NHL Playoffs

[giblets]

Okay, now I'm just pissed off.

They've punched a camerawoman from CTV in the face and chased down a female CBC reporter.

Wow, what a bunch of cowards.

[Demonbinder]

Ahh, young love.

[Asher]

The meme has begun:

http://lockerz.com/s/111197262

[Arrian]

I'd hit it...

[Kitschum]

Yeah, nice legs...

On Topic: Thank **** that Boston won! And not only because I needed the points in our pickem dealy. I don't think I would be able to stand another wave of nationalist bandwagonism by our stupid media that normally doesn't give a **** about hockey. LOVE Tim Thomas. LOVE him like a crackhead loves his crack. He was outstanding for most of the whole playoffs, and when time came for the deciding games, who stepped up? I ask you, who? Yeah, that's who.

[Asher]

Tim Thomas

[Asher]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Bourne-Blog-Why-the-best-team-won-the-Stanley-C?urn=nhl-wp7400&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Bourne Blog: Why the best team won the Stanley Cup

The President's Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks had two cracks to win the Stanley Cup, one of which was on home ice. This should point to the idea that it was a close series, or that they barely missed out on winning the Cup, or at the very least, that they fought until the very end.

But sadly, my rioting friends, it does not.

This was undeniably Boston's series, and man did it deserve to take home the big trophy in 2011.

In reality, Boston was closer to beating Vancouver seven straight times than Vancouver ever was to winning it all. That's what made the postgame riots so surprising for me — Game 7 was decided well before the final buzzer. There wasn't some OT winner that should've flipped a rage switch in my home province's brain. The Canucks simply got pummeled once again, and you felt the outcome crystallizing from the second Boston scored its first goal.

To quickly recap the lopsidedness: In its wins, Boston scored 21 times and gave up three (!). Its three losses were all one-goal heartbreakers. It shut down Vancouver's stars with alarming ease, chased its All-Star goalie from multiple games and broke down Vancouver's D-corps like they were made of Lego.

So just how did Boston accomplish that difficult feat?

If we're being honest … not by being the most talented team in the league.

Outside of Tim Thomas(notes) and Zdeno Chara(notes), the Bruins don't have many players you'd set your hair on fire to add to your roster. Maybe burn the hair off your arm or something, but not the top of your head.

But they knew their identity better than any other team, and didn't deviate from the plan.

Patrice Bergeron(notes), David Krejci(notes), Milan Lucic(notes) and Nathan Horton(notes) are interesting players. None of them are quite in the group of players you'd casually rattle off as the best players in the league, but they're all close enough that they seem to have some sort of "…and with our powers combined…!" vibe to their success.

They're the perfect mix of players at the perfect time — if you can take guys with offensive talent and convince them to play defense first, you can create a monster of a team. The difficulty most coaches have in doing that, is that most forwards love to score goals too much. Certain guys (think Marian Gaborik(notes)) seem to crave them. Getting them to genuinely believe that numbers aren't their first priority is a difficult feat, and Claude Julien deserves heaping bowlfuls of credit for getting these guys on the same page.

I can't remember a game where I found myself thinking, "Gee, Boston's forwards are taking a few too many chances."

These guys played like they had shock collars on.

Variables that help a team win the Cup include the timing of its contracts and the age of its players. The Blackhawks, for example, had their contracts somewhat jimmy-rigged so that they had a roster far better than their payroll last season, so after they won, it was inevitable that they would have to blow it up.

The Bruins were in a situation where they could add multiple key components under their cap this year (credit to Peter Chiarelli), and fortunately, they don't even need to take any TNT to it. Getting quality guys like Brad Marchand(notes) and Tyler Seguin(notes) in the lineup for six-figures? That timing is so good it feels like cheating.

For Boston, the age thing was even more critical to its success. The four main forwards I called "interesting" have all played a number of years in the league, but aren't anywhere close to old.

They're all in their 20s, but aren't anywhere close to too green. Having a slightly older goaltender and a big, proven defenseman meshes nicely with that. Aside from a few obvious names, the heart of this team seems to be within a couple years of their respective primes. And, you have to cash in while your guys are at their best.

(Psst, Washington ... whenever you're ready fellas).

To win a Stanley Cup, everything has to come together just so. Everyone has to be pulling in the same direction, and this organization nailed it this year. Management, coaching, goaltending, defense and even its surprising offense — the Bruins' Cup win was no fluke.

With fear of giving their fans another reason to be difficult, we all have to admit: They may not have been the most talented, but there's no doubt that they were simply the best team, in the purest sense of the word.

[Asher]

BTW, remember when Ben was asserting that Krejci crosschecked Hamhuis, causing an injury severe enough he missed the rest of the playoffs?

Hamhuis had a torn groin muscle. From the awkward hit. Exactly as I said.

Shame Ben has fled with his tail between his legs...

[Uncle Sparky]

Well, that was a riot. Hopefully with all the videos & photos taken, they can arrest a few hundred idiots. I think they should be charged and forced to pay restitution.

[Asher]

I wonder if Ben rioted in Austin? Did he throw a chair or something?

[notyoueither]

There should be a facility on Baffin Island, or somewhere thereabouts, to send those idiots to for a time.

[Guynemer]

Ellsmere is even more desolate, per my understanding.

[Boris Godunov]

For the record, while I naturally don't mind at all that the Canucks lost, I just want to say: **** Boston. Every fiber of my being says: **** Boston. It has the worst inhabitants of the U.S.

[MRT144]

For the record, while I naturally don't mind at all that the Canucks lost, I just want to say: **** Boston. Every fiber of my being says: **** Boston. It has the worst inhabitants of the U.S.

Philly does.

[joncha]

WHO THE **** LOOTS LOUIS VUITTON????

Surrey people, apparently.