Local Bruins Fans Hoping for a Stanley Cup Win

The last time the Bruins won the Stanley Cup was in 1972, and locals are thinking about what it would mean for Boston to take home another championship.

Jim Kender, a parent of two , said the Bruins games are a great way to express hometown pride.

“For the first two games, we plan on heading out to watch the game on a big screen with lots of Bruins fans," he said.

When asked who his favorite player is, Kender replied, “Tim Thomas, because over the years he has proven that he plays for the love of the game."

Scott Millin, president of Chelmsford Hockey Association, said he's enjoying watching playoff hockey.

“The best part about watching Tim Thomas is that he is relatively old for a professional goaltender but he seems to be enjoying this run and embracing the high pressure games like a kid," said Millin. "He always has a smile on his face and shows himself to be calm and cool while we as fans are screaming and squirming in our seats."

Millin said playoff hockey is a great way to bring the family together.

“We make a point to watch the games as a family and it's nice that my kids are now old enough to stay up to their end on a school night," said Millin.

Matt Milisci, a junior at UMass Lowell and Chelmsford native, said he knows how important goaltending is in the series.

“I hear a lot of people saying this Stanley Cup final is a goalie vs. goalie series. After seeing Tim Thomas get out of the blue and let up that wrap-around overtime goal in 11 seconds (in game two), I don't think this is a Thomas vs. Luongo series anymore," he said.

Milisci said he thinks David Krejci and Milan Lucic need to step up their games.

"(They need to) get more aggressive on the offensive end and to match the firepower that Vancouver's offense has," he said. "The Bruins had an excellent playoff run before the finals but they're starting to slow down. Being down 0-2, I hate to say it but I'm thinking Vancouver (will win) in six (games).”

Still, Milisci said he loves the atmosphere of Bruins games at the TD Garden.

“My favorite part of any Bruins game is when we play at home and the crowd goes nuts," he said. "I love when they score during home games and the TD Garden is full of people screaming and whirling around yellow towels using every muscle in their arm.”

Other fans are thinking the Bruins coaching needs to improve in order to get a win.

"(Coach) Claude (Julien) needs to smarten up and take (Mark) Recchi off the power play because he hasn’t contributed a single point to it," said Josh DeAngelis of Chelmsford.

Matt Sech, also of Chelmsford, agreed.

“Thomas needs to stay in the net. If he does this, they will win, but I think it will be in seven (games),” said Sech.

Many local fans are just enjoying the experience of a hometown team possibly winning another championship.

“This is great, I’ve come to enjoy hockey even more than I did before,” said DeAngelis.