2008 Woodie Awards
COMMENTARY: Bruins giving fans new hope
Ryan Fleming, Collegian Columnist
Issue date: 12/2/08 Section: Sports
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.
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.
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