At the risk of looking like every bad Boston sports fan stereotype, I don't want to talk about the Jets game. At least, not right now. I'm not ready to break down what to make of an admirable, if flawed, team, and one that really got my hopes up for that elusive Super Bowl victory to prove everyone wrong about Spygate. But the fact remains: Patriots Super Bowl victories under Belichick and Brady before Spygate: 3, victories after Spygate: 0. Ouch.
Instead, I'll talk for a bit about my belief that the Bruins are finally getting their shit sorted out, after a good 3 months of lackluster and uninspired play. It remains to be seen how they will deal with an upcoming stretch that sees them play the cream of the NHL, but we'll see. They played up tempo and exciting hockey during their most recent homestand, during which they went 3-1, and even in their lone loss to Pittsburgh, the team looked like it had purpose and drive. Good good stuff.
Stick taps to the following B's for their little run of late:
-Brad Marchand. Really, apart from the fact that he has a joke of a number, I can't find much wrong with how he's been all year. (63? That's the best you can do? 6 is free. So is 10. So is 12, and so are 13, 14, 23, 25, 27 and 42. Seriously, you're better than that.) He adds energy to any line he's on, and has shown equal chemistry with the 4th line, as well as Bergeron and the 3rd. He's also a world-class pest, one that gets under the opponent's skin without having to do things like almost murder their best player.
- Patrice Bergeron. The newest member of my fantasy hockey team, Patrice has been absolutely tearing it up in 2011. He had his first career hat trick the other day, and leads the way in all three zones. Really, the kind of guy I'd want my kids to emulate on the ice, and a stand-up guy off of it as well. I still can't believe he's my age, and has already been in the league for 7 years. Unreal. The more time he hangs out with Marchand and Seguin, the better.
-Tim Thomas. Not to be unoriginal, but I had to give Timmy credit for talk fans (myself included) off the ledge after the disastrous collapse in Montreal, as well as for being an absolute beast in net. He's looking like the front runner for his second Vezina Trophy, and it really couldn't happen to a nicer guy. With any luck, they'll consider him for the MVP, what with where the team would be without his otherworldly play at times.
-Greg Campbell. I don't want to put too much emphasis on the proceedings with his dad and Marc Savard, but Soupy has proven a valuable and reliable asset on the 4th line. Really, the 4th line in general deserves kudos for their maintaining of pressure and energy even when the rest of the team was taking the night off. But Campbell in particular has anchored the bottom of the lineup and shown what it takes to work your ass off and get rewarded.
After a 7-0 demolition of the Hurricanes yesterday, the Bruins are back in action on the later part of a home-and-home. All things considered, their play of late has softened the blow of the end of the Patriots' season, and I hope that they continue to turn heads, and remind the fairweather fans of Boston that they are, indeed, worth the time and effort. Good luck, guys.
-M
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