Rank the most painful losses you've experienced as a Bruins fan

[Trap Jesus]

The first season I can remember actively following every game was 2003/04 season, so these losses reflect from that time up until now. This should be seen as how painful it was at the time of the loss.

1. Bruins vs. Blues, Game 7 SCF, 2019 - There's been one day to settle into this, but I don't think there's any question this is #1. It was a very winnable series, and they came out and laid an egg in Game 7. It wasn't just the loss itself, it was the way they lost.

2. Bruins vs. Blackhawks, Game 6 SCF, 2013 - I think in retrospect this one is a lot easier to digest considering how good that Hawks team was, but a SCF loss rockets to the top no matter how it happens. Of course it doesn't help that it happened in such a shocking manner as well.

3. Bruins vs. Canadiens, Game 7 Round 2, 2014 - I think this is just about as bad as it can get for a non-Finals loss. Canadiens, we were the significant favorites, and a series where you could just see the team breaking down and weren't expecting a win by the time Game 7 rolled around.

4. Bruins vs. Flyers, Game 7 Round 2, 2010 - Goes without saying. Just such a shocking loss, even though the Cup win the next year "erased" this failure. Still, that Bruins team that year just was straight up not a good team, so it helps knowing they would never have done anything had they advanced.

5. Bruins vs. Canadiens, Game 7 Round 1, 2004 - I think this was a milder version of 2014. Still produced some great moments, but seeing Ribeiro writhe around on the ice is still something I call to mind.

6. Bruins vs. Hurricanes, Game 7 Round 2, 2009 - Another one in retrospect that gets much better over time, but that was the first year after the lockout where we all thought this team was hot shit and would run through everybody, not really experiencing playoff failure before with this group. After running through the Habs, I know most of us thought we'd do the same to this underdog Canes team. Scott Walker not being suspended and then potting the OT winner in Game 7 was infuriating.

7. Bruins vs. Senators, Game 82 of regular season, 2016 - Just such an empty feeling. We had just experienced the first year without a postseason and then they do this when they have a chance to punch their ticket. 6-1 dismantling by the Sens.

8. Bruins vs. Capitals, Game 7 Round 1, 2012 - The Braden Holtby stuff was beyond frustrating, but when you think back to some of the injuries that year and the Cup win just one year before, this doesn't compare to a lot of the other losses. We also had that insane run early in the year and had the pedigree of a Cup champ, but cracks started to show long before the playoffs.

9. Bruins vs. Canadiens, Game 7 Round 1, 2008 - There was just such a positive vibe around the team that year that it was tough to get too upset. Finally getting back to the playoffs, Sturm's big goal, taking a heavily favored Habs team to 7... If this wasn't the Habs it would be lower.

10. Bruins vs. Lightning, Game 5 Round 2, 2018 - I remember this being very frustrating, but it was a series that you tipped your hat to the other team after as the Bruins had absolutely no business winning this series. I think this ranks ahead of the Sens because the Bruins were a flat out much better team than they were in 2016/17.

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[KingKrug47]

1. Blues vs Bruins game 7 2019
Self explanatory

2. Flyers vs Bruins game 7 2010
That one took a lot out of me and really hurt deep at the time, I really thought that year we were gonna go atleast to the final.

3. Montreal vs Bruins game 7 2014
Mega oof on this one. This team had the horses to win it all.

4. Montreal vs Bruins game 7 2004
My first year following the team and not knowing true heartbreak yet this one stung mostly because unfamiliar with everything.

5. Chicago vs Bruins game 4 2013
Honestly more upsetting than game 6. This was the game in my opinion that the series was lost. Losing 6-5 in OT and would of been up 3-1 had you won the game.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

1. Blues vs Bruins game 7 2019
Self explanatory

2. Flyers vs Bruins game 7 2010
That one took a lot out of me and really hurt deep at the time, I really thought that year we were gonna go atleast to the final.

3. Montreal vs Bruins game 7 2014
Mega oof on this one. This team had the horses to win it all.

Very underrated defeat.

4. Montreal vs Bruins game 7 2004
My first year following the team and not knowing true heartbreak yet this one stung mostly because unfamiliar with everything.



5. Chicago vs Bruins game 4 2013
Honestly more upsetting than game 6. This was the game in my opinion that the series was lost. Losing 6-5 in OT and would of been up 3-1 had you won the game.

Feels awfully familiar

 

[Trap Jesus]

5. Chicago vs Bruins game 4 2013
Honestly more upsetting than game 6. This was the game in my opinion that the series was lost. Losing 6-5 in OT and would of been up 3-1 had you won the game.

