10/29/1966 Bruins at Maple Leafs Bobby Orr fourth NHL game (third period)! Historic

This video is the Hockey Night In Canada broadcast of the third period of the Oct. 29, 1966 National Hockey League game between the Boston Bruins and the Maple Leafs in Toronto, which ended in a 3-3 tie. It is the fourth game of Hall of Fame defenseman Bobby Orr’s rookie season, and the budding star is very active as the Bruins score twice to earn the tie. Announcers Bill Hewitt (play by play) and Brian McFarlane (color) note how impressive his first three games had been, and that while he’d played well, he might have more to show, and indeed he does. Minutes after a great block, he rushes into the Leafs zone and sets up Johnny McKenzie with an open net (although Pie tried to pass it back to Bobby)! After another block, No. 4 makes the same pirouette move he would make in the 1972 Finals against the Rangers and rings an absolute rifle shot off the post! At game’s end he makes a mad dash toward the opposition blue line, and although the play is broken up, it is an example of what looks to be a scrappy, hustling, on-the-rise squad! The modest Orr always jokes, “Yeah, I was great, our first year we actually finished lower in the standings“, and while that was true, despite Orr picking up the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, it was obvious some pieces (Ed Johnston, Ted Green, John Bucyk, Ed Westfall, McKenzie, Dallas Smith) were there. Soon general manager Milt Schmidt would acquire Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, and Fred Stanfield, and Derek Sanderson would come on the scene, and under Harry Sinden the team would really take off. It was a bit odd, but also very interesting, to see the players who wore 7, 8, 16, and 17 before they became famous as the Bruins won it all in 1970 and 1972. But as usual, it was hard to take your eyes off Orr, and as usual, he delivered! Copyright National Hockey League, CBC, Hockey Night In Canada, or any other party. I don’t claim the rights to, and don’t profit from, this video. I just posted it for historical and educational purposes, and for those who will enjoy it as much as I did. The summary: