The Bruins drop the puck tonight!

We just get the subtle way and -- set the rest of the sports -- go from there. I've always said. That that if if if you want the quickest way to my heart it's it's how you treat my kids right that your. Real high on my list in that regard you always treated my kids very respectfully and like you allot more than they like me as they sit and and her as a sure. At my life after last night like you more than meet till after the Austin American kitchen table on all. All that -- the comedy genius. Larry in Judith -- or not my kids always sort of feel about them like like we do our kids. And I gave a copy of this to -- on his way out but I wanted to share with you guys out there. Up Mitch -- guys I am that guy. The congratulates you from time to time on your connection and attention given to Larry in Judith stereo the twins were both undergoing treatment Larry and in remission and I was hoping you could give them and Curt Schilling a shout out and follow up to Kurtz generous gift to them during the WEEI -- and Jimmy Fund radio -- You guys both remember the look on their faces when they got the phone call that day that we ever. Mitch writes Judith is our baby sitter and she really relay her story from this past weekend at Yankee Stadium. They sat right behind the players' families and state in the same hotel as the Red Sox this past weekend. While the Red Sox lost the game on Saturday that did not stop the sun from shining on their weekend. They got to meet some of the Sox players in the hotel lobby. Got big poppies autograph and lived a dream I'm sure that this wonderful family has not stop thanking Curt Schilling. But I hope you could pass on some of the good news that our athletes provide memories last a lifetime for children going through a very tough time in their lives. And the lives of their families signed a friend of the stereos -- catch. I did give this -- by the way but. We remember -- script like that day. Well it all happened that it was this past weekend and they were there now when I've talked current about it in between shows he said. And you got to give credit where credit is due here so I'm gonna do this he said the Yankees were unbelievable. In helping him set this thing up for current Larry in Judith and and he wanted to give the Yankees credit as well. For how they treated that stereos this past weekend and -- So there are people of good things the Yankees apparently there are we -- and even though in part for us to believe that but the but that was very cool.

That is there was great and we set at the time will say it again. He took a few minutes out of his day. The call and in and do something nice for them and it's something they'll they'll remember for the rest of their lives. It was just it was -- it was the extremely generous gesture. Wasn't that time consuming for him. But he did it now we were saying -- I wish I wish more athletes would just think about it. I'm not saying. Athletes don't -- many how many who do it why not -- yeah you never know about it but. If you're an athlete in you're not inclined to do these kinds of things. This go ahead and do it in interviewer shy away you know what the cameras around. Even a phone call private phone call -- have to be a phone call on the radio. A private phone call to a cared. Boo -- I was looking for some encouragement we'll go -- really long wait longer than you think.

Well I just wanted to make sure we gave credit -- that and thank you -- for presenting the email -- Berger got it yesterday. In here and I was kind of holding off to the maker that's very cool Utley saw the game last night of the losing streak is where it is the Bruins don't open the schedule tonight. And we will do a lot of Bruins preview as the day goes on we'll talk with close Julian head coach of the Bruins. I I will say this think about what the Bruins did a year ago. They finished first in the National Hockey League in goals against it with a stingy as team in the NHL score -- right. They finished second in the NHL in -- score. They scored 275 golds which was the second most in the late. Now I know there's a lot of concern especially across the table from me about how you replace the 36 goals that Phil Kessel. Contributed to that offensive output a year ago illusion leading goals perfectly valid -- concern. I think they'll do that I I I really deal and I think that the commitment to defense that Julian has instilled here will continue I think they'll. Still be a very hard team to score against and I think they're going to be okay and that the.

Let me ask you this -- I'm I've been surprised by some of the predictions -- soft Sports Illustrated. And they citizen it's gonna be an original six final. And they have the Bruins and Detroit. Going to the file and I think it's the Bruins are Chicago is it just -- on the covers that Chicago their big game James -- the -- have a black -- I'm. So allow the Blackhawks and Bruins. Fighting for the Stanley Cup which would be pretty amazing. I'm amazed that people are so high on the Bruins not just because they lost Phil -- but. Because the penguins. Won the championship last year and lost to anybody. Why are preparing once the -- they're young. They're talented. They have if you don't think Sidney Crosby as the best player in the game he said yesterday think it's the best Ovechkin. Is definitely and everybody.

top five absolutely everybody's top five with people stopped to got mocked him. They're good goal. They're well coached. The problem I think there were a bit of a surprise last year in terms of winning the Stanley Cup championship. I lost a year before I don't I think there were questions about the quality of their goaltending and they answered those questions when the cup you win the cup. I think that there was a surprise and in many people's minds mine included that the Bruins lost to Carolina. I mean after the Montreal series. I certainly thought they would dispose of Carolina they fell down economic and excuses more than. They kick that went away. And I think they maybe were a little overconfident going into that series so no excuses for the Bruins they lost that it was a surprise to most me included. Right if you had ended up with -- 8 Pittsburgh Boston Eastern Conference final out of an interested to see that. And that's what most people -- gonna get what I thought you -- yet and and a lot of people I think felt pretty good about the bruins' chances against the penguins so.

