You're right. Rask should've never started. The team has all the momentum in the world, but they were on eggshells after the first Portland goal.

Defensively, Providence was excellent in game 6. Rask gave up four soft goals. The two third period goals were wrist shots to the blocker side that a college goalie could've stopped. The third goal was a wrist shot through the FIVE HOLE from about 25 feet. He gave up a center-ice goal to Simon Ferguson in overtime of Game 4 - a goal the team never recovered from. If the Bruins think this guy is the heir apparent to Tim Thomas, I'd love to take a swig of that kool-aid.

The bottom line is that Rask started because the Boston brass wanted him to. Gordon was leaning towards Sigalet after Game 4, probably realizing that Rask had collapsed mentally. Unfortunately, the decision wasn't in his hands. It's like Gordon isn't really a coach, but merely a puppet for the NHL team. The P-Bruins could've, and probably would've, won this series if Sigalet takes over in net. The guys love playing for Sigalet. On the other hand, it's quite obvious that Rask has very few, if any, admirers in that dressing room. He's moody, cocky, and very distant from his teammates (off the ice). There is absolutely no way he makes it in the NHL.

Sure, he's 20, but anyone who is "that" good should be able to mentally recover from a bad game. Rask simply wasn't able to do it. In fact, he actually got worse as the series went on. After losing Game 3, he allowed some of the worst goals I've ever seen a P-Bruin goalie give up; the Ferguson center-icer being the very worst, particularly considering the circumstances. Carey price won the Cup as a 19-year-old. He passed his first test, and while still learnign the ropes in the NHL, he's shown he has the mettle to perform under pressure. Price took an average team and led them to a title. He's proven he will be a good goaltender, in time. Rask took a very good team and led them into the dumpster. I truly haven't seen anything like it. Even Olie Sundstrom and his old-school brown pads didn't toss up stinkers like this guy.

Having said that, I was talking to a season ticket holder mid-season and told him I didn't think this team would win the Cup because they didn't have any experience on the roster. Sure the AHL is a league of youngsters, but every AHL champion has veteran leadership (Portland has plenty of it, especially in goal). The 1999 team had so much experience, and it made all the difference in the world (Vaske, Smith, King, Virtue, Ferraro, etc). Without Hoggan, the P-Bruins had absolutely no veteran presence. It's an absolute must, especially when the chips are down. There were times where this club looked clueless out there, and needed a wily veteran or three to step up and calm the troops. When Rask gave up that first goal in Game 6, this team played like a bunch of whipped dogs. They were beat and didn't even know it.

Tukka Rask faced the biggest test of his life in this series and collapsed like no other P-Bruin goalie before him. In past years, it was the team's inability to score that cost them in the playoffs. Guys like Toivonen, Raycroft, Thomas, and Grahame always stepped up their games in the playoffs, even in their formative years. Tukka Rask had the bottom fall out - plain and simple. The players lost faith in him midway through the series, but the Bruin brass wanted to see their protege not only go down with the ship, but to lead the descent into the abyss. It's a fine example of how much parent clubs care about their minor-league affiliates.

Here's hoping Peter Chiarelli and his henchmen get what they deserve next year.

I was sad to see it end and reading your comments I agree, as well as with the lengthy first comment.

I was sad to see it end the way it did. The first 1/2 of period one was electric. It felt "perfect" to be at that game. The crowd was in to it and the goal scorers were so jacked to score and take the lead(s). It was so great to be there and "feel" that way. The 2nd period was bad on both sides..it was boring and neither team seemed to want to really win. I think at the end of 2 periods the shots were low like 14-15 or something. The third period they got the shots, but I think Rask was done. Not sure if it was too many minutes or what. As the first comment stated the other guys play better in front of anyone but him. Once the series was tied I'd have given Sigalet the shot. I know its an odd comparison but when Phil K had the "second chance" in the Boston B's series w/MTL. He sat and then when given the shot he quietly did the whole "I'll show you to bench me" get the guys to get some hate in their hearts.

