Tag Archives: NHL

Boston’s Amazing Head Coaching Success

2018 Success of Boston Head Coaching

For a sports city it is rare for all teams to be playoff contenders. For Boston, that has become the norm, and 2017-2018 has been no different. The Red Sox have started the season 5-1. The Patriots lost in the Superbowl, and the Bruins and Celtics are playoff bound. A big reason for this amazing success is the heading coaching of these teams. Each has their own style, but has created high expectations and have impressed in their respective circles.

Photo Credit: John Tlumacki/ Globe Staff

Patriots Head Coach: Bill Belichick

In describing the impact of these coaches, Belichick goes first. Since the Superbowl he has come under fire for numerous things including benching Malcolm Butler. When he came to New England the Patriots were a struggling franchise. Since 2000, they’ve played in eight Super Bowls, winning five. They are constantly in the playoffs and anything less than a Super Bowl has come to be considered a failure. It’s been even more impressive considering Bill has done this in the Salary Cap Era. At times Bill’s head coaching has led to questionable decisions, but since he took over the franchise has become dominant and the envy of the entire league.

Photo Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics Head Coach: Brad Stevens

Brad Steven became the Celtics head coach in 2013. Since then he’s had one losing season, and every year the Celtics have improved. He has gotten the best of his players and his teams have become surprise contenders. This season could be considered his best work. The Celtics lost Gordon Hayward in the first game of the season. Key players such as Irving, Smart, and Daniel Theis have missed extended periods have time. Even with all the injuries, the Celtics still have the second best record in the Eastern Conference. Stevens’s head coaching has allowed his young players to excel. He is considered one of the best coaches in the league among his peers, and is a serious contender to win Coach of The Year.

Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/ Getty

Bruins Head Coach: Bruce Cassidy

Cassidy became the head coach of the Bruins at mid-season last year. With the Bruins struggling they fired their longtime head coach, Claude Julien. Since Cassidy took over, the Bruins have sixty-seven wins and twenty-six losses. This year the Bruins have been one of the best teams in the NHL. When the season began, no one saw them making a deep Stanley cup run, which now they are poised to do. That is in large part to Cassidy, as he’s turned a team which some considered to be rebuilding into a serious championship contender. With this Bruins team being very young they will be contenders for years to come. If Cassidy keeps pushing the right buttons than he will be as well.

Photo Credit: Arthur Pollock

Red Sox Manager: Alex Cora

The last coach to be mentioned is one who is very early into his tenure. Cora became the Red Sox manager this past off-season. Through the first two series of the season the Red Sox are 5-1. When the Sox hired Cora, it was a move that many praised around the MLB. He is replacing John Farrell, who wasn’t a fan favorite in Boston despite leading them to two division titles. Under Farrell the Sox did not win a postseason series and won only one postseason game. The ultimate goal is winning a championship, but winning a playoff series would show that things have changed in Boston. Cora knows what it takes as last year he was a bench coach for the World Champion Houston Astros. So far his Red Sox tenure is off to a good start.

Photo Credit: Michael Dwyer/ AP Photo

No Jack Adams for Bruce Cassidy?

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With little talk about being coach of the year, Coach Bruce Cassidy has helped rebuild the Boston Bruins.

When General Manager Don Sweeney announced last April that Bruce Cassidy would the 28^th head coach of the Boston Bruins, there was hope and excitement about the new direction this team was taking. Amid the plethora of young players coming in and the return of seasoned veterans, you could see that the Bruins were going to be contenders.

Then came the injuries.

OVERCOMING SOME ODDS

The B’s went through their ups and downs through the beginning of the season. Without making excuses, when you have a young injured team and a new head coach, there will be some growing pains. The big question was: will this team even make the Wild Card race? Fast forward to April 2018, and the Bruins have become that team that just won’t quit. Boston is the team that many do not want to face in the Stanley Cup finals. Don’t forget, the Bruins are severely short-handed and are now just getting back some key players.

ENTER CASSIDY

Boston has the talent and speed. And most importantly, they have an exceptional coach that knows his players and continues to make all the right changes. As the Bruins finish their last week of the regular season, it’s interesting to hear minimal talk about Cassidy becoming a recipient of the Jack Adams award. Although the only trophy any NHL coach wants it’s the big silver cup, it’s hard to ignore what Cassidy has done for this young team.

