Why the Bruins need to win this series...
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 7, 2009 12:38 PM EDT
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PrintThe Bruins have themselves in a hole after going down 2-1 in the series to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Bruins will play the closest thing to a "must win game" than they have played all season when they take the ice in Raleigh on Friday night. The following are a few (mostly selfish) reasons why the Bruins need to win this series.
- I don't want to have to start writing about the Providence Bruins quest for a Calder Cup or about some 17 year old kid from Saskatoon that the Bruins might draft late in the first round... and I doubt you want to read that either.
- I don't want the 2008-2009 Bruins to be like the kid that peaked in high school.
- I don't want to hear every "die-hard Whalers fan" I know from the Nutmeg State claiming that the "Whalers" beat the B's.
- I can't deal with the symbolism of the Bruins' season ending to a team whose logo looks like a toilet flush.
- I don't want to hear about how the Bruins should have traded for Erik Cole at the deadline despite the fact that he only has 1 point in the playoffs (although, he is making up for it with a sick playoff beard).
- Does anyone really want to see a potential Anaheim-Carolina Stanley Cup Finals?
- I am tired of seeing the Bruins shit the bed in the playoffs year after year.
- I want to read more of Bill Burr's blog entries for NHL.com (There haven't been any more posts from Burr after his slamming of the Carolina Hurricanes fans before Game 1. I hope that the NHL didn't pull the plug on him like they did with Kevin Smith.).
- I want Jeremy Jacobs to be the first owner in sports history ever to be booed at a victory parade.
- I am not one of those fans that says that this season will be a big disappointment if the Bruins don't win the Stanley Cup, but it will be disappointing if the Bruins don't get to at least the Eastern Conference Finals.
- They have beat better teams than the Carolina Hurricanes this season. The Hurricanes are playing great hockey right now, but I don't think they are a better team than the Bruins...even though the Canes have outplayed them the past 2 games. The Canes haven't added anyone other than Erik Cole since the Bruins swept them in the regular season. Everyone loves to say "this isn't the same team that they saw in the regular season", but you know what? This is exactly the same team they saw in the regular season.
- I want to see how all those idiots that got "City of Champions" or "Title Town" tattoos attempt to add the Bruins logo.
- A B's-Caps or B's-Pens series would be a lot of fun.
- I don't want to hear morons who don't follow hockey calling into to WEEI complaining about how the Bruins never spend money on players despite the fact that they spend to the cap.
- I don't want to hear a bunch of "Caniacs" that can't even skate say "WE beat y'all".
- I want to see the Bruins looking like ZZ Top
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That's funny
As a Canes fan I think point 4 is freakin hillarious, but totally disagree with point 11, the players may have all been in place, but the team chemistry hadn’t quite jelled yet. The tean IS different, just look at the record the last month of the season.
All that being said, I personally have a lot of respect for the Bruins, most of us down here who follow hockey know what the Bruins are capable of. You just don’t accidently become the #1 seed in the conference.
Correction
the hurricanes also added jussi jokinen pretty important to mention i’d say
I forgot he was added mid-year. He was non-factor until the playoffs.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 7, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
He really wasnt a non-factor. He played well, without putting up major points. He won two games for us in shootouts and he gave us a much needed fourth center. His father also passed away, and he was gone for 4-6 games.
by packpigskinfan25 on May 7, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
he was a huge factor in March, actually
Cullen went down with a foot injury right when we started to pull it together. Jokinen stepped in an centered that line. That was huge.
by DidJussiThat? on May 7, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Burn.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 7, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Too early for this stuff.
It’s only 2-1.
Seriously, I’ll be concerned if after tomorrow it’s 3-1, but we’re not there yet. New series if we tie it.
It was an off day with no practice. I needed some filler content.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 7, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
this is why I do a preview on game day and a recap the day after. I only need filler days every once in a while.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 7, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
p.s. funny things are ok, too.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 7, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions
whalers fans
im a long time whaler fan, and i do not, repeat DO NOT consider the hurricanes part of the whaler franchise, even the nhl doesnt honor the lineage, hopefully the ’yotes will bring hockey back to hartford
I’m glad that you do not support the franchise that turns its back on you. The NHL is never coming back to Hartford though.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 7, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
They wont be back...
Because there is no real support fore team from a the fans…. where were you in 94 or 95….???
I'm from CT
While I love the Whale, there is ZIPPY Chance I would root for Carolina. I wanted to puke when they won the cup. Like you say, the NHL basically acts like the Whale never existed… which is pretty sad. That being said, go BRUINS.
I don't....
