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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.

In this addition of The Home Team, Scott Sudikoff is in for Justin as he and Matt Perrault discuss Red Sox, and Bruins Trade Deadline. Bruinsblog.com’s Matt Kalman jumps on with the guys to discuss the three new acquisitions the B’s made…

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.

What does former Sox manager Terry Francona think of Bobby Valentine’s new team policy on alcohol? Also, Josh Beckett responds to his critics from last September’s collapse.  Finally, some Bruins talk as the team pulls off a couple trades today at the NHL trade deadline.

Guest: Joe Haggerty of Comcast Sports New England joins the Hometeam to talk about the bruins, their 6 game road trip, and the Canadians cheering after Chara got hit in the face with a puck last night

Also maybe the best Audio Quick hit ever, where I sorority girl thinks Jeremy Lin is 1) Named Jerry 2) Black 3) Plays for the New York Giants 4) Invited him to her dance and that her and her friends would take REALLY good care of him….wink, wink

Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com joins the Hometeam to talk about the bruins, their 6 game road trip, and the Canadians cheering after Chara got hit in the face with a puck last night.  Also the Rich Peverly injury and goes after Puck Daddy for some ignorant comments

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.