QUICK NOTES

And of course, you can’t gloss over what Gerard Gallant has done for the Vegas Golden Knights, who are full of players that have become the most successful team in its inaugural season. Gallant, for many fans and experts alike, seems to be shoe-in for the Adams award. Still, what if the Bruins win arguably one of the most difficult trophies in any sport? Would Cassidy get the recognition he deserves?

BY THE NUMBERS

Last season the Bruins, still under Claude Julien, were looking to miss the playoffs yet again. Something had to change and the time had come with Sweeney finally letting go of Boston’s long-tenured coach. Enter Bruce Cassidy, former head coach of the Providence Bruins. Cassidy had to coach a fragmented team that no longer responded to Julien while shifting to a new playing style that emphasized speed. No longer taking a slower approach and no more playing the dump and chase game-the Bruins would start to pick up their pace.

As the interim head coach for the Bruins’ final 33 regular and postseason games, he compiled an impressive an 18-8-1 regular season record. The Bruins would clinch a playoff berth for the first time since the 2013-14 season. And for some quick stats when Cassidy took over for Julien, the Bruins would: rank first in the NHL in goals per game (3.37), first in the NHL in fewest shots allowed (741), tied for second in the NHL in wins (18), tied for second in the NHL in power-play percentage (27.8%), tied for third in the NHL in goals allowed per game (2.30) (source: NHL).

BUTCH CASSIDY

With the title “Interim” being stripped away, Bruce Cassidy would step in as the official coach of the Boston Bruins. He would be tested however as the team began the season with injuries and with some tough losses and varied wins, many were unsure about how far this team would go. But as the story goes, you can never count the Black and Gold out. And with a successful trip out west in November, everything started to click. Chemistry was building amongst the players. Cassidy was learning to read his players and tweaking the lines as needed. With a team like the Bruins, every line has proved to be productive.

2017-2018 SEASON

The Bruins are in a good place right now and are poised to clinch the division title. Cassidy’s record so far with the Bruins since taking over is 67-26-13; Claude Julien was 26-23 before he was let go. No question that Cassidy has been an important proponent in rebuilding this team and continues to make smart decisions. With a few games left in the regular season, the Bruins will be pushing for a deep playoff run. Boston needs to continue to outperform their opponents and stay healthy. While there’s little chance that Cassidy will win the Jack Adams award this season, fans know he is one of the reasons this team has become a force to be reckoned with.

See you in June.

Follow Liz Rizzo on twitter @pastagrll88

Patrice Bergeron Hasn’t Missed a Beat

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Patrice Bergeron is one of the premier two-way centers in the NHL. He values the defensive side of his game just as much as the stat line, and sometimes that means blocking a shot. This led to a fractured right foot which sidelined him for a month, but Bergeron is back in full form just in time for the playoffs.

Back in Black

He was slotted back into the lineup while in Minnesota and wasted no time making his presence known. Three minutes into the second period, Bergeron fed Pastrnak a perfect one-time pass in the high slot. Pasta tee’d it up and ripped a slap shot past Stalock for his 30^th goal of the season. The scorecard read “Pastrnak assisted by Bergeron and Marchand”, so it doesn’t seem like much changed in a month. Later he assisted on Marchand’s fifth overtime winner- another common occurrence.

(Bruins, MA 12/23/17) Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron #37 celebrates his goal in the third period of the Boston Bruins vs. the Detroit Red Wings at the TD Garden. Saturday, December 23, 2017. Staff photo by John Wilcox.

His play against Tampa offered even more proof that Bergeron hasn’t missed a beat. He finished the night with three points and scored his first goal since returning to the lineup. Bergeron came out from behind the net and was the beneficiary of a beautiful tic-tac-toe play. The puck went from the tape of Marchand, to Krug, to Bergeron, to twine in a matter of seconds. This was one of the biggest wins of the year for Boston and propelled them into first place.

Bergeron continued his prominent return with another tally against the surging Florida Panthers. He extended his goal scoring streak the very next day against the Flyers. With only seconds remaining, Bergeron ripped home a loose puck to tie the game. He has a stat-line of 3-4-7 in five games played since making his return.

Bergeron’s patented two-way game is also perfectly intact. There are always concerns about a players conditioning when they go down with a late season injury, but the lungs are just fine. He’s averaged just under 20 minutes of ice time since returning which is equal to the amount he’s played throughout the season. He even played a total of 22:38 in the overtime loss against the Flyers, so he seems prepared to log the extra minutes that he’ll see in the postseason.

