Bruins @ Canucks: Game 7

This series feels like it has been going on for months. There have been so many story lines it's like reading some kind of epic novel. Biting, being down 2-0, Horton's injury, the suspension, Luongo's epic fails, Mason Raymond's injury, Sedin guaranteeing victory, and so on, but all of that is in the past. None of it matters. It just 3 periods left to decide who gets the Cup, who history remembers, because in the end that's all that matters.

I could be wrong about 1 thing. It may take more then 3 periods, and if that is the case would anyone be surprised?

This game boils down to two things. STATS vs. MOMENTUM.

STATS:

In every way stats favor the Canucks. They are 3-0 at home. Luongo has let up 2 goals in 3 games at home with 2 shutouts (something like 16 goals when in Boston). The Bruins have never won a Game 7 on the road in four previous attempts. NHL teams are 12-3 in Game 7 Cup contests when playing at home. All these things make you think there is 0 chance the Bruins will pull this off. If this game was up to stats it would already be over. The Canucks would be raising the Cup.

MOMENTUM:

Boston crushed the Canucks last time out. They have crushed them 3 out of the last 4 games, and only lost the other game by 1 goal (Game 5 1-0). Thomas hasn't had a bad game. Luongo has had several. The Bruins seem head strong, and tougher then the Canucks. They are wearing them down, as more and more defenseman for the Canucks have to sit out. Overall the Bruins have outscored the mighty juggernaut that is the Canucks offense 19-8. Seems crazy for a mostly inept scoring team like the Bruins. If this game was won on momentum the Bruins would be raising the Cup.

The bottom line is neither of those things matter. Stats are fun to see, but there are always exceptions. Momentum is great, but we have seen it stop before (Game 5). What it comes down to is who makes the mistake. Will the Bruins make that stupid pass in their own end that costs them a goal? Will Luongo shit is pants? Those are the things that matter.

It will be whoever has the legs left. The Bruins lost Horton. The Canucks have lost Mason Raymond and defensive depth. Who can put that one last game of effort in? That's what will decide this. The Bruins need their legs, they need to be more physical. The Canucks have to have their speed, then need to out skate the Bruins.

I have watched the Bruins all year, and when they have their backs against the wall they play their best. I think they do it one last time, and the take the Cup back to Boston for the first time in 39 years.

Bruins win 3-1
Players of the Game: Thomas/Seidenberg/Marchand
Game starts at 8pm on NBC

Canucks @ Bruins Preview: Game 6

After watching Lebron fall apart last night everything in the word felt right. Good triumphed over evil, and cock ass douchebags got what they deserved. The Canucks aren't far behind Lebron in the douchebag category. Tonight we get to see if good can triumph once again.

After all the biting, diving, and name calling the bottom line is that Boston is down 3-2. They have lost all three games in close contests. When they have won they have won big. They also have won those games at home, and tonight that's exactly where they are. It's been an odd series for me. When it started I thought the Canucks would beat them in 5. When the Bruins tied the series 2-2 I thought the Bruins would win it in 6. Now I don't know what to think.

The Canucks are a better team, but they are also the softer team. If you beat them early they collapse, but if comes you let them stay in the game they have just too many good players that they will eventually find their way around Thomas. I hate when people say "they gotta score first", but in this game I don't think it could be more true. If Boston scores first you know it will be in the Canucks/Luongo head "Oh no, it's happening again". That's what Boston needs to do. They need the crowd going crazy, and to break this soft ass team.

Thomas will play great. At this point it's basically a given. What's not a given is how the forwards will play. Will Lucic be a force? Will Bergeron shoot? Will someone on the powerplay show up? In games 3/4 they did. In the others...not so much. I think Boston shows up tonight. They have been head strong all season, and I think they will come out playing fast. Like I said before if they jump on these guys early they will crack. I say they crack, Boston wins and anything can happen in Game 7's.

