Boston Bruins 2012-13 NHL Preview:
Fresh off their first Stanley Cup title in decades - which came during the 2010-11 season - the Bruins looked poised to become the newest dynasties in the NHL. The Bruins seemed like one of the most talented teams in the NHL throughout the regular season, finishing with a 49-29-4 record and winning the Northeast Division title. However, they suffered a bit of a championship hangover, as they were pushed to a pivotal Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals and lost on a heartbreaking overtime goal. With their core largely intact, the Bruins are looking to recapture some of the magic that they had during their championship run to once again get back to the top of the professional hockey world.
The Bruins have one of the most impressive group of forwards in the NHL, which helped them finish second in the league in scoring, despite not having a single player in the top 25 in points or goals scored. The first line of Patrice Bergeron, Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand are as good as any in the Eastern Conference, but it's the team's depth that could make the difference in the 2012-13 season. The return of forward Nathan Horton from a series of concussions should assist the second line, which also includes talented playmakers like David Krejci and Milan Lucic.
On defense, the Bruins have two of the best defensemen in the game in Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk. Chara's immense size and physical style make him a constant force near the goal, and he should continue to be a huge part of the Bruins' success. The team may also benefit from the arrival of Dougie Hamilton, a young defenseman who could prove to be very valuable in improving the Bruins' power play. Finally, last year's Vezina Trophy winner, Tim Thomas, will not be in goal this year, so the Bruins will turn to Tuuka Rask and Anton Khudobin to stop opposing scoring attacks.
The Bruins will open up on the road this season against the Philadelphia Flyers, and will return to Boston for their home opener on October 18 to face off against their rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. With a Black Friday matchup against the New York Rangers and New Year's Eve games against the Calgary Flames, there's plenty of action for Bruins' fans to be excited about as the team continues its quest to return to the top of the hockey world.
BOSTON BRUINS EXPERIENCE:
Founded: 1924
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Stadium: TD Garden
Conference: Eastern Conference
Division: Northeast Division
Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Titles: 6, last Stanley Cup Title 2010-11
Boston Bruins Conference Championships: 3
Notable Players: Bill Cowley, Eddie Shore, Cooney Weiland, Jean Ratelle, Brad Park
The Boston Bruins play hockey in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The franchise was founded in 1924 as the first American NHL team. The Boston Bruins managed to win 3 Stanley Cups before World War II would decimate the team, as many of the star Bruins enlisted. The Boston Bruins would struggle until they signed Bobby Orr in 1966. The “Big Bad Bruins” would compete with the best of the league during the 1970's, winning 2 Stanley Cups. The ‘80s and ‘90s also showed the Boston Bruins to be strong contenders nearly every year, even though they wouldn't win another Stanley Cup until 2010.
The Boston Bruins play in the TD Garden, formerly the TD Banknorth Garden and the FleetCenter, an arena that holds nearly 19,000. The arena puts the Boston Bruins directly in the center of Boston and connects it with major transportation networks via the city's North Station, making it easy to get there to see a game. Buy Boston Bruins tickets and watch this historic team with its new stars make a run at the playoffs and another Stanley Cup!