This is actually a good point, although the finality of losing a series will always trump anything else IMO. I do remember going into Game 6 being as pessimistic as ever though, especially with the Bergeron injury. It's just a matter of how the game actually played out that made it more heartbreaking.

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

Probably because of my age at the time and the general crappy bruins fan experience I had until then, the 2002 series loss to the Canadians sticks out to be. Tough joe Thornton, billy guerin, pj stock. I loved that team haha

 

[BruinDust]

Might of been the flask of whisky I drank that night during the game but that 2010 loss to Philly was my most painful Bruins loss ever. By far. My buddies who watched it with me (all non-Bruin fans) still rib me about it. Tears weren't shed but it was pretty darn close.

 

[smithformeragent]

1. ‘12 Capitals game 7

2. ‘04 Canadiens game 7

3. ‘13 Blackhawks game 6

4. ‘09 Hurricanes game 7

5. ‘96 Panthers game 5

f***ing pisses me off to think about it.

 

[Mainehockey33]

I’ve pretty much scrubbed the 2014 series out of my brain for some reason. Out of all the series I’ve watched since 08, I don’t remember that one.

1. 2019 - The build up was so big which made the fall much farther. Game 7 home ice and they just didn’t have it.

2. 2013 - I remember watching with a friend and with about 5 minutes to go I said to him nice, we’re going to game 7! Whoops

3. 2010 - Watched this one with some friends too. What a performance by Lucic only to let in some softies.

4. 2009 - I loved this team and I thought they should have went deep.

After that it’s about equal. Not sure if anything will sting like this year though.

 

[Prince Pasta]

1. 04 Habs
2. 09 Canes
3. 12 Capitals
4. 14 Habs
5. 19 Blues

 

[DominicT]

1. Game 7, Montreal 1971
2. Game 6, Philadelphia 1974
3. Game 6, Chicago 2013
4. Game 7 St Louis 2019

2 and 3, if they had won those, were heading home for game 7 of the SCF. That team from 69-70 to 73-74 should have been a dynasty.

And yes, I am that old. I remember vividly where I was during the losses in 71 and 74

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

If you had asked me to write down my top ten list before you conceived this list mine would have been identical. Exactly the same .

 

[DKH]

I’ll go
1. Last night - they win euphoria

I agree with Dom’s 1971 & 1974 picks - but there was a significant game in series that did them in

2. 1971 Montreal game 2

They are up 5-1 late in second period and Dryden was going to be out of game 3

Harry Sinden coaches this team instead of Tom Johnson they run the table 12-0

3. 1974 Philadelphia game 2

Bruins dominate about to go up 2-0 in series and Flyers pull goalie and tie it- win in OT

4. 1979 Montreal game 7

Too many men on the ice - refs f***ed then as well - f***ing Bob Myers.

5. 2013 Chicago game 1

Triple overtime
Blew a 3-1 lead late in third
Dominate the first overtime- hit 3 posts/cross bars
Daugevins

Also Horton reinjures shoulder in overtime that never should have happened

6. 2014 Montreal game 7

They win they pound Rangers and get by Kings

 

[Fenway]

1. Game 7, Montreal 1971
2. Game 6, Philadelphia 1974
3. Game 6, Chicago 2013
4. Game 7 St Louis 2019

2 and 3, if they had won those, were heading home for game 7 of the SCF. That team from 69-70 to 73-74 should have been a dynasty.

And yes, I am that old. I remember vividly where I was during the losses in 71 and 74

Dom - I was AT that Game 7 in 1971.

I went to Game 4 in Philly in 1974 but not Game 6 as I was going to go to Game 7

But I have to say being at the 'Too Many Men' game in 1979 was the worst.

Last night is on the short list but maybe because I am older now I didn't feel all day that tonight the Bruins WOULD win the Cup, but that they COULD.

 

[Hnidy Hnight]

Wow, surprised no love yet for 1990 SCF game 1

 

[HockeyMomx2]

My first Bruins heart break that I remember vividly is an OT loss to the Whalers. I don't even remember if it was regular season or playoffs. It pisses me off still rho. LOL

Next for me is the flyers nightmare.

I'll have to think about it from there.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Definitely have to put last night first now,the Philly collapse,The two many men on the ice incident with Montreal plus any other eliminations against Montreal.Game 4 against Chicago was a killer ,should have been 3-1 for the Bruins.would probably have the game 6 with Hawks ,but never actually watched that one,was working,never bothered to watch it.I wish to Hell I had been working last night.I fear that lose will be seared into my brain for a long time.

