-61 Boston Bruins Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1961_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-lost}}

|1||L||October 5, 1960||1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1960–61) ||0–1–0

|- {{Game-tied}}

|2||T||October 8, 1960||1–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||0–1–1

|- {{Game-tied}}

|3||T||October 9, 1960||4–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||0–1–2

|- {{Game-tied}}

|4||T||October 11, 1960||3–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||0–1–3

|- {{Game-tied}}

|5||T||October 15, 1960||1–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||0–1–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|6||L||October 16, 1960||2–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||0–2–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|7||L||October 20, 1960||0–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||0–3–4

|- {{Game-tied}}

|8||T||October 23, 1960||2–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||0–3–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|9||W||October 27, 1960||6–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1960–61) ||1–3–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|10||L||October 29, 1960||2–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||1–4–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|11||W||October 30, 1960||5–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||2–4–5

{{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-tied}}

|12||T||November 2, 1960||2–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||2–4–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|13||L||November 3, 1960||5–8 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||2–5–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|14||W||November 6, 1960||4–0 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||3–5–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|15||L||November 10, 1960||1–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||3–6–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|16||L||November 13, 1960||2–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||3–7–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|17||L||November 16, 1960||3–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1960–61) ||3–8–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|18||L||November 17, 1960||2–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||3–9–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|19||W||November 19, 1960||6–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||4–9–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|20||L||November 20, 1960||2–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||4–10–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|21||L||November 23, 1960||3–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1960–61) ||4–11–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|22||L||November 24, 1960||3–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1960–61) ||4–12–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|23||L||November 27, 1960||0–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||4–13–6

|- {{Game-tied}}

|24||T||November 30, 1960||2–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||4–13–7

{{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}}

|25||W||December 1, 1960||3–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||5–13–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|26||L||December 3, 1960||1–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||5–14–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|27||L||December 4, 1960||2–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||5–15–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|28||W||December 8, 1960||5–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||6–15–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|29||L||December 10, 1960||0–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1960–61) ||6–16–7

|- {{Game-tied}}

|30||T||December 11, 1960||2–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1960–61) ||6–16–8

|- {{Game-tied}}

|31||T||December 17, 1960||3–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||6–16–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

|32||L||December 18, 1960||2–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||6–17–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|33||W||December 22, 1960||4–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||7–17–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

|34||L||December 25, 1960||1–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||7–18–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

|35||L||December 28, 1960||3–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||7–19–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

|36||L||December 31, 1960||1–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||7–20–9

{{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}}

|37||W||January 1, 1961||3–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||8–20–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

|38||L||January 5, 1961||3–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||8–21–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

|39||L||January 7, 1961||1–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||8–22–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

|40||L||January 8, 1961||3–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||8–23–9

|- {{Game-tied}}

|41||T||January 12, 1961||4–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1960–61) ||8–23–10

|- {{Game-lost}}

|42||L||January 14, 1961||0–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||8–24–10

|- {{Game-lost}}

|43||L||January 15, 1961||4–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||8–25–10

|- {{Game-won}}

|44||W||January 19, 1961||4–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||9–25–10

|- {{Game-won}}

|45||W||January 21, 1961||3–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||10–25–10

|- {{Game-lost}}

|46||L||January 22, 1961||3–8 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||10–26–10

|- {{Game-lost}}

|47||L||January 25, 1961||1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1960–61) ||10–27–10

|- {{Game-won}}

|48||W||January 26, 1961||5–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||11–27–10

|- {{Game-lost}}

|49||L||January 29, 1961||1–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||11–28–10

{{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-tied}}

|50||T||February 2, 1961||2–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||11–28–11

|- {{Game-lost}}

|51||L||February 4, 1961||1–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1960–61) ||11–29–11

|- {{Game-lost}}

|52||L||February 5, 1961||2–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1960–61) ||11–30–11

|- {{Game-lost}}

|53||L||February 9, 1961||1–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||11–31–11

|- {{Game-lost}}

|54||L||February 11, 1961||3–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||11–32–11

|- {{Game-won}}

|55||W||February 12, 1961||8–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1960–61) ||12–32–11

|- {{Game-lost}}

|56||L||February 16, 1961||1–9 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||12–33–11

|- {{Game-lost}}

|57||L||February 18, 1961||1–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||12–34–11

|- {{Game-tied}}

|58||T||February 19, 1961||2–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||12–34–12

|- {{Game-tied}}

|59||T||February 23, 1961||3–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||12–34–13

|- {{Game-lost}}

|60||L||February 26, 1961||2–7 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||12–35–13

