Deja Vu: Another Crushing Playoff Exit for the Bruins
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Former Yankee great and unintentional philosopher Yogi Bera once said, “it’s like déjà vu all over again!” He may as well have been referring to what it’s like to be a Boston sports fan because being a Bruins fan today is like being a Red Sox fan pre 2004 – excruciating!
You remember what I’m talking about? Prior to their miraculous comeback against the Yankees in the ’04 ALCS, we watched Red Sox games with a pit in our stomach wondering how they were going to let us down this time. Ditto for the post 1972 Boston Bruins!
This time, the Philadelphia Flyers were Lucy holding the football and the Bruins were Charlie Brown expecting to give it a boot. The problem is it was Boston who got booted from the Stanley Cup playoffs in heartbreaking fashion.
Following their first round upset of Buffalo, Boston was thrilled to have home ice advantage against the 7th-seeded Flyers who, themselves, had upset the New Jersey Devils in round 1. And Boston jumped out to what looked like an insurmountable 3-0 series lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.
But then game 4 happened. After a hard fought and well played game by both teams, Philly pulled it out in overtime 5-4. Boston was still in control of the series leading 3-1, but the Flyers had a glimmer of hope. And, boy, did they take advantage of it.
Forcing a 7thand deciding game in Boston Friday night, you could sense the pressure well before the puck was even dropped. It was a tension convention inside the TD Garden.
The team, however, didn’t seem phased by it early on. Boston jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first and fans had visions of a dream match-up with Montreal in the Eastern Conference finals in their heads. But, like they did with the 3-0 series lead, Boston blew the 3-goal lead and were tied heading into the third period.
Then, the ghost of Bruins past reared its ugly head. Evoking memories of their heartbreaking 1979 playoff loss to Montreal, Boston was whistled for too many men on the ice at 11:10 of the third period. Philadelphia took advantage of the break with Simon Gagne’s power play goal at 12:52 which turned out to be the game and series winner.
It was as if game 7 was a microcosm of the entire series: the B’s jump out to a big lead and appear to be in control. Then they collapse!
Where once we mourned the shortcomings of our Boston Red Sox for 86 years, we now lament another Bruins choke job. It’s 38 years and counting since Lord Stanley’s Cup has resided on Causeway Street.
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