SarroSports

10/22/08

Boston has not been the “hub of hockey” since the 1970’s when Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito were drinking from Lord Stanley’s Cup.  Besides the early 90’s when the Bruins finished first in the Eastern Conference and made a finals appearance, there has’t been much to get excited about.  Just plenty of early round playoff exits and major disappointments.  Take the 2004 playoffs for example.  The Bruins had a very potent team, who on paper looked like the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.  Eventually they were sent home in seven games by their rivals, 8th seeded Montreal Canadians.  Since then, the Bruins have been Boston’s forgotten middle child of sports, but in 2008 have suddenly been given the opportunity to sneak back into the spotlight again.

With The Red Sox recently ousted from the post-season by the new look Tampa Bay Rays, normally Boston sports fans would turn their attention to the Patriots.  Only every time I tune in to see Tom Brady and the Patriots high flying offense, I get some guy named Casell who looks like he hasn’t started a meaningful game since high school.   Since this is an actual reality with Tom Brady going down only 19 minutes into the season and having a starting quarterback who usually carries a clipbord, there has been no better time to watch Boston Bruins Hockey.

Yes that’s correct, no need to adjust your monitors I just wrote that the best sports fans in the world should come out in huge number and support the black and gold.   New England has always had deep roots in hockey.  With numerous College powerhouses and prep schools, there’s plenty of New Englanders who love lacing up the skates.  Just not many who enter the Boston Garden and pay to see the Bruins play.  This needs to change and with exciting players like Phil Kessel and Marc Savard, forgive me for sounding like Barack Obama but change is on the way.  First off, the Bruins have a “raw” Cam Neely clone in  Milan Lucic and when he drops the gloves is worth the price of admission alone.  Tallying six goals in as many games, Phil Kessell is emerging as a top goal scorer lighting the lamp in impressive fashion.  This kid has speed that can get fans on their feet and a scoring touch that can keep them from sitting down. 

After missing most of last season after a questionable hit from the Flyers Randy Jones, Patrice Bergeron has done everything but score this season.  When healthy, Bergeron is one of the best two way centers in the league and will continue to improve while shaking off rust from last season’s absence.  Add improving youngsters David Krejci, Blake Wheeler, Vladimir Sobotka, Petteri Nokelainen, and hard hitting defensemen Mark Stuart, the only direction the Bruins can go is up.  Expect a big year from captain Zdeno Chara as second year coach Claude Julian encourages the defense to become more active offensively.

So there you have it.  The Sox are playing golf, the Patriots are not as exciting to watch, and the Celtics can’t possibly be on every night.  So Bostonians, give the Bruins some love.  There has been no better time to do so.

-Sarro