1971–72 Boston Bruins season

{{see also|1971 NHL Amateur Draft}}

{{1971–72 NHL East Division standings |team=BOS}}

{{1971–72 NHL Record vs. opponents (East)|team=BOS}}

Boston defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 and the St. Louis Blues 4–0 to advance to the final.

{{main|1972 Stanley Cup Finals}}

As of 2022, the 1972 Bruins are the most recent team to have won the Cup without a formal captain.{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/fischler-report-so-you-want-your-son-to-be-an-nhl-star |title=Fischler Report: So You Want Your Son to be an NHL Star |last=Fischler |first=Stan |date=August 15, 2022 |website=thehockeynews.com |publisher=The Hockey News |access-date= |quote="The last team to win a Stanley Cup without having a captain was the 1972 Boston Bruins. But they had Bobby Orr; so who needed a captain?"}} John Bucyk, as the team's senior alternate captain, accepted the Cup and circled the rink in the ceremonial skate.

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 5px solid;|title=1971–72 regular season{{cite web |title=1971-72 Boston Bruins Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1972_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 10, 1971||1–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1971–72) ||0–1–0

|- {{Game-won}}

|2||W||October 13, 1971||6–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1971–72) ||1–1–0

|- {{Game-won}}

|3||W||October 14, 1971||6–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||2–1–0

|- {{Game-tied}}

|4||T||October 17, 1971||2–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||2–1–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|5||W||October 20, 1971||4–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||3–1–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|6||W||October 22, 1971||5–1 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||4–1–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|7||W||October 24, 1971||4–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||5–1–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|8||L||October 27, 1971||2–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||5–2–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|9||L||October 28, 1971||0–2 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||5–3–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|10||W||October 31, 1971||5–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||6–3–1

|-

{{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}}

|11||W||November 4, 1971||6–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||7–3–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|12||W||November 6, 1971||2–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||8–3–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|13||L||November 7, 1971||2–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||8–4–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|14||L||November 10, 1971||1–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||8–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|15||W||November 11, 1971||5–2 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||9–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|16||W||November 14, 1971||11–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||10–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|17||W||November 18, 1971||5–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||11–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|18||W||November 20, 1971||2–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||12–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|19||W||November 21, 1971||6–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||13–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|20||W||November 24, 1971||2–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||14–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|21||W||November 25, 1971||4–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||15–5–1

|- {{Game-tied}}

|22||T||November 27, 1971||6–6 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||15–5–2

|-

{{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 4, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||16–5–2

|- {{Game-won}}

|24||W||December 5, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||17–5–2

|- {{Game-won}}

|25||W||December 8, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||18–5–2

|- {{Game-won}}

|26||W||December 11, 1971||6–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||19–5–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|27||L||December 12, 1971||2–4 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||19–6–2

|- {{Game-won}}

|28||W||December 16, 1971||8–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1971–72) ||20–6–2

|- {{Game-won}}

|29||W||December 18, 1971||4–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||21–6–2

|- {{Game-tied}}

|30||T||December 19, 1971||2–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||21–6–3

|- {{Game-tied}}

|31||T||December 23, 1971||4–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||21–6–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|32||W||December 25, 1971||5–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||22–6–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|33||W||December 26, 1971||3–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||23–6–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|34||W||December 29, 1971||5–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||24–6–4

|- {{Game-tied}}

|35||T||December 30, 1971||2–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||24–6–5

|-

{{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 2, 1972||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1971–72) ||25–6–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|37||W||January 5, 1972||2–0 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||26–6–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|38||W||January 6, 1972||5–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||27–6–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|39||L||January 8, 1972||3–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||27–7–5

|- {{Game-tied}}

|40||T||January 12, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||27–7–6

|- {{Game-tied}}

|41||T||January 13, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||27–7–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|42||W||January 15, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||28–7–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|43||W||January 16, 1972||9–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||29–7–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|44||W||January 18, 1972||2–0 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||30–7–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|45||W||January 22, 1972||8–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||31–7–7

|- {{Game-tied}}

|46||T||January 23, 1972||3–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||31–7–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|47||W||January 27, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||32–7–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|48||W||January 29, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||33–7–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|49||W||January 30, 1972||5–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||34–7–8

|-

{{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}}

|50||W||February 2, 1972||2–0 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1971–72) ||35–7–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|51||W||February 3, 1972||6–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||36–7–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|52||W||February 5, 1972||3–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||37–7–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|53||L||February 6, 1972||2–8 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||37–8–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|54||W||February 10, 1972||9–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||38–8–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|55||W||February 12, 1972||5–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||39–8–8

