By: Tommy Rowe

If there is one thing sports analyst and broadcasters hate talking about when discussing sports is the political side of the field. Last night, news broke throughout the Boston Media that star goalie Tim Thomas choose not to go to the White House with his teammates to be honored by President Barack Obama as the Stanley Cup Champions. The aftermath that is following his reasons for not going could no doubt tarnish his glorious image.

Unfortunately, Timmy sees the Government has “out of control and terrifying”. There are many Americans that feel the same way as he does, but they all are not the Starting goalie and living legend of the Boston Bruins. The Bruins respect his decision and all agree that it is no big deal that he chose to stay behind. Many fans and analyst are calling out Thomas and even saying that the Bruins MUST bench him for the season and prepare Tukka Rask for the future. I personally do not like arguing about politics, and there are many others who are also on my side of the spectrum. This country was founding on rights and having the free will to do what you feel makes you the person you believe to be true. When it comes to the government and sports, it’s like mixing oil with water; it’s never a positive mix. The athletes in our world today are put on such a higher level than most figures in life due to their connections with their city and fan base. So when a player like Thomas makes these comments present to the media he is just asking for trouble basically because we all have the right to feel what we want and believe in what we see fit, but know this Bruins fans that without this man you have no Cup simple as that. This goalie accomplished what no other in his position ever did in the century long history of Hockey and if you let a simple belief that he has shadow everything he has achieved and done for the franchise then maybe you should take a long thought process on who you are and what you stand by, because as controversial this story will become Timmy is doing exactly what our famous founding fathers envisioned every American doing when they helped form the United States of America.

By: Tommy Rowe

The defending Champs have been on a tear lately this season. They have won 22 out of their last 26 games and have the most goals against in the entire NHL. Tim Thomas has made his image as best goalie in the world strongly known and the rise of players Seguin, Marchand, and so many others on the B’s talented roster has turned Boston from a once only Cinderella into the league’s best team no questions about it. But despite all of that and more involving the Bruins, none of those topics are being discussed more than the topic of Tuukka Rask’s future as the Bruins’ Goaltender

Tuukka Rask, as the backup goalie to Tim Thomas, has the best save percentage in the NHL; he is number one in goals allowed as a backup to the best goalie on earth. His skills and talent are well seen and known so the Bruins have very little choices but to convince the 24 year old to stay in Boston as long as possible until Timmy hangs up the mask one last time. But it seems that players, coaches, and fans have less to worry about then they thought. In an interview with Comcast SportsNet, Tuukka was quoted as saying these phrases “I want to stay in Boston I love everything about this place and want to continue my life here…. “I’ll start talking whenever Mr. Neely wants to, 10 years 100 million sure let’s do it…(joking remark)” “I’m not going to force anything, I want to play more but I’ll let it come to me…” If you are a Bruins fan this is music to your ears. It’s so perfect and amazing that it sounds too good to be true; that’s exactly the dilemma isn’t it?

Now one of the many things we can see about Tuukka is that he’s a very humble man. But when a kid his age has this much talent and could potentially start for at least 7 other clubs in the league for twice as much money the Bruins may offer, would he still be this humble? The say “Money Talks” is so true in professional sports it’s not even funny. We’ve heard Boston Legends like Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez, and Adam Vinatieri say similar remarks and quotes when asked about their futures and all three of them followed the giant check slip. It would not surprise me if Tuukka went somewhere else after his contract expires after this season, but the Bruins are lucky that he is a restricted free agent. That will give them more time and material to be able to further convince the young Finnish goaltender that he will be the face of the Franchise one day and he just needs to be patient. Hopefully he is not torn away by the sound of money chiming across the NHL. As the season progresses and more ice time is giving to Tuukka, the talks will increase. But for now, he belongs to the Bruins and he is very happy to be playing Pro Hockey with an 8 spoked B on his chest.

