CBSSports.com wire reports
May 27, 2011

BOSTON--Vezina trophy finalist Tim Thomas stopped every shot and gave the Boston Bruins a chance for the biggest prize of all - the Stanley Cup.

Forget their 20 years of absence from the finals. Do not talk about their epic playoff collapse of last season. And power play certainly not mention their powerless.

None of those issues after the Bruins of the Tampa Bay Lightning 1-0 goal with 7: 33 left in the penalty free game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals beating on Friday night, Nathan Horton.

"I'm just happy to see these guys in the locker room smiling", Boston said coach Claude Julien. "Just now we are four WINS to win the Stanley Cup."

The Bruins will be opened on Wednesday the Stanley Cup final against the winner of the Western Conference Canucks in Vancouver.

Boston 1972 of his recent Championship won and had lost since 1990, when he to the Edmonton Oilers the final not reached.

The Bruins left far behind the ghost of last year's playoff fail. She blew a 3-0-leadership in play and a 3-0-lead in game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, losing 4-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers.

"Beginning of the season, we knew we had some unfinished business," Bruins Captain Zdeno Chara said. "Guys were hungry in the playoffs."

This season, she wasted a 3-2, leads the series in the first round against Montreal and then the Tampa Bay. But they beat the Canadiens 4-3 in overtime in game 7, with Horton scored the winner. Then the forward play in the postseason for the first time in his career after five seasons for the Florida Panthers, came through again with his eighth goal of the playoff.

"He certainly has played such a big game player," said Julien.

So has watch-all season.

37 Year-old goalie led the NHL in goals against average and save percentage to all missing the last year's playoffs because of a hip injury. After the offseason surgery, he was almost always, and the season of 2008 / 09 when he won the Vezina Trophy as the League top goalkeeper belongs.

"I think a lot of people thought I was over the Hill," Thomas said. "I knew that it is not true." I have in a lot of work over the summer and I had an incredible year. "I have blessed been."

He made his third career playoff shutout and second storing lightning series 24. Horton's goal spoiled a superb game of Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson, the 37 shots stopped.

Thomas' playoff performance is even more remarkable since the Bruins of only five of 61 power plays in the postseason goals. But it makes no plays on both sides on Friday night in the clean, were hard-hitting game.

"It was nothing out there to call," said Roloson. "Giving you credit for the referee a." "for do not disturb the flow of the game."

Roloson beat Horton by a pass from left to right on the slot from David Krejci distract.

"It is difficult to explain how good is this feeling," Horton said.

His goal a loud fixed a long time for a trip to the final have been waiting for the way the Bruins fans,.

Bruins Center Patrice Bergeron, with 3 seconds left and the puck in the lightning zone are his stock in the "points B" logo symbolizes the Bruins at center ice is. And if the game ended, Thomas raised both arms and vaulted back against in the net, never reached the lightning in the decisive game as yellow and black towels the fans fluttered on the ice.

"It is a part of something amazing great." The highest concentration was I have experienced, "said Bergeron." "I could not to jump on Timmy and enjoy the moment wait."

The Bruins improved, by 2-3 in game 7s, Julien but last two have won. You are a total 11 in game 7.

Andrew ference, the only scoring game on the left side behind the red line started with a pass to Krejci, also on the left side. Horton was on the same page, but when Krejci the puck, Horton turned to the right. Krejci started and threaded a pass to Horton, which left the puck into the open side between Roloson to put post.

"I think he could have stopped the puck, and I don't think that he would have done better than him tonight, Act," lightning said coach Guy Boucher. "It's hard to look at." "A little defensive error."

And the Bruins were not to waste this led.

"As soon as they went up 1-0, really came back [for the defence] with five guys and it was hard, something, said Vincent Lecavalier, had 6 goals and 13 assists in the playoffs.""We have a couple of shots, but it was hard to get for the rebounds."

4-1 Of this postseason play Roloson fell to 7-1 in elimination during his career, including. Tampa Bay rallied from a 3-1-deficit to beat Pittsburgh in the first round with Roloson shutting out the penguins 1-0 in game 7 on the road. But after the victory against the Bruins, a further competition force game 6 the lightning comeback fortunes changed.

"you guys, that can the puck in the net and to defend," said Boucher. "Of course, she all have."

Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos in the face by a puck early in the second period and briefly left the game at. He was dropped a hard shot from the right place by Bruins Defender hit Johnny Boychuk and he immediately on the left side of the head on the ice. There was some blood on the ice, if the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2008 got up and ran holding fast to his bank, his face.

He missed five minutes playing time, was that which he had worn with a full cage face shield in place of the visor.

Boston's Milan Lucic had the best opportunity in the first scored when Krejci fed him for a breakaway. But Lucic shot the puck in Roloson just under five minutes.

The Bruins had also solid chances late in the second. Roloson a pad on Mark Recchi made shot from a few meters away you save created another as Recchi shot the rebound with just under two and ahalf left minutes of the time.

"This is a great moment." [Has it] was a long time for Boston. "How long has it actually been?" Thomas said, "also a long journey for me here to get." "Can be not too happy too long, but, unless you are the last man stand."

Notes

Tampa Bay Sean Bergenheim, third in the playoffs with nine goals after only 14 in the regular season missed his second straight game with an unknown injury that kept him from the last two periods of game 5. The 41-year-old Roloson, game played in his 50th season. Thomas appeared his 36. The date of the game, may 27, the latest is, that have played the Bruins in club history. The Flash three players from their have championship team- Martin St. Louis, Lecavalier, and Pavel Kubinaviolation missed the last 10 games with an upper body in 2004. Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling attended the game bear a Bruins Jersey.

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