Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Why the Boston Bruins Won’t Win the Cup

April 16, 2014, 5:10 PM ET [40 Comments]
Adam French
RSSArchiveCONTACT
The President’s Trophy Curse?

Ok that one isn’t really quantifiable.

I’m finding it difficult to really target the Bruins in this series in comparison to the other major contenders this season. Unlike some, their injury count is extremely minimal with only Dennis Seidenberg missing, which would be a huge deal normally, except he has been gone since December 27th and they just keep on rolling.

Every important cog on their team seem to be performing well as of late…if not throughout the whole season. Hell their two major forwards in Krejci (6 points in last 4 games) and Bergeron (13 game point streak with 17 points during) have been heating up even more just in time for the playoffs. Needless to say with the West expected to crush each other into bloody pulp en mass in bloodlust filled Armageddon to reach the Finals, most expect the Bruins to waltz their way to victory. Heck the usual excuse of them perhaps not scoring enough simply isn’t the case as this season Boston ranks third in Goals For and more frightening is that they have fixed their usually dreadful PP which sits in third.

In general I think most can agree that going into the playoffs the Bruins are the odds on favourite being the masters of team defense and goaltending while also being able to score with the best of them.

So what would it take for them to not win?

In the past teams with speed have shown that they can catch the Bruins defense who thrive off of their forwards general ability to be excellent puck possession players. On the rush is the most deadly time for the Bruins and one of the few times they seem to genuinely struggle. It’s odd that three teams that were terrible in their puck possession in the years they scared the Bruins in the Leafs (2012) and Habs and Bolts (2011) were able to give them such a hard time. Teams with game breaking speed and a counterattack that can cause odd man rushes are dangerous against the Bruins; the major problem is weathering their storm to actually get your shots it. A team who gets elite goaltending and timely scoring can break even the most dominant puck possession team as we’ve seen in examples like Phoenix vs Chicago (2012), St. Louis vs San Jose (2012) and Halak vs The Eastern Conference (2010).

It’s become a cliché, but nonetheless it’s very true. If you try to Out Bruin the Bruins, you get ruined. Time and time again we see teams try to match their physicality with their own or the antics of Marchand with their own and they simply get sucked in and lose. Chicago showed last season what you do to win, beat them at their own game of puck possession, don’t back down, but don’t fall into their trap either. Is there a team out there this year that can take them in a seven game series? Yes…I just don’t think they’re in the Eastern Conference this year.

Thanks for reading…there wasn’t much to this one, Boston right now looks pretty bloody unstoppable.














Unless they fall into the Hab trap
Join the Discussion: » 40 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Adam French
» NHL Thoughts : Russian Tides Were Up All Sides
» 2022 Draft Class : Star Studded Draft
» The Toronto Maple Leafs: A Team of Odds and Ends
» Hockey Thoughts
» The Prospect Blog: Byfield Looms Large Over Rossi