Boston Bruins Celebrate First Stanley Cup Since 1972

As they would say in Boston, "It's wicked awesome."

The Boston Bruins can stake their claim of championships in the city of Boston. Since the turn of the century the Patriots have three Super Bowl titles, the Red Sox two World Series titles and the Celtics have an NBA championship.

Heck even in the same sport Boston College and Boston University won NCAA Frozen Four championships, the Eagles two in 2008 and 2010 and the Terriers in 2009.

Here's the game story of Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. (Thanks CSN New England)



Great production, well done.

Here's a one - on - one with Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, who won the 2011 Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup Finals MVP. (Thanks CSN New England)



In the locker room Bruins head coach Claude Julien receives a champagne shower from captain Zdeno Chara. (Thanks CSN New England)



One - on - one with Mark Recchi who won his third Stanley Cup. (Thanks CSN New England)



Finally here's a really cool video of Boston's Stanley Cup run. (Thanks CSN New England)

And So It Goes... Bruins Win First Cup Since 1972...Vancouver Riots In Anger...

((HT: NHL on CBC))

The Vancouver Canucks have a lot of blame to go around...

The power play had none. The injuries weakened their scoring punch and depth. The Sedin's game was on a milk carton, and Roberto Luongo seemed out to lunch at the worst time...

However, Tim Thomas played out of his Dominik Hasek-loving mind and the Bruins got points from the most unlikely places- and that's what it takes...

When you mention guys like Marchand, Bergeron, and Peverley, you know what's up... and the Canucks left their fans to set cars on fire in town to let out their frustrations.

Flame out... now, the HQ sees the irony there...

Here's your highlights- if you dig Boston...


The HQ would also like to salute Mark Recchi and Rich Peverley for their time in Atlanta and now get their names etched on the Cup. And don't think Blake Wheeler is kicking himself after getting traded for Peverley at the Deadline, either...

Recchi retires a three-time champ... and the HQ also was getting a good laugh out of the fact that the only thing that got a larger boo than a Bruin was Gary Bettman...

Next up... the Draft...

But, first... the riots...
((HT: CBC/youtube))

Canucks Raymond Has Fractured Vertebrae

((HT: NHL on NBC/youtube))

It took all of the first shift in last night's game six for the Vancouver Canucks to have another injury saddle their roster for Wednesday's Game 7...

The Bruins Johnny Boychuk DDT'ed Mason Raymond into the boards during the early stages of last night's game and the early diagnosis is a fractured vertebrae that will keep him out of action from four to six months...

Raymond was on the ice for several minutes before being helped off the ice. He was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, and there is no word on whether or not Raymond is well or stable enough to travel back to Vancouver at present.

Raymond, who played alongside Ryan Kesler and Chris Higgins on the Canucks' second line, was replaced by Jannik Hansen last night...

More juggling for Alain Vigneault for the new lines... which will be revealed tomorrow morning- and again tomorrow night...

Here's the call from last night...

Bruins bombard Canucks: Game 7 Looms

In what has been a very consistent, yet exciting series, the Boston Bruins held serve at home Monday night, beating the Vancouver Canucks 5-3, tying their best of 7 series at 3 games each.

The 1st period was the difference in the this one with Boston getting out to an early 4-0 lead and chasing Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo from the game.

The Canucks did stop the bleeding, scoring 3 goals and making the Bruins work for the win. The difference maker in this one, besides Luongo's failure after calling out Bruin goalie Tim Thomas, 43-year old Mark Recchi. Recchi didn't have a goal, but he did have 3 assists.

One game note: Vancouver winger Mason Raymond was injured in an awkward collision on the boards just 20 seconds or so into the game and sent to the hospital. Raymond needed help just getting off the ice and more than likely is done for the series.

The climactic game 7 will be Wednesday night in Vancouver, and if the rest of the series is an indicator, should be one heck of a game.

Your game highlights from NHL.com:




NHL.com also gives us video of the play on Mason Raymond:

Vancouver One Win Away...

((HT: NHL on CBC))

All it took was Max LaPierre solving Tim Thomas and Roberto Luongo saving 31 Boston Briuins shots for the Canucks to be one win from their first Stanley Cup trophy in the 40 years of the team's existence...

The Bruins have outscored the Canucks 12-1 in Boston, but have been outscored 5-2 in Vancouver. Game 6 is Monday in Boston...

