Boston Sports Then and Now

Hey Claude, I am pretty good!

This “Filth” is not the filth you associate with Larry Flynt. This is not the filth that you hid under your mattress or on the top shelf of your closet. The “Filth” I speak about is exactly what Tyler Seguin has been peddling since he has been inserted (due to the injury of Patrice Bergeron) in the Bruins’ playoff line-up.

He has been dirty. He has been rotten. He has been downright “filthy”.  He wouldn’t be rated X, R, PG, or NC-17. The highlight film that Tyler Seguin has starred in thus far would be rated TS-19.

He has embarrassed NHL veterans. Tampa Bay defensemen are still looking for their jocks. Lightning goalie, Dwayne Roloson (at age 41) is pissed that Tyler Seguin has had no respect for him or the rest of his elders.

After being a healthy scratch for the Bruins first 11 post season games, Tyler Seguin has finally arrived and Tampa(along with the rest of the free world) has taken notice…BIG TIME.

In Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bruins imploded in less than 90 seconds digging themselves a huge hole. Boston was in need of a jumpstart. They were flat lining and their pulse was fleeting.

Tyler Seguin became the paramedic paddles to resuscitate the lifeless Black and Gold body of the Bruins. He turned on the jets, undressed the Tampa defense and twisted Dwayne Roloson into a human pretzel.  He ignited the hope of the fans. However, Claude Julien was still not convinced by sitting Seguin for 15 minutes.

Hey coach, he scored a goal scorers goal! Dare I say Gretzky-esque? A score of such beauty has not been seen in the Hub of Hockey since #8 retired.

Tyler Seguin showcased the skills that made him the second overall pick in the 2010 NHL draft (thank you Kessel). He had his strongest game with only nine minutes of ice time by scoring a highlight goal and assisting on Boston’s other tally.  Even though Seguin’s “filthy” performance wasn’t enough to will the Bruins to victory, this was his coming out party. Seguin was playing to impress and even his pig headed coach had to take notice.

However, it was still no shoe in that Seguin would play in Game Two. If Patrice Bergeron was cleared to play, there is no doubt Seguin would be riding the pine. Julien’s allegiance to his veterans is a case of blind faith. Recchi is getting old and he is showing it. Shawn Thornton’s only role is as an enforcer. Michael Ryder is the Haley’s comet of the Bruins, his great performances are few and very far between.

Luckily, the decision was made for Claude because Bergeron was not ready to go. Tyler Seguin was handed a pen and paper to write another chapter in his young career. With the Bruins trailing 2-1 in the second period, Seguin turned in his best Hemingway yet, a pure masterpiece.

Michael Ryder fed the “King of Filth” with a pass and he split the defense yet again. Dwayne Roloson must have been muttering to himself yet again on how this kid was going to make him look foolish. The Lightning goalie was left spinning on the ice like a top, as Seguin went top shelf tying up the game 2-2. One would have thought they were in the old Garden, as the decibel level was deafening. Bruins’ nation was in frenzy as they witnessed the maturation of a superstar.

If Game One was Seguin’s coming out party, Game Two would be one for the ages. The Lightning were besieged after Krejci’s goal put the Bruins up, 3-2. Most fans would have been content with Seguin’s epic goal earlier in the period, but this kid is a show stopper. He took a feed from Nathan Horton on a 2 on 1 and picked the corner with a filthy snipe leaving the Tampa netminder shaking his head again. Roloson and the Lightning had no answers for this tenacious teenager.

Great players elevate their teammates play as well.  Michael Ryder was teetering on the edge of a benching until Seguin’s filthy play rubbed off on him. Ryder scored on the power play and in the final minutes of the second period to give the Bruins a 6-3 lead.

After a torrid attack from Tampa in third, the Bruins held on for a 6-5 victory evening the series at one game apiece.

Plain and simple, if Seguin was not in the line-up, the Bruins don’t win this game.  He proved to all his skeptics especially his coach that

All hail the King of Filth!

he is a game changer. He tied a NHL record held by the likes of Super Mario and the “Great One” with four points in a period. He is the only pure goal scorer on the Bruins’ roster.  BAR NONE. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, Seguin is the only one who can peddle “Filth” with his stick.

The Hub of Hockey Savior has finally arrived and is ready to lead his team to the Promised Land of Lord Stanley!

Rejoice….Tyler “Title” Seguin!