NHL Finals: Boston Bruins Win Game 7, Bring Stanley Cup Back to "Hub of Hockey"

Thirty-nine years.

Finally, the Stanley Cup can call Boston its home once again.

Tim Thomas and the Bruins played full-tilt, smash-mouth hockey and somehow managed to win three Game 7s en route to the franchise's sixth Stanley Cup victory.

Bruins fans everywhere refer to Boston as the "Hub of Hockey," but for so many years, the B's have taken a backseat to the dynastic New England Patriots, the rejuvenated Boston Celtics and obviously, the beloved Boston Red Sox.

Not anymore.

With this Stanley Cup run, the Bruins have slipped past all three teams and directly into the hearts of every sports fan in Boston. This city has missed the Bruins.

In the '60s and '70s, the Bruins, led by the legendary Bobby Orr, were the most popular team in the New England area, along with the Bill Russell led Boston Celtics. Following Russell's retirement in 1969, everyone turned to Orr and the Bruins to continue Boston's winning tradition.

No. 4 delivered.

After joining the Bruins in 1966, Bobby led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup victory the year following Russell's retirement, and then once again in 1972. In both championships, Orr not only scored the winning goals, but won the Stanley Cup MVP.

Until Wednesday night, No. 4 was the last memory Bruins fans had of the ultimate victory. His flying, game-clinching goal in 1970 might be the most famous goal in NHL history.

Wednesday night, the Bruins added to their legacy.

These players earned this. They drew strength from every slight, they left no man behind, and through a mental and physical toughness unmatched by any of their opponents, these Boston Bruins are your world champions.

Tim Thomas, the 37-year-old journeyman turned Vezina Trophy winner, was almost forgotten in favor of the younger Tukka Rask. As usual, Thomas responded with class. He worked as hard as he could, pushing himself to the absolute limit. In the regular season, Thomas posted the best save percentage in NHL history.

Did he stop there? Of course not.

Thomas persevered through an extremely long title run, getting better and better as the playoffs wore on. Now, after shutting out the superb Vancouver Canucks in the clinching Game 7, Timmy has reached the mountain top. Winner of the Conn Smythe Stanley Cup Playoffs Most Outstanding Player Award, Thomas has cemented his place in history with one of the most inspiring, dominating Stanley Cup Finals performances of all time.

As Thomas received the Conn Smythe Award following his virtuosic 37-save shutout against the stunned Vancouver Canucks, there was a historical exchange being made.

Bobby Orr, the greatest Boston Bruins player to ever live, is now sealed in the past. Finally, the Bruins can stop looking to Orr as their only champion.

Now, they have Tim Thomas. They have Brad Marchand, the barely 5'9" rookie whose 11 goals this postseason are the most since Dino Ciccarelli had 14 in 1981. They have Patrice Bergeron, the Canadian sniper who came back from multiple concussions to score two goals in the clinching game. They have Zdeno Chara, the impossibly tall Slovakian who rescued the Bruins from obscurity in 2006 and is constantly mentioned among the best defensemen in the game.

This team isn't comprised of egotistical superstars. There is no flashiness here. These players don't talk the talk unless they are going to walk the walk.

Following the lead of their rugged goalie from Flint, Michigan, the Bruins out-worked, out-hustled, and in turn, out-played all of their opponents.

They conquered.

The 2011 Boston Bruins did what no one thought was possible. They brought a Stanley Cup back to its rightful place in Boston, the "Hub of Hockey."