Here's the highlights of a tight game from beginning to end...

Bees Even Up Series With Canucks

((HT: NHL/CBC))

It took the Bruins all of 48 hours to even up the Stanley Cup Final and chase Roberto Luongo with the Game 4 4-0 win in Boston...

All Thrashers fans have to do is look at Rich Peverley and Mark Recchi and think even deeper about what might have been...

Here's the beginning of the end where Alex Burrows, aka Public Enemy Number One, and Bruins goalie Tim Thomas go at it and start going at it even more with less than two minutes left...


The HQ will be more than happy to quote our ol' buddy JR...
Business is about to pick up...

Boston destroys Vancouver after Horton hit... ((UPDATED- Horton And Rome out for playoffs))

This got ugly. Brother Jon reported earlier on the hit by Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome that knocked Bruins winger Nathan Horton out cold.

It made the highly competitive series go from hard-played, to physical.

Boston, instead of cowering in fear, got mad. They annihilated Vancouver 8-1, though they still trail 2 games to 1 in their best of 7 series.

The game got a bit out of hand in the 3rd period with Boston up 4-0. 20 penalties and a fight, combined with 9, 10-minute misconducts. The ageless Mark Recchi had a couple of goals though most everyone chipped in for Boston in some way, shape or form.

The Bruins were also still stewing over Alex Burrows not getting in trouble for biting in game 1, then coming in and dominating game 2.

So far, both teams have held serve, game 4 is Wednesday night in Boston and if form holds, it should be a lot of fun to watch.

Your highlights from NHL.com



Tony Amonte offers his analysis on the hit on Nathan Horton. (Thanks CSN New England)

Post game sound with Milan Lucic, Dennis Seidenberg, Shawn Thornton and Mark Recchi. (Thanks CSN New England)

AM UPDATE: Horton is done for the playoffs... Rome is, too...

GM Peter Chiarelli announced on the Boston Bruins website that Horton was diagnosed with a severe concussion and would not return...

Vancouver's Aaron Rome had a disciplinary hearing with NHL VP of Operations Mike Murphy this morning and he was given a four-game suspension- taking him out of the playoffs as well...

From CBC Sports and FOSG Elliotte Friedman via Twitter...

The league ((translation: Mike Murphy)) is going to talk to both teams about all the taunting that went on in Game 3. Bruins head coach Claude Julien wasn't too keen on all the extra-curricular stuff. The HQ thought it was pretty funny ourselves...

Or quoting Murphy: "the crap, the garbage that is going on..."

ESPN's Pierre LeBrun also talked to Murphy:

Mike Murphy just told me that he's told both clubs the next player who does the finger wagging in a scrum gets 2 min plus 10-min misconduct

DEVELOPING: Bruins Horton Plowed Early In Game 3

A possible rule violation where Rule 48.1 is concerned... while Aaron Rowe did not leave his feet, he targeted the head of the Boston Bruins' Nathan Horton...

And here's what happened...
((HT:NHL/Versus/HockeyFights.com))



The update on Horton is that he was moving all of his extremities when he arrived and was initially examined at Mass General Hospital...

Good news as the game got immediately chippy...

More when we know more.,..

Cancuks beat Bruins in O.T, right after it started

Alex Burrows of Vancouver helped account for all 3-points, including the game winner just 11 seconds into overtime, leading the Canucks to a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins Saturday night.

The win gives Vancouver at 2-0 lead in the best of 7, Stanley Cup Finals.

Burrows had a night to remember for sure. He scored on a power play in the first period, assisted on Daniel Sedin's goal to tie the game in the second period. And then there was the winner. He ended up with the puck right off the faceoff, circled the goal and stuffed the puck home before Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas could get near it.

Game 3 is in Boston, Monday night. A game the Bruins must win or, well, this so-called "Dramatic" series, won't be so dramatic.

Your highlights from NHL.com:

Late Goal By Torres Gives Vancouver Game One

((HT: NHL on NBC/CBC))

We enjoyed the abject chipiness of Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals...

The HQ knows what this would mean to the province of BC to win three more games, but they went bananas after Tico Torres ((as explained by Ryan Kesler)) scored late...

Very late... last minute late...
And it was awesome...

