# 1985–86 Boston Bruins season

The 1985–86 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 62nd season.

## Offseason

Captain Terry O'Reilly retires. Forward Rick Middleton and defenceman Ray Bourque are named co-captains. Retiring as a player during the offseason, Butch Goring is named the 15th head coach in Boston Bruins history. Defenseman Mike Milbury also retires and is named assistant coach, but returns to active duty Feb. 11, 1986, due to a mounting injury list on the blueline. Despite missing over a month of the season with an MCL injury, Bruins left winger Charlie Simmer bounces back scoring 17 goals and 26 points in his first 20 games. The winger is sent to the sidelines yet again, however, after sufferings a right eye injury from a high stick by Gates Orlando of the Buffalo Sabres. The injury is so scary that it inspires several players on the team to wear visors.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 43 | 31 | 6 | 330 | 289 | 92 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 40 | 33 | 7 | 330 | 280 | 87 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 37 | 31 | 12 | 311 | 288 | 86 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 40 | 36 | 4 | 332 | 302 | 84 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 37 | 37 | 6 | 296 | 291 | 80 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Boston
—3–3–24–3–13–4–11–5–211–15–6
Buffalo
3–3–2—2–63–54–412–18–2
Hartford
3–4–16–2—3–4–14–416–14–2
Montreal
4–3–15–34–3−1—2–615–15–2
Quebec
5–1–24–44–46–2—19–11–2
Vs. Patrick Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Boston
3–00–1–21–21–22–10–2–17–8–3
Buffalo
2–12–13–02–10–2–11–1–110–6–2
Hartford
2–11–22–10–32–10–2–17–10–1
Montreal
2–12–10–2–11–22–0–10–2–17–8–3
Quebec
1–22–12–0–11–1–11–1–10–37–8–3
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Boston
1–22–13–01–22–0–19–5–1
Buffalo
1–21–1–12–12–11–27–7–1
Hartford
1–22–11–21–1–13–08–6–1
Montreal
2–0–13–01–1–11–22–19–4–2
Quebec
2–12–12–11–23–010–5–0
Vs. Smythe Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
2–11–23–01–0–23–010–3–2
Buffalo
1–1–12–11–22–12–18–6–1
Hartford
2–10–32–13–02–19–6–0
Montreal
2–10–32–13–02–19–6–0
Quebec
2–11–22–11–1–11–27–7–1 :

