Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff
What exactly was that last night because it certainly didn't look like two NHL teams in Washington, it looked more like the old women's Beanpot games when Boston University had just a club team and they had to face BC, NU or Harvard. The worst part is, I couldn't even bring myself to change the channel because I kept hoping my team could stage a great comeback and at least salvage a point. Talk about being delusional.
The Bruins did not look like a team riding a six game winning streak when they faced off against Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals last night, they looked more like a bunch of misfits that couldn't do anything right. Alex the great recorded a five point night with a hat trick and two assists leading the Caps to the 10-2 destroying of the Black and Gold. The way the Capitals undressed the Bs last night was more embarrassing then BC and NU's games against the Red Sox last week.
The question is now, which team will show up to face the Florida Panthers tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden? We already know that Alex Auld will start the game instead of Tim Thomas. But will the power play units show up tonight? How about the defense? Captain Zdeno Chara is having a career year in goals and points and is a leading candidate for the Norris Trophy, but which "Big Z" will show up tonight? The one that had fans cursing his signing last year or the one that had eight goals in 12 games?
Last year around this time, the Bruins spiraled themselves right out of the playoffs, are we about to see a repeat of that? I don't think so. I think this team definitely has the resiliency to not allow that to happen two seasons in a row. One thing is for sure, the Eastern Conference is so tight right now that losing a handful of games can cause even the mightiest of teams to be on the outside looking in come playoff time.
So, why do I keep holding on? Do I truly believe in this team? The answer is simple - yes, I do. I think this team has a lot more to offer than what transpired last night in the Nation's capital. What's your take? Are the Bruins doomed to repeat last season's woes or are are they strong enough to bounce back? Am I completely delusional?
Comments (5)
Call it the Curse of the Gayle-ino! You write one positive blog, and they get beaten like a red-headed stepchild one night...taken to overtime by the horrible Florida Panthers the next.
You sure you didn't write a Super Bowl column?
Posted by Teddy P. | March 5, 2008 7:16 AM
Posted on March 5, 2008 07:16
Oh, hahahahaha panos. I'm glad you can chuckle at the misfortunes of the Bruins. You don't know anything about hockey you numskull so don't talk about it. OK panos? Here let me tell you a little bit about the sport.....
Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey in Canada and the United States, is a team sport played on ice. It is a speedy and physical sport. Ice hockey is most popular in areas that are sufficiently cold for natural, reliable seasonal ice cover, though with the advent of indoor artificial ice rinks it has become a year-round pastime at the amateur level in major metropolitan areas such as cities that host a National Hockey League (NHL) or other professional-league team. It is one of the four major North American professional sports, and is represented by the National Hockey League (NHL) at the highest level, and the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL), the highest level of women's ice hockey in the world. It is the official national winter sport of Canada, where the game enjoys immense popularity, and is also the most popular spectator sport in Finland.[citation needed] Only six of the thirty NHL franchises are based in Canada, but Canadian players outnumber Americans in the league by a ratio of almost four to one.About thirty percent of the league's players are non-North American.
While there are 64 total members of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and the United States have finished in most of the coveted 1st, 2nd and 3rd places at IIHF World Championships. Of the 63 medals awarded in men's competition at the Olympic level from 1920 on, only six did not go to the one of those countries, or a former entity thereof, such as Czechoslovakia or the Soviet Union. Only one of those six medals was above bronze.Those seven nations have also captured 162 of 177 medals awarded at 59 non-Olympic IIHF World Championships, and all medals since 1954. Likewise, all nine Olympic and 27 IIHF World Women Championships medals have gone to one of those seven countries.Also deserving of mention is Switzerland, which has won two men's bronze medals at the Olympics and finished third at least seven times at the World Championships. Switzerland also maintains one of the oldest and top-rated ice hockey leagues (the Swiss Nationalliga) outside of the NHL.
Got it Panos. I'm sure you didn't know about the popularity of the sport outside of North America did you Panos? Cmon guys lets step it up over there at the sun...
Posted by Staaavin Maaaavin | March 5, 2008 4:53 PM
Posted on March 5, 2008 16:53
Way to go Gayle! You killed the Bruins!!!
Posted by Teddy P. | March 7, 2008 9:13 AM
Posted on March 7, 2008 09:13
Sorry, Gayle can not come to the computer at the moment, she is completely, utterly devastated at the performance of the Bruins in the last three games - especially against Washington and Toronto.
She promises to be back once the Black and Gold get out of their mini slump. She still has faith in this team and believes they can turn it around.
Posted by Lady Bruins Fan | March 8, 2008 12:03 PM
Posted on March 8, 2008 12:03
I really miss hockey both the Bruins and High School and to a somewhat lesser extent college.Wonder why the"sun" in it's questions of the day today.What are you going to watch on TV didn't include watching the Stanley Cup.That would definitely be my number one choice.Hope you keep writuing abiout hovckey even in theoff-season.Please excuse all the mis-spellings,I am a one finger hunt and peck typist and strill somewhat of a novice on the computer at 76.I am a long time reader of the "sun" partuicularly Sunday and started daily delivery about ayear ago.
Posted by Mason King | May 19, 2008 2:35 PM
Posted on May 19, 2008 14:35