It’s all starting to come together for the Bruins heading into the playoffs. Bergeron’s back, McAvoy’s next, and the team is looking sharp. The top line has carried the B’s all season, and now the trio is back together. With the return of Bergeron, the Bruins are just as deep as any team in the league.

Cover image courtesy of NHL.com

Bruins Do Not Need to Win the Atlantic

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The Boston Bruins are currently in first place in the Atlantic. They are two points and a game ahead of the second place Lightning. With one more match-up against the Lightning coming up, Boston controls its own destiny. While winning the Atlantic is not necessary, it certainly makes Boston’s road to the Stanley Cup substantially easier. The Stanley Cup Playoffs start nine games from today, and right now the first round match-up would be Bruins vs Devils, and Lighting vs Maple Leafs.

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Inside the Match-Up

Do not be fooled, New Jersey is not going to be an easy match-up for the Bruins. But they will be the easier of the two. The Devils are a fast team with a well-rounded group of forwards headlined by Taylor Hall. They possess many of the same strengths that Toronto does, just on a lesser scale. The Bruins are going to have a hard time handling the Devils’ quickness up front, but should be able to minimize the damage.

Mainly since Tuukka Rask has excellent numbers against the Devils. In 13 career games, Tuukka has a 6-4-2 record with a .945 save percentage and a 1.59 goals allowed averag, along with two career shutouts. It’s not a stretch to say Rask has the Devils’ number. While the Devils are a team that should be respected, they should not be feared. The Bruins should be able to make quick work of New Jersey, which is why the Bruins should genuinely pursue the number one seed.

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Other Benefit

Of course there are obvious benefits to being the best team in the Eastern Conference. Guaranteed home ice until the finals is certainly something any team wants. But not only does Boston get an easier match-up against the Devils. It also forces Toronto and Tampa to go head to head. Toronto is the team to get behind in that series. Not because they are a team to be taken lightly, because they are not. Even though the Bruins are undefeated against the Lighting this season, the amount of pure talent on the Lightning roster is just insane and demands respect. For now the Bruins have to go take that number one seed and get ready for their first round match-up next week.

Bruins Extend Their Captain

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Bruins Captain Gets Extension

Early Wednesday afternoon the Boston Bruins gave their longtime captain Zdeno Chara a one year extension. This most likely means the end is soon for Chara. The Black and Gold are playoff bound, and for Chara it could be one of his last runs. This extension means the Bruins captain will most likely finish his career in Boston; a fitting ending for their longest tenured player.

Photo Credit: Harry How/Getty Images

Chara’s Early Days

Chara came to the Bruins as a free agent in the 2006 season. The Bruins signed him to a five year deal for $7.5 million a year. He was the first big signing for a Bruins organization that was trying to find its way. Since then, the Bruins captain has had a memorable run in Boston. He won the Norris Trophy in the 2008-2009 season and has finished in the top five for the award four other times. He isn’t the forty point scorer he once was, but he’s still critical to this team.

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

How the NHL Has changed

As Chara’s time in Boston has gone, he has changed, and so has the team. When he came here this wasn’t a playoff team. He’s helped instill a culture of winning that wasn’t here when he arrived. It’s the culture he worked for the one he signed on to create. The NHL has also changed, as it is now much faster faced. Offensive minded defenseman are more prominent today. Chara is not the same defenseman that once averaged forty points a season, nor is he the face of the franchise. The title belongs Bergeron now, but that is not where his value lies.

Photo Credit: Winslow Townson USA Today Sports

Chara’s Impact on the Youth

When Chara does walk away from hockey he’ll be leaving a playoff team, not one trying to find its way like the one he signed with twelve years ago. He has been key in mentoring the Bruins youth, including players such Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Matt Grzelcyk. These are the kids who will look to build on a season that for many has been a dream. Chara isn’t a top five defenseman in the NHL but he’s still one of the best. This extension could reach five million in incentives, and it could be Big Z’s last one. He is a big reason the Bruins are playoff bound, and for the change since he got here.