Bruins win 4-1
Player of the Game: Thomas/Lucic
Game starts at 8pm

Canucks @ Bruins Preview: Game 4

The loss of Horton is one that is going to sting. He is probably the Bruins 2nd best scorer, and there is very little they can do to make up for that. Yet, the Bruins have a lot going for them. Thomas proved he is by far the best player in this series. Most people didn't notice just how good he was in Game 3, but he might have been the most impressive player.

The Bruins also could be in Roberto Luongo. He looked terrible and the Bruins learned all they really just need to go high on this guy and he can't handle it. So, maybe this is the beginning of the end for him.

The Bruins came out with a vengeance once Horton was knocked out. That won't be the same tonight and I expect a much closer game. That being said, when I think of this series it makes me think back to 2002 when McLaren injured Richard Zednik of the Montreal Canadiens with an elbow to the face and was suspended for 3 games. The Bruins got crushed the rest of the series and eventually lost the series 4-2. I think this is going to be a similar event for the Canucks. The Bruins lost the better player, but this team now has a rallying cry.

The only thing that worries me is that the refs are going to call such a tight game that there will be a ton of penalties. We all know that favors the Canucks, but I will side with the vengeance/momentum over banking on the refs.

Bruins win 4-2
Player of the Game: Thomas (goes without saying), and Peverley
Game starts at 8pm on Versus

Canucks @ Bruins Preview

The Bruins have showed over the last two games that they can play with the Canucks. They have also showed that they are still prone to silly mistakes, and that is what has been costing them.

The Bruins waste a lot of rushes up ice with silly turnovers and they have been lucky so far it hasn't cost them more goals then it has. The key (as it's been all season) is to eliminate these mistakes.

The other key is getting more pressure on Luango. They did it through 2 periods last game, but just like game 1 when the 3rd period came around they ran out of steam. It's tough because Chara is playing so much, but he is supposed to be one of the best defenseman in the league, and when you are on of the best defenseman you play a lot of minutes, so no excuses.

There is a rumor going around Thornton might be in the lineup tonight. I am not sure who he will replace, but he will add even more physicality to the Bruins. The question is who is replaces, because if he takes Paille or Campbell spot then it could hurt the penalty kill, and if he takes Seguin's spot you are just hurting an offense that isn't playing all that well.

Obviously, if the Bruins lose tonight the series is over. They have to not only win tonight, but win the next game too to get back in this series. Do I feel confident? No, but they have played these guys tough and maybe the home crowd gives them just that little extra burst they need.

Bruins win 3-2 (OT)
Player of the Game: Lucic
Game starts at 8pm

Canucks Are A Bunch Of Pillow Biters

"Wearing an adhesive bandage on his left index finger, Bruins center Patrice Bergeron confirmed following the team's Game 1 loss to the Canucks in the Stanley Cup finals that Vancouver winger Alexandre Burrows bit him at the end of the first period.

"Oh yeah, he did," said Bergeron. "He cut me a little bit on my finger, but I'm not going to complain about it. I'll let the league do their job, but he sure did [bite me] (WEEI)."

Who the fuck bites?

I was wondering what happened, because Bergeron never get that upset, and he was going all Evander Holyfield at the end of the first peroid.

I know the NHL is wierd with suspensions, but this guy has to get at least a game. According to Ray Bourque, Burrows has a history of being a dirty player, which is all the more reason I will be pissed if I see him on the ice Saturday.

Lightning @ Bruins Preview: Game 7

Well, it comes down to this. Bruins played all year so that they could have home ice, and now they have it with a chance to go the the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1990.

Before I go into what may happen tonight, let's take a trip down memory lane. As I have stated before I was a huge Bruins fan as a child. One of my earliest memories comes from the 1990 finals. The Bruins going against the Oilers, who were basically the greatest team alive. Bruins force overtime. They get Oilers' goalie Bill Ranford down and out, with Glen Wesley with an open net from the slot area. He misses it right over the crossbar, and the Bruins lost in the 3rd overtime, and that changed the whole series.

I have never forgiven Glen Wesley cursing his very name even today.

Why do I tell you this story? Because Kaberle is becoming my new Glen Wesley. Yes there was a difference Wesley had his good moments while I have not seen one good thing from Kaberle. Bottom line is that throughout my Bruins memory it always ends in tragedy.