By: Tommy Rowe

The Boston Bruins were 3-7 at one point this season and as we Boston fans get with our teams, worry and doubt started to creep into the minds of the bean town faithful. but with the the sense of urgency that the Bruins were lacking they reeled off 10 straight wins and climbed from the bottom up to be back in the division lead where they belong. Even thought their record and standing in the league doesn’t show it, the Bruins are the best hockey team in the NHL and have started to make people believe that they indeed do have a shot at repeating for the Stanley Cup.

We all know that repeating in the NHL is one of the more difficult tasks to face in all of professional sports. It hasn’t been accomplished since 1997-98 when the Detroit Red Wings had their miracle rein in the Hockey world. now with the lack of talent in the NHL since that great era, a repeat in hockey seems as impossible as a 3-peat in football. But, in my honest opinion, if their is any team that can break that streak it is the Bruins due to their brotherhood and team work, because not even the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sid the Kid can match the Big Bad Bruins when they work as one.

The competition in the East is not what it seems now, you really only have 3 title contenders when talking about the Eastern Conference power houses. The Penguins, Flyers, and Bruins are the only teams in the east that people should fear, everyone else has a shot but it is not easy if you have to face 1 of those 3 teams, who have all represented the Eastern Conference in the last 4 Stanley Cup Finals. The road is still long and the Bruins still have to better if they want to be a sure favorite in winning a second Cup this year. Last year they didn’t have to face the Penguins or Sidney Crosby, they played a Flyers team without Chris Pronger and the road won’t get as easy as that was.

I am not taking away the championship run the B’s had, they won that Cup fair and square. They were at that point a team of destiny and were the best Hockey Club in the hunt that Spring. They can be the same for even longer this season. The magic is still there, it never left when Chara and Thomas hoisted the Cup over the Vancouver Ice and it has been appearing more and more this season as the days go on. The Bruins have talent, skill, determination, and heart. All those qualities and more make a champion and they never are just found, they are made into the players that strive to be more than they are and that is what every player on the Boston Bruins roster has.

There will be bumps on the way back to the post season and they may not finish number 1 or 3 this year. They may lose the season series between their two main opponents, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but as long as they remain fierce and hungry for another taste of glory they will be the best team in the NHl as they stand now with that swagger and persona. The Bruins have a great shot as anyone else does this year, but only the strong willed get to hoist the Cup.

By: Tom Rowe

The Bruins knew what they were getting last year when they drafted Tyler with the 2nd overall pick from the Phil Kessel trade. The chats by fans “Thank you Kessel” and the success the Bruins have been having over the last year says it all, but to add on to it is the explosive arrival of the super star within Seguin.

Seguin’s 8 goals and 15 overall points have put him in the NHL’s top 10 in 2011 and at the rate he is playing he may never leave those standings for the rest of the season. The talk all offseason and during the Cup celebrations was that Seguin would need to grow up quick and become the franchise caliber player he has become now in order for the Bruins to have a shot at repeating, check that off the list for now folks. Seguin has become the center point of the Bruins offensive and defensive attack units. He creates plays and opportunities to score that most NHL stars cannot or fail to execute properly. He has developed so quickly and has been amazingly effective for Boston who are digging themselves out of the last place hole due to this outstanding display of hockey.

To think that GM Peter Chiarelli almost said no to the deal that gave the Bruins the chance to draft Seguin is outrageous. To think that they were seconds away from saying no and walking away from Toronto is scary, because who knows where both teams would be at right now had the trade been called off and #19 would be playing for his home town team instead of Boston which he has called “his new home”. Seguin had the talent and reputation to become the number overall pick and go to Edmonton had that been the case. Originally the B’s were more interested in Winger Taylor Hall then Seguin. The difference between the two was that it was clear when Hall would immerge as a super star, unlike with Seguin it seemed more time would be needed. He may have not been more popular than Hall or other drafted players in the past, but Seguin is proving that he is indeed that he was the best player out of the Draft in a long time. He will match up against the kid picked before him and Edmonton at Boston where he continues his journey into becoming the franchise of the Boston Bruins and hopefully soon the best player in the NHL.

