Boston-New York Rivalry Rekindled

The Boston-New York rivalry get played up quite a bit in the NBA and especially in MLB circles, but on Thursday night, the Bruins and Rangers prepare for a big 2nd round series in the NHL. After a stunning comeback in Game 7 to get to this point, will the Bruins have enough left in the tank to take care of the Rangers?

Early Monday night, most fans of the Bruins thought the season was over. Trailing 4-1 in the third period, it looked as though the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to win their first playoff series this decade. However, the Bruins put together a masterful comeback and won in overtime. Now, they will play the role of the team with nothing to lose as they face the Rangers.

Technically speaking, the Bruins enter as the higher seed with home ice advantage during the series. The Rangers are also tired themselves, wrapping up a seven-game series against the Capitals. However, many feel that New York underachieved all season long. They entered the strike-shortened season as the Eastern Conference favorites, but they had to finish strong in the regular season just to get into the playoffs.

The key to this series for the Bruins will be the play of their non-first lines. Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton in particular have been fantastic, but they need help from other offensive players to truly make a deep playoff run. Their defense is a bit banged up, with Wade Redden and Andrew Ference in particular missing Game 7 against the Leafs. Without a strong defense, the Rangers can rack up goals in a hurry.

Tuukka Rask had just as good of a season and Henrik Lundqvist this year, but a look at the percentage played in any fantasy hockey league will show that most still trust the veteran in goal for the Rangers. In reality, this is about as good of a 2nd round matchup one could ask for. Both teams probably wouldn’t mind a short series, but this should go at least six or seven. The Bruins are more consistent, and they have home ice for a possible Game 7 if it comes to that. For that reason, they get the slight edge.

-Rachel Myers

NHL Rant vs. Reality #1 – “It’s Tuukka Time!”

Rant: Bruins fans! Let’s face facts. We drove Tim Thomas out of Boston. We the Northeast Liberal elite, the Bruins fans of young and old and the NHL and its presidential appeasement disguised as some custom to remain relevant. Relevant where? Within a society and economy which Tim himself believes is leading itself into a canned food depression, where the only thing we will have left to depend on is hunting bear for warmth and meat, and learning the ways of the crossbow? We will have to face ourselves when Chicken Little is proven right, and the sky falls down upon us, and he is made president, and in a strange twist of fate, the survived, bunker ridden Tim Thomas goes to visit him at the White House with S. Truett Cathy from Chic-fil-a, and just as he’s about to shake his hand, he chops his head off, Cathy cooks him up and he eats him. Every night within our dreams we will watch Tim Thomas catching pieces of the Copernicus-like foul in his thick playoff beard, and that blood will be on our hands…or…

Reality: We can thank the man for our Stanley Cup and declare as a black and gold collective, “It’s Tuukka Time!”. There remains no risk with Rask. The Bruins will win the Eastern Conference uncontested with Tuukka in goal. Also, with a solid defense and multiple generations of young talent, there is no reason he can’t take home his first Vezina…

Lockout Over: Hockey Fans Everywhere Rejoice!

“So you’re saying there’s a chance?” asked Lloyd Christmas.  That’s a special feeling Lloyd.  However, It’s far better than one in a million which is a surprise because a few weeks ago it looked to be impossible.

In the wee hours of the morning on January 6, 2013, Gary Bettman announced to hockey enthusiasts everywhere that the National Hockey League will lace up the skates and hit the ice.  In cities like Boston, Detroit, Montreal, Toronto, New York, and Chicago fans will be rushing to StubHub and arena box offices to get their hands on tickets, despite the grudge against the owners.  However, in markets like Phoenix, Columbus, Carolina, and Florida most people probably shad no idea there was even a lockout at all.

The season is rumored to be underway on January 15th or 19th sending the shortened season into an interesting schedule conflict.  In fact, the East and the West will not face each other until the Stanley Cup Finals.  The most likely scenario is that each team will play the majority of their regular season games within the division while playing some home-and-home match-ups to round out the regular season.  My league source predicted that the Stanley Cup Champion this year will most likely come out of the East due to the heavy travel that will be required in the Western Conference in such a consolidated amount of time.

