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Remember that old advertising campaign from the Bourque-Neely-Janney days? Well, not to say this year’s Bruins are anywhere near as good as that Stanley Cup finalist squad, but I think they might have just as much heart, if not more. And you know how rarely I throw around compliments when it comes to the team Jeremy Jacobs owns.
The Black and Gold could very easily have mailed it in at any number of points. Over the second half of the season, they lost two games by a score of 8-2 and suffered another 10-2 drubbing. They endured a rash of injuries to some of their most important pieces, injuries that would have given them every excuse in the book to call it a season. Under Dave Lewis, they would have. Under Claude Julien, not only did they not freefall, they came back from each defeat to play an inspired run of hockey.
They also played their best hockey of the season down the stretch, when even one little slump would have left them on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. Washington and Philadelphia caught fire down the stretch, keeping constant pressure on the B’s to keep adding points to the total. Perhaps they didn’t look pretty doing so, but they did so.
Back in October, I thought the Bruins needed to win a playoff series for the season to be considered a step forward. I don’t think that anymore. What they’ve overcome just to get to the Cup chase is more than enough to build on in the future. Win or lose, the Black and Gold have already overachieved.
So now their old nemesis, the Montreal Canadiens, stand in the way. All signs point to a blowout: #1 seed vs. #8…8 Habs wins in all 8-games against Boston this year…11-wins in a row overall against the Bruins. No reason to watch, is there?
Don’t be so sure. The last two times they’ve faced them, the B’s have given the Habs fits. They’re playing their best hockey of the season. They bounce back from defeats pretty well, a pre-requisite for any playoff team. And they’re tough…very tough.
I’m not going to go out on a limb and call for the upset. I’ll say Canadiens in 7. But I won’t be shocked if there’s second round playoff action at the new Garden.
That's the view from here...how do you see it? B's have a chance against the Habs? Is the season already a success, or do they need a playoff victory to satisfy you?
Comments (3)
They really have played well down the stretch. They sure didn't "back in" to the playoffs like Ottawa did. They are playing much better than the typical #8 seed in the playoffs would.
All that said I think Montreal takes this thing in 5 games with the B's managing a win at home in game 3. To me Carey Price is going to be the new Steve Penney/Patrick Roy and will give the B's a whole lot more fits than Tim Thomas possibly can give to Les Habs.
I'd love to be proven wrong but Montreal has way too much firepower (including the #1 power play) for a Bruins team that has shown a lack of scoring ability IMO. IF (huge If) the B's can avoid the stupid "we are a tough team and we're gonna prove it" mentality that got them multiple trips to the sin bin against the Habs in those first 6 matchups it may go 6 games. Just don't see it going any better than that for the B's.
Posted by dboisver | April 7, 2008 4:27 PM
Posted on April 7, 2008 16:27
A first round sweep by the Canadiens, I don't see what has changed.
The problem was never the folks on the ice. This team needs to hit rock bottom before they're Lemming-like (yet loyal)fans stop coming and force Jacobs to seek other "Hobbies". The Jacobs are the Yawkeys minus the rampant racism.
Posted by Legend Killer | April 7, 2008 9:38 PM
Posted on April 7, 2008 21:38
Wow, I can't believe I missed this post, that's what happens when you get transferred from Lowell to Devens LOL!
I'm sorry but I think the Bruins are going to split the first two games in Montreal and come back to Boston with the momentum.
With that said do I think the Bs can pull off the upset, I say yes.
I think with Savard re-entering the line-up and the possibility of Bergeron returning for Game 3 is a huge upgrade to the Boston offense.
I think the Bruins can win IF they stay out of the box and play good disciplined hockey. Savard back in the line-up for the power play will definitely help the Black and Gold, not too mention just his vision of the ice. Then when/if Bergeron returns that's even better. I also think a key factor to this series is the defense on the Blue Line needs to be solid. Chara, Ward, Alberts, Wideman, Hnidy, Ference (if he's healthy) and Stuart need to hold the blue line and give Thomas the opportunity to see the puck.
The Bruins have lost nearly 400 man-games this season due to injuries and in all honesty I don't think we ever got to see their true potential because of the fact who was injured and for how long. IMO if Bergeron, Savard and Murray played a full season the Bruins may have finished as high as the 4th seed in the East.
One thing people have to keep in mind is in 2004 when the Habs bounced the Bs out of the first round the roles were reversed with Boston in the #1 seed and Claude Julien behind the bench for Montreal. Quite possible for Julien to do it again - oh and I might add, when Milan Lucic faced Carey Price in the junior championships he recorded a hat-trick against the rookie net minder.
The Habs may have won the regular season series 0-7-1 but the key factor is the LAST game. I truly believe the reason the Bs lost that shootout is because of who Julien sent out - Kessel (yes I agree with him); but then Chara and Wideman with Krejci, Sturm and Murray on the bench? Poor coaching decision in my book.
I see a lot of positives with this young Bruins team and I wouldn't be surprised to see an upset. I definitely don't think the Habs are going to sweep. My prediction is the series goes the full seven games with Boston heading into the second round.
It's no secret that I am a die hard Bruins fan and I do not consider myself a Lemming (sorry LK) I will forever support the players on this team and keep in mind -this is no longer Jeremy Jacobs' team - this is Charlie Jacobs and Cam Neely's team ... the older Jacobs is simply a figure head who has turned the reigns over to his son.
Posted by Lady Bruins Fan | April 9, 2008 1:20 PM
Posted on April 9, 2008 13:20