Champs
or Bust: 2014 Bruins
The
Boston Bruins, or at least the fans, or well me, came into this season still
sour after coming just mere seconds away from forcing a Game 7 to decide the
Stanley Cup Champion. One of the most hectic and dismal endings I have ever
seen in a game was that on the night on Game 6. I try to block it out of my
memory, but the heartbroken flashes still creep in time and again. Even though
the Bruins were so close to winning it all, they still made a great and
entertaining run that included one of the best comebacks I had ever seen
versus Toronto in Round One. Even though the Bruins didn’t win the Cup, they
still set the standard of hockey that was going to be played in Boston. Since
2007 the Bruins have been progressively getting better by the year. Yes, I know
they topped out and won the Cup in 2011, but the team keeps progressing. Claude
Julien and Peter Chiarelli have built the Bruins up into a physical defensive
system which maintains constant success. As the young players mature and become
leaders the Bruins play as gotten even better with it.
That’s where 2014 comes into play. After an off-season
where the Bruins handed Tuukka Rask a huge contract and shipped out former top
pick Tyler Seguin for All-Star Loui Eriksson and prospect Reilly Smith, the
Bruins also brought in a familiar foe from the 2013 trade deadline: Jarome
Iginla. We all know the BS debacle he caused by changing his mind at the
deadline and deciding to go to Pittsburgh. But, nevertheless Iginla came to
Boston, tail between his legs after Boston handed to Pittsburgh’s ass in the Conference
Finals just a month before. So the
Bruins team that made its way to Game 6 of the Finals had improved. Imagine
that. This team that has had so much success over the last five years has
gotten even better.
The season opener should have been a sign. That day
Jarome Iginla looked like a Bruin and it was only day one. Day one of his
Bruins tenure and Iginla fit right in already getting into a fight. The tone
was set with Iggy from that day forth in my opinion. The Bruins continued to
play their style hockey and grind out wins. Only this season, the offense
looked to be clicking easier than normal too. As Loui Eriksson struggled with
some concussion issues, Reilly Smith took his spot on the second line alongside
Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand and became the delightful surprise of the
season. Smith struggled down the stretch but overall his 51 point season was a
huge plus, especially if we are counting up the Seguin trade. A little more than
a quarter of the way through the B’s lost veteran defenseman Dennis Seidenberg
to an ACL injury. With Seidenberg done and injuries to Boychuk and McQuaid, the
Bruins would go through periods where the defense was lacking at times due to
some very young defenseman in Krug, Hamilton, Miller and Bartkowski. But all in
all it was enough to win a lot of games and the young guys gained great experience
which will be needed come playoff time.
After the Olympic break, we saw the Bruins go on a run
that captivated the fan base. From March 2nd to March 24th,
the Bruins would not lose a game, winning twelve in a row. During that streak,
Iggy seemed to put everything he touched into the net and Bergeron was hot as
well. The Bruins coasted the rest of season finishing 54-19-9 with 117 points
and claiming the President’s Trophy for best team in the NHL during the 2013-14
season.
That reason is why this Bruins team is the best ever. Ever.
Tuukka Rask is the odds on favorite to win the Vezina Trophy for the league’s
best goalie. Patrice Bergeron had the best season of his career, if that’s even
possible, scoring 30 goals and racking up a total of 62 points. Jarome Iginla’s
presence on the team as a Hall-of-Famer was evident as he had a 30 goal/60
point season as well. He also had an effect on fellow line-mates Milan Lucic and
David Krejci who both had the most productive and consistent seasons of their
careers. The surprises of the season were Reilly Smith, who mentioned above, had
a 50 point season along with the much anticipated play from Carl Soderberg who
added 48 points. The famous 4th line for the B’s (Thornton, Paille, and
Campbell) also had a great season being consistent contributors as enforcers
and scorers. So, what’s that? About six Bruins players had career seasons and
the other did what a HOFer normally does. That is why the Bruins easily earned
the 1st seed in the East and had their best season ever.
This team, believe it or not, is better than last year’s
squad or even the 2011 Championship team. The mix of youth and veteran
leadership is just right, while everyone together runs like a well-oiled
machine taking care of business. After such a great season, the expectations on
this team have never been higher. If they don’t reach the Cup Finals, many will
consider this season a bust, and they are right. This is the best Bruins team
that has ever hit the ice and they have the best shot at bringing home another
Cup for Boston. It’s time to gear up and get ready for the rollercoaster that
is the NHL playoffs, because the Bruins are ready to make a run. This time, they’re
not settling for second. Their eye is on the Cup. It is champions or bust for
this 2014 Bruins team, because it’s the Cup. So, sit back and get ready for the
fun. GO BRUINS!
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