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…

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!!!

Savard Shelved For Season

From ESPN Boston:  Today the Boston Bruins and Marc Savard announced that the 33 year-old center will be put on long term injured reserve (LTIR) which will leave him out for the remainder of the season and any playoff games the Bruins would play.  The announcement came today during a press conference with teammates Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, and Mark Recchi present.

“I think when that hit happened against Colorado, I said to [athletic trainer Don DelNegro], ‘Why? Why again?’” Savard recalled. “So it’s tough. I guess things happen in hockey. It’s a fast game and it’s something that I’ll just have to get over.”

The decision made was an expected one and has created some interesting talk over the past week or so.  What should the Bruins due with the newly opened cap space now that Savard is officially out for the season.  I’m in the mindset that there is a couple things they need to do.  If you go with common thought, you’d think the Bruins now have $4 Million to spend now.  However, after reading Matt Kalman’s article it has made things a little more difficult on the mind.  If you click on the article you’ll discover that they can’t spend all of that cap space because of performance bonuses of other players on the team (Tyler Seguin, Steven Kampfer, and Recchi).

So, I’m going to throw out a hypothetical question here….

Bruins Stifled In LA- Savard Out Indefinitely

I just wanted to make a couple quick points in regards to the Bruins and Marc Savard. I’ll start with the Bruins game last night in Los Angeles.  This team has struggled with the Kings lately and I don’t know what it is.  Even when the Bruins are playing well they can’t figure out the Kings.  The Bruins even stopped by LA last night with the Kings on a cold streak and couldn’t solve UMass’s own Jon Quick, losing 2-0.  The weird thing was, the Bruins didn’t play horrible, just not well enough to win (obviously).  Tim Thomas stood on his head once again but Quick and the Kings were slightly better snuffing any strong chances the Bruins could develop.  The Bruins have now lost their last five games to Los Angeles.  If I had time to look it up I would, but I am curious, do the Bruins hold a current drought longer than five games to any other teams?  I’d be willing to bet next week’s paycheck on “no” here.

Onto Savard.  Savard was again diagnosed with a concussion on a hard (but clean) hit from former Bruin Matt Hunwick the other night in Colorado.  I don’t know what’s more puzzling, Savard going down again or Hunwick actually throwing a hard hit.  I digress.  The Marc Savard concussion raises many eyebrows.  I believe he should be put on LTIR and be done for the rest of the season.  Every time I see him on the ice I think of Eric Lindros, a career cut short via the concussion.  It literally brings up so much anger toward Matt Cooke for laying the original dirty hit on Savard and taking out the Bruins biggest potential point producer over the past few years and for years to come.  Marc Savard was an assist machine until that hit and now Matt Cooke is still flying around night after night playing dirty and aggravating the league…I hope he gets his some day, I really do.

The Bruins Will Win The Stanley Cup (2010-11 Season)

 

Pending an abrupt, heartbreaking injury interruption to the best season of his short, twilight career, Tim Thomas will win the Vezina Trophy in 2011. Thomas and Tuukka Rask leave little to the imagination for the modern day sports writer, in his or her quest to write about who the best goalie in the NHL is, or what team has the best goaltending core or tandem. Rask in is own right, at the moment, has the fifth best save percentage in the league, and would look much better from a stats perspective, given goal support. The Bruins are a team who can score goals, a statement I couldn’t make last year without laughing, or crying, or both. That being said, it isn’t talent in front of him that leaves him at 4 and 9, its respect. He earned it last year, yet it flickered in the light of a blinding collapse. He will have to earn the trust from the Bruins offense, if he is to stay successful in the years to come, a feat I think he is already beginning to conquer. Thomas on the other hand, holds the number one slot in the Save Percentage category, as well as in GAA and Shutouts, and a loaded second seed in wins, due to Rask’s 14 starts. I had personally called for this to be the year Tuukka broke out; this being before Thomas’ final glory season as the number one was cut short last year due to injury, and before the bad Bruins’ press to pressure Rask into the number one role, came way too soon. Leaving last year behind us, finally, and moving forward onto what a healthy Tim Thomas can bring to this team, the Bruins will get a hefty bite of the playoffs this season, no doubt, and will end with their stomachs full and their heads resting comfortably on the couch. There will be no collapse this year, and if the goals are flying in for Boston, Thomas will be standing on his head, as the unconventionally built brick wall, with a style no one should have the gall to knock or the audacity to criticize.