I noticed the bench was VERY short as well. It seemed like it was about 2.5 lines being rolled. They didn't skate guys like Steve Mac who might have helped..i know fights are rare in play-offs..but his enforcer role may have helped.

As far as the stuff getting tossed on the ice that made my blood boil. I LOATHE stuff like that. I saw one little boy toss his 2 clappers without any intervention from the "adult" with him. The guys in front of me with 2-3 kids gave their kids death stares when they walked towards the glass and one dad said "Don't you DARE". He got it..and I felt a *tad* better.

It was a thrilling ride and should never have ended the way it did..still it was a great series and yes, i have already send along my $$ for my "few game" season ticket.

Earlier this season, when I said the team played better in front of Sigalet, people laughed at me and told me I was too biased; I was just mad/jealous/crazy because Jordan was getting stiffed on playing time. For three years, I have watched the team play in front of him, and for three years I have watched the team play in front of an ever-rotating circle of other goalies. I will give credit where it is due, but I haven't felt Rask deserves much. I don't care that it's his first full pro year, and I don't care that he was awesome in Boston when he was called up. What I saw day in and day out, I did not like. I absolutely hate that it took the playoffs for other people I discuss things with to see it too. When Rask is on his game, he's very very good. When he's not, he's awful.

I suppose this is true of everyone (we all have bad days), but when you're in the playoffs, when you've been the number one team in the league for a large part of the season, you can't have bad days. They were 9 games away from winning the Cup. People started talking about hockey to me again. While I know there's the whole inner working of the business side of sports, you'd think that a club would want to help spin the wheel of monies and publicity by winning the league's ultimate prize. You'd think that they'd want to make sure they were icing the best players each game and that they were taking every precaution possible to get people coming and caring. Promotions might get people in the seats, but winning is what will keep them there.

The Dunk was fuller this season than I've seen it in years, and it wasn't all for promotions; a lot of it was once the pBs climbed to the top of the standings and stayed there. And with the volatility of the minor league clubs' rosters -- it's mostly prospects and "filler" guys -- it's very hard to get a team to bond the way that Providence seemed to, right off the bat.

That was another thing that felt different this year -- the team felt and played like they had bonded and gelled together before training camp was even over. The last time I remember feeling camaraderie like that while watching a game was the 04-05 year. It's extremely difficult to consistently build that every year in the minors.

I hate that Boston gets to pull so many of Providence's strings. When that happens, you have boys like Hamill showing up at the end of the season and being rewarded with large chunks of ice time. Maybe at the end of this season, playoff spot assured, that would have been fine, but I really didn't appreciate him playing as much as he did in the playoffs. I didn't appreciate Phil Kessel being awarded a Clear Day spot on our team (though I understand the thought process of "get him more playing time,") when he didn't play a game for us all year and players like MacIntyre were here all damn year, getting bruised and busted, and he didn't get a roster spot. To me, that's crap.

I agree that they could have used Hoggan out there, and I think that playing Sigalet would have helped calm the team down a bit, too.

But could have, should have, would have. Things should have been different. Jay Leach should not have been rewarded for yapping to the refs all game (YOU ARE NOT A CAPTAIN ANY MORE SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN) and for facewashing Hendricks from behind with an advance to round three. I very sincerely and with deep heartfelt feelings, wish the Pirates a four-game sweep at the hands of the Penguins.

And March -- I didn't catch anyone in my sections tossing things on the ice, but I sit behind the net. Just like waiting for a whistle before returning to your seats, you do not toss objects onto the ice -- unless it's a hat after a hat trick, but even then, you really shouldn't. There are few things I find more disrespectful than that. I may not be happy they won, and I might have private theories on how the refs are supplementing their regular salaries, but that's disrespectful in every way.

heather I sit in the corner behind the net as well, and still aholes made their way to toss crap around the net to get it on the ice.