Bruins Fans Listen to No One

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The Bruins released one of the best hype videos I have seen by a sports team, with the theme of listening to no one. Other than slamming local radio host Michael Felger, the video perfectly displays the harsh criticism that surrounded this team early on. The young inexperienced Bruins could have very easily allowed the pressure of local media to get in their heads. Instead, they listened to no one outside of the locker room. Now the team is poised to win the seventh Stanley cup in franchise history.

“There Are to Many Young Guys”

The video starts out with Felger saying, “This is what I think the issue with the team is, there are to many young guys”. Do not be fooled this opinion was rather popular. Many, including myself, thought this team was to young and inexperienced. Boy, we could not have been more wrong. The youth of this team is the reason they have been so successful. McAvoy, Pastranak, Heinen, Donato, Debrusk, Bjork, and Carlo are all players who have contributed to this team. None of them are over the age of 21. The teams biggest flaw rapidly developed into the team’s biggest strength. The young players have answered every single question they possibly could have in the regular season. Now the only test remaining is answering the bell when it matters most in the playoffs. Everyone is doubting their ability to handle a playoff atmosphere. But as the team has taught us, listen to no one.

“They Do Not Know What They Are Doing”

Next Felger claims, “There are too many guys running around who do not know what they are doing”. Fast forward and the Bruins are third in the NHL with 104 points, and have a shot at the President’s Trophy. It seems as if they may have a clue on what to do out on the ice. One of the flaws of having such a young offensively gifted group of players is that sometimes the defensive aspect gets glossed over. But the Bruins, as they have done all year long, continue to defy logic and reason.

Even with the abundance of youth on the roster the Bruins rank third in the NHL with an excellent 2.53 goals allowed per game. They also rank sixth in the NHL on the penalty kill, keeping the puck out of their own net 82.7 percent of the time. While Bruce Cassidy deserves a lot of credit for how defensively responsible this team is, the players play the game and the young players have shown they are not one-dimensional. Cassidy taught the team not to listen to no one but to use the hate as motivation.

“The Bruins Season Is Over”

Lastly Felger stated, “I think the Bruins season is over, I think they are done”. Right now the Bruins would play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After Felger and the rest of Boston media deemed their season to be over in mid October. Any person with any hockey sense knows that the real reason this team got its act together is because Cassidy benched Tuukka Rask. Not because of what the local media was saying. Either way since mid-November the Boston Bruins are an insane 41-10-6. By far the best record in hockey in that span. To play that level of hockey for over three months is absolutely absurd. This team has lost major pieces to injury Bergeron, Chara, McAvoy and has not slowed down. They lost Brad Marchand, a Hart Trophy candidate, to a five game suspension and went 4-1. The depleted Bruins went into Tampa Bay one of if not the best team in hockey widely undermanned and shut them down 3-0.

Name the game, this team will beat you at it. Listen to no one this team has that it factor. Any team who has to face this team in the playoffs will have to lay down their lives, because the Bruins just do not quit. As the Bruins put it so perfectly hockey, “is in our blood”. So Boston, strap up, because the Boston Bruins will win the Stanley Cup.

Listen to no one. #InOurBlood pic.twitter.com/UjWKobmcbx

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 22, 2018

Cover image courtesy of Causeway Crowd.

David Pastrňák- Playing with Flash and Grit

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Young, talented, and fast, the 21-year-old right winger is making some important plays as the Bruins look to make a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The story has been writing itself for this year’s Boston Bruins. From a rocky start to becoming a dangerous team to play against, there’s no question that this team is special. From the explosion of youth to the “never give up” attitude this team has developed, there’s one particular line that’s leading the team. Prior to losing Patrice Bergeron, the first line consisted of Bergeron, Brad Marchand and a young Czech player named David Pastrňák. As Bergeron sits out while healing from a fractured foot, Marchand and Pastrňák have pushed more aggressively towards the net and are scoring goals. And even though he’s not new to the league, Pastrňák is right behind Marchand in goals, assists, and points. Did I mention he’s only 21 years old?

A QUICK CZECH

Credit: Adam Richins

From the 2014 draft class, David Pastrňák has proven to be one of the best NHL caliber players the Bruins have drafted. A quick look at his stats this season puts him at 70 points through 71 games, (42 in assists and 28 goals), making him almost a point-a-game player. The young winger also leads the 2014 draft with 87 goals ahead of the Oiler’s Leon Draisatl, who signed an expensive contract at eight years for $68 million. But just because you sign a hot rookie to an insane contract doesn’t guarantee a spot in the playoffs. The Oilers are struggling this season; the same can’t be said of the Boston Bruins.

