Esposito's Buzzer Beater Lifts Bruins

Esposito circling the net to deposit game-winner

Phil Esposito's goal with ten seconds left on the clock capped a 6-5 barnburner against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs to give the Bruins their first victory of the season. This was the second goal of a feverish final minute of play at Boston Garden with Stan Weir tying the contest at 5-5 at the 19:16 mark. Both teams traded goals throughout this see-saw affair that saw the Leafs lead only once.

The echoes of the national anthem still lingered in the air when the Leafs opened the scoring 11 seconds after the opening faceoff. Bobby Orr mishandled the puck at the Bruin blue line which allowed Darryl Sittler a chance to feed a wide-open Ron Ellis streaking down the middle. Ellis made no mistake and buried it glove side on Gilles Gilbert. Boston replied a mere 1:33 after Ellis' shocker. Terry O'Reilly slide the puck back to Darryl Edestrand, but Edestrand's point shot glanced off the stick of Darryl Sittler and squirted to Johnny Buyck. "The Chief" pumped a blast past Mike Palmateer to make the score 1-1. Bobby Orr followed with his second goal in as many games, and it was one that Palmateer would've liked to have had back. Orr cut in towards the net and threw the puck into the skate of Palmateer who was hugging the post. The puck deflected off his skate and behind the stunned Leaf's netminder. Before the first stanza concluded, Toronto went on the powerplay. Fellow Islander Errol Thompson tossed the puck to Pat Boutette, and he whistled a snap shot past Gilbert to knot things up again. It was the first of two powerplay goals for Toronto, as the undisciplined Bruins found themselves shorthanded seven times in the game.

Turnabout was fair play in the second for Boston as it was their turn to ambush the Leafs. At the 1:19 mark, Carol Vadnais pulled up at the top of the faceoff circle had blasted an absolute missile past Palmateer. The Leafs countered and once again it was Errol Thompson causing havoc on the powerplay as he came out of the corner and wristed the puck over Gilbert's shoulder on the short side. The teams returned to the dressing rooms tied at 3-3.

Don Marcotte gave Boston their third lead of the game taking a pass from Vadnais and cutting in to beat Palmateer on the glove side. This advantage was shortlived as fourth-line checker Kurt Walker potted an equalizer for Toronto past a screened Gilbert 1:18 after Marcotte's goal. Gregg Sheppard pushed the Bruins ahead for the fourth time with a powerplay goal as his backhander bounced in off Palmateer's blocker. Orr was once again the victim of a misplay on the tying goal. Tiger Williams threw the puck to Stan Weir who threaded the puck through Orr's legs and beat Gilbert. With time winding down the Bruins were frantically cycling the puck, and Wayne Cashman served the puck behind the Leaf's goal where it was picked up by Esposito. Toronto defenseman Randy Carlyle left his position in front of the net to chase Esposito allowing him a clear path across the front of the net to cash in the winner.