Fire, Passion, Determination, Desperation

"When you play this game, you need to play with fire, you need to play with passion, you need to play with determination, you need to play with desperation. You need to have ice bags (on) after a game, maybe a little blood dripping. When you lace your skates, the guy on the left and right of you need to know you have their back." These were words uttered by NY Islanders coach Jack Capuano after his team proved to be no match for the streaking Bruins who beat them 6-0 on their own ice.

The defending Stanley Cup champions started the season on a malaise. I think they were still riding the fumes of success and weren't playing with fire and passion as was evident by their October record of 3 wins and 7 losses. In those first 10 games they only managed to score 22 goals and the one bright star was in seeing the development of a future super star in Tyler Seguin. The month of November has been a different story as the team is undefeated (8-0) while outscoring the opponents 42-14. For most of those games they have played with fire and passion and have even shed some blood as one witnessed when Daniel Paille took a slap shot to the nose against these same Islanders.

This team has done wonders to resuscitate many old diehard hockey fans who long for the day's of Orr and Espo. They are developing their own identity and it's wonderful to see the play of their first line of Marchand, Bergeron and Seguin. I haven't seen a player with the hockey sense and uncanny skills that Seguin has shown since the days of Bobby Orr. One can readily see the maturity of this gifted young man.

Yes the passion is back not only with the players but also with the fans. Step aside Brady and make way for the new darling of New England, Tyler Seguin. Maybe Josh Beckett and company could take a few lessons of what it means to play with desire from these Boston Bruins.