{{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 1, 1961||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1960–61) ||12–36–13

|- {{Game-won}}

|62||W||March 2, 1961||4–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||13–36–13

|- {{Game-lost}}

|63||L||March 5, 1961||1–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||13–37–13

|- {{Game-lost}}

|64||L||March 7, 1961||1–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||13–38–13

|- {{Game-lost}}

|65||L||March 9, 1961||2–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1960–61) ||13–39–13

|- {{Game-lost}}

|66||L||March 11, 1961||5–7 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1960–61) ||13–40–13

|- {{Game-lost}}

|67||L||March 12, 1961||0–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||13–41–13

|- {{Game-won}}

|68||W||March 15, 1961||6–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1960–61) ||14–41–13

|- {{Game-lost}}

|69||L||March 18, 1961||2–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1960–61) ||14–42–13

|- {{Game-won}}

|70||W||March 19, 1961||4–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1960–61) ||15–42–13

Legend:

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\|Jerry\|Toppazzini}}	RW	67	15	35	50	35
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Don\|McKenney}}	C	68	26	23	49	22
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Charlie\|Burns}}	C	62	15	26	41	16
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|John\|Bucyk}}	LW	70	19	20	39	48
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Doug\|Mohns}}	LW/D	65	12	21	33	63
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Bronco\|Horvath}}	C	47	15	15	30	15
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Vic\|Stasiuk}}	LW	46	5	25	30	35
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Jim\|Bartlett}}	LW	63	15	9	24	95
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Leo\|Boivin}}	D	57	6	17	23	50
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Andre\|Pronovost}}	LW	47	11	11	22	30
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Leo\|Labine}}	RW	40	7	12	19	34
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Murray\|Oliver}}	C	21	6	10	16	8
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Willie\|O'Ree}}	W	43	4	10	14	26
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Fern\|Flaman}}	D	62	2	9	11	59
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Dallas\|Smith\|Dallas Smith (ice hockey)}}	D	70	1	9	10	79
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Bob\|Armstrong\|Bob Armstrong (ice hockey, born 1931)}}	D	54	0	10	10	72
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Gerry\|Ouellette}}	RW	34	5	4	9	0
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Tom\|McCarthy\|Tom McCarthy (ice hockey b. 1934)}}	LW	24	4	5	9	0
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Aut\|Erickson}}	D	68	2	6	8	65
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Jean-Guy\|Gendron}}	LW	13	1	7	8	24
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Orval\|Tessier}}	C	32	3	4	7	0
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Gary\|Aldcorn}}	LW	21	2	3	5	12
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Dick\|Meissner}}	RW	9	0	1	1	2
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Billy\|Carter\|Billy Carter (ice hockey)}}	C	8	0	0	0	2
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Art\|Chisholm}}	C/D	3	0	0	0	0
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Bruce\|Gamble}}	G	52	0	0	0	14
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Ted\|Green}}	D	1	0	0	0	2
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Don\|Simmons\|Don Simmons (ice hockey)}}	G	18	0	0	0	6

;Goaltending

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
class="wikitable sortable" width="60%"
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Bruce\|Gamble}}	3120	52	12	33	7	193	3.71	0
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Don\|Simmons\|Don Simmons (ice hockey)}}	1079	18	3	9	6	58	3.23	1
align="center" \| align="right" \| {{Sortname\|Jerry\|Toppazzini}}	1	1	0	0	0	0	0.00	0
align="center" \| align="right" \| Team:	4200	70	15	42	13	251	3.59	1

{{cite web |publisher=hockey-reference.com |accessdate=2009-06-09 |title=1960-61 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1961.html}}