The bruins have not had a player of Seguin’s magnitude since the days of Ray Bourque and if want to get technically with Titles, he shows similarities to Boston’s favorite athlete; Bobby Orr. The more games he plays the better he gets. He has shot out of a cannon this year where most didn’t expect to this Tyler Seguin for at least another year, but no one is complaining that he is finally bursting with life and energy now then later. Has the season progresses I guarantee He will be one of the talks for MVP of not only the Bruins but the NHL. He can only go up from here and he sure is sky rocketing to the top quicker than most thoug

By: Tom Rowe

I still feel like it was only yesterday when I was among the millions of Bruins’ fans at the Parade ceremony after the B’s won the Cup. Three months after that amazing summer, it is hard to believe they start a new chapter tonight in their story booked history. That is exactly what we have to do as Bruins’ fans, treat last year’s unbelievable run as another chapter in the history of this organization once that banner is hung. We’ve spent all summer celebrating and cannot let the team get caught up in the massive hangover effect that follows after a run like this one. It is too early to predict a repeat from this team and quite frankly, I am not expecting another run like last years. But what do we expect from the defending champions this season?

This team has returned almost everyone from last season and even though it might seem they have an awesome shot at back to back championships, but we know how difficult it is in the NHL to do so. Honestly, as long as the Bruins finish in the top 4 and make it deep into the third round, I am okay. I am sure most fans want another championship, but realistically that is asking a little much from a team deprived of super star talent for the moment. There are some factors that if come into play correctly then the B’s might have a shot at winning again in the spring. If Tyler Seguin breaks out this year as the star the Bruins honestly have not had since Neely, then a repeat becomes much easier for them. The team knows exactly what Seguin is capable of and will make sure that he is developed correctly and taken off the leash Coach Claude Jullien had on him for the majority of last season. This team, other than Seguin’s development and the “slow” transition in net from Timmy to Tuukka, is set for a long haul of title contending hockey for years to come.

The Bruins are not better than teams like Pittsburgh, but against the likes of the Canadians, Lightning, and Capitals the B’s should have no problem showing their dominance and rise to the Elite. A new era of Bruins Hockey is emerging and for those who believe that this was the end last year, what are you thinking? This team is in the beginning of a great and exciting era where they will not disappoint when playing teams they can and should beat. This is a team ready to take on the competition and face it head on until the end instead of choking and chickening out. The Bruins are no longer the laughing stock of the NHL and have grown into a mature and powerful team. Now, with the monkey off the organizations back, they can play hockey without any of the baggage, fears, and pains of those attached to the franchise. A repeat is too much to predict for now, but what is 100 percent certain is that the Boston Bruins will be long time contenders like they were 30 years ago and will fight for each other till the final buzzer sounds. Let’s Go B’s! Let’s start a new chapter in our Boston Hockey!

