Titletown: Ranking Boston’s Championship Teams Since 2001
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2010-11 Boston Bruins
This Bruins team wasn’t particularly dominant in the regular season. They finished third in the Eastern Conference, behind the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers. Goalie Tim Thomas did have a stellar season, however, as the Bruins finished 3rd in the entire league in goals against, at 195.
Things did not start smoothly in the playoffs, as Boston dropped two straight games at home to open round one against the 6th seed Montreal Canadians. They managed to bounce back and win the series in seven games, with Thomas making 34 saves in the decisive game. In round two they throttled the 2nd seed Philadelphia Flyers, outscoring them 20-7 in a four game sweep.
In the Eastern Conference Finals and Stanley Cup the Bruins once again had to gut out seven game series, with Thomas once again coming up heroic. He shut out the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 1-0 game seven victory to advance to the Stanley Cup. There the Bruins faced the Vancouver Canucks, the best team in the league all season by a wide margin. A back and forth series came down to a game seven in Vancouver. Thomas made 37 saves in a 4-0 victory on his way to the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Bruins themselves hoisted the Cup for the first time in 39 years.
Next: No. 8 - This One Was All About Beantown