## Schedule and results

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 10, 1985 | 3–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 12, 1985 | 9–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | W | October 13, 1985 | 7–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 3–0–0 |
| 4 | T | October 16, 1985 | 3–3 OT | @ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) | 3–0–1 |
| 5 | L | October 18, 1985 | 2–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) | 3–1–1 |
| 6 | W | October 19, 1985 | 6–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1985–86) | 4–1–1 |
| 7 | W | October 22, 1985 | 5–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) | 5–1–1 |
| 8 | L | October 27, 1985 | 1–2 | @ New York Rangers (1985–86) | 5–2–1 |
| 9 | W | October 29, 1985 | 6–4 | @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 6–2–1 |
| 10 | W | October 31, 1985 | 7–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) | 7–2–1 |
| 11 | W | November 2, 1985 | 5–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) | 8–2–1 |
| 12 | L | November 5, 1985 | 5–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 8–3–1 |
| 13 | W | November 7, 1985 | 2–1 | Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 9–3–1 |
| 14 | L | November 9, 1985 | 3–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 9–4–1 |
| 15 | W | November 10, 1985 | 2–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) | 10–4–1 |
| 16 | L | November 13, 1985 | 4–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 10–5–1 |
| 17 | T | November 14, 1985 | 6–6 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) | 10–5–2 |
| 18 | T | November 16, 1985 | 2–2 OT | Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 10–5–3 |
| 19 | L | November 18, 1985 | 2–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 10–6–3 |
| 20 | T | November 21, 1985 | 4–4 OT | New York Islanders (1985–86) | 10–6–4 |
| 21 | W | November 23, 1985 | 5–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 11–6–4 |
| 22 | L | November 28, 1985 | 0–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 11–7–4 |
| 23 | L | November 30, 1985 | 0–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 11–8–4 |
| 24 | W | December 1, 1985 | 4–2 | New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 12–8–4 |
| 25 | W | December 5, 1985 | 8–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 13–8–4 |
| 26 | L | December 7, 1985 | 2–7 | @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 13–9–4 |
| 27 | T | December 8, 1985 | 3–3 OT | Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 13–9–5 |
| 28 | L | December 10, 1985 | 4–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 13–10–5 |
| 29 | T | December 12, 1985 | 1–1 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 13–10–6 |
| 30 | W | December 14, 1985 | 4–2 | New York Rangers (1985–86) | 14–10–6 |
| 31 | W | December 19, 1985 | 2–1 | Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 15–10–6 |
| 32 | W | December 21, 1985 | 5–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) | 16–10–6 |
| 33 | L | December 22, 1985 | 3–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 16–11–6 |
| 34 | L | December 26, 1985 | 3–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 16–12–6 |
| 35 | W | December 28, 1985 | 5–1 | @ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) | 17–12–6 |
| 36 | L | December 29, 1985 | 3–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) | 17–13–6 |
| 37 | T | December 31, 1985 | 6–6 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 17–13–7 |
| 38 | L | January 2, 1986 | 5–7 | @ New York Islanders (1985–86) | 17–14–7 |
| 39 | W | January 4, 1986 | 4–0 | Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 18–14–7 |
| 40 | L | January 8, 1986 | 3–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 18–15–7 |
| 41 | L | January 9, 1986 | 2–7 | St. Louis Blues (1985–86) | 18–16–7 |
| 42 | W | January 11, 1986 | 8–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) | 19–16–7 |
| 43 | L | January 13, 1986 | 3–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) | 19–17–7 |
| 44 | W | January 16, 1986 | 3–2 | Calgary Flames (1985–86) | 20–17–7 |
| 45 | W | January 19, 1986 | 2–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) | 21–17–7 |
| 46 | L | January 22, 1986 | 5–6 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) | 21–18–7 |
| 47 | W | January 23, 1986 | 7–5 | Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) | 22–18–7 |
| 48 | W | January 25, 1986 | 6–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) | 23–18–7 |
| 49 | W | January 27, 1986 | 6–3 | Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 24–18–7 |
| 50 | W | January 29, 1986 | 5–4 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 25–18–7 |
| 51 | L | February 1, 1986 | 1–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 25–19–7 |
| 52 | W | February 2, 1986 | 3–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 26–19–7 |
| 53 | L | February 6, 1986 | 6–8 | Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 26–20–7 |
| 54 | L | February 8, 1986 | 2–3 | New York Rangers (1985–86) | 26–21–7 |
| 55 | L | February 9, 1986 | 3–4 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 26–22–7 |
| 56 | L | February 11, 1986 | 4–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) | 26–23–7 |
| 57 | L | February 15, 1986 | 1–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) | 26–24–7 |
| 58 | W | February 16, 1986 | 5–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) | 27–24–7 |
| 59 | L | February 18, 1986 | 4–7 | @ Calgary Flames (1985–86) | 27–25–7 |
| 60 | W | February 22, 1986 | 6–5 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) | 28–25–7 |
| 61 | W | February 23, 1986 | 6–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) | 29–25–7 |
| 62 | W | February 25, 1986 | 7–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 30–25–7 |
| 63 | L | February 27, 1986 | 1–2 | Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 30–26–7 |
| 64 | W | March 1, 1986 | 8–3 | New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 31–26–7 |
| 65 | L | March 2, 1986 | 1–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 31–27–7 |
| 66 | L | March 6, 1986 | 4–5 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 31–28–7 |
| 67 | L | March 8, 1986 | 3–8 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 31–29–7 |
| 68 | W | March 12, 1986 | 5–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 32–29–7 |
| 69 | W | March 13, 1986 | 3–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 33–29–7 |
| 70 | T | March 15, 1986 | 1–1 OT | Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) | 33–29–8 |
| 71 | W | March 20, 1986 | 6–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) | 34–29–8 |
| 72 | T | March 22, 1986 | 3–3 OT | New York Islanders (1985–86) | 34–29–9 |
| 73 | T | March 23, 1986 | 5–5 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 34–29–10 |
| 74 | L | March 25, 1986 | 3–6 | @ Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 34–30–10 |
| 75 | T | March 27, 1986 | 3–3 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 34–30–11 |
| 76 | W | March 29, 1986 | 2–1 | Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 35–30–11 |
| 77 | W | March 30, 1986 | 5–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 36–30–11 |
| 78 | W | April 3, 1986 | 4–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) | 37–30–11 |
| 79 | T | April 5, 1986 | 2–2 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 37–30–12 |
| 80 | L | April 6, 1986 | 3–4 | Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 37–31–12 |

