Prior to Wayne and Mario, Phil Esposito was the centre who got all the goals and assists. Yes, a lot of it had to do with Bobby Orr, but when Phil arrived to the Boston Bruins in 1967/68, he helped vault them to the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. And he nearly added a third in 1974. When he went to the New York Rangers in 1975/76, he helped them reach a Stanley Cup Finals in 1979.
But Phil's first Stanley Cup finals was with Chicago, not Boston. Indeed, he never seemed to catch on in Chicago, who seemed to have no use for him. He didn't get the playing time there, and seemed to do little. But in 1965, he was there in the finals.
But, they were against the Montreal Canadians. The Habs seemed to always beat the Bruins in later years. Guess what, they also beat Chicago in the Stanley Cup Finals of 1965, 1971 and 1973. Chicago though, stayed right in the hunt all series long. Phil helped Chicago get to within one game of it all in 1965. Maybe he did a lot more than I thought.
The Habs though, wanted it all done in short order in '65.They survived a long, six-game semifinal series vs. Toronto, where both teams really went at it, no quarter asked or given. Chicago needed seven to upend the Detroit Red Wings, who'd finished first overall that year.
Montreal took game one at home, 3-2. Game two was a little easier, as The Flying Frenchman won it, 2-0, as Gump Worsley got the shutout. This thing was headed to Chicago, and the way Montreal was playing, a sweep wasn't out of the question.
But Chicago won game three, 3-1. Montreal led 1-0 in the second period, when Phil scored to tie it. Esposito and his team were not done. Phil assisted on a Chico Maki (RIP) goal that sealed a 3-1 win. Chicago also took game four, 5-1, but Phil was held of the scoresheet. Montreal also held him off the sheet in a 6-0 win in game five. Although the Hawks sent it to the limit with a 2-1 win in game six, the Canadians won it all, 4-0 in game seven. Phil did not get a point after game three, as it turns out.
But this helped give Phil the experience he needed. The next time he got to the Stanley Cup finals, it was his Boston Bruins with a sweep, and Phil played a large part. Ditto for 1972. Still, it's odd to think of him in the finals with an NHL other then Boston. Sure could have fooled me!
The information used herein was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by The Hockey Summary Project. For more information about the Hockey Summary Project please visit:
http://hsp.flyershistory.com
or
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/hockey_summary_project/
But Phil's first Stanley Cup finals was with Chicago, not Boston. Indeed, he never seemed to catch on in Chicago, who seemed to have no use for him. He didn't get the playing time there, and seemed to do little. But in 1965, he was there in the finals.
But, they were against the Montreal Canadians. The Habs seemed to always beat the Bruins in later years. Guess what, they also beat Chicago in the Stanley Cup Finals of 1965, 1971 and 1973. Chicago though, stayed right in the hunt all series long. Phil helped Chicago get to within one game of it all in 1965. Maybe he did a lot more than I thought.
The Habs though, wanted it all done in short order in '65.They survived a long, six-game semifinal series vs. Toronto, where both teams really went at it, no quarter asked or given. Chicago needed seven to upend the Detroit Red Wings, who'd finished first overall that year.
Montreal took game one at home, 3-2. Game two was a little easier, as The Flying Frenchman won it, 2-0, as Gump Worsley got the shutout. This thing was headed to Chicago, and the way Montreal was playing, a sweep wasn't out of the question.
But Chicago won game three, 3-1. Montreal led 1-0 in the second period, when Phil scored to tie it. Esposito and his team were not done. Phil assisted on a Chico Maki (RIP) goal that sealed a 3-1 win. Chicago also took game four, 5-1, but Phil was held of the scoresheet. Montreal also held him off the sheet in a 6-0 win in game five. Although the Hawks sent it to the limit with a 2-1 win in game six, the Canadians won it all, 4-0 in game seven. Phil did not get a point after game three, as it turns out.
But this helped give Phil the experience he needed. The next time he got to the Stanley Cup finals, it was his Boston Bruins with a sweep, and Phil played a large part. Ditto for 1972. Still, it's odd to think of him in the finals with an NHL other then Boston. Sure could have fooled me!
The information used herein was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by The Hockey Summary Project. For more information about the Hockey Summary Project please visit:
http://hsp.flyershistory.com
or
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/hockey_summary_project/
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