Boston Bruins

Established in 1924, the Boston Bruins were the first American team to join the NHL. They won their first of six Stanley Cup championships in just their fifth season in 1929, defeating the defending champions New York Rangers. It was the first Stanley Cup championship to feature two U.S. teams. The Bruins added championships in 1939 and 1941, and between 1943 and 1958 they reached the final five more times. After the arrival of future Hall of Famers Bobby Orr (a three-time MVP) and Phil Esposito (one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time and the first player to score 100 points in a season), the Bruins won Stanley Cup Championships in 1970 and 1972. The image of Orr flying through the air after scoring "The Goal" in overtime to defeat the St. Louis Blues in 1970 is one of the most memorable in hockey history. On April 9, 2023, the Bruins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3, marking their 63rd win of the season and setting a new NHL record for the most single-season wins. They made history again on April 12 when they reached 133 points scored in a single season thanks to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals, besting the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens for the NHL team with the most points scored in a single season. Twenty-nine straight appearances in the Playoffs followed -- a record among all professional sports -- including Stanley Cup Final appearances in 1974, 1977-1978, 1988, and 1990. After a two-decade absence, the Bruins returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011, defeating the Vancouver Canucks in a thrilling seven-game series behind the goaltending of Tim Thomas. To date, the Bruins have made 20 appearances in the Stanley Cup Final, including most recently in 2019. Legendary players who have worn the Bruins' jersey include Hall of Famers Cecil "Tiny" Thompson, Eddie Shore, and Aubrey "Dit" Clapper.