## Playoffs
### Adams Division Semifinals
#### Montreal Canadiens 3, Boston Bruins 0

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 9 | Boston Bruins | 1–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 10 | Boston Bruins | 2–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 12 | Montreal Canadiens | 4–3 | Boston Bruins | 0–3 |

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Keith Crowder | RW | 78 | 38 | 46 | 84 | 177 | 14 | 20 | 0 | 4 |
| Ken Linseman | C | 64 | 23 | 58 | 81 | 97 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| Raymond Bourque | D | 74 | 19 | 58 | 77 | 68 | 17 | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| Barry Pederson | C | 79 | 29 | 47 | 76 | 60 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 6 |
| Charlie Simmer | LW | 55 | 36 | 24 | 60 | 42 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 5 |
| Rick Middleton | RW | 49 | 14 | 30 | 44 | 10 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Randy Burridge | LW | 52 | 17 | 25 | 42 | 28 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Steve Kasper | C | 80 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 73 | -10 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Gord Kluzak | D | 70 | 8 | 31 | 39 | 155 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Geoff Courtnall | LW | 64 | 21 | 16 | 37 | 61 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Dave Pasin | RW | 71 | 18 | 19 | 37 | 50 | -1 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Kraig Nienhuis | LW | 70 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 37 | -10 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Mike O'Connell | D | 63 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 47 | -8 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Michael Thelvén | D | 60 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 48 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nevin Markwart | LW | 65 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 207 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bill Derlago | C | 39 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dave Reid | LW | 37 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| John Blum | D | 61 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 80 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reed Larson | D | 13 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Curran | D | 43 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 192 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Milbury | D | 22 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 102 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Louis Sleigher | RW | 13 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 20 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Alain Cote | D | 32 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mats Thelin | D | 31 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Morris Lukowich | LW | 14 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jay Miller | LW | 46 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 178 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lyndon Byers | RW | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Johnston | RW | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete Peeters | G | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Simonetti | D | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Keans | G | 30 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wade Campbell | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Carter | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleon Daskalakis | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Donnelly | C | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dwight Foster | RW | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Ranford | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Riggin | G | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Pat Riggin | 2272 | 39 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 127 | 3.35 | 1 | 973 | 846 | .869 |
| Doug Keans | 1757 | 30 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 107 | 3.65 | 0 | 782 | 675 | .863 |
| Pete Peeters | 485 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 31 | 3.84 | 0 | 245 | 214 | .873 |
| Bill Ranford | 240 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2.50 | 0 | 106 | 96 | .906 |
| Cleon Daskalakis | 120 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 5.00 | 0 | 63 | 53 | .841 |
| Team: | 4874 | 80 | 37 | 31 | 12 | 285 | 3.51 | 1 | 2169 | 1884 | .869 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Randy Burridge | LW | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keith Crowder | RW | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gord Kluzak | D | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dwight Foster | RW | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Kasper | C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reed Larson | D | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Barry Pederson | C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Linseman | C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Pasin | RW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Blum | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Raymond Bourque | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Geoff Courtnall | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Curran | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Milbury | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jay Miller | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kraig Nienhuis | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Ranford | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Riggin | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Charlie Simmer | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Simonetti | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Louis Sleigher | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Thelven | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Bill Ranford | 120 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3.50 | 0 | 44 | 37 | .841 |
| Pat Riggin | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3.00 | 0 | 23 | 20 | .870 |
| Team: | 180 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3.33 | 0 | 67 | 57 | .851 |
    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Draft picks

Boston's draft picks at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 32 | Alain Cote | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 52 | Bill Ranford | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) |
| 4 | 73 | Jamie Kelly | United States | Scituate High School (USHS-MA) |
| 5 | 94 | Steve Moore | Canada | London Diamonds (OPJHL) |
| 6 | 115 | Gord Hynes | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 7 | 136 | Per Martinelle | Sweden | AIK IF (Sweden) |
| 8 | 157 | Randy Burridge | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
| 9 | 178 | Gord Cruickshank | Canada | Providence College (Hockey East) |
| 10 | 199 | Dave Buda | Canada | Streetsville Derbys (OPJHL) |
| 10 | 210 | Bob Beers | United States | Buffalo Jr. Sabres (NAHL) |
| 11 | 220 | John Byce | United States | Madison Memorial High School (USHS-WI) |
| 12 | 241 | Marc West | Canada | Burlington Cougars (OPJHL) |