By: Tom Rowe

June 15, 2011 will be a Christmas like day for Bruins’ fans everywhere. 3 weeks after Boston won their 6th Stanley Cup Championship and the 1st since 1972 the talks of a repeat were spreading through the streets of Beantown. Many analysts and critics are calling the Bruins lucky team who won’t get the chance to win another title for a while; I ask you so called “experts” what makes them so inferior to teams like Pittsburgh, Washington, and Philly? The answer is nothing.
The Boston Bruins, like it or not, are one of the elite teams in the NHL today and have been for a while now. Yes they have not had the playoff success of Pittsburgh and Detroit and do not have the super star power (yet anyway) that Washington and Tampa Bay have, but the Bruins played as one instead of individuals this past season and that is what makes them better than those teams. They have not always played this way as we can see from the past failures. They realized through those failures that they cannot try to outdo each other on the ice and try to be “the guy” that analyst say you need to win a championship. Excuse me, but since when is that true? The Patriots have shown that in 2001 that a pro sports team that plays as one can beat the best of the best. The last Stanley Cup Champion showed that also, though Chicago built their team to be a “win it now” now club, they played as a whole and never did anything to hurt that mindset and level of play on the Ice; just as the Bruins did this year on the run to the Cup.
Do not get me wrong, talent is just as important as teamwork and a competitive passion to the game. In sports, the talented teams win it all 80% of the time. But the ones who play as a whole and unite as a team win it more often. But for those who are saying the Bruins are not a talented team have no right to call themselves sports fans. The Bruins are a very talented team, probably one of the most talented groups in hockey. Yes I understand they do not have the Crosbys or Ovekins of the world, not yet anyway. Who says Tyler Seguin can’t become that player? It will take more time to develop him then it did for Ovekin and Crosby, but Seguin will become that player one day no doubt about it and besides what’s the rush? As long the Bruins keep the foundation of what they had last season intact for next season’s run then they are the top favorites this past decade to repeat as Champions. It will be harder cause even though the Bruins have been underrated compared to the rest of the league, they did catch some breaks this season. Philly will get better and so will Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Detroit, and Washington. The Bruins though will not bow to the likes of these teams anymore. They are now on their level and will fight all of them to protect what belongs to them and hopefully catch a 7th Cup Title as a reward.

By: Tom Rowe

A week has pasted since the Bruins won the decisive Game 7 over Vancouver for the Stanley Cup and people are still buzzing about the magnificent season the Big Bad Bruins have had. So despite the overwhelming emotions and celebrations, why are there so many questions going into this offseason for the defending Champs?

The Biggest question is the most important as well. Tim Thomas is the sole reason the Bruins were able to win the Stanley Cup, without his Conn Smythe winning performance in the playoffs and his 2nd Vezna Trophy worthy season, the Bruins would have been gone by mid-May. Though Thomas is now a living legend in Boston and is ready to take net next season to defend the title, he is 38 and getting no younger. As much as it pains us to think Timmy T will not be here very much longer, the Bruins need to figure out what to do with 24 year old Goalie Tukka Rask, who is getting very antsy to either start for the B’s or look somewhere else to play. We are all aware of Tukka’s skill and potential to be one of the top goalies of his era, he is young, fresh and supremely talented. But, despite being “cool” about being benched in the beginning of this story book season he is looking for his chance now. The Bruins may have to sacrifice winning back to back titles if they want to keep their future goaltender, but that’s not the only way to keep him. They can have a chance to win it again next year with Tukka still on the bench and still able to train him as the replacement for Thomas, but time is something the Bruins have very little of this offseason and that is a very unrealistic route to travel. The Bruins will not drop from Cup contention because of this “possible” goalie feud, but it may make the season more nerve racking than last year’s run.

Tyler Seguin is the next big question and perhaps the harder one to predict. Seguin is the future of the Bruins hands down; his raw skill, athleticism, and pure love for Hockey makes him a major focus for Boston going forward. With all the Bruin’s Players, with the exception of Ryder, Kaberle, and Recchi (Recchi to Retire), under contract for the next several years the question with Seguin is who is the right fit to keep around and work with #19 so he can develop into that Marquee franchise player the Bruins have not had since Ray Bourque. His future as a star is not in question, but how long it takes is and the man responsible for that is the Coach. If there is one thing that people can trash Claude Jullien for, with or without a Cup, is that he did not give Seguin many chances this season to begin developing. Claude cannot limit him next season by any means. He must see the potential the 19 year old has for his Championship team and work with him to harness those skills or risk being on the Hot Seat once again. If he takes time to put the right pieces in place and let Seguin learn on his own with some guidance, he will be doing the Franchise sweet justice and setting them up for many other Cup Parades to come.

