As a Boston Bruins fan, I'm used to disappointment; maybe not nearly the level the Red Sox fans have felt, but nonetheless I've been crushed numerous times.
The last time the Bruins won the Stanley Cup was the 1971-72 season, getting help from arguably the best player to wear skates, Bobby Orr. Though No. 4 had help, he was the primary reason for the team's success until he was duped into leaving at the end of the '76 season.
Since then the Bruins have tugged at the hearts of their fans, coming so close but leaving with nothing. They have made it to the playoffs 30 times since '72, reaching the finals five times and swept twice.
Like the Red Sox, the Bruins also have their rival: the Canadiens. The Bleu, Blanc et Rouge have dominated the Black and Gold over the years. Recently the Bruins have ended a 12-game, regular season losing streak with a 6-1 rout on Nov. 13 at the TD Banknorth Garden then following that up with a 3-2 shootout victory at the Bell Centre on Nov. 22. Maybe after all these years of being dominated, thrown aside and battered by les Glorieux perhaps it's the Bruins' turn.
Despite losing in seven games in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals to Montreal the B's gave their fans a reason to believe - that things are finally turning around, battling back from a 2-0 hole. In a spirited Game 6, the Bruins and Canadiens traded scores, checks and verbal lacerations. The Bruins came out on top, 5-4, in easily the year's best game (I know, because I was there).
We're now just a few games past the quarter mark of the season and the Bruins stand atop of the Eastern Conference, tied with the New York Rangers.
Coming off a 4-1 thrashing of the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings, the Bruins have established themselves not as a fluke team that happened to go on a nice run at the beginning of the year, but as one of the elite, young teams in the National Hockey League.
The Bruins are getting quality shifts from all four lines - getting their young players involved - and sport two of the league's best netminders, Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez.
Marc Savard, who has been known as simply a one-dimensional player, has voided that assumption and become a key contributor on the both sides of the puck. Savard is tied for fifth in the NHL with 30 points and second in assists, with 22.
Phil Kessel had an up-and-down year last season, but after being benched numerous times by coach Claude Julien, the winger is first on the team with 13 goals and second on the team with 20 points. Kessel, known for his speed, finesse and quick hands, has taken after Savard and been seen contributing on both sides of the puck.
The Bruins boast young stars that have been a big reason for the team's surprising success. Blake Wheeler, David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Matt Hunwick have played vital parts for the Bruins and seemingly taken over as the fan favorites.
Wheeler, Krejci, Lucic and Hunwick (who has filled in after defenseman Andrew Ference went down with a broken tibia) have totaled 44 points and provide fans with a great sense of optimism that General Manager Peter Chiarelli is providing this Boston team with young, energized, tough players that can make an impact on this team.
Michael Ryder, one of the few off-season acquisitions the Bruins made, has brought an offensive spark that the team desperately needed this year. In the team's last two games Ryder has scored four points (two goals, two assists) and looms as another presence in front of the net.
At this early point in the year, one can't help but get excited to see what it is exactly that this team can do. They have all ready had two landmark games, Nov. 1 against Dallas and Nov. 19 against Buffalo.
Against the Stars, the two teams tallied 146 penalty minutes and displayed great camaraderie by sticking up for their teammates (if you haven't seen it on YouTube, you should). The game against the Sabres showed the Bruins' resilience as they overcame two separate deficits before winning 7-4.
Despite what happens this season, the Bruins are definitely a team of the future, with even more solid young players in the farm system. But for now I'll sit back, and watch this team inspire me with another reason to believe.
Ryan Fleming is a Collegian columnist. He can be reached at rfleming@dailycollegian.com.
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