bostonherald.com
It’s said time and again that offense brings fans to the show, but defense wins championships. The value of this statement was proved yet again by the Boston Bruins dismantling of the high octane offensive power known as the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last night’s capper, a one to nil finisher for the Bruins, thrust the stalwart Boston team into the Stanley Cup Finals and sent a dejected Pittsburgh franchise into a tailspin.
The Penguins had been striking at will during the 2013 NHL playoffs. Scores were coming in that were ridiculously high in the Penguins favor. When the pairing was announced in the beginning of June, most pundits were wondering if the Bruins could possibly keep up with the dynamic Penguins.
Sydney Crosby - thesportingnews.com
Led by the NHL player of the year Sid “the kid” Crosby, and armed with a talented partner in Evgeni Malkin, and lastly a soon to be hall of famer (that the Bruins courted in mid season) Jerome Iginla, the Penguins were the easy pick. The Pittsburgh Penguins knew they were good, knew they were the favorite, and knew that the Bruins would have rather played the Ottawa Senators. This, however, would be their undoing.
Before Pittsburgh could blink, they had lost the first two games in Pittsburgh. What followed was another loss; an excruciating double overtime defeat in Boston. They had taken the Bruins for granted. Last night, the Penguins were battling for pride…
boston.cbslocal.com
The Bruins have talent, but more importantly they have championship caliber defense. Tuuka Rask is arguably the hottest goaltender in the 2013 playoffs and the front line defense is armed with the 6’8 Zedeno Chara. Rask would only give up two goals the whole series, while Chara would constantly cause problems for the Penguin attack. The Bruins also have a future hall of famer of their own in the legendary (and once the face of the Pittsburgh Penguins) Jaromir Jagr, who would be instrumental throughout the series.
espn.go.com
Scoreless into the third period last night, a desperate, and physical, Penguin team was doing everything they could on the ice to break Rask’s wall on the goal. Then, at the 5:01 mark in the period, Boston defenseman Adam McQuaid slapped a 50-foot, top shelf, goal that was the Penguin back-breaker. The birds would have a flurry at the end, but Rask would not be moved - with a little help from an amazing glove save from Chara as well.
The Bruins now wait to see who their opponent will be for the Stanley Cup Finals. They are playing for a city who recently has seen unspeakable tragedy, and they know bringing home Lord Stanely’s Cup would help a city still healing from the Boston Marathon Bombing. Boston Strong…especially defensively!
