Breaking down the stats from the Bruins magical season.

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeThe Boston Bruins made NHL history last night with their first Stanley Cup Championship in 39 years. The Boston Bruins needed three (3X) game sevens to win the 2011 Stanley Cup, with that accomplishment the Bruins were the first team in history to do this.

The Boston Bruins' All World goalie and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Tim Thomas had shutouts in those two of three game sevens (Eastern Conference and the Stanley Cup Finals).

Boston Bruins faced adversity in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

It would not be an understatement to say that the Boston Bruins faced a bit of adversity during the Stanley Cup Playoffs; first Patrice Bergeron missed two games with a concussion after he was knocked out by a hit from Flyers forward Claude Giroux in game four of the Eastern Conference Semi Finals between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers and missed the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals against Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Boston Bruins also suffered a major blow when they lost one of their top six forward after Vancouver Defenseman Aaron Rome knocked out Nathan Horton at the blue line in the first period of game 3 with a questionable and unneeded hit. That bush league hit seemed to wake the Slumbering Bear as the Boston Bruins won 4 out of 5 games from that moment on.

Cutting it close with no margin for error

How close did the Bruins make it; breaking it down further, the Boston Bruins went down two games to none (2-0) in two for their four series they played during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Before you dismiss that fact, that is no small feat, the Boston Bruins had to win two games on the road in a hostile building in Montreal just to get back into the Eastern conference quarterfinals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. But it didn't stop there; the Boston Bruins also went 3-0 in overtime in their series with the Montreal Canadians, winning one of the games in overtime in Montreal. Overall, the Boston Bruins were 4-1 in overtime during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they lone loss came in game two of the Stanley Cup Finals. I think one could say that the Boston Bruins were battle tested and faced many tests along the way.

In Tim Thomas we trust

[1], [2]While the Bruins sprinted across the ice to mob him at the buzzer, Tim Thomas tapped both goalposts, sank to his knees and rubbed the ice in front of his empty goal.

I think it’s safe to say that if it wasn’t for Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas the Bruins could have been eliminated a long time ago. Thomas became the 15th goaltender to win the Conn Smythe, Tim Thomas posted an impressive 1.98 GAA and .940 save percentage and 16-9-0 record during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tim Thomas’ final crescendo was even more impressive as he stopped 37 of 37 shots securing his place in history as being one of the best goalies in NHL history.

Michigan a factory for All Star goalies

It would appear that Michigan is home to some of the better American goalies in the NHL. The last three goalies to win the Vezina Trophy (I don’t think that I am going out on a limb and assuming Thomas is a lock to win his second Vezina Trophy in three seasons) are both goalies are from the State of Michigan, Tim Thomas hales from Flint Michigan and fellow Olympic team mate Ryan Miller is from East Lansing, Michigan. Both All Star goalies played their college hockey at American universities; Ryan Miller was an All American at Michigan State University and Tim Thomas was an All American at the University of Vermont.

Related articles

• Bruins capture Stanley Cup (search.japantimes.co.jp)
• Boston Bruins Win Stanley Cup (npr.org)
• Tim Thomas Wins Conn Smythe Trophy As MVP Of 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs (sbnation.com)
• Boston Bruins Win Stanley Cup, Beat Vancouver 4-0 (freenhlpicks.wordpress.com)

Sunday Morning Links…

The Stanley Cup Finals are now moving to Boston after the Vancouver Canucks won the first games of the series in Vancouver. There are a lot of good story lines in this series between the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks.

I would have never guessed from watching the first to games of the series... Bruins Have 'A Lot of Hatred' for Canucks, Hope to Thrive With Continued Physical Play in Cup Final. [NESN.COM]

The Boston Bruins were shut out in game one by the Vancouver Canucks, finally the Boston Bruins broke through the Cauncks defenses and scored two goals in game two; however, it still wasn’t enough. One minor bright spot for the Boston Bruins is that they also scored a goal on the powerless play power play after going 0-6 in game one. That was only the Boston Bruins 6th power play goal (6-76) of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Boston Bruins actually failed to score a power play goal during their first round series against the Montreal Canadians. Few teams have actually won a series during the Stanley Cup playoffs without scoring a power play goal. [NESN.COM]

It would appear that Mike Milbury is less than impressed with some of the antics of the classless hacks known as the Vancouver Canucks, especially Burrows and Lapierre. Can't say that I am fond of either player either. [Boston Globe]

"And look at the punks now out to play," former Bruin and current NBC NHL analyst Mike Milbury said during the Game 2 telecast regarding Lapierre's mocking of the Burrows bite on Bergeron. "Punks like Lapierre come out to play and make fun and denigrate the game the way it should be played ... This [Burrows] is a good player who shouldn't be in this game, and if you're a Boston fan, you should be pretty angry."

