Two teams are really beginning the catch the hockey world's attention. The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks are the two hottest teams in the NHL, but the big question is are both of these teams championship contenders? Here is an in depth look.
Boston Bruins 14-3-4 (32 points)
The Bruins are 9-0-1 in their last ten games and are currently tied for first place in the E
astern Conference with the New York Rangers. Boston was expected to be a much improved team this season with the additi! on of Michael Ryder and the return of star center Patrice Bergeron, but by n means this good. There is no one aspect of this team that is the reason for all this success. It has been a complete effort top to bottom. Management has done a great job finding young superstars and also adding stars like Zdeno Chara and Marc Savard a few years ago in GM Peter Chiarelli's first season. Chiarelli also snagged up head coach Claude Julien after he was shockingly fired from New Jersey a few years ago. Julien has given this team a new identity and attitude and all the players are buying into it. One of his most controversial moves was benching young stud Phil Kessel last year in the playoffs against Montreal. Kessel was stunned, but later in the series was inserted back into the lineup and became the Bruins superstar. Boston then forced the #1 seeded Canadiens to 7 games where they eventually lost. But nonetheless, Kessel received a huge wake up call and now the young forward i! s playing with a chip on his shoulder. Kessel has teamed up w! ith last year's rookie sensation Milan Lucic and playmaker Marc Savard to compose one of the NHL's top lines thus far this season. Lucic does it all. A big guy who send a player through the glass this season and always plays 100%. Savard is finally receiving recognition for his great play. Savard may be the NHL's best playmaker. This line is only part of what is making this team great. A big reason is the defense. In particular Dennis Wideman. A 25-year old big bodied defender who is being called the NHL's most improved player thus far. He has been learning from one of the best in Zdeno Chara and the sky is the limit for Wideman. I have not even mentioned the biggest reason for the Bruins success, and that is netminder Tim Thomas. This guy has become one of the NHL's best goalies and makes some of the best saves you will ever see. He is the key to the Bruins season. This team is deep, hungry, talented, and poised for a deep playoff run. The Bruins are contenders.The Canucks are 8-0-2 over there last ten games and are starting to look like the class of t
he Northwest Division. Vancouver made one of the best moves last year when they acquired goaltender Roberto Luongo from Florida. Luongo to me is the best goaltender in the NHL aside from Martin Brodeur. Luongo did just get injured however and is considered week to week. This could kill the Canucks because Luongo is the key to everything they do. If he is healthy they ha! ve a chance to shut someone out every single night. This team! has not just been winning because of goaltending however, their offense has been great as well. It all starts with the Sedin brothers Henrik and Daniel. Both have 21 points so far this season. Daniel has 10 goals and 11 assists, while Henrik has 3 goals and 18 assists. Henrik is a great playmaking center. Unfortunately for Vancouver both brothers are free agents at the end of the season. Veteran winger Pavol Demitra has been big for this team as well. He has 13 points and brings great leadership. I like this team a lot in the Western Conference, but if Luongo is not healthy they are not the same team. Vancouver is certainly a playoff team, but not a Cup contender quite yet. Look for the Canucks to be aggressive before the trade deadline.
