1977 Stanley Cup

Lore & Background

The Bruins were making their first appearance in the final series since their loss in the 1974 Final. Montreal defeated the St. Louis Blues 4–0 and the New York Islanders 4–2 to advance to the final. Boston defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4–2 and the Philadelphia Flyers 4–0 to make it to the final. Jacques Lemaire scored three game-winning goals, including the Cup-winner in overtime. Guy Lafleur won the Conn Smythe Trophy for scoring nine goals and 17 assists during the playoffs.

In Their Own Story

The Spectrum was shaking before the puck even dropped. You could feel it through the soles of your skates, a low rumble from 18,000 voices packed into the lower bowl, the upper deck a sea of white and blue. The air smelled of cold ice, warm bodies, and the faint metallic tang of the boards. A Zamboni hissed across the surface, carving fresh lines under the floodlights, and for a moment the noise dipped to a murmur.

Then the horn. The puck hit the ice with a sharp crack off a stick, and the arena detonated. Sticks clacked against sticks, skates bit into the frozen surface, and the sound of bodies checking into the boards rolled wave after wave down the rink. You could see the breath of the players hanging in the cold air, see the tape on the sticks worn to threads, see the sweat on the ice where a body had gone down and gotten back up.

And when the final horn sounded and the net was confirmed, the Spectrum didn't cheer—it roared. A sound like the building itself was trying to tear itself apart from the inside. Confetti fell. Sticks were thrown. And somewhere in the chaos, Bobby Clarke stood in the middle of the ice, cup in hand, and let the city have its moment.

Reader's Guide

The 1977 Stanley Cup was presented to Canadiens captain Yvan Cournoyer by NHL President Clarence Campbell following the Canadiens 2–1 overtime win over the Bruins in game four. This was the last year for Clarence Campbell to present the Stanley Cup. He was succeeded by John Ziegler Jr. the following season. The following Canadiens players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup: 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens. Note: #18 Serge Savard served as interim captain when #12 Yvan Cournoyer missed the whole playoffs due to a back injury. Murray Wilson's name was misspelled as MURRY WILSON in 1973, 1976, and 1977. Bob Gainey was misspelled as ROBERT GAINY. #3 Brian Engblom did not play in the regular season, but played in 2 playoff games (none in the Finals); his name was left off the Cup because he did not qualify.

Did You Know?

• The Canadiens won the series four games to none, not four games to one.
• The Philadelphia Flyers did not play in the 1977 Stanley Cup Final; they were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in the semifinals.
• Guy Lafleur won the Conn Smythe Trophy with nine goals and 17 assists in the playoffs.
• Jacques Lemaire scored three game-winning goals, including the Cup-winner in overtime.