1945–46 Boston Bruins season

1945–46 Boston Bruins
Division	2nd NHL
1945–46 record	24–18–8
Goals for	167 (3rd)
Goals against	156 (2nd)
Team information
Coach	Dit Clapper
Captain	Dit Clapper
Team leaders
Goals	Woody Dumart (22)
Assists	Don Gallinger (23)
Points	Don Gallinger (40)
Penalty minutes	Bep Guidolin (62)
Wins	Frank Brimsek (16)
Goals against average	Paul Bibeault (2.81)

The 1945–46 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 22nd season in the NHL. With the return of star forwards Milt Schmidt, Bobby Bauer and Woody Dumart as well as star goalie Frank Brimsek from war service, the Bruins made it to the 1946 Stanley Cup Final only to lose to the rival Montreal Canadiens four games to one.

Regular Season

Art Ross retires as coach and Dit Clapper becomes the team's first player-coach.

Final Standings

National Hockey League

	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Montreal Canadiens	50	28	17	5	61	172	134	337
Boston Bruins	50	24	18	8	56	167	156	273
Chicago Black Hawks	50	23	20	7	53	200	178	339
Detroit Red Wings	50	20	20	10	50	146	159	298
Toronto Maple Leafs	50	19	24	7	45	174	185	247
New York Rangers	50	13	28	9	35	144	191	285

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Game Log

Regular season results
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 24, 1945	4–5	Chicago Black Hawks (1945–46)	0–1–0
2	T	October 27, 1945	1–1	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1945–46)	0–1–1
3	L	October 28, 1945	0–7	@ Detroit Red Wings (1945–46)	0–2–1
4	W	November 4, 1945	6–5	Montreal Canadiens (1945–46)	1–2–1
5	W	November 7, 1945	4–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1945–46)	2–2–1
6	L	November 10, 1945	3–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1945–46)	2–3–1
7	W	November 11, 1945	7–1	@ New York Rangers (1945–46)	3–3–1
8	W	November 21, 1945	3–0	Montreal Canadiens (1945–46)	4–3–1
9	W	November 25, 1945	5–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1945–46)	5–3–1
10	W	November 28, 1945	5–1	New York Rangers (1945–46)	6–3–1
11	T	December 2, 1945	2–2	Detroit Red Wings (1945–46)	6–3–2
12	W	December 5, 1945	6–3	Chicago Black Hawks (1945–46)	7–3–2
13	L	December 9, 1945	3–8	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1945–46)	7–4–2
14	T	December 12, 1945	2–2	Detroit Red Wings (1945–46)	7–4–3
15	T	December 15, 1945	3–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1945–46)	7–4–4
16	T	December 16, 1945	3–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1945–46)	7–4–5
17	W	December 19, 1945	8–7	New York Rangers (1945–46)	8–4–5
18	L	December 23, 1945	1–4	Montreal Canadiens (1945–46)	8–5–5
19	W	December 29, 1945	4–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1945–46)	9–5–5
20	T	December 30, 1945	3–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1945–46)	9–5–6
21	W	January 1, 1946	4–0	Detroit Red Wings (1945–46)	10–5–6
22	L	January 5, 1946	2–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1945–46)	10–6–6
23	L	January 6, 1946	2–4	@ New York Rangers (1945–46)	10–7–6
24	L	January 10, 1946	1–2	@ Detroit Red Wings (1945–46)	10–8–6
25	W	January 12, 1946	4–3	Chicago Black Hawks (1945–46)	11–8–6
26	W	January 16, 1946	3–2	New York Rangers (1945–46)	12–8–6
27	W	January 17, 1946	4–2	@ New York Rangers (1945–46)	13–8–6
28	L	January 19, 1946	1–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1945–46)	13–9–6
29	W	January 20, 1946	3–0	Montreal Canadiens (1945–46)	14–9–6
30	W	January 23, 1946	7–1	Toronto Maple Leafs (1945–46)	15–9–6
31	W	January 26, 1946	4–2	@ Detroit Red Wings (1945–46)	16–9–6
32	L	January 27, 1946	1–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1945–46)	16–10–6
33	W	January 30, 1946	4–3	Chicago Black Hawks (1945–46)	17–10–6
34	W	February 2, 1946	5–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1945–46)	18–10–6
35	L	February 3, 1946	1–3	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1945–46)	18–11–6
36	T	February 6, 1946	3–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1945–46)	18–11–7
37	L	February 10, 1946	0–2	Montreal Canadiens (1945–46)	18–12–7
38	W	February 13, 1946	3–0	Detroit Red Wings (1945–46)	19–12–7
39	T	February 14, 1946	2–2	@ New York Rangers (1945–46)	19–12–8
40	L	February 16, 1946	2–6	New York Rangers (1945–46)	19–13–8
41	L	February 20, 1946	3–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1945–46)	19–14–8
42	L	February 23, 1946	2–7	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1945–46)	19–15–8
43	L	February 24, 1946	3–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1945–46)	19–16–8
44	W	February 27, 1946	5–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1945–46)	20–16–8
45	L	March 3, 1946	3–5	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1945–46)	20–17–8
46	W	March 6, 1946	4–2	Detroit Red Wings (1945–46)	21–17–8
47	W	March 10, 1946	7–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1945–46)	22–17–8
48	W	March 12, 1946	3–2	@ New York Rangers (1945–46)	23–17–8
49	L	March 13, 1946	3–5	New York Rangers (1945–46)	23–18–8
50	W	March 17, 1946	5–3	Chicago Black Hawks (1945–46)	24–18–8

