So yesterday morning I'm sitting in a dressing room with a bunch of fellow beer leaguers playing in this charity tournament and the topic of dressing room music comes up. Wasn't really a big thing for me growing up in the age before cellphones and wireless speakers. But I chime in saying that our high school team would come onto the ice to Hells Bells by AC/DC.
SN/CBC do their musical montages to start all their playoff games. All ready for Game 7 and suddenly I hear the opening riff of Hells Bells, sure enough, that is the song they used for their Game 7 opening montage and most of their commercial breaks. I said to myself, that has to be a good sign, right?
Still, probably the most-nerve racking game of hockey I've ever watched. Bruins didn't repeat the 1st periods of Games 5 and 6 and played well throughout really. They played straight-line north-south hockey, lots of dump-ins, lots of board battles won and pucks won along the wall. Bruins defended the slot very well. Credit to the coaching staff for changing up the game plan and countering the Leaf's adjustments. And credit to the Leafs. Unlike 2013/2018/2019, I think they can actually take some positives out of this series.
I was wrong about Brazeau being dressed in this series. That's a legit NHL player and one that is unique and frankly a handful for opposing D-men.
Is Trent Frederic a long-term answer at C? Centering that power line with JVR and Brazeau he looked every bit the part. I don't expect JVR back next year but that line caused the Leafs D fits.
JVR brought it last night too I felt. He had an extra jump in his step he gave it his all last night. If he was going out, he was going out on his sword.
Mason Lohrei was a difference maker and the future for him is so bright it's not even funny. He's got Quinn Hughes-like qualities with the puck combined with a massive wingspan. Watching him break the puck out of the zone is a real treat.
What more can you say about Swayman? He's right there with the best goaltenders on planet earth today. Tim Thomas-esque post-season so far.
And there is this guy named Pasta who got a lot of flak from fans and his own coach. Instead of being butt-hurt about his coaches comments, he takes it to heart but is also a professional and continues to bring that positive attitude to the table. Incredible goal to finish the series and give Bruins fans a memory that will last a lifetime.
Onto the Panthers and chance for redemption from last year. But they aren't catching the Bruins off guard this year. They aren't inserting Bobrovsky into the middle of a series off 3 1/2 weeks rest. The way Swayman is playing the Bruins have the edge in net IMO. Can the Bruins D better handle the Panthers forecheck this year? I think they can.
And you have to wonder what the Panther's mindset is right now. Their last road game outside the state of Florida was a month ago (April 6) against our own Boston Bruins in 3-2 OT Panther loss at the Garden. They've been sitting in sunny Florida for over a month now. Can the Bruins catch them sleeping a bit and steal a game early on down in FLA?
