Stanley Cup Flashbacks: 1930: Boston Chokes, Hainsworth Shuts The Door

The year is 1930. The defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins are about to establish themselves as a hockey dynasty. With the likes of Tiny Thompson in net, Eddie Shore on defense and the Dynamite Line - Cooney Weiland, Dit Clapper and Dutch Gainor - up front, no one expected anyone to stop the powerhouse Bruins. The Bruins coasted through the regular season with a 38-5-1 record, the best winning percentage in NHL history at .875.

Yet they would collapse in the playoffs, shocked by Montreal in the opening game of the best of three Stanley Cup finals. The great goalie George Hainsworth posts a 3-0 shutout in Boston, sending the Bruins reeling.

The series went to Montreal for game 2, setting the early stage for the magic of Montreal Forum to haunt the Bruins. Howie Morenz attacked in waves of end-to-end rushes, leading Les Habitants to a 4-3 win and the Stanley Cup championship.

Hainsworth was the key player of the post season. He led all performers with a brilliant 0.75 average and three shutouts in six games.

The surprising two-game sweep of the Bruins paved the way for a best of 5 Stanley Cup final the following season.