What does this mean for the Boston Bruins?  They may very well benefit the most from this debacle.  They had the most players playing in Europe of any NHL team and the majority of their roster has played together the last couple seasons.  Fairly fresh legs, and everyone knows each other.  The major question mark is the goaltending.  With Tim Thomas taking a year off in his bomb shelter in Colorado many are asking if Tuukka Rask is ready to take over the crease full time.  I’m president of the Tuukka fan club so, I will always say yes and have been waiting for this moment since 2006. However, there are many in New England who will argue otherwise just because the whole team collapsed in front of Rask in the 2010 playoffs against Philadelphia blowing a 3-0 series lead.

Another question about the Bruins is 1st round draft pick, defenseman Doug Hamilton.  It’ll be interesting to see if the Bruins elect to keep him for the shortened season or send him back to Juniors after his 9 game trial to avoid using up a contract year for the promising youngster.

Here’s how the roster looks at the moment (line condos subject to change):

Forwards:

Lucic–Bergeron–Seguin

Marchand–Krejci–Horton

(Caron/Spooner/Knight/Bourque)–Kelly–Peverly

Paille–Campbell–Thornton

Defensemen:

Chara–Boychuck

Ference–Seidenberg

McQuaid–Johnson (Hamilton)

Goaltenders:

Rask

Khudobin

I, myself, will probably not attend a game in person this year unless i’m given a free ticket.  However, the players have my full support.  It’s Jacobs and the owners around the league that I despise.  If you do go the Garden this season please support the players, management, and arena employees.  When you see Jeremy Jacobs, Donald Fehr, or Gary Bettman be sure to curse and boo at them until their tail gets tucked between their legs.  They’re the one’s that messed things up for all of us.

DROP THE PUCK!!!

It Is All About Game Seven

And it will all come down to a Game 7.  7.  The greatest number in all of sports.  7.
 Especially when it comes to the NHL, there is nothing, absolutely nothing better than a Game 7.

The Bruins have outscored the Canucks 19-8 in the first 6 games of this series. Boston has 216 shots, Vancouver has 194 shots.  The Bruins have 190 hits. The Canucks have 22 hits.None of those numbers matter now.  7 is the only number that means anything.

It doesn’t matter that Nathan Horton was knocked out of the series in Game 3.  It doesn’t matter that Aaron Rome was suspended 4 games said cheap shot.  It doesn’t matter that Alexandre Burrows bit Patrice Bergeron and wasn’t suspended for it.  It doesn’t matter that Roberto Luongo couldn’t last 10 minutes in Game 6.

It doesn’t matter that Tim Thomas didn’t “stay in the paint” on the garbage game winning goal by Maxim LaPierre in Game 5.  It doesn’t matter that either team’s power play hasn’t produced. It doesn’t matter that the home team has gone undefeated in this series.  It doesn’t matter that Tim Thomas has been a wall in net all series.

Nothing from the last two weeks, dating back to June 1, matters.

On Wednesday night the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks will play in one single game that will determine whose names will be engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup from the 2011 season.  It has been a long, exciting, dare I say epic series to say the least.  It is only justice that the series will be determined in a winner take all game.

Make sure you grab your favorite recliner, bar stool, or space on the floor Wednesday night.  Game 7 is sure to be a classic.

I can be followed on Twitter @ ScottieNTCF

These Bruins are Playing for the Stanley Cup

Back on April 6, I wrote a post titled “These Bruins Won’t Go Far.”  In case you need further proof of that previous statement here it is: http://ntcf.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/these-bruins-wont-go-far/

Now it is May 31 and the Bruins will playing the Vancouver Canucks tomorrow night in Vancouver in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.  Clearly , I was wrong about the these Bruins right?  The fact is I wasn’t wrong.  The Bruins that are flying high right now are not the same Bruins that entered the 2011 playoffs. Through the first two games of the playoffs I was right as Montreal embarrassed the Bruins on their home ice.  My neighbor down the street was maybe the only one that was confident in the Bruins at that point.  He even told me that he was trademarking the phrase, “The Miracle in Montreal” for when the Bruins won the Cup.

