1927–28 Boston Bruins season


The 1927–28 Boston Bruins season was the team's fourth in the NHL. The Bruins finished first in the American Division, marking its first division title in franchise history and its second playoff appearance. The team lost in the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers.

Regular season

For the second straight season, Harry Oliver led the Bruins in scoring, and although the team's attack was relatively anemic – the Bruins finished with 77 goals, leading only the last-place teams in both divisions, the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Americans – they cut down sharply in goals allowed, leading the division behind Hal Winkler's goaltending. Eddie Shore was the team's great star, finishing just one point behind Oliver in scoring and leading the league in penalty minutes by a wide margin.
Winkler in his own turn had fifteen shutouts, tied with Alex Connell for the league lead and a new NHL record; Winkler's mark remains the Bruins' single-season record for shutouts, eighty years later. Although veteran Sprague Cleghorn was fading and missed a quarter of the season with injuries, Shore and defense partner Lionel Hitchman were ironmen, playing most of each game.
Prominent newcomers included Dutch Gainor and Dit Clapper, both of whose rights were purchased from the minor leagues, and who would make a significant impact with the Bruins down the years.
With Boston's first place finish, the Bruins became the first team to win the Prince of Wales Trophy, awarded for the first time in this season.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Playoffs

The Bruins gained a first-round bye by virtue of winning the division, and played the New York Rangers in the second round in a two-game, total goal series. Their scoring problems of the regular season continued, exacerbated by a flu bug going through the dressing room and various minor injuries; Shore, Clapper, Gainor and Connor were particularly affected.
Boston tied the first game 1–1 in New York, the Rangers' final home game of the playoffs – this was the first of perennial disruptions to the Rangers' playoff schedule due to Madison Square Garden hosting the circus in the spring. The Bruins lost the second match in Boston 4–1, on three Ranger third-period goals as the weakened Brown-and-Gold folded at last, to drop the total-goal series five goals to two. Harry Oliver, who scored a goal in each game, was the sole offensive threat.

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM
RW431351820
D4311617165
C411041483
C42841235
C/RW12831122
LW/D42651126
LW42911036
D4453887
RW/D4041520
RW4332540
D3722414
LW221017
D50000
D/C30002
G440000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASO
278044201311701.5115
Team:278044201311701.5115

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM
RW22024
C20114
LW/D20116
RW/D20002
D20000
LW20000
C20006
RW20000
LW20000
D20002
D20008
G20000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASO
12020152.500
Team:12020152.500

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