|- {{Game-tied}}

|56||T||February 13, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||39–8–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|57||W||February 15, 1972||6–3 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||40–8–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|58||W||February 17, 1972||4–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||41–8–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|59||W||February 19, 1972||6–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||42–8–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|60||W||February 20, 1972||3–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||43–8–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|61||W||February 22, 1972||4–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||44–8–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|62||W||February 23, 1972||8–6 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||45–8–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|63||W||February 26, 1972||5–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||46–8–9

|-

{{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-won}}

|64||W||March 2, 1972||7–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||47–8–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|65||W||March 4, 1972||5–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||48–8–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

|66||L||March 5, 1972||0–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||48–9–9

|- {{Game-won}}

|67||W||March 8, 1972||5–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||49–9–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

|68||L||March 11, 1972||4–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||49–10–9

|- {{Game-tied}}

|69||T||March 12, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||49–10–10

|- {{Game-won}}

|70||W||March 16, 1972||8–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||50–10–10

|- {{Game-won}}

|71||W||March 19, 1972||7–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||51–10–10

|- {{Game-won}}

|72||W||March 23, 1972||4–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1971–72) ||52–10–10

|- {{Game-tied}}

|73||T||March 25, 1972||5–5 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||52–10–11

|- {{Game-won}}

|74||W||March 26, 1972||5–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||53–10–11

|- {{Game-lost}}

|75||L||March 28, 1972||3–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||53–11–11

|- {{Game-lost}}

|76||L||March 29, 1972||1–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||53–12–11

|-

{{Game log section end}}

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

|- {{Game-lost}}

|77||L||April 1, 1972||2–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||53–13–11

|- {{Game-won}}

|78||W||April 2, 1972||6–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||54–13–11

|-

{{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}}

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 5px solid;|title=1972 Stanley Cup playoffs}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid;|title=Quarterfinals vs. (E4) Toronto Maple Leafs – Bruins win 4–1|Game |Date |Visitor |Score |Home |OT |Series}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 1 || April 5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–5 || Boston Bruins || || 1–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 2 || April 6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || Boston Bruins || 2:58 || 1–1

|- {{Game-won}}

| 3 || April 8 || Boston Bruins || 2–0 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || 2–1

|- {{Game-won}}

| 4 || April 9 || Boston Bruins || 5–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || 3–1

|- {{Game-won}}

| 5 || April 11 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–3 || Boston Bruins || || 4–1

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid;|title=Semifinals vs. (W3) St. Louis Blues – Bruins win 4–0|Game |Date |Visitor |Score |Home |OT |Series}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 1 || April 18 || St. Louis Blues || 1–6 || Boston Bruins || || 1–0

|- {{Game-won}}

| 2 || April 20 || St. Louis Blues || 2–10 || Boston Bruins || || 2–0

|- {{Game-won}}

| 3 || April 23 || Boston Bruins || 7–2 || St. Louis Blues || || 3–0

|- {{Game-won}}

| 4 || April 25 || Boston Bruins || 5–3 || St. Louis Blues || || 4–0

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid;|title=Stanley Cup Finals vs. (E2) New York Rangers – Bruins win 4–2|Game |Date |Visitor |Score |Home |OT |Series}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 1 || April 30 || New York Rangers || 5–6 || Boston Bruins || || 1–0

|- {{Game-won}}

| 2 || May 2 || New York Rangers || 1–2 || Boston Bruins || || 2–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 3 || May 4 || Boston Bruins || 2–5 || New York Rangers || || 2–1

|- {{Game-won}}

| 4 || May 7 || Boston Bruins || 3–2 || New York Rangers || || 3–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 5 || May 9 || New York Rangers || 3–2 || Boston Bruins || || 3–2

|- {{Game-won}}

| 6 || May 11 || Boston Bruins || 3–0 || New York Rangers || || 4–2

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

;Scoring

;Goaltending

;Scoring

;Goaltending

{{cite web |publisher=hockey-reference.com |accessdate=2009-06-09 |title=1971-72 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1972.html}}

{{Hockey season stats note}}

• Prince of Wales Trophy
• Phil Esposito, Art Ross Trophy Winner
• Bobby Orr, Conn Smythe Trophy
• Bobby Orr, Norris Trophy

• [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000321972.html Bruins on Hockey Database]

{{Reflist}}

{{Boston Bruins}}

{{Boston Bruins seasons}}

{{1971–72 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1971-72 Boston Bruins Season}}

Category:Stanley Cup championship seasons

Category:Boston Bruins seasons

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Bruins

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