Good times' a Bruin.

Just after 8pm local time, the city of Vancouver descended into rioting and anarchy. Shops and banks were looted, cars turned over, fires blazing all across the city. From the birds-eye pictures, it looked as if chaos had presented itself. For the people of Vancouver, and Canada as a whole, rioting after losses in their national sport isn't something new, it's happened in Montreal and it's happened once before in Vanouver (1994). I ponder, and somewhat fear the severity of the riot that would of ensued had Team Canada lost the gold medal game in the olympics last year. They didn't!

Inside the sold out Rogers Arena in Vancouver, the Vancouver Canucks had just been soundly beaten by the Boston Bruins, whose 4-0 victory saw them secure their first Stanley Cup since 1972, a 39 year drought ended. With stellar play from Conn Smythe trophy winner Tim Thomas, matched by 2 goal salvo's from Patrice Bergeron and rookie Brad Marchand, the "Black and Gold" secured their first cup since the days of Bobby Orr.

For the Bruins, who since the turn of the millenium have seen the Patriots become a dynasty, the Red Sox become a perennial powerhouse, and the Celtics return to prominence, had finally ended their drought, and cleared their name as the "Fredo" of the Boston sports picture. The Bruins for a long time had been regarded as a faliure, they went 19 years (1992-2011) without winning consecutive playoff series. They choked a 3-0 playoof lead to the Flyers (2011).  They traded Ray Borque so he had a chance at winning the cup, then threw a parade for him when he did...for Colorado. Trades of Phil Kessel and "Jumbo" Joe Thornton amongst others were castigated as the Bruins found themselves at the cellar, looking for a way back.

No more.

This years' playoffs were different. Overcoming the hated Montreal Canadiens after being 2 game to none down. That didn't happen, the Habs usually win, right? Then using that momentum to exorcise any demons that remained fromt he previous year's playoff debacle. A debacle which is now history, and holds little-to-no significance.

After breaking the nigh on 2 decade drought of winning back-to-back seires in the postseason, the Bruins ousted Tampa Bay in 7 games (their 2nd 7 game series of the playoffs) and booked a date with the Canucks. Again, the B's found themselves 2 game to 0 down, against the "hot goalie", or so we thought, as Luongo was shellacked in 4 of the last 5 games of the series, whilst "Tank" Tim Thomas remained sizzling, stopping a Stanley Cup finals record 238 shots, and a playoff record 798. All these postseason accoldes, added to his regular season dominance, where he set the all time record in save percentage (.938) eclipsing Dominik Hasek's record.

In the final game 7, the Bruins third of the playoffs(becoming the only team to win 3 game 7's), the Bruins went into a building where they had an 0-3 record in this series, but had only lost by 1 goal in each game, one in OT, one with 19 seconds to go and the other 1-0. A near flawless performance, and a further game where the Bruins defence kept key Canucks like Ryan Kesler, and the Sedin's (Henrik and Daniel) the latter of which guaranteed a win. The 3 key players on the Canucks were anonymous for the whole series.

The Canucks will undoubtedly look back and lament missed opportunities, and scour the video to see where things went wrong. After a Raffi Torres game winner in game 1, and Alexandre Burrows avoiding suspension for biting Patrice Bergeron in game 1, then going on to score twice in game 2 (icluding the OT winner), the Canucks headed to Beantown up 2.

For the first period in Boston, it was a nip-tuck game, but two things happened in that game that turned the series, and shifted momentum entirely to the Bruins.

- Zdeno Chara, the Bruins captain calling his team out in the locker room apparently had the right effect, and resonated with alot of his teammates.

- Aaron Rome's late hit on Nathan Horton (arguably the best scorer on the Bruins) leaving him with a concussion, and out of the series. For the Bruins, i think this was where the series flipped 180. Similar to Rocky 3, where Rocky is down and out, after being destroyed by Clubber Lang, Mickey dying, he was down on his luck, until Apollo came back to help him, and train him, to motivate him. Inexplicably, Aaron Rome was the Bruins Apollo, except without the awkward beach hug scene.

After a game 3 trouncing, finishing 8-1, the Bruins carried that momentum through to win game 4 by four goals to zero. Vancouver stole game 5 with the help of home-ice. Game 6 was more of the same, as Boston scored early, and scored often, as they won 5-2 to take the series to game 7, where, as you know, they poured it on the Canucks.

The great thing, in my opinion about the Stanley Cup, is the stories. Unlike reality show sob stories where their appealing for votes, and adualtion, the Stanley Cup has co-incidences and fightbacks. As the Bruins lifted the cup and one player handed it to another, there was a story for all of them.

-As Chara lifted the cup, he screamed so loud, that if he was painted green you would confuse him with Reptar. For Chara though, he long had been questioned about his ability to lead a team deep in thr playoffs. Thart theory is gone.

He passed it to Recchi, who had just announced his retirement, for a 43 year old legend of the game to go out on top is a fitting ending no doubt. Recchi gave the cup to Patrice Bergeron, who scored two goals in the game, 4 years after missing an entire season with a concussion, with surely a fear he may never have returned to the same standard as before. He did!

Then on to Tim Thomas, the MVP, the hero. The man who next week will seal his 2nd Vezina trophy in 3 years, but sandwiched in between them seasons is one filled with injury, struggles and eventually him watching from the sidelines as Tuuka Rask took over goalie duties inthe playoffs.With rumours of Thomas being traded this offseason, he decided to put together one of, if not the greatest goalie season in the history of the sport.

The cup found it's way to Horton, who with no bitterness about missing the game had a beaming smile on his face, with his jersey and his skates on, not feeling left out. Onto Lucic in his hometown, then Marchand, the pesky rookie who shocked the front office with his confidence. Marchnd was given the ultimate repsect he could of asked for after a series of instigating, clutch scoring and being a nuisance to the Canucks. As he lifted the cup, a chorus of boo's that were saved for him, yet were drowned out by the sound of grown men screaming and celebrating like kid son the playground.

After all the interviews, me finding myself more awake at 4.30, and being every bit as delirious as the players, joining in the celebrations, albeit by myself. The interviews were conducted the same, the player introduced his family said how it was a dream come true and moved on. Except Thomas, who took time to say what a great team Vancouver was, and how he thought Luongo, who had ripped him afte rgame 5, saying the goal would of been "an easy save for me", was a great goalie.

For the Bruins now, the drought has ended, after weeks of  "we want the cup" being the echo of fans at the garden, the team delivered, and the icing on the cake, was the team picture on the ice to end the season. A piece of history i always found to be slightly cringeworthy, and pointless seemed alot more rewarding and wonderful when it;s the set of players you watched play all season, every season.

I guess finally the "Big and Bad" are back...let us hope it;s not another 39 years before the Cup's won again.