How did the Bruins build an offense after ridding themselves of what was referred to as there only offensive threat? For the satirical sake of asking a question, and than answering in a sarcastically and egotistically knowledgeable fashion, first thing’s first; Phil Kessel was not a Bruin. At least, not a Bruin in the sense that Claude Julien was ever going to be able to properly configure him into the winning structure of a playoff ready hockey team. He is weak, gutless, and only scores goals. Julien, as I and so many have beaten until the neighing has silenced, coaches a boring and defensively layered style of hockey. Every forward has to play physical, every forward has to be willing to play the body in order to play the puck, and you have to have integrated scrap players, dogs who will get their tails filthy to score goals or break noses. Kessel was none of these things, except of course a tool to score the occasional goal. A perfect, current situation which parallels my undying distrust towards Phil Kessel and my forever gratitude for his departure is the flaccid play of Michael Ryder. Take out the fact that he was a Montreal Canadian and take out the fact that he had a clear shot at Matt Cooke after the “Incident” with Marc Savard, and didn’t lift a damn finger, he has a wrist shot with a cold streak, and an uncanny ability to draw stupid penalties, and a lot of them at that. Some may argue he is a key to the Bruins’ offense. I say, replace him with a broom, and either Savard, Krejci or Bergeron could make it a 20 goal scorer. But all that being said, and back to saying goodbye to Philly K., I say the building happened after the so called demolition. First, the Bruins kept the three previously mentioned centers, arguable first liners on 50% of the teams in the Eastern Conference. Second, the acquisition of Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell, and not just because the Bruins scouting eye was dead on balls accurate in seeing Nathan Horton’s potential, or because Gregory Campbell could coach, sweep the benches, keep score, etc. (the guy does absolutely everything, including fight, and does it well), but because they acknowledged, once and for all, they have a weak defense, and that the fix started with the inevitable shit canning of Dennis Wideman. Third, they harnessed Lucic to his fullest potential, putting him on lines where he can score goals and bang heads. Injury prone yes, but with Horton on the opposing wing or Savard shooting pass after pass onto his stick, he has become a superstar in the black and gold. Put Lucic in front, Horton or anyone for that matter cycling above the center circles, and Krejci or Savard along the boards, and there isn’t a spot in the offensive zone these guys can’t score from. The fourth and final keys to this offense are Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand. One is a second pick overall and the other is a Providence Bruins farm system call up. Both have played exceptionally well, the latter adapting better to the fast paced National Hockey League, a shorthanded goal machine to whom I would pay money to invest in, and the first showing hints of flash and skill which we only hope to see flourish and remain under the Boston spoked ‘B’.

What do these acquisitions, these pieces to the puzzle, these 8 out of 12 do to the remaining forwards, something so obvious, I shouldn’t even be addressing it? They make them better. These select players above, playing at the highest skill of there current potential, are displaying the missing ingredient to last year’s failure bound, Bruins playoff team; heart. They are spreading so much heart, that they have made Mark Recchi immortal, as a pin ball pillar for puck’s to bounce off of. Picture a 50 year old Recchi and 26 year old prime time superstar Tyler Seguin, playing “Katie bar the door” close to the crease hockey, because I sure as hell can. Blake Wheeler has actually stepped it up a notch, in his quiet role of using his stature, and not screwing up all the time. He has his moments, but for the most part, this is the first year he has substantially improved. The last notable mention as a forward, is a man who needs no introduction, a man whose heart I never question, and who’s nose will never quite look straight on his face, Shawn Thornton. He’ll fight, he’ll score, and he’ll play it clean. He is the perfect fourth line forward, and with this depth, this all too apparent box of tools, role players, physical forwards, European and Canadian finesse, and a mixture of youth and experience, all of this chemistry equals that goal support, equals offense, and as of late, and with plenty more to come, equals wins. The key to hockey is not to score goals, it is to win games. That may sound absolutely ridiculous, but if you ask Claude Julien, or any member of the Boston Bruins, preventing goals is just as important, if not more important, then scoring them. Scoring them however, having recently outplayed Carolina over a two game home and home, winning both by a combined score of 10-2, shouldn’t be a problem. The Bruins have proven they can skate with any team offensively in the Eastern Conference, and with a tight pack this year, and many surprising front runners, to stand out at all proves they can beat any team as well.

