Wouldn’t the Cup make a nice hood ornament for a Duck Boat?
Can ice hockey get any hotter?
This is how it felt around Foxborough in 2001 and around Fenway in 2004. This is how it felt when the Celtics routed and shocked the Lakers in the sixth game in 2008. The Bruins are suddenly dominating their favored foes and have the Cup well within their grasp. The Bruins outscored Vancouver 12-1 in two games here this week.
We should probably remind ourselves that the home team has won every game of this series and two of the next three games will be played at Rogers Arena in British Columbia. But it’s just hard to imagine the sieve goalie Roberto Luongo and the Canucks getting up off the mat after their abject humiliation in Games 3 and 4.
Just like in Game 3, the Bruins delighted their loyal throng with goals, defense, and a couple of dust-ups at the finish. Tim Thomas, who has emerged as the central figure of the playoffs, earned his third shutout and had a throw-down with the annoying Alex Burrows in the closing seconds.
The ever-standing sellout crowd absolutely loved it.
“Our crowd has been phenomenal, especially in these playoffs,’’ said Thomas after recording the B’s first Stanley Cup Final shutout since Gerry Cheevers blanked Montreal in 1978. “Playing at home in these playoffs has been a big advantage for us.’’
Last night’s pregame highlight was the sight of Orr, wearing his No. 4 sweater, hoisting a Nathan Horton flag while standing in the crowd by the Zamboni entrance. Now that the Orr card has been played it can only be Milt Schmidt or Johnny Bucyk for Game 6. Chief Bucyk was the man holding the Cup aloft when the B’s last won it at Madison Square Garden during the Nixon administration.
There was no shortage of emotion. Boston fans had barely recovered from Monday’s wild and woolly 8-1 win, the second greatest beatdown in the history of the Cup Final. The loss of Horton (concussion) and subsequent suspension of Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome amplified the electricity.
