The Boston Bruins were on a collision course with a team they quite simply owned all throughout the campaign that was quite the roller-coaster ride for a defending championship season: the Ottawa Senators were to be their first round opponent in this year's title defense.
Instead, due to the NY Rangers being bested on the last evening of the regular season by the Washington Capitals, it was the latter team that Boston drew as an opponent for the first round.
And instantly, what was to be an easy first round match-up, a warm-up to the title defense to be truly tested later on, perhaps right away in round two -versus Devils perhaps- a free pass, a first-round bye, almost - instead became a real test for the defending champs.
No sweat.
The Boston Bruins know what it takes to win - and defeat the most inclement of adversaries as they did in brilliant fashion last year when faced with hated rival Montreal right off the bat, followed by equally-execrated foe Philadelphia in the second round, Tampa Bay in the third and Vancouver in the finals.
Boston can prevail, no matter who the opponent is.
Quite the thrilling series - it even gave the Bruins a do-or-die game for game 6! One in which they displayed admirable guts and poise in taking ON THE ROAD, and IN OVERTIME on top of that!
What a gutsy performance by the defending champs!
Tyler Seguin did for his Boston Bruins what Sidney Crosby could not do for his Pittsburgh Penguins - score a meaningful goal that meant a TON, not just one out of TEN...!
Sure, Sid The Kid led his team to a 10-3 rout of the Flyers that staved off elimination - but they should have saved some goals for the next games since they could only muster one more in game 6 and that was that for them. Down the pitt they went! And to think that experts had picked them to win it all this year...
The Vancouver Canucks could not get anything from their Kesler kid either - and they lost their series against the Kings in a measly five games. And they were supposed to easily reach the finals again, like last year...
So 'Sid The Kid' and 'Kesler Bomb' - well, bombed. Tyler 'The Tyke' Seguin now - there's a clutch performer! In last year's playoffs and in this series against Washington!
And the rest of the Bruins are true WARRIORS. They never give up! They know what it takes to prevail.
Whatever happens in Game 7, this coming Wednesday in Boston, the team has proven its grit, its guts, its determination, even in the face of an unforeseen potential early exit just like those other two top contenders.
Whatever happens -and we know that a lot of odd, unexpected weird bounces can occur, changing the course of any given contest- these Boston Bruins are indeed true CHAMPIONS.
And, as I used to say back in the day, also... Win or lose, Bruins will bruise!
If the Bruins had wanted it as bad as they wanted to sweep the Flyers last year - this series would have been won. And in 6 games too.
If the Bruins had been as emotionally involved as they were last year (it was easy, against the Canadiens - hated rivals that they are. Then the Flyers sweep was so desired, to avenge, for redemption. Against the Lightning there was the drive of a Mark Recchi. And against Vancouver, the desire to win it for fallen teammate Nathan Horton) - they would have steamrolled all over the heartless Capitals.
If the Bruins had wanted to go through this grueling exercise again - after a tough season, where everyone was gunning for them - they would have been feistier, too: they would have contested that ''deciding'' goal which was, in reality, a garbage goal, a flukey goal, off a scrimmage - it could have been overturned after review. But the Bruins did not even contest it - did not even ask for a review.
Tim Thomas' narrating on the second (but foremost, for team-oriented and not ego-centrical) video-promo for the 2012 NHL playoffs corroborates one aspect of the dilemma for the Bruins in repeating as champions - the fatigue element, as they had this ''target on their back'' all season through. Patrice Bergeron alludes to it in an episode of NHL 36 focusing on him, too, as he recalls the preceding season, when Chicago was the defending champion, and he like everyone else was up and especially ready to beat the Blackhawks, beat the defending champs. In two playoffs appearances since, Chicago has lost twice in the first round: last year to eventual finalist Vancouver, and this year to... the Phoenix Coyotes. The Coyotes had never won a playoff series before, in franchise history. One can only hope the Bruins will not fare as bad as this, next time...
It sure was a target on the B's back - and it had its toll on the team's resilience, to an extent. They fought back, they handled it well - but that undefinable edge that pushes you just a little more forward, makes just that much of a difference and winds up making aaaaaall the difference - that was missing. It may have left with Mark Recchi - but not with Michael Ryder, Shane Hnidy or (pfff- lol) Tomas (LMBO) Kaberle...!
And now, the text of the video (in case the NHL takes it down: the images were from Game 7, as the Bruins celebrate the Stanley Cup Championship on Vancouver's ice) as read by Timmy:
''Because after 39 years, it came back.
Because winning it all only makes you want it more.
Because it quickly went from chip on your shoulder to target on your back.
Because, this time, maybe the wait won't be so long.
The Boston Bruins were on a collision course with a team they quite simply owned all throughout the campaign that was quite the roller-coaster ride for a defending championship season: the Ottawa Senators were to be their first round opponent in this year's title defense.
