The Boston Garden, home of the Bruins, opened on November 17, 1928, and was demolished in 1997. Located on top of North Station which was the hub for the Boston and Maine railroad, it was built at a cost of $10 million and the first team sporting event there was a hockey game on November 20, 1928, won by the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 over the Boston Bruins. 17,000 fans – two thousand over capacity – attended while other fans without tickets broke windows and doors and stormed their way in.
I used to see the Garden on television on the CBS hockey game of the week and I used to think how beautiful it looked. I saw it in person in 1973, when I broadcast University of Wisconsin hockey in the NCAA tournament, and my image was dashed. It was old and filthy but because it was built for boxing, everyone had a great view of the game and our broadcast location was outstanding. We were located in a platform hanging off the first balcony and were so close to the visiting bench we could hear the players talk with each other.
Some of the quirks of the Garden included the fact that the ice surface was nine feet shorter and two feet narrower than regulation. For that reason I always seemed to feel like I was racing to keep up with the action on my play-by-play. The teams also didn’t sit on the same side of the ice but across from each other, and due to the smaller dimensions, the Bruins always seemed to tailor their teams to take advantage of that size.
The visitors’ dressing room was small, hot and with questionable plumbing. There was no air conditioning in the building and twice in the Stanley Cup Final between the Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers the games were disrupted by power failures. The electrical situation was probably the reason that many nights I would be doing play-by-play on TV with a technician crawling under my legs to make an adjustment.
In spite of the shortcomings, the Garden had a great history of outstanding players and teams. In the modern era, I got to describe the exploits of Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Johnny Bucyk, Ken Hodge and Gerry Cheevers. Boston hockey fans are avid and boisterous and in the 70’s liked to say, ‘Jesus saves, and Esposito scores on the rebound.’
One of the great playoff series I had the pleasure of broadcasting was in 1976 between the heavily favored Bruins and the Los Angeles Kings. The Bruins shut out the Kings in Game 1, 4-0, but the Kings evened the series by winning Game 2, 3-2, on a goal by Butch Goring 27 seconds into overtime. Game 3 was in Los Angeles and the Kings won, 6-4, led by Marcel Dionne’s hat trick – the first of his playoff career – and the goaltending of Rogie Vachon. Boston’s Cheevers shut out the Kings, 3-0, to tie the series at two wins apiece heading back to Boston.
Game 5 in the Garden was a disaster for the Kings, who after taking a 1-0 lead, gave up the next seven goals and lost 7-1. Game 6 in Los Angeles was a must win for the Kings. I’ll never forget the ovation the Kings got when they took the ice that night in spite of losing the previous game in Boston. The ovation lasted so long that referee Andy Van Hellemond told the singer to start the anthem or he was going to drop the puck. Unbeknownst to everyone was that Boston’s Wayne Cashman had deliberately cut the microphone cord with his skate.
The Kings were behind 3-1 at the end of two periods but scored twice in the third on two goals by Mike Corrigan, the tying goal coming with just 2:12 left in regulation. The longest overtime in Kings’ history, to that point, ended 18:28 into the extra period when Bob Murdoch passed to Bob Nevin, who then gave the puck to Goring, who crossed the blue line, cut to his left, and beat Cheevers with a shot just inside the left goal post and the series was tied, 3-3. Fans at the Forum that night will long remember the Kings streaming off the bench and carrying Goring off the ice on their shoulders, the first and only time I’ve ever seen that in a hockey game. On the air I was screaming, ‘We’re going back to Boston, we’re going back to Boston for Game 7!’
A great sportswriter in Boston named Leigh Montville wrote a column titled “Kings of the Living Dead.” He said Game 7 was the game no one in Boston thought would ever be played, and yet every time the Bruins think the Kings are dead, ‘the Kings stick their fingers over the side of the coffin each time the lid is about to close. Two weeks ago the Kings were a curiosity in Boston, now it’s time to be afraid of the L.A. Kings. Man should always be afraid of things that won’t die.’ Well, the Kings couldn’t stay alive in Game 7 as Boston’s backup goalie Gilles Gilbert won a 3-0 shutout.
