Couldn’t help it, Jack Edwards nailed it.
When the Bruins had hid the skids in January not too many people had even thought they’d make the playoffs. Myself included. It seemed that every time they stepped on the ice it was another loss. Then they won four straight heading into the Olympic break and that breathed life into the team.
But really the team didn’t come together and rally until the Pittsburgh game after the Savard hit. Sure they lost that game but the team started to play a much more physical brand of hockey. A physical brand that they carried straight into the playoffs.
After a paltry game five in which they let the Sabres run all over them many hoped that the series would end last night and not have to go back to Buffalo. I was in this boat as well. My mind set coming in was; please win tonight I can’t handle the stress of a game seven.
Well, the Bruins came out and for the first time all series took a first period lead. In fact they used a late first period penalty against Buffalo to get a power play goal in the opening minutes of the second to make it 2-0. But Buffalo just wouldn’t go away getting on the board about four minutes later.
The game felt almost like an elastic band. For every time the Bruins would stretch the lead, Buffalo would snap it back to one. After a Dennis Wideman turnover made it 3-2 you had to be on the edge of your seat (I was there most of the game). But Satan (from Wideman) put the Bruins up 4-2 with about five minutes left in the game.
The longest five minutes in the world.
Buffalo pulled their goalie and were able to get within one but a non-icing call wrapped up the game for the Bruins. Bruins win the game 4-3 and the series 4-2.
Of course they don’t know their opponent yet but whoever they draw will make it tough on them. Let’s bask in the win for the time being and let’s also root for the Canadiens Wednesday night.
