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By: Tommy Rowe

Well, was I dead wrong about the Washington Capitals and especially about their 3rd string rookie goalie Brendan Holtby; who had not seen at least 10 games of action before starting this post season. A sweep or quick 5 game series was out of the question when the Capitals stole game 2 in Boston from the defending Champs and a 7th game was as good of a possibility as the Red Sox playing “Sweet Caroline” after a humiliating lost. Game 5 was won by the Caps with outstanding Goaltending by the Rookie Holtby and by the Cap’s devastating power play talent. With the threat of elimination hanging over the defending champ’s heads, the Bruins methodically made the Cap’s work for a chance to move on to the Semi’s. They never trailed for the first time in this series; the Bruins kept their ground and never surrendered their leads. Goals by Peverly, Krejci, and Ference kept the B’s a float and pushed the must needed Game 6 to OT where their young talented Star Tyler Seguin had the moment of his career, thus far, with the game winning goal and booking the Caps and their fans a ticket back to the beloved TD Garden for Wednesday night. If Tyler shows more energy like he has the last 2 games, he may push the Bruins farther than just to a Game 7 for the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The level of skill he possesses can push this team as far they they want to go, this is commemorating the skill they all contain as a “TEAM”.

The series has been exciting in every sense of what I playoff hockey series should be exciting. Many are comparing the intensity and emotions to that of the quarterfinal match up of a year ago against the rivaled Montreal Canadians; I’d say let’s not go too far, but it is definitely just as epic and memorable like that series was. The crowd at the Garden will be rocking and helping the Bruins out in any way they can. The home ice is a big advantage despite the way the Capitals have been playing in the series. The momentum has been slapped out of them like the puck from Seguin’s stick was in the OT period last night. I believe they knew and everyone else knew that if the series was to go to Game 7 in Boston, the Bruins were going to smash the pedal to the floor with no letting up from there. They are back in control and the series is now theirs to lose. Tim Thomas has not been like his former 2011 self and that is fine; all the Bruins need is 3 goals and Timmy playing the best he is capable of and it will be enough to prolong the Bruins title defense into the 2nd round. Game 7 will be full of emotion, passion, energy, and excitement and if you’re a fan you don’t want to miss it. It just may be as good, or close to, the Montreal matchup just a year earlier. Game 6 Recap Below:

GOAL SCORERS:
BOS: R. Peverley (05:56 – 1st period), D. Krejci (PPG, 16:48 – 1st period), A. Ference (11:57 – 3rd period), T. Seguin (03:17 – OT)
WSH: M. Green (09:47 – 1st), J. Chimera (19:18 – 2nd), A. Ovechkin (15:08 – 3rd)
GOALIES:
BOS: T. Thomas (W) 28 – 31 saves; 0.923 Sv%
WSH: B. Holtby (L) 23 – 26 saves; 0.871 Sv%

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By: Tommy Rowe

The Bruins started the playoffs with an overtime thriller against the 7th seeded Washington Capitals. Through the first three periods the two teams slugged it out on the ice of the TD Garden with no score in nets. Both goalies played outstanding hockey and even though we have expected Tim Thomas to step down from his storybook playoff stats from last year, he still gave us his all and was pretty similar to his Vezna Trophy self from 2011. The Capitals young rookie goalie matched him save for save until the overtime period went 1:18 in when Chris Kelly came in like a hawk and swooped the puck behind Braden Holtby and took Game 1 in flashy fashion. Game 2 though would show a more fatigued Bruins team and a determined Caps team led by Alexander Ovekin.

The Bruins matched the offensively charged Caps every step of the way, until the last goal got by them in double OT. Has good has Tim can and has been in post season play, he is still not very young and the Caps’ Nikolas Backstrom took advantage of the tired Bruins goalie with a slap shot into the net winning Game 2 for Washington. With no one to blame but themselves (says head coach Claude Jullien), they are not worried about the security of home ice now belonging to Washington. “We’ve dealt with more dire situations in the past, but it is good to have a sense of urgency that you need to overcome adversity; losses can be as good a teaching tool as wins” With the team down in Washington as we speak preparing for the Game 3 throw down, no one is panicking even a tiny bit. The Bruins have been battle tested and even though most of the pressure is on them in this series and off the Capitals, three Game 7 wins in the Championship run last year says enough to what the Bruins are capable of doing now.

