The Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup win squares off against Larry Bird’s 3-point contest performance in 1986 in the first round of Boston’s Greatest Sports Moment tournament.
The Boston Bruins entered the 2011 Stanley Cup Final with the second-longest championship drought in Boston sports history. Matched up against the Vancouver Canucks, who finished the season with the best regular-season record, the B’s found themselves having to overcome hardships immediately. Boston lost the first two games of the series after being bullied (and bitten) in Vancouver. Additionally, the B’s lost postseason hero Nathan Horton early in Game 3 on a late hit by Aaron Rome. The questionable check awoke the bear, though, as the Bruins exploded for 12 goals combined in Games 3 and 4. After dropping Game 5, goalie Tim Thomas carried Boston in the final two wins, including a shutout in Game 7, to give the Boston Bruins their first championship in 39 years.
The NBA’s inaugural 3-point shootout in 1986 featured Larry Bird against a group of seven long-range shooters. Bird had six All-Star appearances to that point. The other contestants had combined for two All-Stars selections. So when Bird entered the locker room prior to the event, he asked, “Who’s coming in second?” Bird took that confidence to the court, where the forward didn’t even remove his warm-up jacket through the first two rounds of the long-distance shootout. Bucks guard Craig Hodges put up a 12 in his final round, setting up a certain victory for the Celtic. Bird did not disappoint, scoring 22 in the third round, including an 11-shot run and a shot that banked in off the backboard, forcing commentator Ricky Barry to exclaim, “Off the glass! Give me a break, Larry.” Bird won his first of three titles.
« 7. Bird’s steal vs. 10. Hendu’s homer | 1. Orr’s Goal vs. 16. Bruschi returns »
Share your thoughts about Boston’s Greatest Sports Moment on Twitter at @NESN. Include #BGSM in your tweet.
