November 15: This Day in NHL History—Bobby Orr’s 7-Point Night

A Night Bruins Fans Still Talk About

November 15, 1973—a night that Bruins fans still bring up, decades later. On that day, Bobby Orr put on a show that left everyone in the Boston Garden buzzing. The defenseman scored 3 goals and added 4 assists, totaling 7 points as Boston crushed the New York Rangers 10–2. It wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was a statement: defensemen could dominate in ways NHL fans had never seen before.

When a Defenseman Took Over the Game

By this point, Orr was already a superstar. But that night? Orr dominated! In an era when defensemen weren’t expected to be scoring machines, there he was, gliding up the ice, threading passes, finding open teammates, and firing shots like it was the easiest thing in the world. Ever watch a player and wonder, how is he doing all of that at once? That was Bobby Orr.

The Game That Made History: November 15

From the opening puck drop, Orr was everywhere. He scored a goal and set up two more in the first period alone. The second period afforded Boston a little breathing room, but Orr came roaring back in the third with two goals and two assists, including key setups for teammate Andre Savard. By the final buzzer, he had etched his name into the record books: 7 points in a single game, the first defenseman ever to do it. Fans left the Boston Garden buzzing, and hockey historians still call it one of the defining games of his illustrious career.

Why It Still Matters

This wasn’t just numbers on a scoresheet. After Boston’s playoff heartbreak against the Rangers in April 1973, Orr reminded everyone exactly why he was unstoppable. And beyond that, he inspired a generation of young, offensive-minded defensemen. Watching record-setting Orr highlights—and speaking with family members lucky enough to watch him play live—it is quite simple to imagine kids thinking, yeah, I can do that too.

A Night for the Ages

Even now, November 15 stands out as a night of sheer hockey brilliance. Orr’s 7-point game wasn’t just about goals, assists, or history being re-written—it was about energy, skill, and an all-star player at the absolute peak of his powers. For Bruins fans and hockey lovers everywhere, the Bruins’ game on November 15, 1973 at the Boston Garden is a game that will never be forgotten.