For the second time in three years, the Boston Bruins are going to the eastern conference finals, and while with his team's advancement in the playoff bracket coach Clause Jullian's job is without a doubt safe, I think you would be hard pressed to find a person out side of Boston who believes that the Bruins could possibly get past their opposing Pittsburgh with any ease. Fact is, to win a playoff series, you need to win 4 games before the other team does, and, looking back at recent history the Bruins last win against Pittsburgh (back on December 5th 2011) was just their fourth since November of 2009 crazy.
In addition to that when you scan the playoff stat line's of the Bruins and Penguins, the Pens have the edge in almost every category. 47 goals scored trumps the Bruins 38. Yet even with that stat line set before them, the two starting goaltenders Pittsburgh has faced combined for a better regular season save percentage than the two Boston faced meaning that, long story short, Pittsburgh has faced better net minders yet scored more goals. Then on to defense. 27 goals allowed, one less than Bostons 28 amounts to a 2.33 Pittsburgh goals against average.
Yet when you look at these two teams and their stats, out comes a true example of when stats don't necessarily tell the truth. Even without the bias of being a Boston sports fan it wouldn't be that hard to off the top of your head defend the fact that going position by position the Bruins might be able to contend with this monstrous Penguins teams.
Goal-tending: Tuukka Rask or Thomas Vokoun, not a very hard decision. Tuukka, a 4 year veteran, and a man who overcame adversity sticking with the Bruins through thick and thin on his way to a 66/45/16 career win/loss/OT loss record. Thomas Vokoun on the other hand, an ageing 14 year veteran player who over the past few years has bounced around the league like a volleyball at the Olympics. Montreal, Nashville, Florida, Washington, and Pittsburgh, all teams Vokoun has played for and, save for Pittsburgh, all teams who realized what he was and due to lack of performance dropped him.
Defense: Say what you will, about Kris Letang but there is no way he can contend with Chara, Sidenberg, Boychuck and almighty Tory Krug, it just won't happen.
Offence: Yeah this one would go to Pittsburgh, I mean Marchand, Jager and Seguin are great but no one can contend with the Wane Gretzky of our time x2 Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Makin.
Make you picks as you wish but in my mind despite storming their way this deep into the playoffs, this Bruins team stands just a minor chance against one of the most offensively potent squads in NHL history.
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