Big Bad Bruins

Was a big fan of the NHL Boston Bruins throughout their seasonal playoff runs, which included two Stanley Cup championships, of the late '60's and extending into the mid '70's...

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... this included the big disappointment '70-'71 season when the Montreal Canadiens sandbagged 'em big time in the semi-final playoffs with a monster rookie goaltender named Ken Dryden. Definitely their best team ever (to that time). They were winning games and settin' records left and right throughout the regular season including wins (57) and points (121) while boasting seven of the leagues top ten scorers, four of which surpassed 100+ points. A rough bunch, too, with guys like Green, Sanderson, Cashman, Stanfield, Smith, Orr, Carleton... would fight at the drop of a hat. 

The only drawback those days was the lack of cable television. Internet wasn't even a word. Unless matched up against the local televised Pittsburgh Penguins (SWPA here) or an occasional weekend nationally televised game (afternoon 'ta boot, which blew), until playoff time ya' might get to catch 'em on the tube maybe three times throughout the season, if lucky. 

Had a (usually) dependable alternative though - a small portable transistor radio of which was able to pick up the (Boston) local WBZ radio broadcasts. One major drawback. The radio would receive the broadcast only when positioned at one location within the sanctum of home. This area was an approximate 3ft x 3ft "radio free" zone located within the kitchen. The radio had to be aligned at a specific "azimuth angle".  Wasn't the best reception, and ya' occasionally had to make minor angle adjustments throughout the broadcast. This "zone of reception" was additionally located about 2ft beyond the refrigerator door. Open the refrigerator door and immediate static. Always figured that it had something to do with the interior refrigerator light coming on when the door was opened. Shut the door and all was fine. Wasn't usually a problem there - positioned that close to the (opposite opening) door, ya' couldn't get into the refrigerator, anyway. The folks never complained and always waited until commercial breaks or between periods, if needing to access the "fridge". Besides, was home and not out getting into any mischief, so figured no complaint there. 

Boston was playing the Vancouver Canucks one evening late February, '71. Johnny Bucyk had just put the Bruins up by one goal following a 2-2 tie early in the third period. "OK Mom!" (who'd been patiently waiting) "You can get into the refrigerator now - but HURRY UP!!" Maybe five minutes pass following the goal and subsequent short commercial break. Mom's out of the fridge. The radio is back in position and "on line". "And the score, 4-2 Bruins, we'll be right back!!" announces broadcaster Fred Cusick.

What?!! - it was just tied up! How could it be 4-2?!! Well, the Bruins Ed Westfall scored seconds after the face-off (and 12 seconds after Bucyk's power play goal), all the while mom was tyin' up the fridge.  I'm thinkin' - "F*K! - missed it!!".

Mom, sensing a short break in the action following the score - "Can I put this back in the refrigerator real quick?" - "OK - BUT HURRY UP, YA' MADE ME MISS THAT LAST GOAL!!. She replaces whatever it was, I reset the small table and re-tune the radio just as an excited Cusick's announced "AND THE BRUINS NOW LEAD IT 5-2!!!". I'm now thinkin' "What the f*k - it's only been like two minutes?!!!

Here it turned out that Ted Green scored a third goal immediately after face-off; eight seconds regulation following Westfall, and subsequently twenty seconds following Bucyk,  which set a new NHL record for the the three fastest team goals (twenty seconds regulation). The record still stands to this day.

And missed it all because of mom. And what is ironic is that she was whipping up a Boston Cream Pie.