At that point in time maybe he saw something no one else did.  Or he had a DeLorean and wasn’t telling anybody about it.  Everything I said in my post back on April 6, the Bruins answered.  I said that the Bruins would not be able to just rely on Tim Thomas and his supernatural abilities in net to carry them in the playoffs.  Thomas has no doubt been magnificent but he has also benefitted from stellar play from his defense led by Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg.  Andrew Ferrence has been an unsung hero of sorts. And the Bruins have been able to win in spite of Johnny Boychuk’s overall lackluster play.

On April 6,  I argued that the Bruins didn’t have the star power that was necessary to contend for the Cup.  Since that time Nathan Horton has emerged as a go to guy for the Spoked B.  As a matter of fact the Bruins are undefeated in the playoffs in games in which he has scored.  He netted both Game 7 winner’s for the Bruins as well.  My colleague on this blog, Tazzi, was adamant that the Bruins had arguably the best line in all of the NHL in Krejci-Lucic-Horton.  I didn’t believe him at the time, but he has proven me wrong.  The Bruins also received a memorable spark from 18-year-old Tyler Seguin in a game against Tampa Bay where he skated circles around the Lightning giving Bruins fans a glimpse of things to come for the next 15 years. How’s that for superstar talent?

I also criticized Claude Julien on April 6 (amongst other days) that he was stubborn and felt the need to play all four lines at all times.  In Game 7 of the Tampa series, Julien finally doubled up his top line after playing his fourth line late in Game 6.  While I still prefer the top lines play the most minutes, Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly have given the Bruins outstanding minutes in time on the ice.  Peverley was the best Bruin on the ice in Game 7 as his energy and hustle created many opportunities for the B’s.

On April 6, I said that the only hardware coming back to Boston when the ice had melted would be the Vezina Trophy.  The Bruins have already proven me wrong by bringing home the Wales Trophy.  Now they are 4 wins away from bringing home Lord Stanley’s Cup.

I can be followed on Twitter @ ScottieNTCF

The Tale of Two Series

With apologies to anyone who has followed the blog and my coverage of the Celtics and Bruins in the playoffs.  I just haven’t had time to sit down and write or I have been extremely angry.  You choose.

There are things in life that make me very happy.  Conversely, there are things in life that make me very angry.  At the time of this writing, the Celtics are down 0-2 to the Miami Heat and the Bruins are up 2-0 in their series against the Philadelphia Flyers.  The Boston Bruins have been resilient in their playoff run.  When they have been punched, they have absorbed the blow and punched back, often times knocking their opponent out for the win.  The Celtics bullied around the Knicks in the first round not being punched at all.  The Heat have bullied the Celtics through two games and the Celtics look lifeless.

Due to the fact that my anger and disappointment is off the charts, I am simply going to offer this up as a post.  I am in no real mindset to analyze anything that is going on.  If that’s what you are looking for check out CelticsBlog.com or ESPNBoston.com.

Tim Thomas makes me very happy because he is a stud.

Glen Davis makes me very angry because he sucks.

Both NBA and NHL officials are like Mondays.  No one likes a Monday.

Rajon Rondo missed the team bus leaving New York and is lost somewhere in the city.

Brad Marchand has joined the likes of Pedroia and Woodhead in my book.

Will Shaq return before the Bruins score a powerplay goal?

There is nothing better than winning games on the road.

There is nothing worse than watching a lifeless and heartless team play in the playoffs.

Other than those observations, I’ve got nothing.  Feel free to blast my pour coverage of the most important part of both team’s seasons.  Like the Celtics, I deserve the criticism.

I can be followed on Twitter @ ScottieNTCF.

Bruins Find Twine Seven Times; Take Series Lead 1-0

The Boston Bruins rode a three goal second period en route to a 7-3 butt-whooping of the Philadelphia Flyers in Game One in Philadelphia.  The Bruins got 2 goals apiece from David Krejci and Brad Marchand, and one each from Mark Recchi, Gregory Campbell, and Nathan Horton.  Tim Thomas made 31 saves preserving the victory for the Boston Bruins giving them the all important Game One win.

The first line, that was on milk cartons for much of the Montreal series, really showed up today.  Krejci had 2 goals and 2 assists, Horton had himself a goal and an assist, and Milan Lucic had a plus 3 with 4 hits.  The Bruins dominated the game from start to finish on Philadelphia’s home ice.  It was clear they enjoyed the more physical play that Philadelphia provides rather than Montreal.