Defense, then, will be the gating factor, the key to all teams’ collapses, and the make or break for the Bruins this season. On the wake of Zdeno Chara’s first career Hat trick, even though he hasn’t been able to consistently get a shot through to goal all season, and it being common knowledge that Johnny Boychuck and newcomer, and hopefully soon to be defensive staple, Steven Kampfer, can both bomb it from the point, and stick handle to the goal, the team’s defensive-offensive point threat will not be in question. The defense stepping up in the play will be of no concern either, and holding the points, players like the defensive minded Patrice Bergeron and Marc Savard, who can play anywhere on the ice, and defensemen like Chara and Mark Stuart, can do quite well, will be a practiced and remain an integral aspect of play for the Bruins. So what is the problem on defense? It is the same problem as last year, which plagues the Julien system; getting the puck out of their own zone, and not allowing pressure build up near the crease, as players get tired, due to their inability to transition. Layered defense means, layered offense. The puck starts from the defensive end and works its way up the ice, into the offensive zone, and at times, into the goal. If you are missing this key, back end support system, this layering will fail. Chara has played poor defensively this season, and is noted because of his name, slapshot and size, as an All Star. Sedeinberg is solid defensively, if he is not tasked with moving guys out of the front of his net, or controlling the puck in the defensive zone. Kampfer and McQuaid are both young, and for the time being, playing boring, yet controlled defense which I can’t actually criticize. McQuaid will throw his flailing punches at anyone, and Kampfer’s strengths have been highlighted, but structurally there defensive positioning is sound. Andrew Ference, when healthy, to me, is just as bad as Wideman was, never hitting the right angles, and never placing the puck correctly to his forwards for transition. I do, however, have a new found respect for him, since his reaction to an elbow Lucic took in the head. His behind the back tackle on Atlanta’s Freddy Meyer was a revelation. Mark Stuart, as I have and will always say, is the strongest Bruin, pound for pound, however he is slow, and unlike Chara with his long reach, it shows. All that being said, and with a solid future at the defensive position, residing in Providence, awaiting their calls, youth will be the key to leading the charge. Chara needs to step up his defensive positioning, penalty control, and physical play. Boychuck, Stuart and Seidenberg need to take smarter angles, and cover their asses, as to not allow for what seems like a game by game breakaway attempt for the opposition. Kampfer and McQuaid however, need to carry their solid play, into the playoffs, and sustain it. Side note: Shots cannot get through to Thomas or Rask. Fourty five shots on goal, is unacceptable. Drop down to the ice, and take a stinger off the arms, legs or chest for a change. Improvement at defense is needed to prove my prediction of taking the Stanley Cup this year, however with goals being scored, and goaltending leaving no questionability, they have a better chance this year, than Thomas’ first Vezina Trophy winning season, two years ago. But who will they have to go through and who will they have to conquer, with all of these skills, to make this happen?

For Tim Thomas, Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and the entire host of the skating black and gold to lift, drink from and etch their names into the Cup this year, they will need to break through the consistently talented plethora of Eastern powerhouses, along with some surprise notable mentions, contributing to this tight race.

We’ll start with Pittsburgh, harboring an injured superstar, the number one season break out, Sydney Crosby, and the strong, yet easily exploited, Marc Andre Fleury. I could not say this last year, but this year it is apparent. Pittsburgh can be had, and the Bruins have the tools to respond to this bad blood rival. Kris Letang is having a Norris Trophy caliber season on defense, but Crosby and Malkin aside, can they continue to utilize heart to fuel the remaining rag tag offensive threats, and overcome there remaining one-way defenseman? Orpik, Cooke, Rupp and Engelland to name a few, make up a sloppy, quick to the penalty box and not so quick to throw down, yet excellently coached national hockey league team. Pittsburgh, due to history and the prodigal son returning healthy, will be the number one threat for the B’s in the post season, regardless of how the regular season ends, and who sits atop the Atlantic.