Playoffs

Boston Bruins 4, Detroit Red Wings 3

Meeting for the 5th time in the last six years in the playoffs, the Bruins would overcome the Wings in five games to avenge losing the previous three series. The return of the Kraut Line from war service saw them score half the Bruins goals in the series and Frank Brimsek out dueled Wings goalie Harry Lumley.

Game 1 saw the home town Bruins jump out to a 2-0 first period lead on a Shorthanded goal by defenseman Pat Egan and rookie Bill Shill. Harry Watson responded for the Wings in the second but Brimsek shut the door and Bep Guidolin sealed a 3-1 win for the Bruins.

Game 2 featured shutout play by Wings goalie Lumley and goals by Pat Lundy, Jim Conacher and Watson's second of the series for a Wings 3-0 win, tying the series 1-1.

Game 3 shifted the series to the Detroit Olympia where the Kraut Line dominated with a pair of goals each by Milt Schmidt and Woody Dumart plus a marker by Egan. Two late third period goals by the Wings Fern Gauthier and Carl Liscombe weren't enough as the Bruins won 5-2 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4 was a very clean game with only one penalty in which the Kraut Line continued to produce on first period goals by Dumart and Bobby Bauer. After a scoreless second period, Bep Guidolin's 2nd of the series saw the Bruins up 3-0. Fern Gauthier responded but a goal by the Bruins Terry Reardon sank any hopes of a comeback. The Bruins won 4-0 and took a 3-1 stranglehold on the series.

Game 5 saw the series back in the Boston Garden where first period goals by Bauer and Guidolin put the Bruins up 2-0. Gauthier responded in the second period but Reardon responded early in the third. The Wings mounted a furious comeback with a goal by Adam Brown and Ed Bruneteau tying it up in the last minute, sending the game into overtime. The Bruins survived a penalty in OT by Egan and Don Gallinger was the hero with the winner at 9:51.

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	March 19	Detroit Red Wings	1-3	Boston Bruins	0-1
2	March 21	Detroit Red Wings	3-0	Boston Bruins	1-1
3	March 24	Boston Bruins	5-2	Detroit Red Wings	2-1
4	March 26	Boston Bruins	4-1	Detroit Red Wings	3-1
5	March 28	Detroit Red Wings	3-4 (OT)	Boston Bruins	1-4

Montreal Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 1

See 1946 Stanley Cup Finals. Having last met in the 1943 semi-finals where the Bruins defeated the Habs 4 games to 1, the 1946 series would see three games go to overtime. The Canadiens won two of the OT games and defeated the Bruins 4 games to 1.

Game 1 saw a scoreless first period yield to an early second period Power play goal by Butch Bouchard of the Canadiens. Bob Fillion made it 2-0 before the Bruins scored a pair by Bep Guidolin, Woody Dumart. Tied going into the third, the Bruins Jack Crawford scored his only goal of the playoffs. Murph Chamberlain tied the game with less than four minutes in the period, sending the game into overtime. 9:08 into OT, Maurice Richard scored the winner, his 5th of the playoffs.

Game 2 saw the teams trade first period goals by Pat Egan and Elmer Lach. As in game 1, the Bruins took the lead on a goal by Bobby Bauer but the Habs again tied it up on Butch Bouchard's marker. Jimmy Peters was the OT hero and Montreal held a 2-0 series lead going to Boston.

Game 3 again saw Montreal pull the game out in the third period. After the Bruins Guidolin and Terry Reardon tallied, responded by Elmer Lach and Glen Harmon, it was 2-2 at the end of the second. Third period goals by Ken Mosdell and Dutch Hiller and stout goaltending by the Habs Bill Durnan lead Montreal to a 4-3 and a 3-0 stranglehold on the series.

Game 4 saw a scoreless first period. The Bruins Murray Henderson broke the ice in the second, responded to by Richard. In the third, Don Gallinger put the Bruins up but Richard responded again, sending the game into overtime. Terry Reardon's 4th of the playoffs won it for the Bruins, who travelled back to Montreal down 3-1.

Game 5 saw the Kraut Line finally break out with the first goal of the series for Milt Schmidt. Bobby Bauer and Bill Cowley also scored but the Habs responded with Fillion, Lach and Mosdell. Tied 3-3 going into the third, the Habs again demonstrated a strong final frame and once Toe Blake scored at 11:06, Chamberlain and Hiller piled on and Montreal took the Cup in 5 games.

