Stanley Cup The big bad Bruins are back. And it is a somewhat apt description for this year's team. They beat Montreal and Tampa Bay with game winning goals in OT and in the 3rd period tonight and these series sandwiched their 4 game sweep of Philly.
I just looked at the Greek and they opened the Canucks -220 with +180 on the B's.
I was somewhat surprised Vancouver dispatched San Jose so easily. The Sharks I felt had been playing well and it could easily and probably should have been a longer series but the Canucks are living up to their #1 seed. I thought they may not be as good as their record since their division I felt was a little weaker than some others but the changes they wanted to make on D going into this year have worked out I feel. They are tidier and more mobile then previous years.
Yet they also needed an OT goal in Game 7 of the first series to survive against Chicago. Nashville was not an easy series.
No series bet for me but I'm much hoping to make some puck line bets on the Bruins during the series. I'll be particularly interested in any plays at better than +1.5-200.
One item that is already up at NHL.com is the Bruins tremendous record against the Canucks throughout their history. Obviously, it is the usual what does the 1975 team have to do with now? But it is consistently good and the Bruins have always been a team that has travelled well to the west coast on road trips. I have no idea why or if it matters.
The teams have never played in the playoffs but they are always somewhat linked in my mind...probably because Cam Neely was originally a Canuck (and Barry Pederson) traded to the Bruins and became superstars in Beantown.
Given the Bruins have made the Cup and this board lacks hockey talk to begin with but I feel it is the right time to evoke memories of Bobby Orr. The last Stanley Cup came for Boston when he played there in 1972. And the younger people on this board should be familiar with really what a great player he was, his impact as a defenceman to future hockey players, by all indications what a great teammate he was and how unfortunate he was taken advantage of by the league and his agent Alan Eagleson by accounts I've read.
With the NFL and NBA labour issues, the history of the NHL and its labour problems are very good instruction as to why the players need union representation and that quite honestly one probably cannot trust owners.
Anyone play fantasy hockey? You'll be hard pressed to find any player in the league more than +40 for a season in +/-. Bobby Orr had a +/- of +124 one season. I can't even believe this could possibly be true but it is. As a defenceman he scored over 40 goals, had more than 100 pts several times....
And let me tell you, Bobby was a tough hockey player who took over 100 PIM several seasons and could fight. And did.
I am a Canadian, I have family and have travelled to Vancouver too many times to count, but I will have bets on the Bruins I'm sure. I wish the Bruins success. Some of the finest players and fans of hockey are not just in Canada but in the state of Massachusetts. I'm looking forward to a great (but hopefully profitable) series.
