Comments about the finals!

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Hey guys,

I am sorry if this isn't the right place for this post.

I wanted to make a comment about the finals to this point. Before I go any further I want to make one thing clear. I bleed Black and Gold but on the other hand I love hockey in general so I am not as one sided as many of you are going to think I am.

So to my comment, how does a team that lost 1 - 0 with 18.7 seconds left in game #1, be counted out of the finals already. I understand that Vancouver is a really good team ( best in the league ) but come on. Every media outlet can't stop talking about how good Vancouver is and how out matched the bruins are. It's to the point where I am not surprised they just haven't given them the cup yet. Maybe you guys can help me out here. What's the deal?

One more thing, I understand Thomas had to make some crazy saves but that's what goalies are supposed to do in the playoffs, keep you in the game so you have a chance to win.

Thanks, Glen
 
I can guarantee you no serious fan in Vancouver (or the Vancouver media for that matter), is writing off the Bruins. I don't know how serious you are about the 'counted out of the finals already' comment, but I have not found that to be the case at all.

That being said, even the biggest Bruin fan must admit the reason the score in that game wasn't around 6-0 was Thomas. Not that Luongo was a slouch, but Thomas made some huge saves. Hell, that game could have been 3-0 at the 5 minute mark if not for Thomas. Over. He was the only reason the Bruins even had an opportunity to win that game.

Vancouver fans have already seen three rounds of awesome opponent goaltending, and definitely know how a goalie can steal a series. Corey Crawford was a god in game 7. Rinne was the ONLY reason the series was not a sweep, and Niemi played very well.

Sure, there's a bit of 'cheering bias' from the Vancouver media, but there's not a single article I have read that is counting out the Bruins.
 
Maybe in the US they are counting the Bruins out.From what ive read or heard up here they are saying that if the Bruins cant score on the PP they cant win the series.I dont think that is counting you out i believe that is a fair estimate.I expect the Bruins to be at there best tonight.With that being said you are going to see a much better Canucks team as well.After that 8 day break the Canucks started to be crisper in the 3rd period and they took the game over.Lets hope for an exciting Game 2.
 
If anything I am counting the Bruins in more than ever before. They showed they can play with the Canucks, and one bounce their way gives them game one instead.

One cool thing I read yesterday, game one had the highest tv ratings for a finals game in the last 13 years! More surprising, the game 13 years ago was Buffalo vs Dallas......? Whodathunkit?
 
Metrags said:
If anything I am counting the Bruins in more than ever before. They showed they can play with the Canucks, and one bounce their way gives them game one instead.

One cool thing I read yesterday, game one had the highest tv ratings for a finals game in the last 13 years! More surprising, the game 13 years ago was Buffalo vs Dallas......? Whodathunkit?
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Definitely not me, but that is great to hear.

I think if Boston is to have a chance, Thomas must continue to play as he did in Game 1, and the Bruins need to find a way to slow the Canucks down.

And I don't know who in their right mind is counting the Bruins out after one game. As mentioned above, Boston was 1 bounce away from stealing game 1, thanks to Thomas.

Paul
 
"Boston NEEDS to score on the plaoffs or else they stand no chance"

I have literally heard this going into every single series...

Could the powerplay be better? Duh...but they have proven that they have other means to get by. Scoring 48 goals in 3 series isn't too shabby...

They had opportunities to score. Granted Luongo didnt have to make any spectacular saves, but the B's had some chances. Just didn't capitalize.

I also do not like the argument of "well it could have easily been 6-0 without Thomas"

Well yea, and if we put a blind man in net, it would have been 100-0. If the Bruins scored 2 goals, they would have won. If this, if that. It was 1-0...anyone's game. I think that is how this series will go. Good defense, great goal keeping. That's how we got to the final. I dont think we magically need to be this new team to have a chance


After watching game 1, I have MORE hope that the Bruins can win this...


as for the media...I do hear a lot of Vancouver as the definitive winner. 7-2 odds that the Nucks take it in 5 or 6. 8-1 odds they sweep. Vegas (not Chris lol) gave the Nucks 2-1 odds to win overall

Its the finals...disregard EVERYTHING that has happened up to this point...it doesnt matter. I dont care if you have the greatest goalie...if he doesnt play, you loose the cup. The best team NOW wins. The team that gets the bounces NOW wins. Not necessarily the team that owned the league all year, or the team with the insane flopping goalie. It's anyone's cup and you can bet your bum, Boston will bo looking for blood in game 2

I think any real fan, both Boston and Vancouver, does not feel like anything is a shoe-in. Anyone who knows hockey, knows crazy crap happens all the time. That's why series are 7 games.

Go :bruins:!!!
 
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Zach - true, Boston has scored 48 goals in the playoffs. But, you have to ask yourself, who were they playing? Montreal, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay. Those teams finshed 8th, 11th, and 22nd in GAA in the regular season. Not 1st. Those teams were 4, 14, 15 in goal differential. Vancouver played 5, 7, 9 in that department.