The Whale is a part of Hockey and its up to the fans to make it so. If you want to piss around and whine do so but dont do it at the expense of real hockey fans… Hurricane fans and Whale fans alike.
If you puke because a team wins the Stanley Cup, then you my friend are not a fan….
Move along….. WHINNER
Who said I was whinning? I was just making a point. If you could read my note below you would realize that I AM a BRUINS fan not a Whalers fan.
Since I am a Canes fan, I took exception to your puking comment. To me its the ultimate disrespect to the Canes, the NHL, and the Stanley Cup.
I wont be calling anyone a whinner again on this blog, I like it too much. My apologizes, but I’ll check you into the boards with comments like that…Ha
As a Canes fan
I wish you would spell whining correctly.
by DidJussiThat? on May 8, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Im sorry...
I am the worst speller no complaints there…..lol
Fair enough. I think a good deal of people from Connecticut saw the Canes winning as a slap in the face, granted if more people showed up they might have stayed. But if you look back at the Whalers as a franchise they had talent is was always shipped away a the trading deadline and they would just flounder away to end the season. Most fans were driven away by that. All of a sudden they move to Carolina and don’t pull the same crap they pulled in Hartford and they win a cup. Wouldn’t you be a little bit pissed off?
If Connecticut would let us sell Whalers paraphernalia in Raleigh
We’d buy tons of it.
I think they should do a throwback jersey.
But Hartford won’t give up the dream – guess I can’t blame you.
by DidJussiThat? on May 7, 2009 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, doesn’t the city of Hartford own the rights to the logo or something?
The one Whalers tradition that is worth continuing is “Brass Bonanza”.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 7, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions
They played it during the Buffalo series in 2006
as part of pre-game.
by DidJussiThat? on May 8, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
BB, you are not a fan of hockey.....
Go home. if you wanted the Whalers to stay in Hartford youir ass should have gotten 19k fans to show the same support you wish you had back in 95
Dude...
How about a real hockey blog and not this lame BS….
Even if the Bs won the series, you are coiming off as an ASS Clown with this article
How about you don’t tell me what to write? If you don’t like it, don’t read it. You aren’t going to be a long time reader anyways, so I don’t really care what you think.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 7, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions
If you don't like it...
I love that stuff!! You’re gonna read it anyway!! Of course their gonna read it. What else would they do? But I disagree that you shouldn’t care-I’m enjoying your blog work since the Canes-Bruins began playing this series. Let the naysayers go twist if they don’t agree with what you post and YES!! It is your web page!!
Back to the original point of why the B’s need to win this series. Both teams need this series and neither is gonna roll over which is why it’s the best that sports can offer. Unpredictability, chaos, nasty hitting and all on a sheet of ice….AWESOME!! I won’t coin the I love t__ game-phrase because its tired but hockey isn’t for everyone just the best folks.
So from a Canes fan perspective and what it may (or may not be worth) here’s why the B’s won’t win-
1) The Canes are out skating the Bruins. Like most hockey fans, I know Chara would be welcome on the Canes roster, but in this series size and reach isn’t enough. Dude isn’t moving his feet and so goes the rest of the team to this point.
2) This is a difficult thing to post due to my respect for him. But Claude Julien has been out coached over the last two games. Maurice has 4 lines rolling to control the on ice match ups and it’s working. Of course it’s easier at home. But with the B’s struggling to match up on ice the Canes are creating higher quality chances while A Ward and Z Chara play chase the Hurricane line changes. This may well result in too many men on the ice penalties or the B’s may just set their lines for the best and leave it all on the ice.
3) Last week ole’ Barnaby on ESPN said that goaltending would not be a factor in this series. Is this guy drunk, stoned or both? Tim Thomas has had an unreal season which, is due to how complete the Bruins have been all year. He won’t be a factor?!?! Somebody please tell Barnaby to stop drinking the Bristol Kool-Aid. But we’re in the post season and the regular season for this point, was last year. Thats over now and Cam Ward has yet to lose a post season series. If the Canes get up 3-1, Ward will not let 3 playoff games get away from him.
4) Scoring from top to bottom. The Canes are getting point production across all four lines which will get worse if the B’s fail to adjust and skate with some jump.
5) Experience and big game play. Regardless who your team is-we’ve all heard this “On big games you need your big game players to take it to the next level”. The Canes are getting a rhythm started that the Bruins won’t want to see at this point in the series.