It's weird with all the other Boston teams I am so optimistic. I think there is a chance, they some how some way they will get it done. I have Tom Brady to thank for that, because he was the one who finally made me a believer in what I was rooting for. Yet, as the Bruins head to Game 7 it's hard to have that same feeling. It's been hell being a Bruins fan (even resulting in a 4 year hiatus).

This year has been different though. I hate to break this to everyone, but the Bruins AREN'T THAT GOOD. Usually, the Bruins lose to teams I think they are better then. Not this year, they are doing it with a hot goalie. Tim Thomas is already the best goalie I have seen on the Bruins (Yes, even better then my beloved Andy Moog). Maybe that's all it takes, maybe he is the Bruins Tom Brady. Maybe it's time to believe.

Like I said the Bruins have home ice. Thomas is coming off a subpar game, and I find that he always bounces back and rarely has back-to-back bad games. So, tonight I expect great things.

The power play? It's not going to magically get fixed, but I do believe it could be better. Bergeron should be on the point, Chara in front of the net, Seguin has to get some minutes, and Recchi needs to get off. If you do that I think they should be able to do something.

This is a Game 7, and that usually means the refs let them play. That's fantastic news for the Bruins, because they are a better 5 on 5 team. They are deeper, so if they stay out of the box they will win.

I believe.

Bruins win 5-1
Player of the Game: Thomas/Bergeron
Game starts at 8pm

Stop Making Excuses Bruins!

"Bruins coach Claude Julien said he "disagreed" with the officiating in Wednesday's Game 6 loss to the Lightning. The Bruins had five power plays to the Lightning's four, but players and the coach took issue with some of the calls.

"What was more disappointing is probably the fact that I don't know if I agree with those calls," Julien said when asked about special teams. "Hopefully what was said today didn't have any impact on that, because if it did, I'd be really disappointed. You look back at those, and you get an opportunity to look back at them, and it's really, really tough to swallow (WEEI)."

The Bruins have had more power plays all serious, and I have had zero problem with the way this series has been called. I hate this kind of stuff, because it's just one big excuse to why they lost. The Bruins lost because they have the worst power play in the league, and Tim Thomas didn't bail out the rest of the team. It's really that simple.

Back in the Montreal series I would agree that the officiating was at times terrible, but how do you complain about the officiating when you have had more power plays? It's just fucking stupid. Instead of crying about some bullshit, why don't you take this time and kill Kaberle, or at the very least take him off the power play?

Bruins @ Lightning: Game 6

The Bruins are one game away from the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1990. Visions of Glen Wesley hitting the post are racing through my head, but we'll get back to that at a later date.

The Lightning have decided to go back to Roloson, which I think is something Bruins fans should be excited about. He has looked shaky for the most part during this entire series. Maybe his time off will get him back on track, but I doubt it. Smith really scared me. He is huge and really played well last game (in my opinion).

No matter who is in net the Bruins have to play a lot better then they did last time out. They can't just sit back and hope that Tim Thomas is Jesus Christ every game. He is the difference in this series, because if it wasn't for him I think the Lightning would be up in this series. Saying that, goalies are the most important and the Bruins have the best one in the NHL.

What do the Bruins need to do?

Well at this point we sound like a broken record. They can't turn the puck over in their own end. They can't get silly penalties, and it would be nice for once to actually do something on the power play. Bottom line is Thomas has to played out of his head again for the Bruins to get past the Lightning. Tampa is going to throw everything at him again tonight, and I do have a bad feeling about this game. Still, how can you against Timmy Thomas? I sure can't.

Bruins win 3-2 (OT)
Player of the Game: Thomas/Bergeron
Game starts at 8pm

Lightning @ Bruins: Game 5

The Bruins had the Lightning beat. Up 3-0 about to be up 3-1 in the series heading back to Boston, then they decided to shit the bed. We have seen this so many times it makes me sick to think about, but this team has turned it around so many times that you just can't give up on them.