The last event ever held in the Boston Garden was on September 28, 1995, a preseason game between the Bruins and the Canadiens. The Garden then sat vacant for two years before it was torn down and the land now serves as a parking lot for the current home of the Bruins, TD Garden. What can’t be demolished however, are the memories of the great teams and players who once played in the “Gah-den.”
Nice write up Bob. Yes, the old Boston Garden was a great place to see a hockey game if you had balcony seats or loge seats that weren’t under the balcony overhang. There sure were a lot of obstructed view seats under the balcony, and heaven help the fan who was stuck behind one of the balcony support beams.
It wasn’t such a great place to see a game if you were a woman who didn’t want to spend all of intermission standing in a long line for one of the few ladies rooms. (They just didn’t attend that many sporting events in 1928, so the number of women’s rest rooms reflected that.) If you were a non-smoker, you still got a lungful when you entered the hallways where smoking was permitted. It was like walking through a house fire. Even Larry Bird complained because the smoke often hung over the basketball court like a fog.
It also wasn’t such a great place if you were squeamish about rats or pigeons. They actually had to stop a Celtics playoff game once because a pigeon landed on the court and refused to leave.
The TD Garden has all the creature comforts of newer arenas, and none of the obstructed view seats. But something was lost when the old barn was torn down. I think there was an intimidation factor from all the fans sitting right over the ice, and the smaller surface made it easier for the Bruins grinders to mash opponents into the boards.
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Thanks for the memories Bob. I remember when Tony Granato was with the Kings, he once said that Boston Gardens was the toughest arena he ever played in. Said those fans could get really vicious.
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I was fortunate enough to catch a game at the “Gah-den” when I was a kid. We stayed in a hotel a few blocks from it and I remember thinking how much different Bostonians were from Angelenos. The area reminded me of Gotham city right out of The Batman movies. What great memories from that trip!
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That was a great series. The Kings just fell short. Thanks for the great memories Bob and lets hope your back announcing soon.
Brian
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If Penner plays more.physically and Stoll can actually get hos shot on net, we would have a shot at winning the Cup.
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Lake Forest Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
@DesertKing, Penner is lazy. Trade him. Bench Stolly, he hasn’t scored a goal since Penner put any effort into his game.
SCHMUCKS@!
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goldielocks Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
@DesertKing,
More I watch the replay of playoffs, more I realize what those two can bring on the table. I criticized that Stoll was overpayed based on his regular season stats. But now I know I was completely wrong. Every thing he does worth every single penny. He was Kovalchk killer out there.
As for Penns, how many times cutting in front of everybody, and taking the puck from the board to the dangerous area with his quick first step benefited his line mates? He is a very unique type of player who can play by not playing the puck (Carter’s 1st goal on his hat trick, Nolans goal). I believe his unique talent bring more benefit to his line mates as they develop more chemistry.
Remember they were allowed to use their talents at very late of the season. There are still so much space to improve. I can’t imagine how good they can be when they develop more chemistry and perform A-games more.
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luc20rules Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
@goldielocks, I agree with your analysis here, but didn’t post because I believe they were being sarcastic.
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Thanks Bob, To the staff taking over for Rich it is really great how each of you bring your own flair to the site. Its definately different, but I feel with 4 people contributing there is considerably more range. Even if there is a permanate Kings Insider hired I hope you, Jim, Nick, & Daryl will continue to have a couple of articles here or atleast have articles the new guy will link us too.
I hope they hire a CBA arbitrator, so soon we can watch games with your great play by play. Go Kings Go!
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goldielocks Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
@luc20rules,
I like the idea of mediation. However it’s not going to happen at least this week (hope for Dec. 1 start expires at the end of this week).
