Boston Bruins: 5 Reasons They Will Win Game 7 vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning
The Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning have one final battle in Boston tonight to determine the Eastern Conference champion and earn a trip to Vancouver for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals next week.
The Bruins are 1-0 this postseason in game sevens, having defeated the Canadiens at home in the first round in overtime.
Boston is 1-3 in Game 7s since the 2007-08 season, and their record in closeout games is even worse.
This series has not gone according to many expert's predictions before it began. Instead of low-scoring games and goaltending showdowns, offense has reigned supreme.
The Lightning and Bruins have combined to score five or more goals in a single game five times in this series, but in Game 7, both teams will likely play a more conservative style and not open the ice as much.
These two evenly matched teams are set to battle for the Prince of Wales trophy, awarded to the NHL's Eastern conference champion.
Here's five reasons the Bruins will win tonight, and advance to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 1990.
The Bruins Power Play Will Improve
1 of 5
The Bruins powerplay in the 2011 NHL playoffs has been historically bad. In their first-round series win against the Montreal Canadiens, the Bruins became the first team in league history to win a best-of-seven series with no power play goal scored.
In the second round versus the Philadelphia Flyers, the Bruins improved a bit, but were not as good as they could be.
Here in the East finals versus the Lightning, the Bruins power play has been abysmal.
Bruins coach Claude Julien has tried many different variations of lines, formations, and zone entries to attempt to resurrect the power play, but none have found consistent success.
If the Bruins take Mark Recchi and Tomas Kaberle off the powerplay, and use defenseman Johnny Boychuk and forward Tyler Seguin instead, they will see a faster, more offensive-minded unit.
They also must enter the zone better. The Bruins have been dumping the puck in to the zone but are not winning the battles to gain possession of the puck and set up at the point.
Lastly, the Bruins must put pucks on net during the powerplay, and not look for the perfect shot. They will make these changes, and look to be more aggressive on the power play to make Tampa Bay goalie Dwayne Roloson's job more difficult.
Tim Thomas Will Play Like a Vezina Finalist
2 of 5
Tim Thomas was nominated for his second Vezina Trophy this season, and through the first two rounds of the playoffs he was spectacular for the Bruins.
But against the Lightning, Thomas has been shaky and has given up five goals in a game four times in this series.
Thomas has had some very good games, including Games 3 and 5 of this series, but he must be great for the Bruins to win tonight.
Thomas' stellar play in net has made up for the Bruins' lack of a powerplay, but if Thomas doesn't produce in Game 7 the Bruins won't win.
Thomas is a great goalie who will bounce back in this series and earn Boston a spot in the Cup Finals. After a loss in this series, Thomas is 2-0 including one shutout.
Tyler Seguin Will Get More Playing Time in Game 7
3 of 5
At this point in the playoffs every player is fatigued, bruised and battered. It's the nature of the game of hockey.
Bruins rookie forward Tyler Seguin was a healthy scratch in the first two rounds this postseason, and has only played about 10 minutes per game in this series.
His fresh legs and great speed will be a big help to the Bruins who need more energy against a younger and more skilled Lightning team.
Seguin showed he's fully capable of producing in his first career playoffs, and had four points in Game 2, and two in Game 1.
He is a great offensive talent who can score against any Tampa defense. His play tonight will provide fresh legs for the Bruins on offense and hopefully the powerplay.
.png?w=256 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=256 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=256)
The Bruins' Top Offensive Line is on Fire
4 of 5
Bruins top-line center David Krejci played the best postseason game of his career in Game 6 Wednesday night in Tampa.
He earned a playoff hat trick for the Bruins, including a power play goal. It was the first Bruins playoff hat trick since Cam Neely did it in the early 1990s.
All of Boston's four goals in Game 6 came from the front line, who have not played well this series. In addition to Krejci's three goals, Milan Lucic scored his second goal of the playoffs.
Lucic has not played well this postseason, and has been a major disappointing in the playoffs so far. He scored 30 goals in the regular season, so his offensive struggles are a bit of a mystery.
Lucic plays well in big games however. He had two goals in Game 7 of the Flyers series last year, and he scored a goal in the clincher versus the Flyers this season.
The crowd loves Lucic and he will be fired up at home, and will use his solid Game 6 performance as a confidence booster going into Game 7.
The other member of the top line for Boston is Nathan Horton, who has two overtime winners this postseason; both in the first round against Montreal at home in Games 5 and 7.
When the Boston top line plays well, they are very tough to beat. They are feeling very confident right now, and are ready to lead the Bruins to the cup finals.
The Bruins Have Home Ice
5 of 5
Having home ice in the NHL playoffs isn't as big of an advantage as some other sports, but in a city like Boston whose waited so long for hockey glory, it is a big advantage.
The Bruins will feed of the energy and passion of the crowd all night long, and will use it to find that extra adrenaline in the third period when fatigue is a real concern.
Boston fans haven't seen Stanley Cup hockey since 1990, and haven't seen a Cup winner since 1972. They are ready for the Bruins to return to glory, and will be louder than ever in Game 7.
During the playoffs, the Bruins are 6-3 at home, and are 3-0 in Game 5s and 7s at home this postseason.
.png?w=480 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=480 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=480)
.png?w=600 "B/R NHL Staff Second-Round Predictions 🏒")