But hey, we can throw statistics around all you want, we can make them say whatever we want. Heck, manipulating numbers to make them say what I want them to is what I do for a living.

Can the Bruins score? For sure. Can the Canucks score just as easily? For sure. Either goalie can steal a game for thier team, after all, they are both Vezina nominees.

Anyone who is counting the Bruins out, IMO, has rocks in their head. This series could just as easily be a sweep as it could be Bruins in 5. The teams are too evenly matched. IMO, Vancouver has superior offense weapons, the Bruins have a hot goaltender who can steal games, as well as a freaking giant D-man who is playing great. One flukey bounce, either team can win a game.
 
Orca Pod said:
Zach - true, Boston has scored 48 goals in the playoffs. But, you have to ask yourself, who were they playing? Montreal, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay. Those teams finshed 8th, 11th, and 22nd in GAA in the regular season. Not 1st. Those teams were 4, 14, 15 in goal differential. Vancouver played 5, 7, 9 in that department.

But hey, we can throw statistics around all you want, we can make them say whatever we want. Heck, manipulating numbers to make them say what I want them to is what I do for a living.

Can the Bruins score? For sure. Can the Canucks score just as easily? For sure. Either goalie can steal a game for thier team, after all, they are both Vezina nominees.

Anyone who is counting the Bruins out, IMO, has rocks in their head. This series could just as easily be a sweep as it could be Bruins in 5. The teams are too evenly matched. IMO, Vancouver has superior offense weapons, the Bruins have a hot goaltender who can steal games, as well as a freaking giant D-man who is playing great. One flukey bounce, either team can win a game.
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Oh, I agree. Statistics dont really mean jack to me at this point. The two best teams have made it to the finals. I wasn't using the goals scored as a subjective measure of their offense, I was simply saying, they do have the ability to overcome their deficit on the PP. Nothing more, nothing less. Vancouver is probably overall better in every facet but keeping IMO..I give Boston the slight edge there. It's a perfect matchup, for a perfect series...either way, I am going to love every second if it!!

Its nice because for once, I can watch a series and not be stressed out. If the B's win...great! I'm gunna dance, but if they loose (as much as it will suck) there is hope..this team is going to be great down the road
 
To the OP - as Randy mentioned, there isn't a reliable hockey mind out there that is counting out the Bruins - if you have read or heard that it is likely from fringe media members that are basing that on the Presidents Trophy and the fact that the Bruins were shutout and nothing more.

Anyone watching the game knows that the two teams are evenly matched, play hard and physical, are strong defensively and have great goaltending...that and they clearly don't like each other which should make for some entertaining games down the stretch.
 
Orca Pod said:
I can guarantee you no serious fan in Vancouver (or the Vancouver media for that matter), is writing off the Bruins. I don't know how serious you are about the 'counted out of the finals already' comment, but I have not found that to be the case at all.
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+1 what Randy's saying here. I haven't heard a single person here, or anywhere write off the Bruins in the slightest. If anything, Game 1 was a good indication that if either team shows up, this is anybody's series more than any other the Canucks have played to date.

Zach - I'm gonna disagree with your point about Boston scoring 48 goals to date in the first 3 series being a good thing in their favor. Nevermind that it's spread throughout 18 games, but almost half of those came in only 4 games. 23 of those goals came in the 3 blowouts against Philly and the shoot out the lights game in Tampa. So that then comes out to 25 goals in 14 games...15 if you count Game 1 against Vancouver, and an overall goals for of less than 2 per game in losses. (Much like Randy, manipulating numbers to favorable/unfavorable status was what I used to do for a living so bear with me there.) So back to the Boston waking up thing...they really need to. A 7% Power Play and Tomas Kaberle falling asleep at the wheel is going to do nothing to help their success.

Granted, the game could've been 1-0 very early on if not for Roberto Luongo's toe swiping a puck away from the reach of David Krejci and momentum may have swung the other way, but like Randy said, it could've easily been 5-0 if Tim Thomas didn't drink a glass of tiger blood in the locker room beforehand and come out flying like a bat out from beneath Bruce's kilt.
 
Metrags said:
One cool thing I read yesterday, game one had the highest tv ratings for a finals game in the last 13 years! More surprising, the game 13 years ago was Buffalo vs Dallas......? Whodathunkit?
Click to expand...

It was also the highest rated game in the history of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada with 5.6 million people tuning in.
 
I am going to go against the majority of viewpoints here and say that Boston has absolutely no chance of winning this series. Sure, game 1 was a hard-fought 1-0 battle that came down to the very end, but Vancouver clearly had the better of the scoring opportunities. The fact that I think Vancouver will steamroll the B's stems more from my belief that the Western Conference is "leaps and bounds" better than the Eastern Conference. I think 5 or 6 teams in the West could have beaten the Bruins in the finals.

Again, I know this can probably sound disrespectful. But please remember one thing...we can always disagree, but let's not be disagreeable. I think the fact that the Western Conference has better competition and the Bruins have the worst special teams in the entire playoffs are the points why I am going to say that this will be a short (albeit exciting) series.

