The road to the Bruins' current 0-2 deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals has been disappointing so far, and I'm sure I'm not the only fan who's been heartbroken. For me personally, the lowest point was when I opened up the Globe yesterday and found myself agreeing with everything Dan Shaughnessy was saying. (I'm surprised Shaughnessy Lite, aka Jeremy Lundblad, hasn't yet pointed out that only four teams in the history of the Stanley Cup Finals have rallied from 0-2 to win and just how much the odds are stacked against the Bruins).
But I realized something. Maybe Shaughnessy is right, maybe the Bruins really are just "the old Red Sox on skates." Maybe it is inevitable that they're going to lose to the Canucks, who admittedly have looked like the better team so far. That doesn't, and shouldn't, take away the enjoyment we've had watching our team this postseason.
The near-heart attack experiences of watching Thomas make yet another impossible save. (Or even Michael Ryder). Seeing Seguin grow up right before our eyes. Praying for Bergeron's recovery after his concussion, and the joy and gratitude of watching him return, playing as if he never had left. The power of Kelly's cage. Having no words for Horton's overtime goals.
Throughout each series, there has been a moment that has made me proud of each individual player (yes, even Kaberle) and the team as a whole. What a ride it's been. There's no reason not to appreciate that. The losses had made me lose perspective, but I've always believed that is the true gift of sports. Our teams do not owe us more than that. Championships are not our divine right as fans. There are only two teams left playing right now, and we're lucky enough that our team is one of them. That we simply have the privilege of turning on our TVs and seeing our guys.
About a month ago, I was listening to the B.S. Report and Bill Simmons had Kevin Millar on his podcast that day. It was just after Manny had retired and that was the main topic of discussion, but inevitably the 2004 Red Sox came up. The last Old Red Sox team. Millar said that the weight of 86 years without a championship, the expectations and the heartbreak and the bitterness, all of it created an energy that the players could feel. It took on a life of its own, and many players crumbled under the pressure. What it finally took was that group of guys with just the right temperament, the "idiots," who didn't let any of that stuff get to them, who just let it all hang out and played the game. Maybe we the fans are partially to blame. Maybe if we'd never created that energy in the first place, we wouldn't have been starved for so long for a championship.
I think we can do better for the Bruins. We're lucky, we really are. We've got a good, young core group of players who should only get better. Seguin is only 19. Bergeron is 25. Horton is 26. Krejci is 24. McQuaid is 25. Rask is 24. Lucic is 22. Marchand is 23. They should get their fair share of chances. Winning any championship is difficult enough. Let's not make it tougher on them. The Bruins are coming back to the Garden tonight. Whatever happens, let's just appreciate them. And things just might fall into place.
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