PUTTING SOME SAUCE ON IT

Last year, fans got to see the young Czech enjoy his breakout career and under new coach Bruce Cassidy, things only started to flourish. As the Bruins were gearing up for the 2017-2018 season, Sweeney and Co. had yet to sign the young winger. Let’s just say, it was a bit tough to read reports that “Pasta” was still in Europe. And the rumors of playing in the KHL? Personally, that was a terrible threat with no credible backing. With training coming up, getting the news that Pastrňák was finally on his way to Boston made fans collectively breathe a sigh of relief.

Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

THE RIGHT CHANGE

By mid November, Cassidy had made a few changes and moved Pastrňák to play on the first line (a move that’s proving to be working for the Bruins). And while Pastrňák doesn’t score goals every night, (not many players can) he’s there assisting his linemates, Brad Marchand and Riley Nash. After a brief benching earlier this season, Pastrňák didn’t sulk; he came out ready to get back into the game. And with any young player, there’s always a period where you either get stuck in a sophomore slump or you take the advice from some tough love only to come out with a bang. The motivation hasn’t stopped there for Pastrňák.

A STAR THAT WON’T BURN OUT

As the Bruins continue to play with half their roster, it’s time for the entire roster to step up. And for Pastrňák, nothing could be sweeter than netting your first career hat trick. In a recent game against the Hurricanes, the Bruins were down a 4-1 deficit when the Black and Gold scored five unanswered goals in the 3rd. The young Czech player found the puck in the back of the net three times, lifting the B’s over Carolina for a stunning comeback win.

“We looked kind of tired and no energy, and then we get a couple of goals and all of a sudden everybody is flying. Everything clicks for us. I guess we all wished we knew how to turn it to click. I said I think a big part is we are a good team and we have a lot of good players.”

GROWING UP

At just 21 years old, Pastrňák now has the most game-winning goals in franchise history for a player prior to reaching their 22nd birthday. Not quite a veteran and no rookie by any means, Pastrňák has matured quickly and proven to be an incredibly valuable player for the Boston Bruins. And it shows he cares not only for the team but for the game. Earlier in the game against Carolina, a turn over by Pastrňák led to the ‘Canes to score their fourth goal. But as the story goes, you can’t count this team out and it was Pastrňák’s time for some late redemption. Cassidy had this to say:

“That’s a sign of maturity that he cares… He figures he let the team down. He has to go now do something to pick them up again and he certainly did that. Good for him. We need it. Let’s face it, your top guys have to be your top guys.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Dynamic is one of many words used to describe one of the Bruins most likable player. With seven of the team’s top hitting players out with injuries, it’s players like David Pastrňák that you count on while playing clutch. With his skilled shot on net and speed, the young Czech will continue to grind out goals, set up important plays and most importantly, continue to smile. And for fans, it seems the right winger is right at home in Boston.

“…This is where I started playing my NHL hockey and I want to spend as much time here as I could. I wish for my whole NHL career.”

Keep smiling David, ’cause we are.

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrll88

Montreal Still Hasn’t Won a Legitimate Stanley Cup

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Montreal’s a beautiful city. It’s one of my favorite places in the world, and the Bell Centre is absolutely breathtaking. It’s a relatively modern arena but it’s packed with history, being highlighted by the 24 Stanley Cup banners that hang from the rafters. This technically leads the NHL, but how many of these actually mean something?

Back in the Day

People so often forget that up until 1967 the NHL only had six teams. In theory, this essentially means that the Bruins, Canadiens, Rangers, Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, and Red wings each had a one in six chance of winning the cup every year. The Bruins weren’t near the caliber of Montreal but still managed to win three cups during that era. With only six teams, everybody was bound to get their name etched on lord Stanley at some point. Montreal won 14 out of their 24 cups during this time.

Although there were only six teams, Montreal did dominate- there’s no denying that. Just look at the late 1950’s where they won a league record five consecutive cups. This leads to one central question- what made them so good? The answer to this is that there was no draft. Up until 1963, teams could scout out whoever they wanted regardless of their age.

