Couldn't agree more. I pretty much gave up on it by the time the Philadelphia Flyers were embarking on their classic era of thuggery. One thing I'll say about Boston...it was a treat to see Bobby Orr play, and Esposito's line was something to watch too...but Orr in his prime was just sublime. What a great player.

Be that as it may, I hated Boston at the time. I was always cheering for Montreal. Only in retrospect did I begin to appreciate Bobby Orr for what he was as a hockey player, the finest of his day, and then I regretted not having appreciated it more when it was happening right there in front of me.

I also loved the way the Russians played in '72 (aside from a few nasty moments here and there in the scuffles). My God, was that ever fine hockey! I think they deserved to win that series, frankly, because their style of play was far better in most respects than the NHL's. Tretiak was also a simply astounding goalie.