Bruins-Hurricanes: Carolina Up Next for Boston

It has been a long time for Bruins fans, but this could be the year that the B's finally take home the Stanley

Cup. Something that the Bruins have this year that has been lacking in others is passion and excitement.

The Bruins of today remind Bostonians of the "Big Bad Bruins" from the 1970s under Don Cherry.

Players are not afraid to go out there and mix it up with their opponents. With players like Milan Lucic and Zdeno Chara, this fighting spirit has become contagious.

More importantly, though, these Bruins are thirsty—and they want to drink from Lord Stanley's Cup.

Phase One of this mission was achieved by sweeping their long-time foes, the Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins made quick work of this series and earned a deserved rest for their next opponents: The Carolina Hurricanes.

When I hear Carolina and ice hockey, I can not bring the two together. Ice hockey in the American South? Let's face it, the sports that matter the most in North Carolina are football and basketball. Most Southerners could care less about ice hockey. A hockey puck in North Carolina is a burned hamburger patty.

True hockey enthusiasts know that the Carolina Hurricanes were originally the Hartford Whalers. Back in the day, the Bruins and Whalers would duke it out for bragging rights as the best team in New England. Of course, the Bruins would win out most of the time.

Anyway, it is time for the Bruins to take another step towards winning the Cup. The Bruins need to stick to their game plan and blow away the 'Canes.