Every sports fan in the world knows about heartbreak, but the Boston Bruins have taken some brutal losses on the chin over the past few decades. The cost of being a contending team is that it isn't always going to work out in your favor, but it feels like Boston has taken more brutal losses than most in that situation. They have their fair share of big wins, but sometimes the losses stick out a little bit more.
1979 vs. Montreal Canadiens - Game 7 Semifinals
There have been some heartbreaking losses in recent memory for the Bruins, but a list like this isn't complete without the 1979 catastrophe. The Bruins had taken a 4-3 lead against the Montreal Canadiens with four minutes remaining, but a too-many-men penalty with 2:34 left led to a Guy Lafleur tying goal. Of course, Boston couldn't bounce back in that enviroment in overtime, and Yvon Lambert ended the game.
2010 vs. Philadelphia Flyers - Game 7 Eastern Conference Semifinals
The Bruins weren't supposed to make too much noise in the 2010 playoffs, but when they upset the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd seeds were all eliminated in the Eastern Conference, it looked like anybody's playoffs to win. Boston took a 3-0 lead in the second round against the seventh-seeded Philadelphia Flyers, but a David Krejci broken wrist from a Mike Richards open-ice hit effectively buried the Bruins.
They never fully recovered, losing the next three games, but bounced back with a 3-0 lead in Game 7. However, just as the series had gone, the Flyers rallied back with four consecutive goals to take the deciding game and start a 13-year run of heartbreaking losses for the franchise apart from the 2011 run.
2013 vs. Chicago Blackhawks - Game 6 Stanley Cup Final
The Bruins were two years removed from a Stanley Cup and a year removed from a heartbreaking first-round Game 7 loss with a team that might've been better than the championship year. In 2013, it was a motivated group to avenge the previous year, and the finals matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks had all the makings of a classic. That came true, but unfortunately it came at the expense of a massive collapse in Game 6 at TD Garden.
Boston played a classic game for that era of their team, shutting down Chicago's high-powered offense and looking well on their way to forcing a Game 7 on the road, just as they did in 2011. They were 76 seconds away from achieving that until Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland miraculously scored two goals to break the hearts of every Bruins player and fan around the world.
2019 vs. St. Louis Blues - Game 7 Stanley Cup Final
The Bruins had a chance to win their second Stanley Cup of the decade, and this time they could do it on home ice. The Garden was rocking; it felt like there was nothing going to slow the team down, especially with the fairy tale return of Zdeno Chara with his broken jaw. Everything was going their way. Until Jordan Binnington stole the show in the first 10 minutes, the Blues' offense scored on their chances, and it all ended in a 5-1 blowout.
2023 vs. Florida Panthers - Game 7 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Not a whole lot of rehashing has to be done here, as every Boston sports fan knows what went down in that infamous 2023 postseason. The Bruins had just completed the greatest regular season in NHL history, and the Florida Panthers didn't look like they were going to stand in the team's way. After taking a 3-1 series lead and having a chance to win it on home ice in Game 5, the Bruins dropped both games to head to deciding Game 7.
Carter Verhaeghe's overtime winner ended the dream season. Fans had to watch Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand's embrace at the end of the game; David Krejci also retired - end of an era.
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