 

[rfournier103]

2014 Game 7 vs. Montreal.

Mostly because I hate the Canadiens, and because I was at the game. My cousin got me a ticket, so I met him and his family at the game. I was so angry that the Bruins lost that as soon as the game was over, I left my seat without saying goodbye to ANYONE and went straight home. He called that night to ask if I was ok, since I vanished without a trace after the game.

2019 Game 7 vs. St. Louis.

Almost everything broke the Bruins’ way and set them up. So close. It hurts so much because the Bruins win the Cup so infrequently. We’re all angry because we’re all scared of another 39 year (or longer) drought.

2016 Winter Classic vs. Montreal.

Lots of hype, a hated opponent, and a humiliating blowout on national television. I was so angry that I actually wondered why I wasted my time on a team that obviously cared nothing about winning. After all, how much could the Bruins want it if they were playing like such dog****. A bad day.

2012 Game 7 vs. Washington.

Thought for sure a repeat was in the cards after the Bruins looked so good all season. No way they should have lost that series.

2013 Game 6 vs. Chicago.

Should have won that game. Very frustrating series that they had trouble scoring timely goals in. Still the case today.

 

[DominicT]

Dom - I was AT that Game 7 in 1971.

I went to Game 4 in Philly in 1974 but not Game 6 as I was going to go to Game 7

But I have to say being at the 'Too Many Men' game in 1979 was the worst.

Last night is on the short list but maybe because I am older now I didn't feel all day that tonight the Bruins WOULD win the Cup, but that they COULD.

That game 6 in 1974 was epic. The Orr penalty with just over 3 to play if I recall and then Bernie Parent stoning him on two howitzers in the last minute. The Phil Esposito skate broken at the end when they were trying to tie it.

The Gilles Gilbert/Parent goaltending battle was one of the best I remember. I really believe had the Bruins won that game, there was no stopping them in game 7.

And yes, 1979 too many men should have been on my list.

 

[Fenway]

That game 6 in 1974 was epic. The Orr penalty with just over 3 to play if I recall and then Bernie Parent stoning him on two howitzers in the last minute. The Phil Esposito skate broken at the end when they were trying to tie it.

The Gilles Gilbert/Parent goaltending battle was one of the best I remember. I really believe had the Bruins won that game, there was no stopping them in game 7.

And yes, 1979 too many men should have been on my list.

@Dom - OHL



Giles Gilbert is unknown to younger fans - He should have won 2 Cups - sigh-

 

[Number8]

There were a bunch in the 70’s that other have mentioned. And this one has been mentioned as well, but......

TOO MANY MEN........ for me it begins and ends there. I was angry, hurt, sad, outraged, incredulous, and felt robbed (yes, it was too many men, not robbed that way).

This year is a massive bummer. But nothing compared to that for me.

It was the f***ing Habs. The stinking rotten f***ing Habs.

Still pissed.

 

[Number8]

@Dom - OHL



Giles Gilbert is unknown to younger fans - He should have won 2 Cups - sigh-

And screw Kate Smith, by the way.

 

[N o o d l e s]

Chicago was worse for me.

This series was so back and forth and we were SO inconsistent that I had no idea what to expect for game 7. Some part of me was actually expecting a loss. Then to get down 2-0, the game felt over right then so I had two periods to process.

Chicago was so brutal the way it was ripped away like that.

 

[Number8]

Dom - I was AT that Game 7 in 1971.

I went to Game 4 in Philly in 1974 but not Game 6 as I was going to go to Game 7

But I have to say being at the 'Too Many Men' game in 1979 was the worst.

Last night is on the short list but maybe because I am older now I didn't feel all day that tonight the Bruins WOULD win the Cup, but that they COULD.

My ONLY solace (given the hated Mario Tremblay had primary assist on the game winner) was that karma came back on Tremblay when was HC and he left Roy in net during blowout apparently to either embarrass Roy or scold his team.

As I know you well know, either way, Roy came to bench when finally getting pulled after 9 GA and jeering by Habs fans. Once on the bench he walked up to team president Corey and said something to the effect of “this is my last game with Montreal”.

They traded him to Colorado almost next day I believe where he won two more Cups. Montreal hasn’t won a Cup since. That makes me happy. Maybe a bit petty, but happy.

 

[Budddy]

I'm old enough to remember the ones Fenway mention; the sting never goes away. In agreement on the others plus add 1990 game 1. Wesley ...ugg...2019 is right up there...maybe the worst

Thing that doesn't sit well beside the loss itself? Many of these losses came on home ice.

 

[TimThomas24]

I was at the Carolina Game 7 in 09 and that one really hurt. This one is the toughest from watching on TV