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luc20rules Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 7:50 pm
@goldielocks, I’ve been hoping for it since early Sept. Bettman is not a guy that negotiates, and Fehr is not the type to just give it all. I actually had hope that I was wrong about the both of them when the PR games stopped for a week, but then they came out again so strong the media couldn’t even keep the stories straight.
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Still the loudest event of any kind I’ve ever been at was that night in 76 with the 10 minute ovation to start game six against the great Boston Bruins. What Bob didn’t mention was that ovation was stopped for a moment of silence for the Death of Jack Kent Cooke’s mother. Once the moment of silence was over, the ovation stated back up again as if it was never stopped.
If you don’t think the King’s got much respect in the 2012 season if was far far less in 76. We were pretty much just a joke to the rest of the league. Virtually all games against the original 6 there were as many fans for the visiting team as the Kings. Same with Philly games even though they came in the league with the Kings.
We scared the crap out of the Boston fans. The look on their faces when Goring won that game was priceless. The great Espo and Orr going off in defeat to the Kings with Goring on their shoulders to a roar of the crowd that I have yet seen equaled even in last years Cup win.
Why the King’s never replay that game is beyond me. It was fricken awesome. I’d rather see a replay of that game rather than the Miricle on Manchester any day.
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Goring 19 Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
@KC23, do you remember in that game Cheevers lost his stick and Mike Corrigan was tackled on the ice and swiped at the puck to the net and it hit Cheever’s stick and went in for the tying goal? And then overtime Butchie? Priceless
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KC23 Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
@Goring 19, Actually, I was about 10 rows up from the ice in the corner that that play happened and everyone was standing and I couldn’t see that play live. Saw it on replay though and as I recall Corrigan was face first on the ice and his stick was flat on the ice and the puck followed the angle of stick like a pin ball and slipped right by Cheevers. My ears have never been the same since that game.
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Forum Gold Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
@KC23, Thanks Bob. That was a game that still gives me goosebumps when I read about it. Butch still calls that game his most thrilling game and the loudest he has EVER heard a crowd. The best 6000 fan base ever in the 70′s. Hutch told Butch he was going to score the OT goal and as he was going off the ice on Dave Hutchison’s shoulders Dave was pointing at him saying, I told you so. Classic. We need to get #19 retired and hanging in the rafters. How much would Butch have loved the Shootouts!!!!
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Ah the memories. I remember that series well. I was just becoming a rabid Kings fan at that time which was unusual for a 12 year old SoCal kid. I was at the 6-4 game when Marcel had the hat trick and I was so proud of the team. I had to listen to Bob on the transistor radio call game 6 (lucky you KC23) and of course it was sheer bedlam at my house. Great series, going seven, came so close again but….fast forward to 2012 woohoo!
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Great memories of the Garden…..As you mentioned, the Bruins were known for packing the smaller ice surface with big tough players, but they also had their share of sawed-off agitators like Pie McKenzie and Bobby Schmautz…..I remember an account of one game in Boston in which the writer stated that “Schmautz carried his stick so high there was danger that a fan in the Gardem balcony might reach out and steal it”……
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Thanks Bob as usual great reading about the past is always a fun thing.
Thanks so much!
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Just watched Kopitar’s and Carter’s game winners for about the millionth time. Doesn’t get old.
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Michael J. Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
@Robert R, Nope. Watched them both this Am too.
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Robert R Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
@Michael J., That condolence song that NJ plays after a loss sure got a lot of play. Wore out that poor CD.
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Please let common sense reign and bring in outside help. Don’t let the clowns run the show.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/20257/renown-mediator-wants-crack-at-cba-talks
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Yup, awesome series! Great memories… but we always seem to just not be able to get over the hump back then. Yes, there were the powerhouse teams visiting the Forum; but now, if the lockout could end, the powerhouse KINGS could show themselves as a team to contend with for more than just one year!
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….Playing for the Ontario Reign tonight is Devin Setoguchi and Paul Mara…..for San Fransico Bulls is Ryan Clowe……some remnants of the NHL at least….
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DesertKing Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
@Deke’r,
Clowe playing for Frisco? mmmm, that gives me an idea…..