One can make the argument that Alex Burrows shouldn’t have been playing in game two, due to Burrows biting Patrice Bergeron in game one. Gauging from some of the comments that I have read on Twitter and the various fan blogs there are quite a few people upset with Burrows this morning. Personally, I wish the Bruins would have paid more attention to Alex Burrows during last night’s game because he had a hand in all three Vancouver Canucks goals last night (2g-1a-3pts).

The much despised Vancouver Canucks' forward hack/biter Alex Burrows was the overtime hero in 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. [Vancouver Sun]

Burrows shook off the Game 1 controversy he found himself immersed in after he was alleged to have bitten the finger of Boston forward Patrice Bergeron. He said it didn't affect him, but bothered his parents.

"The negative press I have been getting the last few days doesn't affect me at all," he said. "I don't read you guys, I don't listen to you guys a lot. But if affects my parents and my dad listens to everything and it affects him and he told me to go score some goals. He said that's what is going to hurt them. I listened to his advice and it worked out."

Vancouver native Milan Lucic says he's sorry, but he's busy with Boston Bruins right now. [Vancouver Sun]

Matt Kalman of the Bruins Blog breaks down Zedano Chara rough night in Vancouver, it wasn't pretty folks. If the Bruins are going to win this series big “Z” needs to play better. [The Bruins Blog]

Here is an interesting story that caught my eye this Sunday Morning. Seems as if some think that the Flyers might be interested in Tim Thomas. Gormley: Thomas makes sense for the Flyers, if they can work the deal... [Delaware on line]

There is still a chance that the Boston Bruins can still win this series, regardless of what the naysays and over confident Canucks fans have said… While the Bruins are only down two games going into game three; history is not in the Bruins favor. That being said, I will not give up on this team. Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe breaks down the numbers, and they are not pretty. [Boston Globe]

History is not the Bruins’ friend at this hour. Winning a Stanley Cup after trailing, two games to none, is not impossible, but of the 46 teams who’ve dug this hole, only four have recovered to win the championship. The Bruins, meanwhile, haven’t won a Cup since 1972 and are mired in a championship drought that conjures memories of the local nine. Dating to 1978, the Bruins have lost 12 of their last 13 games in this celebrated event. Boston is 5-22 in Cup Final games since Chief Johnny Bucyk last hoisted the chalice in ’72.

The Green Men will be in Boston, yippee skippy... [Slap Shot Blog]

Alex Burrows proves that father knows best... [National Post]

I am not sure where to put this article but it doesn't really fit here, but oh well, I will include it anyways... Don't count on Max Domi going to college he was dealt from Kingston to the London Knights of the OHL.[Coming down the Pipe]

The NHL returns to Winnipeg

The NHL team in Winnipeg Manitoba sold their 13,000 season tickets in a matter of minutes and also froze their waiting list at 8,000. [Fox Sports]

True North reaches 13,000 season ticket goal in Winnipeg, MB. [TSN.CA]

Back in Winnipeg, Bettman Strikes Different Chord... [Slap Shot Blog]

Winnipeg's NHL season tickets sold out in about two minutes... [CBC.CA]

True North Sports and Entertainment has told Thrashers GM Rick Dudley that he will not be the team's GM when the team relocates in Winnipeg, MB. [TSN.CA]

Odds to win the 2011 Stanley Cup

Odds to win the 2011 Stanley Cup - [Link]
Vancouver Canucks - 3/1
Washington Capitals - 11/2
San Jose Sharks - 7/1
Philadelphia Flyers - 8/1
Boston Bruins - 17/2
Detroit Red Wings - 9/1
Pittsburgh Penguins - 11/1
Anaheim Ducks - 20/1
Tampa Bay Lightning - 20/1
Chicago Blackhawks - 22/1
Buffalo Sabres - 25/1
Los Angeles Kings - 30/1
Montreal Canadiens - 30/1
Nashville Predators - 30/1
Phoenix Coyotes - 30/1
New York Rangers - 35/1

2010 Stanley Cup Final Schedule

I can only hope that the hotel I am staying in down in Texas has Versus on the dial for the Wednesday and Friday game. That is a long break between game five and game six. I was really hoping that the Les Habitants would've made a series out of it, but it wasn't to be. At first glance you would think that the Blackhawks could end up closing out the Flyers in 4 games but I think this is going to be a long series.