I don't know for sure, but I don't see Roloson being between the pipes for Tampa. He looked so shaky, and all of this is terrible news for the Bruins. Smith looked really good, he is really big, and we all know it just takes a hot goalie. Saying that, the Bruins also didn't pressure him, and the effort they gave after the 1st period was laughable at best.

Kaberle is killing the Bruins. He doesn't battle in the corners, he's made no difference on the powerplay, and he makes costly turnovers seemingly every game. It's unacceptable, and he has to be one of the biggest bust pickups for the Bruins ever. It's not just Kaberle with the silly turnovers, he just does it the most, so he stands out.

If Boston doesn't turnover the puck, they will win this series. I think they fix their mistakes, because that's what they have done all season.

Bruins win 4-3 (OT)
Player of the Game: Bergeron
Game starts at 8pm

Bergeron Likely To Play Tonight (UPDATED)

"Given how smoothly Bergeron’s recovery has proceeded, it’s a good bet the Bruins alter nate captain will make his debut in the Eastern Conference finals tonight in Game 3 against the Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum (Boston Herald)."

The latest from Twitter says that he skated this morning and looked good to go. So I would expect him to be playing tonight. If he is 100% this is a huge gain for the Bruins. Bergeron is so good on the penalty kill, and helps the defense a lot with his backchecking skills. The question now is who would sit. I have said from the beginning I think it should be Thornton, but we will update when there is official word on if he is playing, and if he does who is sitting.

***UPDATE***

Yup, he's playing...

"Bruins center Patrice Bergeron will play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Lightning after missing the first two games with a mild concussion, according to a report by ESPN (WEEI).

Bruins @ Lightning: Game 3

We do not have word yet if Bergeron will play tonight, so I will keep him out of my preview.

This has been a surprising starting to this series. The two best goalies in the playoffs have let up a total of 18 goals in two games. Consider before this series they were both averaging around 2 GAA per game that's pretty amazing. The other shocking story line is that rookie Tyler Seguin has been amazing (3 goals, 3 assists in 2 games).

I am a big Tim Thomas fan, but to say that he has looked sharp I think would be far from the truth. Don't get me wrong he has made some amazing saves, but he has also let in some weak goals. Still, the defense has to play a lot better, because there are too many times the Bruins are getting burned in transition.

The Bruins almost blew that game the other night, and the Lightning proved they can score in a hurry. Chara really needs to play better. I would say Kaberle needs to too, but at this point he seems like a lost cause. One thing I really liked last game is Boston came out hitting. I think that set the stage for there to be a lot of open ice, so that the Bruins speed (Seguin) to have a lot more ice to work with.

Tonight's going to be a really tough game, but if Boston can play better defense they can win this and take control of the series.

Bruins win 3-1 (I know low scoring, but eventually these goalies are going to get hot)
Player of the Game: Horton
Game starts at 8pm on Versus

Lightning @ Bruins: Game 2

Bruins Bruins lost last game, because of stupid turnovers and a couple weak goals early. I am willing to look past some of it (weak goals) and chalk it up to rust. Tonight, they need to play a lot better defense though, and they need to out physical Tampa Bay.

Lets not kid ourselves the Lightning are a much better offensive team, and they are faster, but the Bruins are bigger and stronger. Much like the Canadiens the key to the Bruins success will be to wear them down. Hit them every time they have the puck, play the puck on the boards, and make them scrap to get it out. Basically, slow down the game a bit.

In the first game I thought Chara, Seidenberg, and Kaberle didn't play well. The Bruins strength is their goaltending and defense, so they need these guys to step up. As we wrote earlier the Bruins are down their best defensive forward (Bergeron), so that is even more pressure on them.

I am hoping to see Seguin on the powerplay. The kid showed last game that he has the most talent on offense, and the Bruins need something to spark that unit. You can't continue to win if you never score on the powerplay. The Ligthning are going to score, no matter how good Thomas is, so the Bruins can't give away opportunities.

I think the Bruins will win tonight, and I expect them to come out hitting.

Bruins win 4-3 (OT)
Player of the Game: Chara
Game starts at 8pm