Bobby Schmautz, best known for the overtime goal he scored for the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of the 1978 Stanley Cup Final, died Sunday at age 76.
The goal tied the best-of-7 series against the Montreal Canadiens 2-2, and the photo of the celebration is among the most iconic in Bruins history.
A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Schmautz began his NHL career in 1967-68 with the Chicago Black Hawks, but the right wing came to prominence after he joined the expansion Vancouver Canucks in 1970-71. He scored 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 86 games in his first two seasons with the Canucks before a breakout season in 1972-73, when he led Vancouver with 71 points (38 goals, 33 assists) and 137 penalty minutes in 77 games.
He was traded to the Bruins for forwards Fred O'Donnell, Chris Oddleifson and Mike Walton on Feb. 7, 1974. His rambunctious style and skilled hands were immediately welcomed by Boston fans, especially when he played on a line with Hockey Hall of Fame left wing Johnny Bucyk and center Gregg Sheppard.
Schmautz scored at least 20 goals and had at least 62 penalty minutes in each of his five full seasons with the Bruins. His biggest moment in the NHL was when he scored against goalie Ken Dryden at 6:22 of overtime to give the Bruins a 4-3 victory against the Canadiens at Boston Garden on May 21, 1978. Montreal won the Cup in six games.
In 70 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Bruins, Schmautz scored 26 goals, tied with Hall of Famer Bobby Orr for 14th in Boston history.
The Bruins traded Schmautz to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 10, 1979, for forward Dan Newman.
Schmautz played 13 seasons for the Black Hawks, Canucks, Bruins, Oilers and Colorado Rockies, scoring 557 points (271 goals, 286 assists) in 764 regular-season games. He returned to the Canucks for his final NHL season, in 1980-81, and scored 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists).
In 84 NHL playoff games, he scored 61 points (28 goals, 33 assists).
His older brother, Cliff Schmautz, played 57 games for the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers in 1970-71, scoring 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists). Cliff died Feb. 11, 2002.
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