The Bruins were able to expose the Flyers’ weakness knocking Brian Boucher out of net as the Flyers goalie problems continue.  As a Bruins fan it was a lot more enjoyable watching the Bruins fire away against Boucher rather than Carey Price.  If the Bruins can continue to pepper whoever the Flyers trot out to net, the series should be over rather quickly.  The Bruins must continue to apply as much pressure as possible much like they did today.

The problems with the power play have continued for the Bruins however.  The Bruins were 0-5 tonight on the power play prompting me to start with a series of “The last time the Bruins scored a playoff goal…”  Until they do score, I will have a quote on every power play.  This started in the third period of today’s game.  I invite you to join me in these quotes!

The last time the Bruins scored a power play goal women weren’t allowed to vote.

The last time the Bruins scored a power play goal the drinking age was 18.

There is apart of me that really wishes they Bruins could decline the penalty like in the NFL because they are playing better when its 5 on 5 out there.

I am cautiously optimistic with the Game 1 win over the Flyers.  It wasn’t long ago (1 year) that the Bruins got up 3-0 on this Flyer squad and lost the series.  That was the past.  The time is now.  The Bruins were able to finish their opportunities in Game 1 that they were unable to finish in the Montreal Series.

Let’s hope those trends continue.  And let’s hope for some power play goals!  Game 2 is Monday, 7:30 in Philadelphia.

I can be followed on Twitter @ ScottieNTCF

Horton Snipes Canadiens: Bring on the Flyers

Going into overtime I wrote on my Facebook wall, “I remember this feeling.  It feels much like 2003 when Grady Little left Pedro Martinez on the mound.  It wasn’t a matter of if the Sox would lose, it’s a matter of when.” After Nathan Horton ripped the twine sending the Bruins to round two, beating the Montreal Canadiens 4-3, I dubbed myself the “King of the Reverse Jinx.”

The Bruins were flying high after Chris Kelly scored with 9 minutes left in the game putting the Bruins up 3-2.  What made his goal especially sweet, was that he scored because Roman Hamrilik flopped and laid on the ice for an extra 7 seconds instead of getting back in the play.  I was convinced the game was over at that point and karma had finally came back around and bit the Canadiens when it mattered most.  I thought it would have been poetic justice the Canadiens would be ousted after one of the patented flops.  As is usually the case, I was wrong.

Patrice Bergeron was called for high sticking James Wisnewski with just over 2 minutes left in the game.  The Canadiens took advantage.  Who else but PK Subban ripped a laser past Tim Thomas for the equalizer with 1:57 left to play in regulation.  At that point the demons of the past started filling my brain.  I started to think the Boston Bruins were now what the Boston Red Sox were from 1918 through 2003.  I was thinking of the Bruins losing last year after being up 3 games to nothing and 3-0 in Game 7 to the Flyers.  I was thinking of how they lost to the Hurricanes in Game 7 after being the best team in the NHL during the regular season.  I thought about how they lost to the Habs in Game 7 in 2008.  I thought about how Joe Thornton scored the game winner for San Jose two nights ago.

Then 5 minutes and 43 seconds into overtime Nathan Horton ripped a slap shot past Carey Price, that not only eliminated the Habs but exorcised the Boston Bruins Game 7 demons.  Past Bruins teams would have lost that game tonight.  Last year’s Bruins would have lost in regulation after Subban’s goal late in the third period.  Not these Bruins.  These Bruins have proven in this series that they are resilient.  They got down 2-0 in the series, went to a hostile environment in Montreal and promptly tied the series.  They have come back from 2 goal deficits.  Most importantly, they have won a Game 7.

Critics (including myself) have been looking for ways to bash the Bruins, whether it be the front office, the coaching, or the players themselves.  Well, the front office brought in the man who scored the game winner tonight while unloading arguably the worst player in hockey.  The front office brought in “The Man Behind the Cage” Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley who each played great in the opening round of the playoffs.  Like him or not, Claude Julien was able to light a fire under the players backsides when it mattered most leading the Bruins to the series win.  Lastly, the players themselves have shown up and played with unbridled passion.

