Are Bruins fans satisfied winning just one playoff series in 2010?
"If you want Pittsburgh instead of Philadelphia in the second round your moronic!" - Tony Massarotti
The Boston Bruins advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabers Monday night at TD Garden. The win marks the second consecutive year the team has advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Now, the Bruins must wait for Wednesday's game seven between Montreal and Washington to find out their round two opponent.
Felger: "What a great night last night at the Garden, but now it's time to look forward. I can't believe it, but we're all going to be rooting for Montreal against Pittsburgh. Can you believe it? The Bruins go and eliminate Buffalo and have the chance to have home ice in the second round against the Flyers! With Washington, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and New Jersey out there the Bruins may get to play the seventh seeded Flyers? What a break that would be. Even with how good the Bruins have played I don't see them beating Pittsburgh in the next round if indeed that's who they end up playing. But now the Bruins have a nice four-day stretch where they can rest up. Their young goaltender can take a breather. Most importantly for him it's a mental breather, a break for between the ears is huge for Tuukka at this point in the season."
Mazz: "If you want Pittsburgh instead of Philadelphia in the second round your moronic. Go get Pittsburgh the next round in the Eastern Conference Finals, but to have home ice against the Flyers how can you not want that? I love the way the Bruins are playing right now. I think its their best hockey of the season quite honestly, but I don't see them beating Pittsburgh. But if that is indeed the match up it would be a good series because Rask is playing unbelievable. I don't know if Tuukka outplayed Miller, but he certainly neutralized him in the Buffalo series. Isn't that great? The Bruins have the reigning Vezina Trophy winner on their bench Mike and it's not because he lost his job. Tuukka took the job this year from Tim Thomas. He won it fair and square and let his play do the talking for him."
The Collin-tary: The Boston Bruins have made the playoffs for the third straight season, something they haven't accomplished since the 1994-97 seasons. They have won a playoff series in back to back years for the first time in 17 years. The last Stanley Cup finals appearance for the franchise was 20 years ago in 1990. The B's were swept in four games by the Edmonton Oilers. The last time the Cup resided in Boston was 1972, some 38 years ago. Should Bruins fans be hungry? Absolutely.
The 17,500 diehards who file into TD Garden on a nightly basis deserve more than just a round one victory. It's time for this team, and more importantly this franchise, to take another step forward. A loss in the Eastern Conference Semifinals is simply a step sideways, if not backwards following last year's success. I realize this team has been though a lot this year. The 2010 Boston Bruins are young, inexperienced, and banged up. However, they have shown a resiliency that even the most causal observer can't help but admire.
A very close friend of mine, who barely follows the Bruins, told me they would beat Buffalo Monday. If they can believe in the Bruins why can't everyone else? I'll admit I was still skeptical after game five knowing full well this team is capable of blowing a 3-1 series lead. I was wrong. I should have listened to that friend and so should all of you.