That being said, who will sit atop the Atlantic, if not Pittsburgh? Philadelphia and the Rangers are making a very good case for it. Philly, to whom the Bruins have a 2-1 season series lead against, look not at series leads as any insurmountable feat to overcome. B’s fans know this all too well, and with Giroux, Richards, Briere and Carter showing exactly what the four of them can do for a team, when healthy, their lineup is a force. The B’s saving grace is, and as I have voiced my strong opinion on this in the past, come playoff time, this platooning between Bobrovsky and Boucher will not hold, and with Bobrovsky having yet to prove himself in any playoff situation, Philly could fall flat. Goalie to goalie, Thomas at this point in the season, proves that he can stand up to any team. That being said, the Rangers harbor the second best goaltender in the league (no not Carey Price), but Henrik Lundqvuist. Also, with the steady play of Marian Gaborik, and the sudden immergence of Mats Zuccarello, the Norwegian Olympic stud (who says Olympic Hockey is pointless), they are showing signs of offensive flare. That being said, I do not think Brandon Dubinksy and Sean Avery define any offensive depth, and though Lundqvist can sneak them in, and take them far, the lack of offense will be too overwhelming, and the likes of Savard, Lucic and Horton won’t miss their opportunity to take down a rival like this, having only to score 3 to 4 goals a game, to do it.  

Next we look to the Southeast Division, dominated by the Washington Capitals, right? Wrong. The Capitals at midseason, find themselves second to a Stamkos and St.Louis controlled season surprise, the Tampa Bay Lighting, who are currently riding a weak defense, and platooning goaltenders. Dan Ellis has proven to be an asset, and I am a Dwayne Roloson fan, thinking his glove hand falls short only to that of Tuukka Rask’s. I do however think, defense will fail them, and these two goaltenders cannot take them far beyond round one. Pending a B’s match up, the series will be tight, but Stamkos and St. Louis only have two games in them if they have one, and a head to head series can be had. Falling just short of the Capitals at the moment, are the Atlanta Thrashers, headed by former Bruin’s affiliate, Craig Ramsay, and what should be the starting defensive pairing for the Eastern All Star team, he is solely responsible for building, in Tobias Enstrom and Dustin Byfuglien. Their offense consists of strong skaters, for example the coolest name in hockey, Evander Kane, but they lack finishers and flare, consistent goal scorers, and offensively controlling centers. Their offense will fail them, and they will have to wait another year before the effects of losing Ilya Kovalchuk wear off. On the back of a break out season for Ondrej Pavelec, they will sneak into the playoffs, but they will remain off the radar as an offense to offense match up threat for the B’s. This brings us to the Capitals, who if it weren’t for Ovechkin, Backstrom and Semin continuing their All Star caliber offensive play, they would be flat on their backs in the wake of needing solid goaltending. Semyon Varlamov who? Michael Neuvirth who? Their cage has holes in it, and one would expect better from such an offensive minded powerhouse. Right now, they are weak, and again, line them up in a series with the B’s, and similarly to the Lighting, they can only hope to take two at best, on the sole skates of their offense. If they don’t pick up a goalie for the playoffs, the Caps will again, disappoint.

Finally we hit the Bruin’s own, Northeast Division. Though it is argued the Sabres have the B’s number, with a simple nod to the fact that they took them down with ease last playoff season, the argument that Buffalo will not be a playoff team in 2011, and that Ryan Miller is all they have, and the occasional Vanek goal, Buffalo will be no hurdle. That being said, and with Toronto and Ottawa currently and consistently out of the season picture in 2011, the Bruins have only one true rival in their Division, if only one true rival in all of hockey; the Montreal Canadians. With everyone in the world of hockey “journalism” eating this so-called “crow pie”, I will have a bite, and say I was wrong about doubting that Carey Price could lead his team to some sort of respectable standing within the Eastern Conference. Once he dried his tears, and manned-up, he has proven to be the third best goalie in the NHL, behind Lundqvist and Thomas, and has proven that he can play the crutch to a team skating solely on the hindrance of having no steady offensive threats. Can he lead them to the playoffs? Yes, of course. Can the team lead themselves past the first round of the playoffs? I do not think so. If they face the B’s in round one, expect offense to take over and Thomas to outplay Price, rather easily and most apparent, where by mid-series Price is completely overwhelmed.

