Fifty Years Ago, Boston Star Phil Esposito, Coach Don Cherry Spoke Of Bruins' Success

Fifty years ago, the Boston Bruins were a top NHL team. And in this THN Archive story, star Phil Esposito and coach Don Cherry gave THN insight into the team.

Fifty years ago, the Boston Bruins were coming off a previous season in which they finished second in the Eastern Conference and made it to the Stanley Cup final before falling to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. And in this interview with then-Boston-Bruins star Phil Esposito and Bruins coach Don Cherry, THN provided some intriguing insights as to the team's goals and many of Boston's players. Here is the lowdown on the THN archive story, from the issue dated Jan. 10, 1975 (Vol. 28, Issue 14):

By Jack McCarthy

BOSTON -- When a hockey fan thinks of the Bruins, the image is of scoring — goals, goals, goals. Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, Ken Hodge, Johnny Bucyk, and company.

Orr. marvel that he is, had 20 goals in 30 games, and will probably break his own record for defensemen, which he set at 37, twice. Espo went on a spree of 19 points in six games and had 34 goals. Hodge broke out of a slump with two goals and was moving. bucyk also went wild, scoring eight goals in seven games. In goal. Ross Brooks won five straight.

So what else is new? Well, according to coach Don Cherry, the back-checking. Said Cherry, “We’re back-checking and we have been now for a good stretch of games. That’s good, super, and it has made the difference.

“The other teams are not getting those two-on-ones and three-on-ones against us like they were getting earlier. That, plus the way we are free-wheeling and have confidence around the net, has made the difference lately…”

The Bruins solid stretch of two-way hockey, which can be devastating when it is paired with their offense, had dropped the lead of the Buffalo Sabres from 14 solid points over Boston to seven, and the Bruins had two games in hand.

Said Esposito, when the subject of scoring came up, “I want to finish first. We all want to finish first. Points come second.“ Espo had just broken out of a mild slump with a barrage of 12 points in four games, but there seems to be an esprit building on this club as they surge to overtake the Sabres.

The Bruins were getting it all around from Gregg Sheppard and Donnie Marcotte, Terry O’Reilly, Andre Savard, and even Dallas Smith chipped in with a goal, which caused the lights to blink on and off in the old home town of Hamiota, Manitoba.

The aforementioned back-checking could have done nothing but help Brooks in goal. Brooksie was replacing Gilles Gilbert, who has had a back problem, and Ross had given up just eight goals in five games.

Says Cherry about Brooks, “The thing about Ross is that he has been making the big saves, the ones that turn games around.” Gilbert, during his stretch of 12 straight games in goal before he was hurt, had to look at a lot of breakaways. The Bruins are tighter with Brooks in there.

This team is beginning to shape up into the formidable contender that it’ was forecast to be in training camp. They are getting Cherry’s back-checking, and they are getting the expected agressive play from the likes of Terry O’Reilly, Gregg Sheppard and Dave Forbes.

With old friend Don Marcotte winging for Espo in place of the injured Wayne Cashman; Sheppard, Terrible Terrance and Forbes were playing very aggressive hockey.

Said Cherry, “Shep has been playing just super, and his game against LA in the Garden when we broke their road trip string was his best of the season.

“He killed penalties, scored a shorthanded goal, and worked on the power play. What else can you ask?”

Regarding O’Reilly, who has a rep as a tough customer. Cherry pointed out that Terry’s all-around play has been improving right along. Never the best skater in the league. O’Reilly has worked on that, and has improved tremendously — in fact, he spent all of last summer working on the skating.

Says Cherry. “Terry will fight, but a thing I like about him is thathe works in practice to improve. Some players always try the thing they do best. Not Terry. He’s working to improve the things he doesn’t do well. Give him credit…”