The road to repeat as Champions in the NHL is very difficult, the quicker the challenges, the more likely that goal becomes obtainable. Well, this series was expected to be over in 5 maybe 4 in favor of the Bruins. So far, the key factors that many experts thought would put the Caps in a big disadvantage have yet to do so. The lack of communication with the Head Coach and his players don’t seem to be affecting the level of play they show on the ice and rookie Holtby has been just as good as Timmy T thus far. Experience is still the big difference in this series, personally, the Caps may have the pressure of being the best team in the east off their shoulders, but the depth and knowledge the Bruins gained from last season will carry them all the way. Game 3 will be has exciting as the first two with an added twist as Tuukka Rask return with the team to make the trip to the Nation’s Capital. I still will go with Bruins in 5, remember what they dealt with in the 1st round last season; this is small potatoes compared to that

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By: Tommy Rowe

A week ago, I thought the Ottawa Senators would be the 2nd seeded Bruins first matchup in their quest to defend the beloved Stanley Cup; wouldn’t be the first time I have been wrong. The red hot Washington Capitals grabbed more points than needed and are rewarded with the Eastern Conference’s 7th seed instead of the 8th seed. Now if you are a Bruins fan, you wanted the Senators like the rest of the fan base, because they were the easier matchup. Though the Capitals aren’t that much better, their offense can be lethal at times making them a notable threat. The last time these two teams met, the Bruins fell in a shootout to the Caps who had to win that game to stay alive in the hunt for a playoff berth. The teams that go on a streak like Washington’s are usually the true dark horses in the NHL playoffs and should not be taking lightly. Seeding already means nothing in the league, but Washington makes it more useless when they come into the quarterfinals riding a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 with 3 big hyped wins in a row.

Now I am not saying the Bruins will lose to the Washington Capitals, but fans must always be aware of every possibility that the NHL Playoffs have been notorious for in the last decade. The Bruins on paper are clearly the superior team no doubt or argument about it. They win the matchup at goalie by a landslide, they have more fire power and depth than the capitals do, but their offenses are in some ways dead even and the Caps are one of the deadliest teams on the power play. The Bruins can swipe the Caps by just the sole factor of the goalie situation. A hot team definitely has an advantage, but the last few years have proven that a top end goalie is the ace in the whole for a team contending for the Cup. In the Bruins case, if Timmy is at his best, expect a 4-5 game series in favor of the Black and Yellow. I’ve picked the Bruins to make it back to the Cup Finals, but if I am to be proven wrong, it won’t be by the Washington Capitals. The team has risen from the deeps of the East to find their way into the postseason, but unfortunately, the defending champs will make the feeling of redemption for the Great 8 and his teammates short lived and bitter sweet. Bruins win the series in 5 and will show that experience can play a huge part in becoming a Champion once more. They have more seniority than any of the teams in the East minus Pittsburgh when talking about what it takes and what you must know to become the last team hoisting the Cup in mid-June.

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By: Tommy Rowe

The Boston Bruins for a good portion of the season have played above average hockey. They started the season out on fire and looked like the true champions they were back in June of 2011, but as the season progressed and the ever familiar injury bug appeared, they dropped off and played par hockey; until this point. With a handful of games to go and finally grabbing a win from the best team in Hockey (the New York Rangers) the other week, the defending champs look to make a push back to the Stanley Cup Finals and have a shot at being the NHL’s first back-to-back Champion in 15 years.

Though the B’s are not the 97-98 Detroit Red Wings, the last team to repeat, they still possess the drive and skill from last year to make a competitive run and challenge the rest if the East to take their title. Going into this playoff run comes a little caution, the Bruins in order to make a run back to the Finals have more competition to go through unlike last year. Not to taint the 2011 Championship, but the Bruins did not face true elite teams like New York and Pittsburgh during the run to beat Vancouver. Now with both teams healthy and ready to dethrone the reigning champions, the Bruins can make more noise than last year by proving any doubters that they are as good as those two franchises. The Bruins are not in the League’s hunt for the Presidents cup, they haven’t been the flashiest all season long, but all that matters come playoff time is who hot and how well you’re playing when the lights come on.

The Bruins had their starting goalie, beloved Captain, and their underrated center (Bergeron) stay behind in Boston while traveling to Ottawa to play the team they will see again in the Playoff’s first round and came out with an impressive 3-1 win over the Senators. What was impressive about the win was the performance of their new goaltender, Anton Khudobin was making his debut for the Bruins and his first ever start against the 7th seed in the east, he did not disappoint. In fact, the 25 year old goaltender from Russia went to work with saving 44 of 45 Ottawa shot on goal. With the status of Tuukka Rask in question for the postseason, it seems Khudobin will be the backup for Timmy T at the start of next week’s series. The win meant nothing more for the Bruins; a lost would have meant the same too. They have clinched the division for the second time in three years and hold the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The win though did show the Senators and future opponents not only the new weapon they possess in net, but how deep the Bruins roster truly is and how well they play with one another despite the circumstances. I give teams like Pittsburgh and New York a lot of credit for being elite and talented, make no mistake the Bruins are at their level, but also have something those two contenders don’t have; depth and hunger. You can see the eyes of the players they want another shot at the Cup and despite what we expect out of them this year, anything short of that is unacceptable to them. They have more heart, hunger, and will to be better and better as the games move on than any other team in the NHL. Even though it has been almost a year since the parade and glorious run, they still show that determination they had last year before they hoisted the Cup.