I'm not a hater. I do like the Bruins. I like my Seguin UD Exclusives :) I love hockey. I just think this is a huge mismatch. But as a fan, I'm hoping for game 7!
 
I'll echo that sentiment. I feel like Boston is being outplayed and if it weren't for Thomas, they'd be royally hooped. He is keeping them in games for sure. I don't want to start up "homer" comments but to Boston fans, seriously, are your big guns coming out to play? I don't hear much about Patrice, Zdeno or anyone else for that matter in a good light. Oh, and I'll say that I thought it was great fo Lucic to score lol. Either way, Go Nucks
 
canucksfreak19 said:
It was also the highest rated game in the history of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada with 5.6 million people tuning in.
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Were they all Canada Post workers on strike.......they have to do something...why not watch a game?? :devil:

Kidding, of course.... :rolleyes:

We're watching it here in the U.S., too. Hope the NBC ratings are better........love playoff hockey!!! :beer:
 
If the Bruins made it out of the East, you have to take them seriously. I would think it's foolhardy to not to take them serious. A skilled team with size and great goaltending.

Going into the series it was going to be a series of speed vs. power, and a goaltending duel. Tampa and the Canucks are both built on speed, except the Canucks are much deeper on forward, defence, and goaltending. This was going to be a bigger test for Boston, and Canucks hadn't seen Lucic/Chara type players in their run to the Cup.

After game 1, I knew that the Bruins were in deep. The depth of the Canucks was showing, especially in the 3rd period. Plus the fatigue factor for bigger players vs the speed of the Canucks was clearly evident in the 3rd.

I went to Game 2. Periods 1 and 2 were kind of sloppy. But the Bruins did tighten up the defence to prevent the Canucks from getting that stretch pass to get behind the Bruins d. So I thought the Bruins did a good job adjusting. They were trying to get the puck deep, pass it back to the point for a shot, with all the forwards crashing the net, trying to screen and get a rebound.

I was wondering if the Bruins would sit back or still attack in the 3rd. They didn't sit back which was good to see.

But the fatigue vs speed factor started setting in again. I watched the 4 on 1 on TV (PVR) and 2 of the Canucks and 2 Bruins started side by side. Edler and Burrows pulled away from their Bruins counterpart (Bergeron and ?) to create the 4 on 1.

I felt confident going into overtime that the Canucks were going to come out with the win as a longer game would favor them. Bruins would hope to get a lucky bounce.

Canucks have a pretty good hold on the series now. It's must win for the Bruins now. They have to win both at home. But the travel and Game 3 being played in 2 days doesn't favor the Bruins. Chara and Seidenberg have logged big minutes. Julien shorted the bench a bit. Canucks have Malhotra back with gives them a solid 4th line. Canucks have Ballard in the pressbox to fill in.
 
now onto my epic fail.

I was at game 2. Took the wife, and shelled out a bunch of $ for the pair of tickets. Upper bowl, just before the blueline, so we had a good view of the game.

Midway through the first, during a TV timeout, the big screen says that Upper Deck is taking photos and making personalized hockey cards for fans, free of charge. Plus they have a commemortative box set on pre-order, which would be fulfilled if and only if the Canucks win the cup.

I make my way there during the 1st intermission, and it's a zoo. I decide to skip the 2nd period and maybe go during a TV timeout in the 3rd period. Except it was tied 2-2 and I didn't want to miss anything. Then OT. That's when I decided to go. I had about 10 minutes to get my photo taken and get my order.

Got my picture taken, was waving my towel, yelling "the canucks are going to win in OT, go up 2-0 and take the cup"! *click* picture taken, and I begin writing down my info for my pre-order, and then I hear the crowd cheer. bittersweet. I knew the Canucks had won, but I missed it.

My wife is having a field day with me on this. She thinks it's super ironic that I missed the goal and she saw it perfectly. As the Canucks scored, she was wondering where the hell I was. I was standing there, waiting for my personalized card.
I don't think it's going to be remotely close to being worth what I paid for my tickets. lol.
 
suncactus9 said:
I am going to go against the majority of viewpoints here and say that Boston has absolutely no chance of winning this series. Sure, game 1 was a hard-fought 1-0 battle that came down to the very end, but Vancouver clearly had the better of the scoring opportunities. The fact that I think Vancouver will steamroll the B's stems more from my belief that the Western Conference is "leaps and bounds" better than the Eastern Conference. I think 5 or 6 teams in the West could have beaten the Bruins in the finals.
Click to expand...

I just wanted to man up and say that I was completely wrong with my post from one week prior. The Bruins are FAR better than what I thought, and it serves me right for focusing so much on Western Conference hockey that I overlooked the talent and determination of the Bruins! The series has been very entertaining. Like most people, I could have done without the hit on Horton and a lot of the other thuggery, but it has been very entertaining. I would be very surprised if Vancouver won this series at the Garden.
 

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