For the first time since 1972, the Boston Bruins are Stanley Cup Champions again.
In a hard fought series that went the distance, the Bruins proved that they were the best team in the NHL this season. Much to everyone’s surprise, the highly favored Canucks came up short in a 4-0 blowout game seven in Vancouver.
To no one’s surprise, the city of Vancouver was not exactly pleased.
What looked like a third world war zone today, was in fact just downtown Vancouver. Cars overturned, fires roaring in the streets, and looting at every turn is the scene.
The looting will be forgotten in time, and the city of Vancouver will recover. They have a great team who will compete for years to come, but the real story is legendary play of Tim Thomas, and the remarkable heart of the Boston Bruins.
All of the Boston Bruins wins in the final series came by way of blowout, and Wednesday’s game seven was no different. The Bruins shutout the defeated Canucks four goals to none, leaving no doubt who the rightful owners of the cup really are.
Bruin forwards Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand were the only goal scorers for Boston, both scoring two apiece. The true hero however was 37 year old goalie Tim Thomas.
Thomas has been a force since the beginning of the playoffs. After leading his team through the playoffs, and recording two shutouts in the finals, Thomas won the Conn Smythe trophy.
The Conn Smythe trophy – to those who are unaware – goes to the playoff MVP, not just the finals MVP. In many spectators’ opinions, Thomas would have won the trophy, win or lose on Wednesday; that’s just how good he has been.
Stopping 238 of 246 Canuck shots in the series, and recording 37 saves on Wednesday night, carved Thomas’ name into the record books forever.
Not only was it his numbers that sealed his fate, but his leadership as well.
The Bruins never once had an easy series, becoming the first team in history to win three game sevens in one postseason. They continued to fight, and never once listened to the criticism thrown their way.
When they stumbled, they rallied around each other and fought back. Every time they came back to win the series, and every time they were led by Tim Thomas.
The Bruins obviously could hear the analyst’s opinions about how good the Canucks were. They heard all about how great the Sedin twins were (they shut them down). Boston also heard about how Vancouver had the best goalie in the world (he wasn’t).
One thing that Vancouver never heard was the level of leadership brought by the 37 year old Flint Michigan native.
As the final horn sounded, the face of Thomas was the face of hard-fought, accomplished happiness. Hoisting the trophy over his head signaled to the Bruin Nation, that they did it, and they did it behind arguably one of the greatest goalies of all time.
The time is theirs, and yet again Lord Stanley’s Cup has found its way to its rightful owner yet again, the Boston Bruins.
