Top 10 Goalie Tandems in Boston Bruins History

Which are the best 10 goaltender tandems in the history of the Boston Bruins?

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1. Gerry Cheevers & Eddie Johnston

Gerry Cheevers
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Gerry Cheevers and Eddie Johnston started as a tandem in the 1966-67 season, the back-end of the worst era in Bruins history, and before long were a key part of arguably the best era in Bruins history. In their first three seasons together, Cheevers and Johnston put up a combined record of 89-75-34 with a .899 SV% and a 3.02 GAA with nine shutouts. In the 1968-69 playoffs, the Bruins swept the Maple Leafs in the Quarterfinals, but were defeated by the Canadiens in six games in the Semi-Finals. Cheevers went 6-3 with a .947 SV% and a 1.68 GAA with three shutouts.

In 1970, the Bruins won their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history, their first since 1941. Cheevers recorded 24 wins during the regular season and the pair had a combined record of 40-17-19 with a .913 SV% and a 2.85 GAA with seven shutouts. In the playoffs, the Bruins swept their way past the Chicago Blackhawks in the Semi-Finals, and went on to sweep the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Final. Cheevers went 12-1 with a .925 SV% and a 2.23 GAA in the dominating postseason by the Bruins.

Just two years later, the Bruins won their fifth Stanley Cup in franchise history. Cheevers made history himself during the regular season. He recorded the longest undefeated streak by a goaltender in NHL history, going undefeated in 32 consecutive games from November 14, 1971, to March 25, 1972, a record that still stands today. Cheevers and Johnston split equal time during the regular season and the playoffs, Cheevers going 27-5-8 during the regular season with a .920 SV% and a 2.50 GAA with two shutouts, while Johnston went 27-8-3 with a .899 SV% and a 2.71 GAA with two shutouts.

The Bruins went on to win the Stanley Cup, defeating the New York Rangers in six games. With nearly identical records, Johnston went 6-1 with a .936 SV% and a 1.86 GAA with one shutout, while Cheevers went 6-2 with a .915 SV% and a 2.61 GAA with two shutouts.

After the Stanley Cup season, Cheevers left the NHL to join the newly formed World Hockey Association, but would return to the Bruins in February 1976. Johnston played out the next season for the B’s and on May 22, 1973, was added to a deal made earlier in March that sent a first-round draft pick and future considerations to the Toronto Maple Leafs, in exchange for Jacques Plante and a third-round draft pick.

Cheevers and Johnston have the most regular season wins for a goalie tandem in Bruins history (240) and also hold the record for most postseason shutouts by any duo in franchise history (6). They are the only Bruins tandem to win more than one Stanley Cup championship. Cheevers was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.