A Tested Recipe for Success, the Bruins Cook Up a Devilish Dish

One team has been known for decades for their ability to stifle the offensive creativity of virtually any opponent, the NJ Devils.  Their consistent commitment to a team game designed by Devils’ architect, Lou Lamoriello has also been the blueprint for success for the NHL measuring stick of success, the Detroit Red Wings.  So when the Bruins’ ventured into Newark and worked for 64+ minutes to administer to the Devils a healthy dose of their own medicine, it really was the first sign on this long roller coaster season that the Black & Gold understood what it would take from them to be successful.

The 2009-10 Bruins have struggled to claim a team identity, and have been alternating between Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde for most of the season.  With a huge game in hand on the schedule, a Bruins’ team devoid of a threatening sniper hit the road to face arguably the most defensively responsible team in the NHL for the last two decades.  While the legendary Martin Brodeur has appeared almost human this season, he is absolutely the last NHL netminder I would want my team to face when struggling to light the lamp, the way the Bruins have this season.  The B’s have spent the year searching for a style of play to suit their strengths, but the Devils’ have an ingrained team style that serves them well.  They have long been hated for their ability to stifle and choke the life out of a team; frustrating their opponents into making mistakes which they pounce on, then look to Brodeur to rudely slam the door.  It takes incredible patience and a disciplined selflessness to play the way the Devils play, it is admirable that they have been able to bring players up within their system, and import them via trades and free agency who immediately subscribe to a team first style of play.

The complaint with this style, even from some self-professed Devils fans, “it’s boring”.  This honestly makes me laugh out loud. No, I am sure the lack of high flying offense does not put butts in seats at The Rock on a nightly basis but would fans rather have an “exciting” team that struggles for consistency, or a team that has been designed for success, and trade it for a team which has only won the Cup once in the last 40 years?  What the Devils and the Red Wings play night in and night out is playoff style hockey, and it is not something they flip on like a light switch when they get to best of 7 series play.  Clinging to 8^th place last night the Bruins’ out played the Devils in every facet of their own style.  The B’s possessed the puck, they employed a dogged forecheck, they closed down the neutral zone and limited the Devils’ quality scoring chances.  In fact if the Bruins were playing against anyone other than Brodeur I am not convinced the score wouldn’t have been more like a 2-0 B’s regulation win.  Tuukka Rask made timely stops, and the Bruins killed off an egregious Zdeno Chara hooking penalty, and generated more scoring chances on the PK than the Devils had on the PP.  Things did get a bit harried for the Bruins in the final minute of regulation (I am certain if I had the NESN feed I would have heard the Jack Edward’s “vulnerable minute” jinx) but Rask stood tall and the B’s secured the point.

What transpired in OT should set the table for the Bruins last 6 regular season games, and hopefully a run deep into the playoffs.  The Bruins exhibited continued patience, and stayed within the team system on the 4v4.  The team which inexplicably broke form was the NJ Devils.  Ilya Koval(cup)chuk was hounded by a tenacious Bruins’ forecheck.  He was turned back in the neutral zone not once but twice, and perhaps he figured the third time was the charm.  As a Bruin fan I sat on the edge of my seat, Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi up front on the 4v4, something good was bound to happen.  I had the same feeling the other night against Buffalo when the puck was on Recchi’s stick, and while he was denied by Ryan Miller, I will put my money on Rex in those situations 9 times out of 10.  The work of Bergeron and Recchi was well complimented by the hockey IQ of Mark Stuart, who moved the puck into a shooting lane to create the GWG.  Recchi and Brodeur may both be entering the twilight of their storied careers, but the battles between the two have been epic, going back to the clashes in the 90’s between the Devils and Penguins.  Rex has been an absolute rock for the Bruins all year, and known for his deft touch in front of the net, however it was his pursuit of the puck carrier, Kovalchuk, which truly created the opportunity for the Bruins to take home the much needed, and well-earned second point.

The Bruins did not get frustrated, despite out chancing the Devils for most of the game with nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.  They stayed true to their roles, and protected the puck in all three zones.  They cooked-up a win using the ingredients of grit, determination and discipline.  If this vanilla recipe gives the B’s the best chance to dine at the playoff banquet and sip from Lord Stanley’s Cup are Bruins’ fans willing to accept, it in order to make a reservation for hockey in June?? I hope the Bruins continue to play what Recchi called “the perfect road game” for the next couple of months, regardless of the barn.  The reward could be a vanilla sundae eaten from the Stanley Cup? Get me a spoon because I am sure that would taste pretty sweet!