In the long history of the NHL, one of the most mythical records is undoubtedly that of fewest casualties suffered in a season. Brand held by the Canadian since the 1976-1977 season due to his record of 60 wins, 8 losses and 12 draws.
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Since then, only the Red Wings of the 1995-1996 season have come close with 13 losses. And even. Halfway through their schedule, on January 11, 1996, they had already suffered nine casualties.
But now the Bruins are showing themselves in this encounter with history. When they arrived at the Bell Centre, Jim Montgomery’s side had suffered just five losses in their first 46 regular-time games.
“I remember that team from 1976-1977,” said Montgomery, who often exchanges views with Scotty Bowman, the Canadian’s coach on that formation. At that time I was in the forum two or three times a year. »
“A season with only eight defeats, I don’t think that’s realistic in today’s ice hockey. There are often streaks of three games in four nights. You change cities, you play two games in as many nights,” he pointed out.
adversity will come
In the Bruins’ dressing room, that record from more than 40 years ago seems far removed from the players’ priorities.
“It’s not something to think about. We don’t discuss it internally, argued Patrice Bergeron. Earlier in the season, there was a record for an unbeaten streak at home to start a season. We hardly ever talked about it. »
The record mentioned by the Bruins captain is more likely that of the number of consecutive home wins at the start of the season. With 14 wins, the Bruins surpassed the 10 mark held by the Maple Leafs in 1993-94.
“We take things as they come. We’re staying in the moment, Bergeron said of the team’s success. We are aware that there will be times when we will face adversity. We are not immune to this. »
And as a colleague has suggested, it’s better to go through a dark period in the regular game schedule than in the playoffs.