Here's the highlights... there are a lot of them, just one goal...



And post-game sound with Bruins Goaltender Tim Thomas, who had 33 saves in Game one against the Canucks.



Game two is Saturday... and the larger issue for Vancouver is the physical state of defenseman Dan Hamhuis- who is, officially, day-to-day...

Aren't we all...

FOSG Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun discuss Game One...
((HT: ESPN))

Burrows Enjoying In-Game Meal During Stanley Cup Finals... ((UPDATED: No Suspension))

((HT: NHL on NBC))

To say the Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals has been a chippy one is a bit of an understatement... face washes, cross-checks, and two high-sticking on Zdeno Chara's face are just the beginning...

The HQ thinks we'll be here a while...
Alexandre Burrows may not after this...
((HT: PuckDaddy))


Our guess is that there will be a one-game suspension from NHL League Minster of Defence pro tem Mike Murphy...

At least... silly play at a bad time...

OFF DAY UPDATE: Burrows is not suspended...

"After reviewing the incident, including speaking with the on-ice officials, I can find no conclusive evidence that Alex Burrows intentionally bit the finger of Patrice Bergeron," Mike Murphy said in a statement.

Burrows denied biting Bergeron...

"I don't mind rough play and scrums at the end, as long as it's just pushing and shoving and all that," Bergeron said following the game. "But biting? I mean come on."

This should go over well for Game 2...

Stanley Has Bees and Canucks Now...

((HT: NHL.com/CBC))

Bob Cole was on the mic- as it should be for games of this kind of importance...

It is a total of 76 years of futility that will be addressed when Vancouver and Boston meet in the Stanley Cup Final.

A a rule, the HQ will tell you that Game Sevens in the playoffs are not to be missed...

WE did miss this one, however, since we had tickets to both Rodgers and Hammerstein and "The Hangover, Part 2." Yes, we're also aware that it is an interesting combination of events...

By the way, "Hangover...?" Funny, but very dark...

Oh, the game...

Nathan Horton proved why he was a great pick-up for the Bruins at the deadline...

Here's the highlights...


Game One is Wednesday...

Chicago has a champ....Blackhawks win cup

Yes, you heard us right. You may even already know it. Really, it's true. 49 years after there last Stanley Cup, the Chicago Blackhawks can now say that they have won another.

The beat the Philadelphia Flyers last night in dramatic, overtime fashion. Patrick Kane somehow goes 5-hole while skating parallel to the goal and the 'Hawks win...4-3 in OT. Six games, winning it in Philadelphia, one heck of a series.

Check out the newspaper coverage from the Chicago Tribune RIGHT HERE

((The Chicago Blackhawks//Courtesy: Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune))

Your Game Winner from the You Tube:

Blackhawks Take Game 5, 7-4 In Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks power-forward Dustin Byfuglien, bumped from the top line as was Patrick Kane, had two goals and two assists to lead the home team to a 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, giving the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals.

"I think he got rid of us and started performing. That's all he needed," said Kane, who also had a goal and assist. "He was a force and had some big hits, one on [Chris] Pronger I think everyone remembers."

Game 6 is Wednesday back in Philly...

Doc Emrick and Eddie Olczyk have the call...
((HT: NHL on NBC))

Stanley Cup Finals Tied At 2 Games A Piece

((HT: NHL.com/Versus))

The Chicago Blackhawks had not lost back-to-back games in the 2010 playoffs. But first-period goals from Mike Richards, defenseman Matt Carle and Claude Giroux, coupled with goalie Michael Leighton's best performance of the Final, gave Chicago its second road loss -- in as many games -- of the postseason.

Here's your highlights...

Giroux OT Winner Closes Cup Series To 2-1

Claude Giroux scored on a deflection at 5:59 of the first overtime to give Philadelphia a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Flyers now trail the series 2-1 and can even things up in Friday’s Game 4.

Chicago entered the game with a seven-game road winning streak. Philadelphia had won five in a row at home and lost only once in eight playoff games at home this postseason.

Here's the game-winner for the Flyers...
Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson on the call...
((HT: CBC/NHL/Fel0096))

Game 1 Goes To Hawks By 1, 6-5

If NBC was worried about offensive output being a problem as a correlation to ratings, Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals gave the Peacock a bit of a breather where that's concerned.

