What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? The classic paradox has perhaps never been more applicable to a hockey series than the Bruins/Penguins showdown that starts tonight. The run-and-gun offense that Pittsburgh employs will meet a Bruins team that has prided itself on its defensive play and the ability to roll four strong lines against their opponents.
There are so many intertwined storylines in this series that you almost need to draw them out on a piece of paper to fully understand the weight that this series bears. Let's take a look at some of them:
-Matt Cooke/Marc Savard: Talk about a day that will live in Boston infamy. When goon (read: dirty player, read: scumbag, read: one of the most hated players in hockey) Matt Cooke saw Savard cutting across the middle of the ice with his head down back in 2009, he lined him up with a shoulder to 91's head and gave him a severe concussion. Savard, the star forward and center piece of the Bruins rebuild, has not played in years and is still suffering symptoms. Cooke went on to win the cup. Shero and Bylsma say he is a changed man but I'm unconvinced. We'll see if the Bruins dish out a little more punishment to Cooke.
-Jaromir Jagr: One of the best players of all time who played the bulk of his career in Pittsburgh. He went to Russia, retired, and then came back to play for the Penguins inter-state rivals the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins fans didn't forgive the transgression. Now Jagr will return to play in Pittsburgh. How will he be received? Jagr has been held scoreless in these playoffs, but not for lack of chances. Will returning to the Consol Energy Center be enough to spark the legend and give him another reason to salute the crowd?
-Dynamic Offense vs. Sound Defense: Just a look at Pittsburgh's roster is enough to induce a little intimidation: Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Letang, Kunitz, Iginla, Dupuis, Jokinen, Morrow... okay okay we get it. This team is good. Their powerplay is lethal, so the Bruins need to stay out of the box. How will Julien handle the matchups during the play? Chara and Seidenberg was the dynamic duo for the Bruins in their 2011 Championship, but the Penguins depth creates a matchup nightmare. Julien will be forced to split up 33 and 44, putting Chara/Boychuk against Malkin/Neal/Iginla and Seidenberg/Barkowski against Crosby/Kunitz/Dupuis. Bergeron's line needs to be matchup with Crosby's line as well, utilizing Bergeron's defensive excellence to shut down Sid the Kid. -Goalies: We all watched with our jaws to the floor during Tim Thomas' historical performance two years ago. People seem to be doubtful of Rask's ability to carry his team in a similar fashion despite his strong stats. This will be a statement series for him: can he bring himself to that next level of competetiveness and put the team on his back against the strongest offense in the league or is he just simply not a "big game performer"? On the other side of the ice, the Penguins have a bit of a goalie situation. Fleury carried them to a cup in 2009 but his less than stellar playoff performance in recent years has given Vokoun the chance to shine- and shine he has. He stands 6-1 with a 1.85 GAA and .941 SV%. But he is simply not that good and the Bruins need to throw pucks on net to exploit him and force a goalie controversy in Pittsburgh.
-Jarome Iginla Fiasco: I know I'm not the only one who went to bed the night of the 2013 Trade Deadline thinking that Iginla was a Bruin and woke up angry and in disbelief that the Penguins swept him up. Flames GM Jay Feaster accepted a worse deal from Pittsburgh in order to give Iginla what he wanted. Iginla nixed the deal with the Bruins because he didn't want to play in Boston and felt he had a better chance with the Pens. What better way to show this guy that he made the wrong choice than beating him in the Eastern Conference Finals and sending him home? And even better, let's see Matt Bartkowski (who was to be sent to Calgary in Iginla deal) score an OT goal during the series as an ultimate slap in the face.
-My Prediction: The Penguins offense has a certain shock factor- they can pass, they can score, they hit, and they'll fight. However, they don't have the depth the Bruins have or defensive strength. But the Pens might jump the Bruins early, taking game one in Pittsburgh. The Bruins will make the necessary adjustments and dig in, taking the next game in Pittsburgh and taking both games at home, to everyone's surprise. Not to be eliminated at home, the Penguins will take game 5 due to a stellar performance from captain Sidney Crosby. But it will be for naught. The Bruins will win at home, sending Iginla and the Penguins home and sealing their places for their second Cup appearance in three years. Bruins in 6.
What are your predictions or concerns? Let us know below!
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