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Actually the NHLPA could offer for just this year the NHL could have games on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years day, and Easter games. Of course it should be set up so the teams playing are both local so players could still be with family. Anh vs LA, any two of (NYR/NJ/NYI/Phil/Bos), Phil vs Pitt, Det vs Tor, ect. Cancel the All Star game and expand regular season thru May 12th. Playoffs start on May 15th (seeds 1,2,7, & 8 ) and May 16th(seeds 3,4,5, & 6), and are setup with no series to last more than 11 days(which starts from each round) and 2 days between series assuming 7 game series. Assuming the finals go 7 games it would end on June 30, 2013. Heck if they really wanted to they could have the All Star Game and Skills Comp after the season is over and work it around the NHL Awards Show in Vegas.
Big assumption if they could settle things this week then something close to 82 games is not impossible. Savings no All Star Game(5 days), playing holiday games (2 days), playing until end of June (19 days), and tightening up playoff/regular season schedules (15 days). Thats 41 days about what we are behind if we start playing on Thanksgiving.
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2 videos, Alec injury and Brown scores.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl-lockout/2012/11/14/eurovision_alec_martinez_los_angeles_kings_injured_finland/
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was just reminded of my hatred for Mike “The Hack” Smith.
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DesertKing Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
@Lake Forest,
Watching the same thing right now. My god was our team great.
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Lake Forest Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
@DesertKing, funny thing about it….EVERYONE was playing great. You CANT criticize ANYONE!
Stolly, Pancake, Lewis were complete 180′s from the reg season
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DesertKing Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
@Lake Forest,
Yep, you called it, Lewis was excellent.
Every year, the official White House turkey receives a “pardon” from the President. For this year, I nominate Gary Bettman and Don Fehr. I’m not sure about the pardon, though.
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Robert R Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
(Why not have co-turkeys? A 50-50 split seems acceptable)
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar statue being added at Staples. Unveiling Friday
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DesertKing Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
@Lake Forest,
When does Quick get his?
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Lake Forest Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
@DesertKing, we get a couple more Cups and it will be sooner rather than later!
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DesertKing Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 10:12 pm
@Lake Forest,
Watching tonights replay amd Quick is just unbelievable.
Lake Forest Reply:
November 14th, 2012 at 11:11 pm
@DesertKing, Almost makes me want to get a Penner jersey. (though not for another season, I promised not to purchase any NHL related merchandise for a season).
LA_1968 Reply:
November 15th, 2012 at 12:19 am
@Lake Forest, Or just do a little chiseling on the Oscar de la Hoya statue and slap a 32 goalie sweater on it.
Bob I love hearing your stories. Sadly the old Garden was taken down before I had a chance to go there, but I’ve seen a few games at the new arena and I will say this: generally speaking their fans have been very cool towards visiting fans. Granted chatting with Bruins fans while wearing a Kings jersey for a regular season game is a little bit different than if we were battling them in the playoffs but they had always been cool to us…. unlike seeing a game in Philly where I literally did not feel comfortable at all.
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Shakes Reply:
November 15th, 2012 at 9:40 am
small edit: the Bruins fans have been cool towards visiting fans unless it’s the Habs… I went to Boston/Montreal game and the fans were ruthless to our neighbors of the north.
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I think Ryan Clowe should be brought in to handle the CBA negotiations. Based upon how Bettman handled Clowes’ lying and cheating this season, he obviously has some dirt on the Evil Load
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Kingsfanone Reply:
November 15th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
@DesertKing,
Clowe? What did he do? He’s completely innocent……right?
Hee hee!
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I really like this series, its the only hockey related thing i seem to enjoy during this lockout.
If this continues, Bob will have to write a new column “There used to be a hockey league”.
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Shakes Reply:
November 15th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
@Sebastian,
i laughed when i read that last line…and then i frowned.
#TooSoon
#NeverForgetNHL
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“The Ghaden?” Never heard of that place!!!! LOL
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