By: Tom Rowe

Get the Duck boats ready Mr. Menino! After 39 long, hard years the Boston Bruins fight through adversity one last time and come out hoisting lord Stanley’s Cup! The Bruin’s 4-0 win last night’s Game 7 of the 2011 Finals in perhaps their best performance eve as a team. “The Boston Brotherhood” was alive and well in Vancouver and the heart of a champion was seen in the shape of a spoked B. The celebrations started after an empty net goal by Brad Marchand in the 3rd period to give the Bruins a 4-0 lead, after that the Canucks just gave up. The unprofessional attitude and bratty behavior of the President’s Trophy winning team was enough to deal with, but in the end bad karma caught up to Vancouver and their fans. While the fans in Vancouver went about repeating the tragic rioting that happened in 1994 after they lost the Cup to the Rangers, the Boston fans partied to no end but in the opposite manner that their opponents did. Seeing the reaction of fan’s jumping around on Causeway street would get anyone pumped let alone seeing the Cup being hoist by 6’10” Captain Zdeno Chara.
The Bruin’s surprised everyone with their play in this year’s cup finals, especially with the way they completely shut down Vancouver stars Kesler and the hated Sedin Twins, who promised a game 7 win with the only fact that of home ice. Overconfidence, immaturity, and poor sportsmanship were the main reasons why Vancouver choked in the end. The unselfish behaviors, professionalism, and brotherhood the Bruins have shared this whole season helped guide them to Lord Stanley for the first time since 1972.
If anyone watched this series and questioned who was going to win the Conn Smythe Trophy should be slapped silly. Tim Thomas, win or lose, was the best player in all 7 games of the Stanley Cup Finals and this post season. His stats say it all, but his cool pose and calm attitude going into each game had all eyes focusing on him as the best player. His battles with adversity over his career are well documented and proved that he owned adversity all of the 2011 postseason. We know what the future holds for Timmy, and unfortunately age does not stop for anyone. This group of Bruins along with #30 will have a special place in our hearts like the 2004 Red Sox and 2001 Patriots do, no matter how better or different this team may get over the next few years, people will remember the plays of Thomas, Marchand, Bergeron, Horton, and many others who helped Boston get their 6th Stanley Cup in Franchise history.
The Season is now over, but it will begin again soon. We will see in a few months how the Bruins play while being on top of the Hockey Mountain, I think we are in store for another great season in 2012, but for now let’s rejoice Boston. They deserved to win it all and have every right to celebrate for as long as they want. They have made the Organization, Legends like Orr and Neely, and most of all the fans proud; congratulations to our Boston Bruins, 2011 Stanley Cup Champions!

By: Tom Rowe

After months of grueling games, practices, and emotional torment, the Boston Bruins are now one win away from winning their first championship since the wonderful spring of 1972. After the jaw dropping collapse of last year’s post season run, anyone who thought a year from then the Bruins would be in this spot would have been laughed at like one of Dane Cook’s bad jokes; amazing what can happen in a year right? With the feeling of everyone turning away from them and with the stats against them sevenfold, they kept on going and are within grasp of Hockey’s ultimate treasure.

Game 6 was an emotional night for many B’s fans, not knowing if their team would survive to see the first game 7 in Bruins’ Stanley Cup Finals history; the Nathan Horton tribute didn’t lower those emotions either, but grew confidence in all Bruins’ fans. These fans have gone through so much and yet they never gave up on their black and gold bears, and that loyalty rubbed off the Bruins’ and have changed them forever because of that loyalty. Oddly enough, this upcoming Game 7 for the Bruins feels just like the same feeling Red Sox fans had in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series and Celtics fans during Game 6 of the 2008 Finals; I think that feeling is being well embraced by the Boston Faithful right about now. As one of our great employees at WGAM radio has said, “Stats are for losers”. How true is that? If sports were always judged by stats then Boston should have been eliminated in the first round. I’ve said before I’ll say it again, the heart and brotherhood the Bruins share with one another out ways any power play or save percentage stat Vancouver has over them. Chemistry is one of the most unappreciated factors in all of sports; always has been until a team wins a championship and it is exposed to the world. The Red Sox of 2004 had the best chemistry of any team I have watched in my life, so good in fact that the label “Bunch of Idiots” fit them perfectly due to their goofy attitudes, unique personalities, and the bonds they share for one another. Call me crazy, but the Bruins have emulated that 2004 Boston Red Sox team in 2011.