Game 1: Saturday, May 29 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 2: Monday, May 31 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 3: Wednesday, June 2 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Game 4: Friday, June 4 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Game 5: *Sunday, June 6 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 6: *Wednesday, June 9 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 7: *Friday, June 11 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
* If necessary

Make it One More in the "Disappointing Starts" Department (RW77)

I'll let Goon chime in on his beloved Bruins.

Today featured yet another interesting series beginning with the Blackhawks hosting the Canucks in a rematch of last year's semis.

Now, I know what you're all thinking. "He's a Red Wings fan. There's no way he's upset about the Canucks absolutely destroying the Hawks tonight."

Yes and No. Truthfully, if the Red Wings overcome Game 1 to win the series and advance to the Conference Finals, I'd rather them face Vancouver than Chicago. Odd for me to say that because the primary weakness for Chicago (goaltending) benefits Detroit rather than facing a good Vancouver team, but I love disappointing Vancouver fans... Especially when they feel all entitled and superior to us (which, this year, I think they may be).

Anyways, tonight the Hawks got absolutely blasted by the Canucks at home by the score of 5-1. From what I saw, it might as well have been 12-0.

This is a team (the Hawks) that played awfully bad in all respects.

They couldn't pass in ANY zone.

They couldn't defend (though part of this goes to just how good the Canuck forwards played too).

They couldn't goaltend. Niemi looked unsure of himself every time he handled the puck. Routine saves were hard for him tonight. Huet came in and suddenly the Hawks started playing Defense (probably because if they gave Canucks more than 7 shots on goal, Huet would start letting them in. I'm positive everyone in the arena was holding their breath on that Vancouver 4 on 1. Huet got lucky.).

They turned the puck over all the time. And they couldn't get the puck on net EVEN WHEN THEY MANAGED TO PRESSURE.

Vancouver didn't play a flawless game. Every time Chicago started to pressure, you could see them get a little panicked, but luckily Chicago played like crap and Luongo picked up the rest.

Maybe I'm wrong, but Chicago seems to me to be a streaky team. Niemi isn't the answer as the #1 goaltender, but Huet is a disaster.

The biggest downside is that Huet probably showed the Hawks that spending money on goaltending wasn't wise. So, signing a guy that could help them (such as Vokoun) is probably unlikely... Then again, they don't have the Cap space anyways.

I guess I'm a fan of the Hawks because I like Jonathan Toews. However, I think even he had a pretty off night tonight despite getting the assist on the only Hawk goal.

Anyways, onwards and upwards.

It's anyone's guess as to who starts Game 2 for the Hawks, but I'll say this: If you want to see a more lopsided game in favor of a team than Penguins/Habs if Price starts, Quennville should start Huet. Oh my God.

Wings and Habs lose in the first game (RW77)

Well, Game 1 of the Pens/Habs and Wings/Sharks are now in the books and it's about where I figured it.

I know I shouldn't be down on the Red Wings and I'm not, but I'm not blind to the fact that, if the Red Wings ever had an "easy" series, it was the one against the Preds.

The Sharks came out of the gate fast and scored 3 right away. That's all it takes sometimes to get rid of a team for the rest of the game. No, the Wings weren't out of it and did a pretty good job fighting their way back to make it close. However, it was too little too late.

One thing that both Game 1 losers had in common was that both were ridiculously stupid on the ice. Especially the Habs. Penguins score 4 Powerplay goals tonight. Halak gets yanked in the 3rd period (more on that soon). The Red Wings take a ridiculous 5 on 3 pk between the 2nd and 3rd periods.

WOW. However, I must hand it to Devon Setoguchi. The dive was JUST believable on the second penalty. Watch the replay. Even the commentators thought that Stuart got him on the wrist and down he goes for the count. I can't argue against the Stuart move not being a penalty. I thought it was a slash, not a high stick. But Setoguchi flopping to the ice and holding his head until the whistle blew, then getting up and not even fazed? D-I-V-E. He should have gone for embellishment. 4 on 3 Shark PP.

Both teams played solidly otherwise.

DA HABS

Ok, this was the kind of game I was actually expecting in Game One between these two foes, but I didn't expect it to be all special teams. The Habs were RIDICULOUSLY BAD on the PK.

Jaroslav Halak did ok, imo. The rest of the team? Not so much.

However, the commentators further tipped their hand when Halak got pulled in the 3rd period. They started by stating a truth (I too thought Halak should have been yanked at the start of the 3rd period) and then proceeded to glom praise on Price and acted like eager little school kids the morning of a field trip to a candy factory when describing Price's playoff history.