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	March 19	Boston Bruins	3-4 (OT)	Montreal Canadiens	0-1
2	March 21	Boston Bruins	2-3 (OT)	Montreal Canadiens	0-2
3	March 24	Montreal Canadiens	4-2	Boston Bruins	3-0
4	March 26	Montreal Canadiens	2-3 (OT)	Boston Bruins	3-1
5	March 28	Boston Bruins	3-6	Montreal Canadiens	1-4

Player Stats

Regular Season

Scoring

#	Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
11	Gallinger, DonDon Gallinger	C	50	17	23	40	18
14	Dumart, WoodyWoody Dumart	LW	50	22	12	34	2
12	Guidolin, BepBep Guidolin	LW	50	15	17	32	62
15	Schmidt, MiltMilt Schmidt	C/D	48	13	18	31	21
4	Cain, HerbHerb Cain	LW	48	17	12	29	4
9	Shill, BillBill Shill	RW	45	15	12	27	12
10	Cowley, BillBill Cowley	C	26	12	12	24	6
7	Reardon, TerryTerry Reardon	C/RW	49	12	11	23	21
17	Bauer, BobbyBobby Bauer	RW	39	11	10	21	4
19	McGill, JackJack McGill	C	46	6	14	20	21
x	Egan, PatPat Egan	D	41	8	10	18	32
6	Crawford, JackJack Crawford	D	48	7	9	16	10
8	Henderson, MurrayMurray Henderson	D	48	4	11	15	30
x	Smith, KenKen Smith	LW	23	2	6	8	0
18x	Church, JackJack Church	D	43	2	6	8	28
5	Clapper, DitDit Clapper	RW/D	30	2	3	5	0
x	Conacher, RoyRoy Conacher	LW	4	2	1	3	0
x	Delmonte, ArmandArmand Delmonte	RW	1	0	0	0	0
x	Flaman, FernFern Flaman	D	1	0	0	0	0
x	McMahon, MikeMike McMahon	D	2	0	0	0	2
x	Bruce, GordieGordie Bruce	LW	5	0	0	0	0
1	Bibeault, PaulPaul Bibeault	G	16	0	0	0	0
1	Brimsek, FrankFrank Brimsek	G	34	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Brimsek, FrankFrank Brimsek	2040	34	16	14	4	111	3.26	2
Bibeault, PaulPaul Bibeault	960	16	8	4	4	45	2.81	2
Team:	3000	50	24	18	8	156	3.12	4

Playoffs

Scoring

#	Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
15	Schmidt, MiltMilt Schmidt	C/D	10	3	5	8	2
x	Guidolin, BepBep Guidolin	LW	10	5	2	7	13
17	Bauer, BobbyBobby Bauer	RW	10	4	3	7	2
14	Dumart, WoodyWoody Dumart	LW	10	4	3	7	0
x	Gallinger, DonDon Gallinger	C	10	2	4	6	2
x	Reardon, TerryTerry Reardon	C/RW	10	4	0	4	2
10	Cowley, BillBill Cowley	C	10	1	3	4	2
x	Smith, KenKen Smith	LW	8	0	4	4	0
x	Egan, PatPat Egan	D	10	3	0	3	8
x	Shill, BillBill Shill	RW	7	1	2	3	2
6	Crawford, JackJack Crawford	D	10	1	2	3	4
x	Henderson, MurrayMurray Henderson	D	10	1	1	2	4
x	Cain, HerbHerb Cain	LW	9	0	2	2	2
x	Conacher, RoyRoy Conacher	LW	3	0	0	0	0
5	Clapper, DitDit Clapper	RW/D	4	0	0	0	0
x	Church, JackJack Church	D	9	0	0	0	4
x	McGill, JackJack McGill	C	10	0	0	0	0
1	Brimsek, FrankFrank Brimsek	G	10	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO
Brimsek, FrankFrank Brimsek	651	10	5	5	29	2.67	0
Team:	651	10	5	5	29	2.67	0

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;

Awards and Records

• O'Brien Trophy: Boston Bruins
• Frank Brimsek, Goaltender, NHL Second Team All-Star
• Jack Crawford, Defence, NHL First Team All-Star

Transactions

• Bruins return Paul Bibeault (who was on loan) to the Montreal Canadiens when Bill Durnan is injured.

Trivia

• Bruins who recorded a Hat trick this season include:
  • xxx during the 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 16, 1945.

Gallery

October 27, 1945 - Milt Schmidt at the Leafs home opener. Puck drop by Victoria Cross winner Smokey Smith.

Rangers goalie Chuck Rayner clears the puck while Bruins Bobby Bauer and #4 Herb Cain pursue, January 6, 1946.

March 21, 1946 - Jim Conacher scores on Frank Brimsek during Game 2 of the semi-finals which the Wings win 3-0. #6 Jack Crawford, #18 Jack Church and Ted Lindsay look on.

See Also

• 1945–46 NHL season