Too many men on the ice. 3-0 on Philadelphia in 2010. Scott Walker. Bernie Parent. Guy Lafleur. Richard Zednik. Toe in the crease.
This is a brief history of the last 39 years of Boston Bruins hockey. If you’re a Bruins fan, apologies for the terrible flashbacks you just had. You may also notice a Stanley Cup win is not present.
Most sports fans in Boston identify themselves as fans of all four major teams in the city. But one team always holds a special place in their heart. For those that bleed Black and Gold, the last 10 years have not been fun.
The other three teams in Boston have accounted for six titles in the last decade. Each of the three has won at least one. Bruins fans have celebrated those championships, but the lack of a Stanley Cup makes those celebrations even more painful.
The Bruins have become the runt of the Boston sports litter. You won’t see any pink Bruins hats around. At times, the team has struggled to draw fans and win games. But this year — especially the past month — has changed all that.
The 2010-11 Bruins were pronounced dead after losing two home games to Montreal to open the playoffs. Claude Julien was halfway out the door. But then the Bruins went to Montreal and won two games at the Bell Centre. They came home and sustained the momentum with a double-overtime win on a Nathan Horton goal. The Canadiens forced a Game 7, but Horton scored in overtime to give the Bruins the game and series.
Nothing builds excitement around the Bruins like beating Montreal. There was a buzz around the team heading into their second-round rematch with the Flyers. The Bruins stomped the Flyers on the road in Game 1, winning 7-3. They took a 3-0 lead in the series, just like last year. But this time, they finished the series off, winning 5-1 in Game 4. You could feel the tension in the stands after Kris Versteeg’s second-period goal tied the game at one, but tension exited the building, and joy was the only emotion at the end of the game.
The tension is the product of 39 years of frustration and heartbreak, not just last year’s debacle. But that tension seems to be gone. Black and Gold fans believe that this team can go all the way.
The Bruins have timed their run perfectly. The Red Sox are under .500. The Celtics were just eliminated by the Heat. The Patriots are dormant. There is a huge void in this city right now for a winning team, and the Bruins are filling the hole. It shouldn’t shock anyone that the Montreal series was the highest-rated Bruins playoff series in NESN history.
In years past, the Bruins have captured the city’s attention only to squander the opportunity. By winning the Cup this year, the Bruins can finally get their own parade — and maintain good vibrations for seasons to come.
Scott Frano can reached at sfrano@earthlink.net.