Flyers goalie Michael Leighton had the three shutouts in the Eastern Conference Final. In Game 1, he gave up 5 goals on 20 shots in just over 35 minutes before he was replaced by Brian Boucher.

The game had four lead changes and 5 tying goals as the Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup Finals game since Game 5 of the 1973 series 6-5 over Philadelphia.

Let's take the evening chronologically...
Here's the anthem no one heard... thanks to nhl.com


The Hawks' Tomas Kopecky was in the lineup only because of an injury.

A healthy scratch for the last five games, Kopecky was playing because Andrew Ladd's shoulder injury meant he had to sit. He took Ladd's spot on the third line with Kris Versteeg and Dave Bolland. They combined for the game-winner with 11:35 left in regulation.

Here's the highlights, thanks to the NHL on NBC...


And here's Marian Hossa and Troy Brouwer, thanks to our friends at the NHL...


How did the Hawks' Kris Versteeg sum up the night...???
"It was a lot of fun. And, I almost had a heart attack."

Game 2 is Monday night in Chicago...

Stanley Cup Fever, Chicago Has Caught It

Strange things happen to fans when it's been a long, long time since their beloved team has won a championship. For the fans of the Chicago Blackhawks it's been 49 years since the Blackhawks skated with the Stanley Cup.

The Hawks have a shot to end that title drought now that Chicago has survived and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Blackhawk fan Joe Jammer put on the war paint, the head dress and banged his little drum to did his best impression of Big Chief Wanna Winda Cup singing the Blackhawk Battle Cry, Let's Go Hawks.

(Thanks Chicago Sun Times/Sun-Times Media)

Flyers Join Chicago For Stanley Cup Finals

Much to the delight of OSG Insider Gil Tyree, his Code Orange worked tonight in Philadelphia...

The Flyers took out a tired Montreal Canadiens squad 4-2 to win their Eastern Conference final 4 games to 1.

Ending a 13-year drought, the Flyers go to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1997. The seventh-seeded Flyers travel to Chicago for Saturday's opening game of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. The Blackhawks were the No. 2 seed in the West

Here's your highlights, thanks to our friends at CSNPhilly.com


And what is a celebration without fan reaction...???
((HT: Crossingbroad.com via Deadspin))



Michael Barkann did the best job of selecting fan sound, ever...
Thanks to Bill Clement for pointing that out, too...
Epic...

10 Years Later: It's Still No Goal

((HT: WIVB-TV/Paul Peck))

Ten years ago, most of us were watching the same thing on television, game six of the 1999 Stanley Cup finals.

Now some members of the Buffalo Sabres are talking about the triple overtime thriller that ended with "no goal."

June 19, 1999 turned into June 20th when game six of the Stanley Cup finals went to a third overtime.

At 1:30 a.m., Brett Hull grabbed his own rebound, and with his left foot in the crease, beat Dominik Hasek for the series clinching goal.

As the Dallas Stars celebrated, the Sabres realized that the goal should not have counted.

For the players on that Buffalo team, time does not heal all wounds.

News 4's Paul Peck asked Rob Ray if the emotions and anger still come back to him.

Sabres forward 1989-2003 Rob Ray said, "Yeah it is, and I don't think you ever lose it. You realize how difficult it is to get there, and how difficult it is to win."

Sabres captain 1997-2000 Michael Peca said, "You reflect back there after it's mentioned, and it makes you think of a whole bunch of things sometimes you thought were in the past but are just as much in the forefront of your mind as they've always been."

The National Hockey League said the rule had been changed, to allow players to be in the crease as long as they maintained possession. None of the Sabres knew anything about that.

Peca said, "That goal, there was never any video review. I remember watching Bill McCreary the referee at the window of the penalty box, and eventually he just put his hands up and skated off the ice. He figured there was no way we were going to get a review or a call on that goal."

Not winning a Stanley Cup still bothers Rob Ray. Having one taken away from Buffalo's fans bothers him even more.

Ray said, "You just always dreamt of being part of a team that can put a town over the top. That's when you look back and people would never forget you, never be forgotten that way. You feel bad sometimes because you added to their disappointment."

Shortly after the finals ended, the NHL eliminated the crease rule. No team since then as ever had to deal with another "no goal."



Here was the explanation at the time from "Hockey Night in Canada..."
((HT: CBC/NHL))