1973-74 O-Pee-Chee 90 Tony Esposito Hockey Card (Front)
1973-74 O-Pee-Chee 90 Tony Esposito Hockey Card (Back)
1973-74 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Tony holds the modern NHL record for shutouts with 15 in his rookie season of 1969-70. He also won the Calder Trophy that year. He has an unorthodox style. He was originally owned by Montreal. Tony and brother Phil may become Hall of Famers.
En Français
Tony détient le record des blanchissages des temps modernes dans la LNH avec 15 durant sa première saison en 1969-70. Il décrocha aussi le Trophée Calder cette année-là. Son style n’est vraiment pas orthodoxe. Il appartenait initialement aux Canadiens. Tony et son frère Phil pourraient devenir membres du Temple de la Renommée.
Details
In the modern era of the NHL, only Dominik Hasek has come close to Tony Esposito’s record of 15 shutouts in 1969-70. Hasek had 13 blanks with the Buffalo Sabres in 1997-98. As a team, the St. Louis Blues recorded 15 in 2011-12 with Brian Elliott recording nine and Jaroslav Halak in net for six.
Three times during that 1969-70 NHL season, Esposito had consecutive game shutouts. He also played a 0-0 tie game against his brother’s team, the Boston Bruins. In that match on March 11, 1970 at Chicago Stadium, Tony stopped 24 shots while Boston goalie Ed Johnston turned away 32. Seven of the 24 Boston shots were off the stick of Bobby Orr.
Along with the Calder Trophy in 1969-70, Esposito was also named First Team All-Star and was the recipient of the Vezina Trophy. In Hart Trophy voting, Tony was runner-up to just Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins and well ahead of his brother Phil Esposito who tied for sixth with Gordie Howe.
A prospect of the Montreal Canadiens, Tony played just 13 games with the Habs, all in 1968-69. He put up a decent 2.75 goals against average with two shutouts but with a surplus of young goaltending talent, including Rogie Vachon and Phil Myre, to go with veteran Gump Worsley, Esposito was on the outside looking in.
As for Tony and Phil maybe getting into the Hockey Hall of Fame, I believe it was pretty much a guarantee even in 1973-74. Both have been inducted, of course, with Phil entering in 1984 and Tony going in 1988.
Between 1968-69 and 1983-84, Tony Esposito played 886 regular season and 99 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks. The three time Vezina Trophy winner had his number 35 retired by the Hawks in 1988.