Montreal literally invented hockey, playing the first game ever right at McGill University in 1875. Like anything, it took some time for hockey to become fully globalized. This meant that for a while the Canadiens had the best players in the world right in their own backyard. Look at the names of all their star players from back in the day. Geoffrion, Beliveau, Morenz, Plante, Lafleur- they were all French and natives of Quebec. It’s like when you were a kid at recess. There was always that kid who would invent his own game, play it with his buddies, and declare himself champion every time.

Since the end of the original six era, Montreal has won 10 cups. These are more valid than the first 14, but the last time they won was in 1993. At the time there were still only 24 teams, so to this day the Canadiens are yet to win with a full 30+teams in the league. The 24 banners hanging from the rafters are a nice touch to the Bell Centre, but don’t take them at face value.

Cover image courtesy of Eyes on the Prize.

The Emergence of Riley Nash

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2018 Season so Far

This year the Boston Bruins have been led by their youth. The young players have come as advertised and propelled the Bruins to the top of the Eastern Conference. Riley Nash doesn’t fall under that category. He is in his seventh NHL season, but he’s been key this year. Through seventy games he has a career high of 15 goals and 25 assists. He’s stepped up when the Bruins needed him the most and been key for this team. Like the other veterans on this team he’s complemented the rookies well and is quietly having a career year.

Photo Credit: Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Riley Nash’s First Year in Boston

Prior to the 2016-2017 season Nash spent the first five years of his NHL career with the Carolina Hurricanes. In Carolina the most points he had in a season was 25. This year, with 12 games left, he already has forty. In his first season in Boston Nash scored seven goals and contributed ten assists. This year has been much different for the former Hurricane who wasn’t seen as a big part of the Bruins offensive attack. He’s spent a lot of time on different lines contributing wherever he’s been put. Head coach Bruce Cassidy has shown his faith in Nash and even moved him up to the first line when for an injured Patrice Bergeron.

Photo Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Why Riley Nash Is Critical

Lately Nash has had to step up as the injury bug has hit the Bruins. This has been critical, considering the Bruins are one of the youngest teams in the NHL. What has made this team so good is the different weapons they have. Nash has surprisingly been one of those weapons. He’s not just a sniper, as lately he’s been crashing the net and earning his goals.

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Prediction Going Forward

In the playoffs the Bruins don’t need Nash to be an elite scorer. If he plays like has in the regular season, then the Bruins could have a very dangerous top three lines. So far this year they have been a gritty team. They need to continue that come playoff time once some of their key players like Bergeron and Backes return. Even with their return the play of Nash will still be key.

The Bruins Answer the Bell Once Again

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The 2018 Boston Bruins answer the bell when it matters, no matter what. Want to play run and gun hockey? They have the skill to beat you 6-5. If the game is a grind it out defensive battle, then fine by this team. They will still beat you 2-1. What about handling injuries to key players in the middle of a playoff push? Nope, that cannot slow this team down either. They just beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0 on the road.

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Looking Back

The Bruins had a few noticiable concerns ahead of their anticipated matchup with the division-leading Lightning. Coach Cassidy was publicly critical of the Bruins’ defensive performance in the past week. He was especially critical following Thursday’s loss to the Panthers. Add the fact that the Bruins’ top two defensemen, Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy, were out of the lineup. Along with one, if not the best, defensive forward in hockey, Patrice Bergeron. Just as Bruce Cassidy has done all season long, he pushed the right buttons ahead of the daunting matchup. Cassidy made sure to address the Bruins defensemen who have been battling for playing time. Making it clear that this was their shot to earn playing time and trust.

Results

The Boston Bruins did not let a chance to prove doubters wrong once again go by. As shorthanded as they were, the were facing a Lighting team averaging an NHL best 3.54 goals per game. Many expected the Bruins to take a loss. Yet they went into Tampa and completely stifled the best offensive team in hockey, and earned an extremely impressive 3-0 victory. Tuukka Rask, who has been under a microscope as of late, played a solid game all around, making key saves when the Bruins needed them most. Rask looked relaxed and energized in net. He was on top of his angles and had great anticipation all game long. Going forward the Bruins should try to alternate starting goalies every game, but it is definitely a good sign to see Rask step up.

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Tampa Bay has been the class of the East all season long. If the Bruins plan on going deep in the playoffs, then it is very probable that a matchup with Tampa will occur. To see this team answer the bell like that on the road against better team is really eye-opening. Right now I’m taking the Bruins in a seven game series over any team. This team has that it factor and it’s going to show in April when they answer the bell once again.