The Bruins have been the more worthy team, not according to stats, to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup since the very first period of this series. I have the same feeling for the Bruins going into game 7 like I did for the Celtics in 2008 during Game 6, I promised if they win Game 6, they would take Game 7 and I will stand by that statement. The Boston Bruins have been the laughing stock of the league for more than a decade, they have gone through firings and drastic rebuilding stages, and have had too many opportunities slip away; this time they will not fail. Everything they have gone through this decade, not just the past few years, is riding on this Game 7 win. They have a chance to stick it to their critics once and for all. Vancouver better be ready, because Home Ice will not be a factor this time; it’s all or nothing and this will be a Game to remember in Boston for years to come; Lets Go B’s!

By: Tom Rowe

The Stanley Cup Finals returns to Boston for Game six tonight, but it’s not how Bruins fans invisioned the Cup’s return to the Garden. The canucks have the upper hand in this best of 7 as they are 1 win away from the Franchise’s first Stanley Cup Championship. The tention that clouds over Boston is not having the effect it used to have on the B’s faithful. The Bruins of that time are long gone and these new, determined players will not let the celebration happen in Boston, well not just yet anyway. I speak for many Bruin’s fans that there is no doubt in my mind that if the Bruins win game 6, they will win game 7.

The Bruins have come too far and have gone through too much to be stopped and dropped by a classless team in Vancouver. The stats do show the Canucks are the more skilled team and have the advantage over the Bruins when it comes to scoring. The Bruins have had a great series in the penalty kill shutting down Vancouver’s well praised powerplay, but they are one game away from watching the Canucks celebrating on their home ice with the Cup.

The Bruins class and heart is bigger and better than Vancouver’s when it comes to the will to be the best this postseason. The blue collar type play has brought them to new heights and has given them a new identity. The brotherhood bond they all share I believe is more than enough to drop a team like the Canucks who take the game of hockey as a joke, to me Vancouver doesn’t know the meaning of the word botherhood or winning. The way they come about and act like they own all of Hockey says to me they are childish and have no right to call themselves champions; it would be an unjustice for Hockey if a bratting inmature team like Vancouver won the prized Cup. No stat Vancouver is king of can over match the trust, honor to the game, and commitment the Bruins share for one another; hence botherhood.

What I would like the Bruins to do is go look at the Stanley Cup before the Game tonight. Now i know that seeing the cup before a game is bad luck to some, but who really believes that stuff? I want all the Boston players, if possible, to glance at that beautiful trophy and take in the magnitude of what history it holds. To know that only Champions can raise it skyword and that they have the chance to do what only men like Orr, Gretzky, and Messier were able to do, call themselves champions. All this postseason, I have pointed out the Bruins have played with the heart of champions and that more than anything else they did would be the deciding factor in their success or failure in 2011. Now more than ever, their hearts need to be bigger than before. Let the frauds of Vancouver and the loyal fans of Beantown see what is burning inside them all and let it be known once and for all that the Big Bad Boston Bruins, win or lose, are back and are not going anywhere. They will not go down without a fight either, they will challenege the Canucks till the last second on the clock. I promise to the city of Boston and all Bruins’ fans that if they win tonight, they will win game 7. If the Bruins play with the confidence, determination, and heart that Orr, Espisto, and Cashman one played with, then Lord Stanley’s Cup will be back at the TD Garden by Friday.