6) Lastly, I couldn’t let Bob Ryan’s comments about the RBC and Canes faithful go without a little smack. First, this fan base in Raleigh is a grand mix of college/working class/ and professionals all mixing it up in the parking lot 4-5 hours before puck drop. If you haven’t seen it. Y’all come on as your welcome to see what I feel is the greatest of event traditions I’ve experienced. Maybe Bob didn’t get invited to the Carolina Style Pig Pickin’ and he’s a little pissed. That’s BARBECUE for you Boston folks….more specifically an all out pig roast which is common during tailgating here. It’s regularly in the 70-80’s here at the start of the playoffs so other than a cold one what else do you need? While I may not have travelled to as many venues as Mr. Ryan- I have seen many hockey arenas. But not many like the RBC which I know is definitely one of the loudest places I’ve ever been to watch a game played. But why should I tell you folks. Come see for yourself. The tailgating weather and Barbecue will be perfect and inside the RBC Center a perfect storm will rage!!
Agree or disagree I welcome all comments. This is and will be a great series. Here’s to game 4. Let’s go Canes!!
I agree with everything you just wrote. Knowledgeable hockey fans of all teams are always welcome here.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 7, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Youre absolutly correct...
My apologizes for the personal attack(i think it was the beer talking), but some of the comments were a bit lame.
I understand your frustration though because knowing that there is a strong chance that Boston blew this series when they assumed the Hurricanes were not going to be a threat would have a lot of writers doing the same.
But not to worry, I’ll read your articles about the Providence Bruins quest for the Calder Cup
I'd have to assume the players know more about other teams than the fans.
A number of Bruins fans (and Canes fans) might just watch only their team, and have little exposure to other franchises (the curse of no major national TV deal), but I can’t believe that the Bruins and the Canes themselves haven’t been paying attention to one another, and see how they play.
It can’t just be fatigue that beat Carolina in Game 1, it sort of makes no sense that you’d be all better and well rested after getting blanked 4-1 in Game 1.
Adjustments just have to be made, and they tried in Game 3, didn’t pan out. Just have to wait and see Game 4, but a 2-1 series lead in a Best of 7…..suddenly all this doom and gloom from Boston, and Carolina thinks they finish it in 5 games, attitude reversal? It can flip again.
I dont think it was only fatigue....
There was certainly a mind game going on in the head of many of the Hurricane players and when they hit the ice, they didnt play their game and it showed. Boston is talented but it wasnt just their talent that beat the Canes and its agreed that it wasnt only the talent(please dont say luck) of the Canes that won game 2 in Boston and game 3
The Canes regrouped, made a few key adjustments and that has been reflective as well in their recent play. I agree that anything can happen, and the series could get evened up tonight, so I’ll let you know I recognize that fact but we will have to see how Boston regroups. Their first effort was poor.
Who you calling a "Southerner"?
Hey bonehead, just wanted you to know that more than 75% of the population in Raleigh is from the North, and yes Including the Boston Area. (with boneheads like you up there I can see why they would want to leave!). So just remember when you are “dissing” the people down here you are just dissing your own kind! (wish they would go back up there as they are as annoying as you are!) Good luck to Y’ALL in the game tonight you are going to need it! Off to eat some fried chiken, some Collards, and have me a smoke of “tabacci”…. LMAO
by canesfanforever on May 8, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Caniacs?
WE beat Y’all…..gotta go an’ feed the pigs now, yuk yuk……
Just an observation from the barn here but things must be pretty desperate in B-town that you have regressed to attacking the fanbase. I thought this was about the players playing the game and making big plays? Like Samsonov (yep, that guy, all 5’8’’ of him) undressing Chara to setup the OT game-winner? Canes up 2-1. Go Canes!
I'm a 'Cane fan
and I hope you’ll take my word that this article was more tongue in cheek than anger or a swipe at us.
I thought it was funny.
Knowledge is Power!
Power Corrupts!
Study hard,
Become Evil!
“WE beat y’all” was more of a shot at people that use the pronoun “we” or “us” talking about their favorite team…which I have noticed the Hurricanes fans on here have done quite a bit.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 8, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
To help you understand that common practice “down here”, WE are a college sports area. So generally when WE talk about OUR teams WE actually do mean WE because WE are talking about the schools that WE are a part of. Of course none of us are actually part of the Hurricanes organization, but that’s the way we know how to support our teams. Then again, if you ask the players how they feel about the fans down here in Carolina, you would see that “WE” is certainly the right word to use.
Thats not 100% correct......
