(3) Boston Bruins; Championships: 4
Last Stanley Cup Win: 1972
Last Stanley Cup Final: 1990
Last Post-season Appearance: 2010
Players With Bling: Mark Recchi (2), Shawn Thornton
(5) Tampa Bay Lightning; Championships: 1
Last Stanley Cup Win: 2004
Last Stanley Cup Final: 2004
Last Post-season Appearance: 2007
Players With Bling: Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Pavel Kubina
(The Bruins Corner)My East pick going into the post-season and my dark horse selection will meet for the chance to vie for Lord Stanley's Cup. Boston refused to let history repeat itself, instead of blowing a 3-0 lead like last year swept Philly right to the golf course. Pronger's absence and the goalie carousel certainly helped the Bruins cause. Regardless, Boston has everything you need for a deep run and finally has seen the bounces go their way. Tampa is a very deep team that has been overlooked for most of the season. The Lightning hadn't even advanced to the playoffs since 2007, this is saying something in a sport that all you need to do to get in is literally be squarely in the middle of the conference pack. The Lightning have the necessary pieces and have filled their only whole. Dwayne Rolson has found his 2006 groove and not only has led Tampa's charge to their first East Final's since the cup season of 2004, he may have already added another trophy to NHL legend, Steve Yzerman's mantle, the executive of the year award. Roloson's mid season acquisition has proven to be the tipping point for Tampa to go from a future contender to a force to be reckoned with right NOW.
This series pits two hot goalies arguably playing better then any other netminder the past month plus. Interesting enough, both squads have depth but own opposite strengths and weaknesses. Boston has a soon to be two time Vezina winner, Tim Thomas and a Godzilla like defensemen in front of him, Zdeno Chara. St. Louis, Lecavalier, and Stamkos are the stars on a stacked offensively driven Tampa team. Defense wins championships, knowing that I'd prefer Boston's issue at this point. The Bruins have found a way to manufacture goals and get enough to win, it's especially easy when you only need about 3 tallies per game to seal the deal. In addition to Chara, Tomas Kaberle brings all-star caliber talent to the B's blueline.
Not only is it easier to correct offensive woes in the playoffs, then to try to find a new defensive system or teach an old dog new tricks, Boston is not exactly throwing out garbage to the ice every night. Milan Lucic and David Krejci are legit premiere players, they just don't ever get the credit. Nathan Horton has also morphed into a clutch machine during the stretch run and so far this post-season. Mark Recchi brings a unique blend of experience that can do nothing but help at this stage in the game. The Bruins have one of the overall best defensive groups in the league, arguably the best goalie in the league these days and enough fire power to get the job done. For people who say why are you all of a sudden so high on Boston? They have the same team as last year when they blew the 3-0 lead to the Flyers and they seem to always turn it off as the weather gets warmer. My response, nope Tukka Rask was the goalie this time a season ago, this year Thomas has returned to his 2009 form and then some. Turning around to see a proven veteran in net is much more comforting then trying to go at it with just a talented youth. Rask played well in his opportunity, however, if Thomas was in net the Bruins would not be making their first Eastern Conference Finals trip since 1992, they would returning for the second consecutive season.
I'm favoring Boston, yet it certainly won't be a walk in the park or should I say pahk. Tampa has a destined feel after their comeback against the Penguins and domination of the Washington Capital's. Martin St. Louis who as my co-host, George Gerbo, likes to say, is like a fine wine, he just gets better with age, has been an absolute beast. Can he keep that high level of play up? It might be a necessity for a shot at his second cup. The real shift that made TB from putting up a nice fight to where they are now..the Stamkos resurgence. Steven Stamkos owns an Art Ross trophy (NHL leading scorer) and multiple 40+ goals season, all at the tender age of 21. He did take a few games to get going but the best often do. Stamkos got his footing and then woke up with back to back multi point nights, placed Pittsburgh in his rear view mirror and instead of it being just wait for Stamkos to turn it on and this team could be scary, that time has come and we now have our answer. As I see it and this is not shot at St. Louis, I see him as a future Hall of Famer, the only player in this series that can single handily win it for his team is Steven Stamkos. Secondary wise, look for a big series from the ever ring hungry Ryan Malone.
Tampa doesn't have the star power defensively, besides Victor Hedman I dare anyone to name one now..waiting, doesn't matter..star power isn't necessary when the trap works. The Lightning have taken a page out of the New Jersey Devils book. The trap handed New Jersey 3 championships and 4 finals berths from 1995 to 2003. I'm sure after this season Devil fans would wax poetically about the Scott Stevens trap days. Roloson has stood on his head but there needs to be room for error. No one can be on top of their game all the time.
Edges:
Offense: Tampa
Defense: Boston
Goalies: Boston (slightly)
Coaching: I'm goina go Boston but it's really a toss up. There is no coaching stud here. I'm just giving it to Boston's Claude Julien due to the experience factor.
Secondary guys: Tampa
Pick: I have been riding the Bruin train and can't jump off now. Overall Tampa's looked better but every series is totally different and the past is the past. This will be a slug fest and gives the fans everything they could ask for. Rough play, big hits, grittiness, jaw dropping saves and pure natural talent will be jumping off the ice throughout the series. Tim Thomas and Martin St. Louis will put the bffship aside (they were college teammates and are best friends) for a couple weeks, as they will be in for an all out war. With that said, Boston reaches first Stanley Cup Final since 1990 and wins the Eastern Conference in 7.
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