By: Tommy Rowe

Ever since the Tim Thomas comments back a month ago on the US Government, the defending Stanley Cup champs have been playing near .500 Hockey and are a shell of what they used to be in the beginning of the season. Injuries have plagued the B’s all year long and have played just a part in their fall as any other distraction would do. Reinforcements were needed badly and the Bruins got what they feel were temporary fits to their quest for a second straight cup.

Forward Brian Rolston, defensemen Mike Mottau and Greg Zanon are the newest addition to the Big Bad Bruins. Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli address the media first by hammering the rumors about trading one of his start goaltenders to the floor and explained why the additions of these new players are exactly what the Bruins need in the absence of Rich Peverley, Johnny Boychuck, and Nathan Horton. “We saw these guys have the same resolve and drive to win at a high level and for a love they have for hockey we thought they’d make excellent Bruins”. The Bruins gave up a few prospects for their new acquisitions and Bruins forward Steve Kamper, which if these players pay off will be an awesome move for the Bruins and their popular GM. Many Bruins fans have been screaming for Tuukka and/or Thomas to be traded to grab a high end player like Rick Nash of Columbus or P.K Suban of Montréal. But the Bruins’ front office is willing to give the tandem another year together despite the rumors and frustations both are having with their time between the pipes.

The Bruins must keep Tuukka Rask at all cost even if that means signing him to a 5 million per year contract this offseason and keeping him as the backup for at least half the season. As much as I want to keep Tuukka and trade Tim Thomas away respectfully, the fact remains that Timmy is still a better goaltender then Rask at this point in his career, in another year that may be different, but the fact remains that the Bruins best chance to repeat as champs is having Timmy be the number 1 guy. These new additions seem promising already, Forward Brian Rolston, who was from the Islanders is completely “pumped and excited” to become a Boston Bruins and help this team win another cup. No words have been spoken from the B’s new defensemen, but if they both agreed 100% to leave their teams they must be just as excited as Rolston is. The Bruins are 37-20-3 so far and are still 2nd in the Eastern Conference, but falling way behind the New York Rangers who they will play again and it will be for a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

By: Tommy Rowe

The Bruins were the best team in Hockey by far a little over a month ago, the defending Champions were just crushing everyone in their path and they looked better than the team last year that hoisted the most prized trophy in Sports. No one came close to the level of play the Bruins were at and it seemed they were proving to all the critics that they could absolutely repeat as Champions. But ironically, it seems like the man who helped them win the Stanley Cup has become the reason for their late season turmoil and possibly will be the reason they don’t make the Finals again this year.

Since Tim Thomas made public comments about President Barack Obama and the government in general being not to his liking, the Bruins have fallen off their hill and are now playing like a team with a lost cause. Thomas refused to join the team on their trip to the White House to visit the 44th president and be honored as Champions a few weeks ago and, despite being told by management not to say a word until they returned, went on his facebook account and wrote why he didn’t go by venting his beliefs online. Now I am all for freedom of speech fist and for most. It is the rights of this country that makes our lives so unique and amazingly good, but if you’re a member of the Boston Bruins how can you sit there and say that Thomas is not being selfish for what he has done.

People and fans need to understand the true drama of this situation. It is not because the Thomas spoke his views of government and the president, it is the fact that he went behind the back of his loyal teammates and management and posted a statement because he wanted to. Bruins President Cam Neely was interviewed days after Thomas spoke out and said that they were disappointed that Thomas could not attend for his reason, but they respected his views and told him to not say anything unless they reviewed it for the benefit of the team; for the T-E-A-M, team. Thomas thought his views were more important than potential distractions for his teammates and for that thinking, I most certainly blame him for the Bruins mediocre play the last month. He will always be praised for helping the city and its team hoisting the Cup no question about it, but he will be out casted by fans and players if this season goes south for the Bruins when things looked so promising back in December and early January. Tuukka isn’t being as patient as he once was now either. Because of the distractions set by Thomas and despite Tuukka’s poor play his last 5 starts; Rask needs to see a majority of the playing time between the pipes; for the remainder of the season. Thomas needs to learn and learn it hard that no one is bigger or more important than the overall welfare of the Boston Bruins whether they make him the backup or trade him. I do not blame him for his views or beliefs that’s his right as an American, but I blame him for being selfish and arrogant for not thinking about the repercussions his views would have on the team.

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