ReplyDeleteInstead, due to the NY Rangers being bested on the last evening of the regular season by the Washington Capitals, it was the latter team that Boston drew as an opponent for the first round.
And instantly, what was to be an easy first round match-up, a warm-up to the title defense to be truly tested later on, perhaps right away in round two -versus Devils perhaps- a free pass, a first-round bye, almost - instead became a real test for the defending champs.
No sweat.
The Boston Bruins know what it takes to win - and defeat the most inclement of adversaries as they did in brilliant fashion last year when faced with hated rival Montreal right off the bat, followed by equally-execrated foe Philadelphia in the second round, Tampa Bay in the third and Vancouver in the finals.
Boston can prevail, no matter who the opponent is.
Bruins in 6.
+++
There is no denying one thing, quite obviously: Boston has quite the edge in coaching and goaltending.
ReplyDeleteClaude Julien > Dale Hunter
And Tim Thomas > er... who is between the pipes on the other side, again?
;-)
Quite the thrilling series - it even gave the Bruins a do-or-die game for game 6! One in which they displayed admirable guts and poise in taking ON THE ROAD, and IN OVERTIME on top of that!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gutsy performance by the defending champs!
Tyler Seguin did for his Boston Bruins what Sidney Crosby could not do for his Pittsburgh Penguins - score a meaningful goal that meant a TON, not just one out of TEN...!
Sure, Sid The Kid led his team to a 10-3 rout of the Flyers that staved off elimination - but they should have saved some goals for the next games since they could only muster one more in game 6 and that was that for them. Down the pitt they went! And to think that experts had picked them to win it all this year...
The Vancouver Canucks could not get anything from their Kesler kid either - and they lost their series against the Kings in a measly five games. And they were supposed to easily reach the finals again, like last year...
So 'Sid The Kid' and 'Kesler Bomb' - well, bombed.
Tyler 'The Tyke' Seguin now - there's a clutch performer! In last year's playoffs and in this series against Washington!
And the rest of the Bruins are true WARRIORS. They never give up! They know what it takes to prevail.
Whatever happens in Game 7, this coming Wednesday in Boston, the team has proven its grit, its guts, its determination, even in the face of an unforeseen potential early exit just like those other two top contenders.
Whatever happens -and we know that a lot of odd, unexpected weird bounces can occur, changing the course of any given contest- these Boston Bruins are indeed true CHAMPIONS.
And, as I used to say back in the day, also...
Win or lose, Bruins will bruise!
If the Bruins had wanted it as bad as they wanted to sweep the Flyers last year - this series would have been won. And in 6 games too.
ReplyDeleteIf the Bruins had been as emotionally involved as they were last year (it was easy, against the Canadiens - hated rivals that they are. Then the Flyers sweep was so desired, to avenge, for redemption. Against the Lightning there was the drive of a Mark Recchi. And against Vancouver, the desire to win it for fallen teammate Nathan Horton) - they would have steamrolled all over the heartless Capitals.
If the Bruins had wanted to go through this grueling exercise again - after a tough season, where everyone was gunning for them - they would have been feistier, too: they would have contested that ''deciding'' goal which was, in reality, a garbage goal, a flukey goal, off a scrimmage - it could have been overturned after review. But the Bruins did not even contest it - did not even ask for a review.
If...
If...
Tim Thomas' narrating on the second (but foremost, for team-oriented and not ego-centrical) video-promo for the 2012 NHL playoffs corroborates one aspect of the dilemma for the Bruins in repeating as champions - the fatigue element, as they had this ''target on their back'' all season through. Patrice Bergeron alludes to it in an episode of NHL 36 focusing on him, too, as he recalls the preceding season, when Chicago was the defending champion, and he like everyone else was up and especially ready to beat the Blackhawks, beat the defending champs. In two playoffs appearances since, Chicago has lost twice in the first round: last year to eventual finalist Vancouver, and this year to... the Phoenix Coyotes. The Coyotes had never won a playoff series before, in franchise history. One can only hope the Bruins will not fare as bad as this, next time...
ReplyDeleteIt sure was a target on the B's back - and it had its toll on the team's resilience, to an extent. They fought back, they handled it well - but that undefinable edge that pushes you just a little more forward, makes just that much of a difference and winds up making aaaaaall the difference - that was missing. It may have left with Mark Recchi - but not with Michael Ryder, Shane Hnidy or (pfff- lol) Tomas (LMBO) Kaberle...!
And now, the text of the video (in case the NHL takes it down: the images were from Game 7, as the Bruins celebrate the Stanley Cup Championship on Vancouver's ice) as read by Timmy:
''Because after 39 years, it came back.
Because winning it all only makes you want it more.
Because it quickly went from chip on your shoulder to target on your back.
Because, this time, maybe the wait won't be so long.
Because it's the cup''
A just B-Cause... for next season now.
;-)