With the East taken care of, the West throws a few teams of its own into the mix, for the Bruins to only worry about and potentially face in the Stanley Cup Series. Detroit continues to defy age and prove chemistry is key, and Vancouver continues to defy offensive logic, and harness the Sedin twins and Luongo as guarantees that they will sit atop the Western Conference. Chicago will be in the mix, Kane and Towes ever present, and L.A. and Phoenix will make a late season push, and sneak into the top eight. The West will be filled with the likes of quick play, and high scoring games. If and when the Bruins grace the Cup Series with their presence, the West can be won, and we will explore just how it will be won, once we learn who their opponent will be…

Time To Eat Some Crow Courtesy Of Chef Thomas

Tonight the Boston Bruins improved to 7-2-0 with a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.  The Bruins seem to be almost identical to the Randy Moss-less New England Patriots with a lunch pail mentality.  It’s all about defense, timely scoring and no one on the squad really blowing up the league with offensive numbers.

The purpose for this post is not to boast about how well the Bruins are playing but more for my public apology toward Tim Thomas.  Over the past year I have made it blatantly obvious that I am a much bigger Tuukka Rask supporter than I am of Thomas.  I was never to the point of rooting against Thomas because that’s just ludicrous hell, I have 12X16 signed picture of him hanging on my bedroom wall.  However, I was a part of that large contingent of Bruins fans/hockey community who claimed that Timmy was done and that the Black & Gold clocks were going to be operating on Tuukka Time for the foreseeable future.  Boy was I wrong…

Going into tonight’s game Thomas had 6-0-0 record with a .984 save percentage, a goals against average of .50, and 3 shutouts.  I’ll let that soak in for a second…Thomas leads the league in the 3 statistical categories and is second in the league with those six wins (with tonight’s win he’ll jump into a tie for first if Pittsburgh goalie Brent Johnson loses to Dallas).

Thomas is controlling his rebounds better than I’ve seen him in the past, even better than he did in his Vezina year 2 seasons ago.  When Thomas gives up less juicy rebounds it reduces his need to flop so, kudos to him.  That, and not battling an ailing hip injury have been the major sources for success for Thomas.

With all that being said, I am still a major Tuukka Rask advocate.  Rask is not only the future but, he’s the better goaltender.  However, Thomas needs to be the starter for as long as he can maintain this hot streak and continue to win games.  This Bruins squad is far better off with the Thomas-Tuukka tandem tending the twine (see what I did there?).  Putting either of these two on the trading block would be pure insanity so keeping the two of them together and keeping them healthy is a must for a strong playoff run.

In conclusion, I will be eating crow on this one.  Timmy, you are clearly not done yet and you can send a nice plate of black bird up to New Hampshire.  I still can’t stand your floppy Hasek style but, if it works for now and the Bruins keep winning, I’ll love you for it.

The Bruins Begin 2010 in Prague; Disassociation Before Anticipation

The Boston Bruins open their 2010/11 season in Prague on Saturday afternoon, versus the Phoenix Coyotes. If all of Czechoslovakia had been covered blindly by Icelandic ash during what in my humble opinion is the greatest professional sports collapse of my generation, Prague would have still heard the cries, saw the tears and felt the heart-break. I do not feel as if a second pick overall, a proven right-wing, an all in chips bet on a prime year for their goaltender, an emancipation from the worst player in the NHL and a trip to Prague can wash away the tainted toothbrush taste in my subconscious, but it tapes the puzzle box closed, and slaps a price tag on it. They have yet, however, and will not do so for some time, to show me the pieces. Building something out of nothing using mere strategy was a philosophy even I felt would shake up the Bruins enough, to make Boston a hockey town yet again. I was naive to think heart could be brought to players by way of a coach, or a midseason highlight overtime victory on a stage paved over with Boston championship and pride. I was a fool to think that heart could be taught. Heart has to be earned, and if you were to ask me if I was disappointed in last year’s outcome, looking forward to this year, happy with the off-season moves, or any other variation of anticipation I would look at you and rudely quote Gene Hackman from The Replacements because he is much smarter than anyone who thinks that until the Cup is raised in Boston, it is still alright to address the Bruins with any such hope. “Heart. Miles and miles of heart.” I urge the Bruins to win back my respect. With that said, and for the sake of no longer ranting and for the sake of thinking outside of this hard, scorned exterior, I will address some of the aspects of what the Bruins are putting together, that I look forward to writing about, and watching succeed, this season.

