Established in 1924, making them the oldest team in the United states, and one of the third-oldest teams in the NHL, the Boston Bruins share their biggest rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens. Arguably the most storied rivalry in NHL history, the Bruins-Canadiens rivalry is intense and dates back to the earliest days of the NHL.
Moreover, the two teams are members of the "Original Six" teams that have faced each other countless times in the regular-season and also in the playoffs, often resulting in tough competition and memorable events.
Bruins-Canadiens Rivalry History
The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens share one of the NHL's most storied rivalries, from the inception of the Bruins in the 1924-25 season. In their debut season, the Bruins defeated the Montreal Maroons, establishing their name in the league. The Bruins had a notable rivalry with the Maroons before the rivalry between the Bruins and Canadiens started to take shape when the Montreal Maroons folded in 1938.
Over the years, the Bruins and the Canadiens have often ended up in the same division, adding more fuel to the competition. Even playing under different divisions during 1970, their matches remained intense. Their rivalry became more evident when the divisions in the NHL were realigned in 1981, placing both teams in the same Division.
Throughout the 1980s, both teams maintained their fierceness, often meeting in the playoffs due to the same division-oriented format. Their memorable fights including off-ice led players to have heated fights in tunnels. From 1981-82 to 1992-93, the two teams featured in every Wales Conference Finals.
Bruins-Canadiens Playoffs History
The Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins first faced each other on December 8, 1924, and to date, they have faced off 938 times. The Canadiens lead the series with 470 total wins while the Bruins have recorded 353 wins along with 103 ties and 12 overtime games. Notably, the Canadians have maintained its lead with 346 wins in the regular season compared to Bruins with 282 wins.
In the playoffs, the Canadiens have recorded 106 wins while Bruins have 71 wins. Their most memorable match occurred on February 21, 1933, when the Bruins dominated with a 10-0 scoreline. Moreover, Montreal has maintained the longest win streak with 13 games while the Bruins are on a three-game win streak. Their latest game occurred on March 14, 2024.
The following table shows a glimpse into Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens’ matchups throughout the years:
| Year | Round | Result |
| 1929 | Semifinals | Bruins won, 3–0 |
| 1930 | Stanley Cup Finals | Canadiens won, 2–0 |
| 1931 | Semifinals | Canadiens won, 3–2 |
| 1943 | Semifinals | Bruins won, 4–1 |
| 1946 | Stanley Cup Finals | Canadiens won, 4–1 |
| 1947 | Semifinals | Canadiens won, 4–1 |
| 1952 | Semifinals | Canadiens won, 4–3 |
| 1953 | Stanley Cup Finals | Canadiens won, 4–1 |
| 1954 | Semifinals | Canadiens won, 4–0 |
| 1955 | Semifinals | Canadiens won, 4–1 |
| 1957 | Stanley Cup Finals | Canadiens won, 4–1 |
| 1958 | Stanley Cup Finals | Canadiens won, 4–2 |
| 1968 | Quarterfinals | Canadiens won, 4–0 |
| 1969 | Semifinals | Canadiens won, 4–2 |
| 1971 | Quarterfinals | Canadiens won, 4–3 |
| 1977 | Stanley Cup Finals | Canadiens won, 4–0 |
| 1978 | Stanley Cup Finals | Canadiens won, 4–2 |
| 1979 | Semifinals | Canadiens won, 4–3 |
| 1984 | Division Semifinals | Canadiens won, 3–0 |
| 1985 | Division Semifinals | Canadiens won, 3–2 |
| 1986 | Division Semifinals | Canadiens won, 3–0 |
| 1987 | Division Semifinals | Canadiens won, 4–0 |
| 1988 | Division Finals | Bruins won, 4–1 |
| 1989 | Division Finals | Canadiens won, 4–1 |
| 1990 | Division Finals | Bruins won, 4–1 |
| 1991 | Division Finals | Bruins won, 4–3 |
| 1992 | Division Finals | Bruins won, 4–0 |
| 1994 | Conference Quarterfinals | Bruins won, 4–3 |
| 2002 | Conference Quarterfinals | Canadiens won, 4–2 |
| 2004 | Conference Quarterfinals | Canadiens won, 4–3 |
| 2008 | Conference Quarterfinals | Canadiens won, 4–3 |
| 2009 | Conference Quarterfinals | Bruins won, 4–0 |
| 2011 | Conference Quarterfinals | Bruins won, 4–3 |
| 2014 | Second Round | Canadiens won, 4–3 |
FAQ's On Boston Bruins Rivalries
A. The Boston Bruins share their biggest rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens. It is also considered as the most storied rivalry in the National Hockey League.
A. Before the Boston Bruins, the biggest competitor of the Canadiens were the Montreal Maroons. However, the rivalry between the Bruins and Canadiens started to take shape when the Maroons folded in 1938.
A. The Boston Bruins have secured six Stanley Cups till date.
A. The Montreal Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups till date.
A. They have faced in a total of 938 matchup where Canadiens led the series with 470 total wins while the Bruins have 353 recorded wins.
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