1981-82 O-Pee-Chee 353 Bengt Gustafsson Hockey Card (Front)
1981-82 O-Pee-Chee 353 Bengt Gustafsson Hockey Card (Back)
1981-82 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
A brilliant puckhandler for the Capitals, Bengt exhibits a graceful and fluid skating style. He’s an opportunist with great finesse and uncanny hockey sense. Bengt works hard at both ends of the ice for the Capitals. Bengt was a member of the Swedish National Team in 1977-78.
En Français
Un excellent manieur de la rondelle, Bengt patine avec élégance et agilité. Il sait profiter des occasions favorables avec finesse et un bon sens du hockey. Bengt travaille fort aux deux extrémités de la patinoire. Bengt fit partie de l’équipe nationale de la Suède en 1977-78.
Details
Bengt Gustafsson’s hard work at both ends of the ice would get him some consideration for the Selke Award over his career. He came the closest in 1985-86 when he finished fourth, some distance behind winner Troy Murray and runner-up Ron Sutter. Guy Charbonneau finished just ahead of Gustafsson while Bengt edged out fifth place Jari Kurri.
As noted on the back of this 1981-82 O-Pee-Chee hockey card, his North American career started in the WHA with the Edmonton Oilers. He played two games for the Oilers in the Avco World Trophy playoffs and did well with a goal and two assists.
In 1981-82, Bengt-Ake had five 3-point games on his way to a season total of 60 over 70 games. Two of those five were against the Philadelphia Flyers. In a March 13, 1982 6-3 win over the Flyers at the Capital Center, Gustafsson recorded a Gordie Howe Hat Trick. He assisted on goals by Darren Veitch and Bobby Carpenter while scoring the game winning goal. He also had a dust-up with Ken Linseman resulting in a five minute major for fighting.
Most players rarely get given a penalty shot (regulation time) over their career. In his rookie 1979-80 NHL season, Gustafsson had two in a matter of just over a month’s time. On January 5, 1980 in a road game against the Minnesota North Stars, Gilles Meloche threw his stick resulting in the penalty shot. Bengt was unsuccessful. He did, however, score Washington’s first goal of the game in the 2-2 tie.
The second was against the Los Angeles Kings at the Forum on February 12, 1980. Late in the first period, Jay Wells tripped Bengt on a breakaway. Again, Gustafsson was unsuccessful on the penalty shot with Ron Grahame shutting him down. He did have an assist on a Ryan Walter goal in the 5-2 win.
Between 1979-80 and 1988-89, Bengt Gustafsson played 629 regular season and 18 playoff games in the National Hockey League, all with the Washington Capitals. He was picked up off waivers by the Detroit Red Wings in 1990 and even taken in the 1991 Expansion Draft by the San Jose Sharks but instead chose to return to Europe to finish out his career.