Tyler Seguin was not my first choice, nor was it the Bruins’ nor was it the NHL’s, but his slip behind Taylor Hall in the draft did not prevent this former OHL phenom from making an impact in Boston. I expect a 2008/09 David Krejci “esque” season out of this rookie, who is already being compared to the great Joe Sakic for his effortless skating ability, smart puck handling, finishing and two-way play. With two healthy, emphasis on healthy, David Krejci’s, and Patrice Bergeron at the helm, Savard, dizzy Savard or no Savard, the Bruins will have, yet again, a strong central core.

Nathan Horton is what the Bruins have been missing for some time. He is a taller Vladimir Sobotka whose talents the Bruins up and down game between Providence didn’t dilute. He is strong, smart, and will get you 25 to 30 goals consistently for a team who said goodbye to Phil Kessel, (the leading goal scorer in the pre-season, which for all intents and purposes means nothing), and who were forced to call Sturm and Ryder their main goal scorers. Horton has been lining up opposite to Lucic which pushes an extremely strong, shot oriented, and young line to the crease, and with Krejci dishing it out, will score some serious early and late game deciding goals.

Wideman is gone. I do not believe that in the NHL there is a player worse than Dennis Wideman. Leading the Bruins in points last post season means nothing because that playoff ride was a Twilight Zone horror show, a topsy-turvy trapeze act, or an all but a moment ago hangover and Wideman was the fat chick I slept with. She looked like Kim Kardashian, screwed like Jenna Jameson, however in the morning she was a fat Dennis Wideman whose pink sheets very well gave my scabies. She, I mean he, was a disgrace to any defensive system, and he may not be the reason for the collapse, but he encompassed the “why”. Needless to say, expect a smarter, more physical defense, filled with a lot more offensive step ups. I expect Boychuck to absolutely shine this season. A Dion Phaneuf type player, he will become.

Tuuka Rask will have a great season. He is no Andrew Raycroft, however he is also no Tim Thomas. I would like to see Tim Thomas play, and I want Rask to improve and contend for the Vezina. He was great in Providence, and he is a now an NHL goaltender a Stanley Cup can be won around. He will not be a gating factor in any team collapse, and by Midseason, he will be the talk of the town that is the NHL. A Niklas Backstrom type, under the radar starting goaltender, 2010/11 second pick Eastern All-Star. Thomas’ glory days, though very short are numbered, and instead his years here will be praised, looked back upon, this season, giving him his underdog status we all know he thrives so well under. Thomas, if healthy, will be the second fist to a one two punch that I still believe to be the strongest core in the NHL.

I guess Claude Julien will have to remain the Bruins head coach for one more year. I really have to hand it to Chiarelli for avoiding my pleas to clean house. I expect no difference in tone or locker room words to the press. They will remain sharp, poised, extremely vague, and optimistic, which is in fact warranted. There are no sophomore slumps in the NHL, so surprisingly this season can be called a comeback season for the B’s, and should encompass the ups and downs of last year, with perhaps more gaols and wins, like the year before.

Call this post a slow exploration in the potential realization that there is a lot behind us as Bruins fans, and a lot to look ahead too, even if the road ahead looks surprisingly like last years road, only after a weekend Habit for Humanity romp through the forest with cartoon blue birds and giant trash forks. Do not be blinded Bruins fans, stay pessimistic, but watch every game. Cheer for the Bruins as they try to disassociate themselves from their own past, and as I, like so many other, try to disassociate myself from my own let down in B’s fandom…this weekend, in Prague.

Post Script: Patrice Bergeron should be wearing the “C”, not the “A”, and this is no knock to Chara, it is a testament to Bergeron’s leadership. Chara is not a leader, he is a tool, a hammer, a machine to be wielded by the captains, the centers and the coaches. Bergeron is a better carpenter. I expect him to continue to step it up.

What Are You Doing at 7:00?

Keep that remote ready and prepare for one of the busiest Friday nights in Boston sports!  The Bruins are trying to sweep the Flyers in Philly tonight, the Red Sox begin a 3-game series vs the Yanks, and the Celtics take on the Cavs at home in a critical game 3 matchup.

