The Best Eight Fights in the Boston Bruins’ Historyn which deserve..
The Boston Bruins organization is renowned for its toughness, a characteristic deeply ingrained in its history. Whether tracing back to the early years, the era of the “Big Bad Bruins” in the 1960s and 1970s, the gritty “Lunch Pail A.C.” of the 1970s and 1980s, or more recent instances featuring battle-hardened stars, Boston’s hockey legacy has always been associated with physicality. This tough ethos is woven into the fabric of the city itself.
Reflecting on several memorable Bruins fights, familiar to most Boston fans for various reasons, brings to light iconic moments in the team’s history.
1. Wayne Cashman vs. Guy Lapointe (Nov. 8, 1970): A quintessential 1970s hockey showdown, where the Bruins clashed with the Canadiens in a fierce battle that spilled from the ice to both benches. Cashman and Lapointe engaged in a brutal exchange of blows at center ice, igniting a chaotic brawl involving other players.
2. Wayne Cashman vs. Jim Schoenfeld (Dec. 13, 1972): Another notable Cashman altercation, marked by its unusual setting. Schoenfeld’s check sent Cashman crashing through the Zamboni door, triggering a massive brawl in the stands’ hallway, with officials struggling to restore order amid the chaos.
3. Stan Jonathan vs. Pierre Bouchard (May 21, 1978): A classic underdog story, as the smaller Jonathan faced off against the larger Bouchard in a memorable showdown during the 1978 Stanley Cup Final. Despite the physical mismatch, Jonathan emerged victorious, leaving Bouchard bloodied and showcasing his tenacious spirit.
4. Bruins vs. Madison Square Garden crowd (Dec. 23, 1979): In a dramatic turn of events, tensions boiled over after a Bruins-Rangers game, resulting in several Bruins players, including Terry O’Reilly, Peter McNab, and Mike Milbury, engaging with fans in the stands at Madison Square Garden. Despite the unsightly nature of the incident, it remains etched in memory, with Milbury’s unconventional use of a fan’s shoe adding to the surreal atmosphere of the confrontation.