But yeah I I can understand that what I'm saying is that of the penguins haven't lost anybody know anyone championship last year the Bruins lost there. Top goal scorer. And SI thinks. They're going to go to the finals let I it's it's just come straight.

and I don't you think I'm teasing you here and I only sort of the loss of Phil -- bothers most people within hockey a lot less than it bothers you. On first ball is I'm going to be able to play until November December but -- but second ball I think I think most people think that. The Bruins are going to be able to absorb that loss pretty effectively. I I think that that they are counting on things. Happening that that it totaled San Marco Scutaro return -- on being stronger than he was in the past. It's it's natural for me to expect that -- on Lucci will continue to put the ball offensively and he -- a lot from two years ago last year. I think they'll be. Pretty much where they were a year ago on terms of goals scored. And I think they'll still be the hardest team to score against in the NHL. You add those together and and most people hockey -- well that's that's a team that can win the cup.

I know we've gone back and forth on this especially after the Bruins lost and we're trying to figure out why -- lost a hurricane's effect injuries had a lot to do with the injuries and and they were just overconfident going do you feel like. The Bruins. It was the loss to the hurricanes. More about. -- injuries and their overconfidence or reserve some fatal flaw was or something but this team that they are missing --

And they did not address I don't I don't feel that's the case. Now one of the papers today and I think it was Stephen Harrison herald said that it was a pretty uneventful summer for Claude Julien. And it should. I mean he obviously had turnover and he lost some guys and PJ Axelsson is back in Sweden and step on yellow is gone and Cassel who we talked about you know wanted or on the deep fence and but for the most part the turn over here was stopped that is not at the top of most people's list with the possible exception of --

You win the cup without a great goaltender. I think that great I think they have -- they have a great one is the vezina trophy winner and -- it doesn't trophy winner. And he wouldn't they won the Jennings strong upper -- it'll get anyone about as an okay one -- last year do you think but I don't think he was great in the post season. He was great regular season. I don't think you play great I I think numbers say was yet I -- regular season.

I think it's too -- one. Is that I think he has a number one goaltender and among the elite goaltenders and their -- I think that's one we re there 20. I don't think he's gonna have to play as much during the regular season because I think they're back up goaltending is dramatically better. And it was now at the -- start the season before Manny Fernandez got hurt like he always gets hurt. Split things pretty nicely Fernandez was playing well Thomas was playing well things were going fine there. Once Fernandez went down. They had zero -- a no confidence in their back up goaltending which meant Tim Thomas was just gonna play the rest of the way. But that's different conversation I don't like that leads to why he might not have been as effective in the playoffs. As as you had at reasonable expectations for. Keep I don't I don't dwell on hold on second Manny Fernandez. Was good the first half of the year wealth and it's the first couple months. He was very good -- say once he went down. And and they had that rely on another backup goaltender they had zero confidence and that person. Which meant Thomas played the rest of the way base but it wouldn't say he was worn down in in the postseason attic or at 34 he was 34 then. A 34 year old goaltender he played more than they want.

34 year old goaltender but they get into the playoffs. They -- Montreal. And a bunch of -- tax farmers to celebrate. The whole idea the second round about that so they have they have a pretty good rest. Before they move on and face Carolina. So it's not like he was in seven game series after seven game series --

Not -- are because we're tell us how does that in fact. One of the Bruins excuses for lack of a better term with they had to -- second series he was to rest while not -- but they were they were off. They they they weren't as sharp because they had to be gap in there.

It's I think for the Bruins. They gotta go would go by that old wrestling saw the it to beat the man get a beat the main. Right yes it's a big ME got to beat up and do they have. They have what it takes to beat. Pittsburgh you think they're better team than Pittsburgh.

It's a simple question well before anybody's played a game who knows but -- think that they are among. You know the top two were the top fourteen in the NHL yes I -- Now what happens next June who the hell knows but it you see here right now I think expectations are higher than they've ever bent. This Bruins team is expected to get to the Stanley Cup finals. I can't remember the last time a team a Bruins team when it was season -- that kind of lofty expectations.

Well -- bruins' hard core Bruins fans they are expect all of this team to -- heart -- hard -- Bruins fans are always expecting that when you have a playoff team. And then and then. There's a lot of resentment will use today. -- a lot of resentment at the end of the year and and you have all kinds of attacks on Jacobson item -- in the money but that was for the salary cap but around the league. I wondered teams or or or fans hockey fans look at the Bruins and say oh yes they'll be.

I think most hardcore hockey fans the country think the Bruins. Are are one of the 314 easily to beat this. Every place I've looked everything I've -- They're considered one of the teams I'm just surprised by. 6177790850. Toll free 8885250850. If you've got a Verizon cell phone and you hit pound WEEI its recall for all of you guys. Email address dale and Holley all one word at WEEI dot com Bruins had its head coach Claude Julien will join us at 1202. After the morning's skate will talk about the start of the season with him coming up we'll talk with you in just couple minutes here on Sports Radio W the.