When the Semifinal Round of the Stanley Cup Finals began, I was predicting the Bruins in 5.  The Flyers are trying to prove me wrong apparently, and with their last performance on home ice, they seem to be throwing in the towel.  I doubt that Philly will totally fold and they may get a gift if the Bruins decide to not show up and clinch it on home ice.  If I were Julien I would pray the latter not happen.

Playoff hockey requires such a heightened level of play and an intensity that drains a team.  A win tonight would allow the B’s to rest their players, rest in which they desperately need. 

With yet another forward out for the playoffs, a win here would no doubt help Marc Savard in getting his legs underneath him. David Krejci will certainly be missed, however this team has shown that it can pick up the slack when someone goes down, but why couldn’t it have been Wideman?  Granted Bouchere is no Ryan Miller, but the offense is executing much better in this series and Philly defense is, in my opinion, better than Buffalo’s, who hides behind its great shot blocker.  A loss tonight will in no way shape or form hurt Boston, but a win will be a tremendous advantage moving forward.

Will the real Josh Beckett please stand up? 

The Boston Red Sox have clawed their way back to .500.  They are going into a 3-game series vs the New York Yankees and are in position to make up some key games early in the season. 

Beckett will face off against Phil Hughes who has a sub 1.5 era this season.  As the “ace” of the staff, Beckett will need to put forth a solid effort and start this series on a good note.  The offense has been starting to come around and starting pitching needs to follow suit. 

Game one is, on paper, the best matchup from a starting pitching standpoint.  Sabathia squares off against Buckholtz, the most consistent starter to this point in the season, in game 2, and Burnett will face Jon Lester in game three.  If the Sox can keep the bats swinging in this series they have the opportunity to pick up a lot of games in the division. 

After this series they will host the Blue Jays, and will face the Yanks again in a 2-game series the following week. The Tampa Bay Rays series at the end of the month could be for first place and would give the Sox a chance to start the summer on a high note.

If I hear one more “elbow update” I might go mad! 

 Tonight’s game for the Celtics is a great opportunity to keep the momentum in this series.  The Celtics need to keep the pressure on the Cavs and they need to keep playing hard.  The key to the game 2 victory was rebounding.  The Celtics outrebounded the cavs 43-32.  The key to game three in my opinion is the truth!

Paul Pierce has not been performing at a high level in this series to put it lightly.  He needs to provide a little R&R to Rajon and Ray in game 3.  Paul is shooting 33% from the field and 27% from beyond the arch.  He has been careless with the ball and had some foul trouble last game.  His scoring and rebounding are down this series and a big time performance in game 3 could be just what tis team needs to take control of this series.

Look for Rasheed to get some more time in this game after his 7-8 shooting performance in game 2.  Sheed was able to pick up the slack last game, and if he can become a fraction of the player he was during Detroit’s playoff prowess, it would free up Ray Allen on the edge and provide more passing lanes so KG and Perk can go to work inside. 

I would really love to see the Celtics take after their coaches personality when he played for the Knicks.  If Lebron were playing in the 80′s against the Celtics or the Knicks, and especially the Pistons, you can bet he would be knocked down every time he came into the lane.  With the excessive whistles in Cleveland this was obviously not possible, but I would love to see James taste some parque’ tonight. 

My attention will most certainly be on the basketball game because the Bruins will eventually win this series and I will be able to watch the baseball game after the Celts’.  This is either going to be a great start to the weekend, or a bike ride with no seat.

The Backbone of Boston Sports….

Just a few years ago, at this time, the front page of the sports section would be flooded with various articles about Red Sox baseball.  Fast forward one year, and you had the combination of the Celtics race for the championship, and the Red Sox  race to repeat.  Here we are in 2010 and what team is carrying the weight of Boston fandom on its back in the early months of Spring…?

  The Boston Bruins. 

As shocking as it sounds, the team on the upswing in this part of town is 4 years removed from being the red-headed step child of one of the most successful sports regions of the last decade.  This is not to say that they finished last every year.  The Bruins have still made the post-season here and there.  However, when you play under the shadows of the Red Sox reversing the curse, the Patriots owning the last decade, and the Celtics recent resurgence, the Bruins were an afterthought, hardcore fans aside of course Cent.

