My view of the Boston Bruins is pretty well established. I'm not a real fan of the team or the organization. I don't like the Jacobs and I'm not a hockey buff to say the least.
I was rooting for the Bruins in the playoffs; I hopped on the bandwagon faster than a pink-hat Red Sox fan could. They were up 3-0 on Philadelphia, playing lights out on both sides of the ball, and looked like strong Stanley Cup Champ contenders. Then the usual happened: the Bruins turned into the Bruins.
Look -- a Montreal vs. Boston Eastern Conference Finals would be amazing; not only for the fans of these two great hockey cities, but for the league itself. This is history in the making. One problem: the Bruins don't seem to want to let this happen.
If they blow this series, people will call it the biggest choke in the history of sports, up there with the 2004 Yankees, almost every Cubs/Red Sox team (prior to 2004), etc. The list could go on forever, but this one would be pretty bad.
The bottom line is this: the Bruins owe it to their fans. Only TWO playoff series victories since 1999? That's harsh. It's even more harsh that they're letting Philly and the Carcillo's of the world have a shot of over-taking them. I do know that Philadelphia isn't as good and has no business being in the series at this point. It's ironic how the Boston media jumped from calling the series a gift to saying that Boston's injuries are an excuse and the Flyers are really good. Pick a side. The Bruins owe their fans a shot at Montreal. Even if they lose, it would make a very successful, over-achieving playoffs exciting and worth the watch. If they lose game 7 Friday night, it will be more than a gag job: it will be one of the biggest sports-turn-offs in history. Fans won't be so willing to crawl back to these players this time. After all, aren't these the Bruins we expected to see most of the year?
Here's to hoping they change their stripes this time. Cheers, Bruins fans.
JMO
Come on Jmo, Philly IS a better team. Look at the rosters! The Bruins don't have anyone as good as Richards, Gagne, and Brier! Get some facts!
ReplyDeleteAll I've heard from the media the past 2 weeks is how the Bruins should win this series and they're the better team, at least for the general current time being. It's just typical for everyone to make excuses and claim how "good" Philadelphia is now. Benjamin Franklin.
ReplyDeletePhilly has the better offense but theres no excuse when you look at the goaltending for both teams its a landslide to the bruins. As evvvveryone always says you win in the playoffs with hot goaltending. Game 6 wasn't a bad game by the bruins really if you look at the scoring chances they got (couple posts and good looks) but they have had BAD defensive breakdowns where nobody picks up the guy in front of the net. Its happened numerous times and it kills all the momentum when your not getting the offensive breaks on one end and then your giving up bad goals on the other. They look the same as they did towards the end of the regular season.
ReplyDeleteJustin, I thought you were a Habs fan? Ever since your guys knocked my Caps out of the playoffs I've jumped on the Canadians bandwagon...OLEEEEEEE OLE OLE OLEEEEEEEEEEE OLEEEEEEEEEEE OOOOOOOOOLEEEEEEEEEEE.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Great blog. Keep it up. What else am I supposed to read at work? The fantasy site is deader than Ernie Harwell these days.
Yea, as much as the offense has been anemic the past two games, it's the defensive lapses at the beginning of games that has caused them to abandon the gameplan and take unnecessary, high-risk chances. If they're going to take game seven, they have to tighten up defensively and take the lead early. And if they win, it'll be a 2-1 nailbiter that Tuukka has to steal. Tuukka time
ReplyDeletetukka... more like... HOOKAH!
ReplyDeleteblehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
ReplyDelete