Some Thoughts on a Terrific 2012-13 NHL Season and a Fabulous Final

With the ugly lockout far behind us, the 48-game sprint of a marathon regular season a memory, and a phenomenal four rounds that proved the best team sometimes wins, there are some lessons to be gained from the 2012-13 NHL season.

We know that 82 games are a necessity in today's sports fiscal climate, but wasn't it great to see a compact season in which every game mattered?  The absence of long travel due to the conference-only schedule made for better hockey, better pace to games, and many more critical games. And that's good for players and fans.

I could not help but think, though, as I read as much about broken legs and fractured faces, sprained knees and separated shoulders, punctured lungs and concussions, that the NHL is perilously close (like 5-10 years) from having to re-assess four rounds of best-of-sevens with the Stanley Cup at stake.

Yes, it's a war of attrition. Yes, depth and health and luck are more important than ever. But is it safe and smart to ask players who have played an 82-game season just to make the playoffs to gear up for two months of high-intensity, high-pressure, critically important hockey?

A long time ago, it took three rounds to win the Cup. In 1979-80 the league expanded to 21 teams, 16 of which made the playoffs, and the playoffs expanded to four full rounds ... but the first round was a best-of-three. Then a few years later a best-of-five. Ever since 1986-87, every round has been a best-of-seven, meaning it has taken 16 really difficult wins to capture the Cup for the last 26 years.

I saw firsthand as a New York Daily News sportswriter covering the NY Islanders in the mid- to late 80s what four straight Cups and an unsuccessful Drive for Five in 1984 did to a dynasty's collective physical state. I saw firsthand over the last two weeks what Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara, Nathan Horton and Milan Lucic, not to mention the rest of the Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks, too, endured to reach the Final.

It was great hockey. It was compelling theater, with the comebacks and the rallies and the overtimes and the gut-wrenching one-goal games. I'm wondering, though, if the 48-game season was why these two teams were able to squeeze out what they did in May and June.

We shall see next season when the 30 teams play 82 ... and then 16 try to thrive for two months playing for the greatest trophy in sports. 

Stanley Cup Final Game 6 Report

A stunning finish to Game 6 and the Chicago Blackhawks won their second Stanley Cup in four years. Their 3-2 victory in Game 6 of the Final at TD Garden in Boston ended the Bruins' quest for their second Cup in three years.

The Bruins wore Black Final Set 2, which remains the team's set. Five players wore two jerseys in the game:

-Zdeno Chara wore an extra Black Final Set 2 jersey, which will be retained by the team along with the original Black Final Set 2. switched after the second period. He did not wear Black Final Set 1 in this game.

-Dennis Seidenberg alternated period by period, wearing Set 2 in the first and third periods. He wore Set 1 in the second period.

-Johnny Boychuk alternated period by period, wearing Set 2 in the first and third periods. He wore Set 1 in the second.

-Nathan Horton switched after the second period ... and wore his Set 1 in the third period.

-Patrice Bergeron switched after the second period ... and wore his Set 1 in the third period.

I authenticated both complete sets of Black Final jerseys after the game, and took possession of the 29 Black Final Set 1 jerseys. I will be returning to TD Garden tomorrow to authenticate the White Final jerseys that were packed and ready to fly to Chicago with the Bruins, had they won Game 6 and forced a Game 7.

Congratulations to the Blackhawks on winning the Stanley Cup, and to the Bruins for a spectacular run that fell only two wins short.

Stanley Cup Final, Pregame 6 Report

Welcome to Game 6 from TD Garden in Boston, where the Bruins trail the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final, three games to two. The Bruins will be trying to do to Chicago what they did to the Vancouver Canucks two years ago ... win Game 6 at home and Game 7 on the road to win the Cup.

Chicago will be trying to do to Boston what it did to Philadelphia three years ago ... win Game 6 on the road to clinch the Cup.

Since we are in a clinching situation tonight, the Bruins are wearing Black Set 2 Final. The five Bruins who have worn two jerseys in games throughout the series, will start in Black Set 2 Final and switch into Black Set 1 Final. The five are Patrice Bergeron (in the lineup despite suffering an undisclosed injury in Game 5 that sidelined him for most of the final two periods), Johnny Boychuk, Zdeno Chara, Nathan Horton, and Dennis Seidenberg.

From the pregame warmup: Because of Bergeron's injury, 23 Bruins took warmup. Besides the regular 20 players in the lineup, defenseman Matt Bartkowski and forwards Jordan Caron and Jay Pandolfo took warmup and did not play. Center Carl Soderberg, who took warmup in Games 1 through 4 before being inserted in the lineup in Game 5 for Kaspars Daugavins, was in the lineup last night. Daugavins did not take warmup.

If the Bruins win, they will be wearing White Set 2 Final in Game 7 at Chicago on Wednesday.

Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Report

The only good news for Bruins' collectors is that after Chicago captured Game 4 in overtime, 6-5, to tie the 2013 Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece, Boston will again wear White Final Set 1 in Game 5 Saturday from Chicago.

Just as they did in 2011, the Boston Bruins lost Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on the road to fall behind three games to two, and forcing themselves to win Games 6 and 7 to win the Stanley Cup.