Now it is on to Philadelphia where the Bruins will look to exorcise more demons.  Philadelphia is the team that won 4 straight against the B’s last season.  The Bruins haven’t gotten out of the second round since 1992.  Will this be the year?

Game One is Saturday at 3 in Philly.  Let’s go Bruins!

I can be followed on Twitter @ ScottieNTCF

Bruins Drop Game 6

The Montreal Canadiens forced a Game 7 beating the Boston Bruins 2-1 tonight in Montreal.  Both Canadiens goals came on 5 on 3 power plays that the Bruins really had no shot of stopping.  The Habs then put on the hockey version of the prevent defense in the period, playing not to lose the game rather than win it.  The strategy worked as the Bruins could not generate any offense whatsoever.

The Bruins continued their powerless play going 0-6.  It is fair to say that a line consisting of Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Helen Keller, Christopher Reeves, and Heath Ledger would be more productive than the current Bruins power play lines. And my fantasy line consists of people who have passed away.

The Bruins caught a huge break in the opening minutes of the game via an early whistle by the officials.  Tim Thomas thought he had the puck under his glove when he didn’t and a Canadien skated in and put the puck in the back of the net, only to have the goal waved off by the early whistle from the zebra.  The unruly Canadien fans starting throwing things on the ice and booing louder than a 747 engine.  It also wouldn’t of surprised me if they starting calling the Montreal authorities looking for legal action much like they did when Chara laid out Pacioretty.  Their antics could have been a penalty against the Habs for delay of game but the officials decided to let it go.  Truth be told, that was here nor there with the Bruins because they wouldn’t have been able to score on the power play anyways.

Milan Lucic was also handed a five-minute penalty and game misconduct for laying out Jaroslav Spacek in the second period.  In the Boston area (and everywhere but Montreal) it was a solid hit.  In Montreal, it seemed like attempted murder.  Spacek made like Lazarus and was able to play close to 17 minutes on the night. Losing Lucic for the game should not have been a big deal for the Bruins because he hasn’t shown up all series.  But the Bruins were unable to generate any offensive pressure without #17 and pretty much looked like dead men skating.

The series moves back to Boston for Game 7 tomorrow night.  The Bruins are 2-8 in clinching games over the last 3 years.  Bruins fans have to be understandably nervous going into tomorrow night.  While the B’s were fantastic in Games 3-4-5, that is now ancient history.  The Bruins had the chance to end the series tonight and they let it slip through their gloves.  The Canadiens gave the Bruins every opportunity to tie the game up in the third period and they didn’t take advantage.

What tomorrow brings, nobody knows.  That is the great and awful thing about the two best words in all of sports.  Game.  Seven.

I can be followed on Twitter @ ScottieNTCF

Bruins Snag 2OT Thriller

So there it is.  Haters go home.  We don’t need your down 0-2 negativity.  Tonight, and for the last three games really, the Bruins played like an actual playoff hockey team and came away with a 2-1 double overtime victory against the much hated Montreal Canadiens at The Garden.  This is one of those games that you look at and see why this team is playoff worthy.  Last game, they were able to keep up with a high scoring affair and this time, the high-end defensive pressure-packed game.

Brad Marchand looked like he has been playing in playoff games in the NHL for years.  He was making crisp passes, in the lanes he needed to be in, and just grinded every shift out.  Both goals for the Bruins for garbage goals but, the way that these goaltenders were playing it was the only way and rubber was crossing a goal line.

Tim Thomas didn’t look un-easy at all tonight for the first time in playoff game that I can remember.  I think it’s finally the time that we can tell Michael Felger that Thomas stole a game for the Bruins.  That save that he made in the second overtime where he had to sprawl to his left and flash the pad left me (and scottie) leaping off the couch.  Those are the kinds of saves that keep teams alive.

Game 6 is in Montreal on Tuesday.  All fans are welcome to enjoy this recent success but, for the ones that poo-pooed the Bruins when they went down 0-2, the criticism was deserved but shame on you for jumping of the playoff parade.  This is a big night from Boston hockey.  However, the series is not over and this team has a ways to go before we can all finally exhale.

GO BRUINS!!!