They dismissed Halak's performance as a "He may have done good in 5, 6, and 7, but if Price plays well, he could get the start in Game 2." Yeah, the difference is that with Halak, it took 4 power plays to get to 5 goals. With Price, it'd take 10 minutes of 5 on 5 vs. the Penguins.

So it should come as no surprise that the commentators were adamant about the possibility of Price for Game 2. There's no doubt they want the Habs to fail.

On a positive side, Crosby was held to less than 5 shots and only 2 assists on the night. He's still bound for Playoff MVP honors should the Habs not pull out a second straight upset.

The same thing applies though: Everyone expects the Penguins to advance. If the Habs lose, what have they failed at? I think this is bonus hockey for the Habs all things considered.

Martin would be ridiculously retarded to start Price UNLESS he thought that Halak was too fatigued (with the fast turnaround between series) to be effective. It is PLAINLY clear that the Habs' chances rest on Halak. NOT PRICE.

That being said, if Price starts Game 2, I would be STUNNED if the Pens didn't win. I'd taunt them mercilessly if they did anything but win in regulation (even if the won in OT) should Price start.

The Pens SHOULD take this series 4-1. I say the 1 win comes in Montreal when Halak steals another game.

On a side note: Sad Markov got injured. Not surprised Cooke did it. SURPRISED the hit was legal, though (which it was). Reviewing it further, yeah, it was legal. Too bad. I never wish injury on anyone but if Markov had to get injured, the best thing to happen would have been if he could have gotten Cooke suspended.

EDIT:

Here's the Cooke Hit:

Opinion: Hockey doesn't belong to Canada alone

As I write this article the Penguins just scored and are now up 2-0 in game 5. Please God let there is a game 6 back in Pittsburgh, I am not ready for the NHL season to end for the summer just yet. I am not sure I am ready for 100+ baseball games either. Go Pens, and beat the dirty Redwings.

Hockey is our game as well.

My father emailed me this Adam Proteau blog post from the Hockey News. I like what Proteau has to say, just for the record I don't think this article is anti-Canadian either. Seriously, have Canadians become that hypersensitive? The comments after in response to the article are even more comical. Everyone take a deep breath. Talk about shooting the messenger full of holes.

As an American who lives close to the Canadian border; I always laughed at the Canadians that said hockey is our game! Really! Funny thing is; hockey is also my favorite game. Lets face it, many American that I know love the game of hockey just as much as the Candians. I don't think that is an awful thing. Does it make Canadians any more passonate about the game of hockey? Also, I think there is enough hockey to go around for us all. I am passionate about the game of hockey as if it was my religion. In heaven there might not be any beer but I am convinced God is a hockey fan. Is there a first Lutheran church of the NHL?

Like millions of others in the know, I see the NHL playoffs for exactly what it is: the greatest sports tournament on the planet. But there’s one aspect of the Stanley Cup chase that grows more embarrassing with every year.

I refer to the “Bring the Cup back to Canada because it’s our game and nobody else's, especially the soft Europeans and frigid Russians and easily-pleased Swedes and largely-disinterested Americans” routine. That’s right – the same act that has the preposterous “No team with a European captain will ever win the Cup” corollary.

It is bloated, blinded, bleating hyper-nationalism – and frankly, it’s gotten sooooo old to me.

Honestly, I just don’t get it. The game is a global phenomenon, played by men and women from all walks of life. Why isn’t that sufficient progress for some Canadians? Which of Canada’s countless national insecurities dictates that allowing other nations into our oh-so exclusive club will somehow cheapen the experience?

Besides, don’t Canadians take great pleasure in pointing out the downside of the type of King-Kong-style, ain’t-we-great, chest thumping normally found in America? Isn’t it enough every other country on Earth would have to turn into hockey factories and pump out elite-level NHLers for decades before they could come close to matching Canada’s impact on the game?

Apparently not. Apparently, too many Canucks have been brainwashed into believing the big lies perpetrated every Saturday night, during every first intermission on Hockey Night In Canada.

Those poor souls have been convinced the game is a divider, not a uniter; that the “Them” in “Us vs. Them” are to be incessantly mocked, derided and sissified; that Canadians were, are, and will forever be, the straw that stirs the sport.

Pompous and delusional in the extreme, I know. Luckily, those falsehoods can be laid to rest once and for all simply by taking a brief look at the favorites to win the NHL’s individual player awards this season.
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