The Blackhawks' 3-1 victory at United Center means Boston is forced to win Monday at TD Garden just to force a Game 7. And now that Chicago has three victories and is in a clinching situation, the Bruins will wear Black Final Set 2 on Monday.

After authenticating the White Set 1 Final jerseys following Chicago's game 5 victory, I can report that four Bruins (Johnny Boychuk, Zdeno Chara, Nathan Horton, and Dennis Seidenberg) wore more than one jersey in the game:

-Chara switched after the second period ... and wore his Set 2 for the third.

-Seidenberg alternated period by period, wearing Set 1 in the first and third periods. He wore Set 2 in the second period.

-Boychuk alternated period by period, wearing Set 1 in the first and third periods. He wore Set 2 in the second.

-Horton switched after the second period ... and wore his Set 2 in the third period.

Patrice Bergeron wore his White Set 1 Final for two periods, and then left the game with an injury and did not play in the third period.

Carl Soderberg played for the first time in the series, and his jersey moved from a $750 Game-Issued to a $2,500 Game-Worn.

As they did in each game, the Bruins dressed 22 players for warmup, including defenseman Matt Bartkowski and forward Kaspars Daugavins, who did not play.

For the second time in three seasons, MeiGray's Final Sets got the maximum five games of use (three white, two black). And since Boychuk, Chara, Horton and Seidenberg wear two jerseys in a game, these Set 1 jerseys will get use in Game 6 and (if there is a seventh game) Game 7.

Bergeron will also wear two jerseys if he is healthy enough to play in Game 6.

See you Monday from TD Garden.

Back to Chicago for Game 5, Pregame Report

Back to Chicago, and the final game in which jerseys available through Boston-MGG will be worn.

Tonight, the third and final game for White Final Set 1. Black Final Set 1 was complete after Games 3 and 4.

A 21st White Final Set 1 game-worn was created when Carl Soderberg was inserted into the Bruins' lineup.

For the fifth straight game, the Bruins dressed 22 players in warmup. Defenseman Matt Bartkowski dressed for warmup, but did not play. So his White Final Set 1 becomes a three-game warmup only. Forward Kaspars Daugavins, who played in Games 1-4, warmed up but did not play Game 5.

The same five Bruins who have worn two jerseys in Games 1-4, Patrice Bergeron, Johnny Boychuk, Zdeno Chara, Nathan Horton, and Dennis Seidenberg, again are scheduled to wear two different jerseys in Game 5.

We'll be back after the game.

Stanley Cup Final Game 4 Report

The only good news for Bruins' collectors is that after Chicago captured Game 4 in overtime, 6-5, to tie the 2013 Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece, Boston will again wear White Final Set 1 in Game 5 Saturday from Chicago.

A wild and wacky night at TD Garden ended when Brent Seabrook fired a slapper past Tuukka Rask at 9:51 of OT.

After authenticating the jerseys following Chicago's victory, I can report that six Bruins (Patrice Bergeron, Johnny Boychuk, Zdeno Chara, Nathan Horton, David Krejci and Dennis Seidenberg) wore more than one jersey in the game:

-Krejci wore an extra Black Final jersey in the first period, which was donated by Boston-MGG to the Hockey Hall of Fame for their annual Stanley Cup Final display.

-Chara switched after the second period ... and wore his Set 2 for the third. He switched back to his Set 1 for OT.

-Seidenberg alternated period by period, wearing Set 1 in the first and third periods. He wore Set 2 in the second period and OT.

-Boychuk alternated period by period, wearing Set 1 in the first and third periods. He wore Set 2 in the second period and OT.

-Horton switched after the second period ... and wore his Set 2 in the third period. He switched back to his Set 1 for OT.

-Bergeron switched after the second period ... and wore his Set 2 in the third period. He switched back to his Set 1 for OT.

As they did in each game, the Bruins dressed 22 players for warmup, including defenseman Matt Bartkowski and forward Carl Soderberg, who did not play.

See you Saturday from United Center.

Stanley Cup Final, Game 4, Pregame Report

Welcome to Game 4 from TD Garden in Boston, where the Bruins lead the Stanley Cup Final, two games to one.

The Bruins again will be wearing Black Set 1, which they wore in their 2-0 victory in Game 3.

David Krejci is expected to wear an additional Black Final jersey tonight, to be donated by Bruins-MGG to the Hockey Hall of Fame. And as they have done all series, five Bruins (Patrice Bergeron, Johnny Boychuk, Zdeno Chara, Nathan Horton, Dennis Seidenberg, and Shawn Thornton) are expected to wear two jerseys in this game, switching at some points between periods.

Update: Krejci wore a Black Final jersey for the HHOF for the first period, then switched back to his Final Set 1. Seidenberg and Boychuk switched into their Final Set 2 jerseys after the first period.

From the pregame warmup: For the fourth straight game, 22 Bruins took warmup. As they did before Games 1 through 3, defenseman Matt Bartkowski and forward Carl Soderberg skated during the pre-game warmup. Neither is expected in the lineup, as the Bruins have used the same 20 players all series.