Boston Bruins Turn it Around

Sunday, February 8, 2009 -- Last year it was the Boston Celtics who, after 22 years, finished tops in the NBA East and finally found themselves the NBA champs. This season the formerly hapless Boston Bruins have been resurrected. The Bruins are playing the best hockey Boston has seen in two-decades.

The Bruins’ record stands at 39- 8- 7 (85 points). Their record and point total are the best in the NHL. They’ve scored 188 goals and allowed 121—both of which are second in the NHL. Only the Detroit Red Wings have scored more goals—199. And only the San Jose Sharks have allowed fewer—119. Their power play is rated fourth in the league and their three home loses place them second in that category.

There are a bunch of reasons why this club has finally turned it around. But one of the main ones is the play of goalie Tim Thomas. Thomas, who at the age of 34 is in just his fourth NHL season, has a 24- 5- 5 record, a goals against average of 2.10 and a save percentage of .932. He’s second in the league in GAA, with Calgary’s Steve Mason first at 2.09. His save percentage is tops. By the way, Boston’s other goalie, Manny Fernandez, is third in goals against (2.17) and fifth in save percentage (.925).

It’s said that in baseball pitching wins World Series, in the NBA defense wins championships and in the NHL goaltending wins Stanley Cups. If great tending does result in a NHL championship, then the Bruins are nicely positioned to win their sixth Cup. They have not skated the vaunted chalice around the garden since 1972 when Bobby Orr was in his heyday. This could be the year.