  When you take into account all that is going on with the franchises of Boston, the Bruins seems to be the most promising in the future.  Let’s not forget that they will be drafting either Seguin or Hall in the upcoming draft.

I am not going to lump the Patriots in here, as I did say Boston franchises, although they are getting a little long in the tooth, as long as you have #12 behind center you got a shot.  The Red Sox were just swept by the Baltimore Orioles, again sorry Cent, and they have reached the point where…(swallows his pride) they can’t take Varitek out of the lineup????  The Celtics have been showing their age as of late and it seems I am one of the few that believe they have a shot against Cleveland.  I do however acknowledge the fact that “the big three” will soon turn into “the old three” and you are left with Rondo running in circles passing the ball to…[insert someone worth it here].

When you look at the Boston Bruins current roster you can’t help but notice the youth on the team.  With Rask (23) in net for the next, I don’t know, decade, you have a chance to steal any game you play with his efforts.  The names you are now getting to know along with Rask; Bergeron, Boychuk, Lucic, Krejci, Ryder, and even Sabotka, may not be as explosive as the lines that the Capitals skate out every shift, but they’re average age is 24 years old.  Another fun fact; they’re STILL PLAYING.

The team play that the Bruins have exhibited this playoffs really shows you the quick learning curve that has taken place in Boston.  Claude Julien needs to be applauded for the job he has done with this team, when, with 3 games left in the season, still didn’t know their fate.

With all of the post-season upsets, the Bruins have home ice against the Flyers and find themselves up 1-0 in great position.  Regardless of the outcome this post-season, the young players on this team are getting a priceless lesson on playoff hockey, and what hockey in May is all about.

Savard’s Return Energizes the Garden and Redefines Series

Marc Savard capped off, with a story book ending, the greatest 14 minutes of offense, I have ever seen a Bruin’s team lay on an opponent, in my 15 years as a fan. I attended Saturday afternoon’s playoff matchup, with a lack of positivity, that Savard would be returning, however on the screen hovering over the ice, as people poured in, and the sea of gold and black rose, within only minutes to spare before the puck drop, they show our returning star, jersey on his back, stick in hand, and the place erupts. This electricity grew, and grew, and peaked after the 4th goal, and what looked like a route with ten minutes to go in the 3rd, felt like an epic return and a solid victory and a series dominance established. The deflation of having to go into overtime, left the Garden silent, and was difficult to bare. Until, of course, the pucked dropped, and the level of intensity jumped again, and 15 shots in 14 minutes, capped by what can only be described as the most fantastic cliche ending, I have ever seen live, or have ever seen at all. I will never forget the experience, and if this season has to defined now by the “Matt Cooke Incident”, so be it. The icing on the cake, however, to a love hate fan reaction, to a team said to be defeated, yet rising from the ashes on the shoulders of their returning ace, number 91 redefined it not as Matt Cooke’s, but as his own.

Bruins beware and take note:

Play better defense!!!

All season I have been asking for a defensive restructuring, and though Wideman stepped it up, listening to my previous warning, he is still weak, and with McQuaid only blocking shots, Ferrence only skating fast, but to the wrong spots, and Hunwick playing sub-par, they will not survive on Big Z and Boychuk alone. Step it up.

Do not allow the Flyers to get near Rask and do not allow them to shoot while people ARE near Rask. It is very simple to see that the Flyers leave their offense to chance, aside from Briere, sometimes, as do the Bruins, all of the time, so push Hartnell, or Carcillo, or whoever is trying to get in there, on there ass, and block more shots. I do not want to see Rask get rattled again.

Tuukka…control your rebounds. The game was almost over with 20 seconds to go in regulation, because you are feeling the pressure a little bit. Get over it, play physical yourself, push guys out of your crease, and deflect pucks to the corners.

Ryder needs to play better, faster, stonger… He sucks right now. Period.

Sturm is gone. I am not sad, just dissapointed. I wish he had had a chance to redeem himself. Too bad.

Thornton’s coming back, I guess. I am pleased. I like Sobotka on the fourth line, however. Maybe we will see some restructuring. Maybe not though.

Probably not.

Game 2, Monday, May 3rd.

Stay psyched.