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2013 Stanley Cup Finals, Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks Game 3 Recap & Game 4 Preview

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Game 3 Recap

Zdeno Chara, Bryan BickellThe Boston Bruins have not surrendered a goal in a home game over the last 2 games. Even more impressively, is the squads that they’ve shut out. First, it was the best offense in the NHL in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now, it is the Chicago Blackhawks, a team that was not shutout once during the entire regular season. This is a huge testament to how well the Bruins have been playing since the third period of the Toronto series. Bottom line is, this Bruins team is playing great defensive hockey and are now starting to get scoring from some unlikely sources in, as Claude Julien has dubbed them, “The Hunch Line”, made up of Seguin, Kelly, and Paille.

I do have one bone to pick about Game 3 and that is with the play of Kaspars Daugavins. From what I have observed, Daugavins has struggled in all aspects of play. He single-handedly ruined a potential 3 on 1 opportunity for the Bruins by putting himself offside and has committed bad penalties. Luckily, the Bruins have killed off every penalty they have faced thus far in the Stanley Cup Finals. I would suggest giving Jay Pandolfo a run in the lineup. At least you know with Pandolfo that he will be solid veteran who will provide more consistency then Daugavins. To me, it would be worth a shot and would make me less nervous watching the Merlot Line on the ice.

Game 4 Preview

The biggest story just prior to Game 3 game time for both teams were pregame skate injuries to Marian Hossa and Zdeno Chara. Hossa supposedly took a puck off the leg and was scratched from the lineup just prior to game time. Chara required stitches over his left eye after falling into Milan Lucic and having Lucic land on him. Now, the big story going into Game 4 is if the skirmishes in the last minute of the Game 3 carry over into Game 4. The Blackhawks need to do something to try and change momentum in this series and perhaps they are going to try and take the strategy of increasing physicality. If there is one saying that even the new Bruins fans know it is “Don’t Poke the Bear”. And that is for good reason too. The Bruins are the best team in the National Hockey League when they play angry. As of now, the Chicago Blackhawks have not given them a reason to play angry and I don’t think they should start now. Doing so would be a big mistake. I know that the Bruins are going to get Chicago’s best game in Game 4, and the question is, will it be enough to grind out a win against the Bruins. Hopefully, the Bruins will be able to weather the storm and grind out another victory. Let’s go B’s!

2013 Stanley Cup Finals, Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks, Game 2 Recap & Game 3 Preivew

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Game 2 Recap

Milan Lucic, Niklas Hjalmarsson ScaredThe Bruins earned a split and I couldn’t ask for anything more! I know that the Bruins could have easily had the puck bounce their way and they could’ve stole both games in Chicago, but I will gladly take the split. The biggest takeaway I have from both games in Chicago is that the Boston Bruins physicality is starting to affect the Chicago Blackhawks as this gif demonstrates. Milan Lucic has been a runaway freight train this series and it makes you wonder why we don’t see glimpses of this throughout the season. He is becoming a feared player for the Blackhawks defensemen and as the series shifts to Boston it is only going to intensify.

Thank God the Bruins had a ‘chat’ as Coach Claude Julien called it after the terrible and downright atrocious first period of play. Finally, the third line paid dividends for the Bruins and the Seguin, Kelly, Paille, combination that scored both goals for Boston. Those players looked comfortable as they are all high flyers and play at the similar tempos.  Apparently, all BruinsBeliever has to do is call out players after loses and they respond with Kelly and Seguin playing their best games and Krug was solid as well. I’d like to think that they must be loyal readers.

Game 3 Preview

The Blackhawks have struggled away from the United Center all postseason. Their goals per game are cut by more than half away from home (14 road goals vs. 38 home goals). After witnessing 2011 and how dominant Vancouver was at home, and how terrible they played in Boston, I can say that Boston is absolutely a tough place to play for a visiting team.  Throughout the past few postseasons the Bruins have an outstanding home record. They are already one of the best in the league at getting the match-ups they want on the road, never mind at home where they get the benefit of the last line change. Hopefully, both of those trends continue for tonight’s game and the Bruins take control of this series. As always, follow BruinsBeliever on Twitter for my in-game thoughts. Let’s go Bs!

Boston Bruins are The 2013 Eastern Conference Champions!

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Boston Bruins 2013 Eastern Conference ChampionsGame 4 Recap

Bruins vs. Penguins SweepThis was one of those games where it was a grinder, it wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t always entertaining, but that’s how the Bruins want it. Adam McQuaid’s improbable goal was all that was needed for Tuukka Rask and the stupendous Boston Bruins defense to close out the highest scoring team in the NHL over the last 2 seasons. Zdeno Chara’s incredible save on Evgeni Malkin in the closing seconds was the icing on the cake. It was an ugly, almost mundane game at times and you could sense Pittsburgh wearing away. All I can say about Jerome Iginla is, sweet decision and I hear Pittsburgh has some really nice golf courses.

The Bruins, in consecutive series, beat a team that has blocked the most shots in the NHL, in the Rangers, and the highest scoring team in the NHL in Pittsburgh. Two teams with contrasting styles that require two completely different strategies. The Bruins are the most versatile team remaining in the playoffs. They can win games the way their opponents want the game to be played, and are exceptional at playing their own style of hockey which I call Bruins Hockey. The sky is the limit for this team and I am looking forward to enjoying the ride.