Sports fans in Boston have high expectations for their teams, and Peter Chiarelli knows it.
The Bruins' general manager caught some heat in the Boston media for seemingly insinuating that the end result of the Bruins' playoff run was less important than simply how the team performs. On Wednesday, he clarified.
"No, I wouldn't be happy," Chiarelli said on 98.5's Toucher and Rich, when asked if he'd be satisfied with a first- or second-round playoff exit. "I can't just make a decision based on winning. Who knows what happens? Of course we want to win a Cup, and we haven't gone past the second round in two years. Yes, that's what we have to do."
Chiarelli's original remarks did include a desire to win the second round of the playoffs, but also "to see a consistent effort, to see Bruins hockey, the North-South hockey I talk about."
On Wednesday, he made sure to state that while he still wants to see that kind of performance, it will all be for naught if the team doesn't win.
"There are other ways to measure performance," he said, "but we have to win the second round."
For now, however, it's all about the first round, with the Bruins taking the ice in Montreal on Thursday night in a 2-1 series hole.