I believe Raleigh, even being a small HNL market, have taken ownership of the team. I obviously dont mean that literially but Raleigh and the Triangle for that matter love this hockey team and the team loves this community. It shows in the number of retiring
We may not be on the roster but we are certainly a part of the Canes organization much like Boston fans are a part of the Bruins. There is nothing to be ashamed of by calling your team, Your team. It may not be something NHL teams are use to hearing, but I know its appreciated by the Canes players.
It is just one of my pet peeves because usually it is the person that can’t name 3 players on the team that refers to their favorite team as “we”.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 8, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL
I agree and I admit that I use “we” all the time, no matter what team I’m referring to. “What we need to do to win game…:” “I can’t believe we lost” etc. Don’t know why, I know its wrong/improper but I really don’t care. I follow this team like all year long and break down tape of “meaningless games” (though a point is a point no mater when it comes, RIGHT???). Some can say I put too much emotional stock in how this team fairs, but it is what it is. I’m not making excuses when I say “we”, I’m just saying that its an easy thing to do when you feel so “connected” to the team. As a hockey fan in Eastern North Carolina (2 hrs east of Raleigh), you sometimes feel like its you against the world. Which is how I view the team as well. Maybe that has something to do with. I don’t know.
BUT I DO HATE THE FACT THAT THE BANDWAGONEERS SAY “WE” AND DON"T KNOW WHO RAY WHITNEY IS LET ALONE THE THIRD OR FOURTH LINE CENTER.
Anyway, I just figured I’d stop in a give my two cents. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog since the series started. Keep up the good work and good luck with everything going forward.
by CarolinaCanes on May 8, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
i did not mean to say “like all year long” I was going to go another way with that. That sounds like a bandwagoneer’s statement. lol
by CarolinaCanes on May 8, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Badwagoneers are annoying… but they serve their purpose.
Who else would be buying a Jokinen jersey at this time of year? All the die hards already have one, and then people like me(still a die hard… just a student as well) couldnt afford one then and still cant.
Sure Jussi has come on strong… so I am sure some fans are getting a 2nd or 3rd jersey now, but most of those sales are going to bandwagoneers who think Jussi is a first line forward instead of a 3rd line center. Oh… and they probably pronounce his name Juicy Joke-in-an. But money is money, and the more Raleigh is Red the better.
by packpigskinfan25 on May 8, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh yea...
…that and the fans that hop on in the post season because their team made the playoffs… Give me a break. I always wonder about those types of fans and actually shouldnt even call them such.
Common ground here my friend….!!
You haven’t been listening to Maurice’s press conferences… ;)
The enthusiasm of the crowd has been a factor in the energy the team has brought to the game, and he’s called it out regularly (although I’m not silly enough to say it’s been a major factor). I love that it’s “our” team — I’ve met a number of the players, I’ve chatted with the folks in the back office, and I’ve screamed my lungs out at the games, and I’ve spent my cash on season tickets. If that can’t give a little bit of a sense of ownership and inclusion, I don’t know what can…
bdpsoccer is completely right. In the Raleigh area we are so used to referring to all our teams as WE because we are mostly referring to our Alumni/school.
There is nothing wrong with the way we refer to ourselves, because WE work the best WE can to help OUR team.
OUR Team
OUR Tradition.
by packpigskinfan25 on May 8, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I laughed out loud:
although, he is making up for it with a sick playoff beard
He is indeed sasquatch-like.
As for the series:
I’m not so naive to think this will be an easy series just because we’ve had the edge the last 2 games, the Bruins were at the top of their game for a long time, and it’s crazy to think they won’t bounce back and come out fighting.
That said, I do disagree with this:
Everyone loves to say “this isn’t the same team that they saw in the regular season”, but you know what? This is exactly the same team they saw in the regular season.
These are the same players, sure, but their mental state is night and day. I was nervous when Maurice came in, but I’ve watched him completely revamp the team’s state of mind, and the Hurricanes earned the tear they were on at the end of the season.
That said, this is going to continue to be an awesome series; it’s a shame that The Ovechkin/Crosby Variety Show has been clogging up the news, or people would be paying more attention to how hard both of our teams have been battling it out.
Good blog. May the best team win.
That’s all I’ve got to say.
Hurricanes fan now, but was an Atlanta Flames fan “back in the day”.
So there are some of us ’Canes fans who know which end of the stick goes up…
The Best Team!
You guys don’t get it. Right now the Hurricanes ARE the best team. If the Bruins can come back from 3-1 down and win this series, then that should propel them to the Cup finals and maybe the Cup. Right now they have to beat a team that is playing better; is more hungrier and who has more playoff experience than them. A tough combination. I for one don’t think the Bruins are up to the task. The next three games(or less) will tell! GO CANES!
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