Bedard: Bruins' Core Five headed for one more dance with the Stanley Cup

RALEIGH, N.C. — They're not going to make anyone forget about Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, John Bucyk, Ken Hodge and Gerry Cheevers anytime soon, but we just might have to make room for another group of golden boys of Bruins hockey.

After Thursday night's 4-0 victory completed a sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes and the Eastern Conference Finals, the Core Five of the current Bruins — Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Tuukka Rask and Brad Marchand — are the odds-on favorite to claim their second Stanley Cup as a group against whatever team eventually emerges from the Western Conference.

And that is certainly rarified air when it comes to this organization.

The 1970s Big, Bad Bruins were the stuff of bedtime stories told by our parents. We were tucked in with tales of the on-ice exploits of Orr, Espo & Co. and were always told every time we walked into a winter barn to lace them up that, "Those Bruins did this."

Well, these Bruins have been pretty darn impressive themselves. And claiming a second Cup of their own, like the 1970s Bruins, would cement their legacy.

Sure, the old Bruins were an impressive lot. They went from being the laughingstock of the league, to two Cups in three seasons, and then the Bruins advanced to another three Cup Finals by the end of the '78 season. They were a wagon during that time.

These Bruins, it's been far from easy ... and maybe that just makes this run even more special.

Back when they won the Cup in 2011, Chara was 33, Bergeron 25, Krejci 24, Rask 23 and Marchand 22. Eight years later, they're all grizzled veterans. And they climbed the peak, went to the bottom, and then climbed it again.

There was the Cup run in '13, but then they sat out the playoffs in back-to-back years, before being bounced in the first round (Ottawa) and blasted 4-1 in the second round (Tampa Bay) last year. With the Lightning getting even better and the Capitals breaking through with a Cup of their own last season, you wondered if The Five had another run in them.

"It means a lot," said Rask. "It's so difficult to advance in the playoffs let alone make it to the Finals. So like Bergy said, we need to really enjoy this but realize we have a lot of work to do. Every year's a new year, different groups, you always think you have a chance. I think the last few years we've really built something special, we have a great group of guys. Really just happy to be part of it."

Sure, the seas parted a bit this year with the Lightning, Capitals and Penguins bowing out early, but it doesn't really matter. These Bruins have played 17 games so far this postseason, and it seems like they get better with every game, and they still haven't fired on all cylinders. Amazingly, this group still has another gear. And they might not even need it if Rask keeps doing his imitation of a 40-foot wide and high brick wall.

"He's unbelievable," said Matt Grzelcyk, shaking his head in awe. "He's so in the zone right now, you almost don't want to talk to him. He's keeping us in games, saving games. He's playing unbelievable hockey right now, something I've never seen before."

There was almost a poetic justice in both Krejci and Bergeron assisting on Marchand's final empty-net goal of the game. Those three have been part of so many big goals over the course of the past decade that they each might as well have a hand in the tally that sent bench into a hugfest because they knew the game was decided.

"It's a great feeling," Krejci said. "We've been together for a few ups and downs. We're here now. I feel like we have a pretty special group. It just feels really good."

Bergeron had perhaps his finest game of this postseason, including his first 5v5 goal, to go along with one on the power play. With Chara sidelined with an undisclosed injury for this one, it was like Bergeron took it upon himself to take his game to another level. At one point, while the other three skaters changed during a penalty kill, Bergeron stayed on the ice and barked out alignment orders as others joined the fray. He was lethal on the forecheck all night long and his blocked pass of Jaccob Slavin with less than 10 minutes to play in a 2-0 and subsequent pass to David Pastrnak set up his own goal.

It was moments exactly like this — from those core players — that factored into David Backes' decision to sign as a free agent from the St. Louis Blues. He wanted a chance at a Cup, and now he has it.

"Absolutely," said Backes. "The nucleus of their Stanley Cup win was still here, they were on the cusp of making the playoffs, they had a great goaltender. Now, in my third year with them, I have it."

Backes and many others — Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Pastrnak, Jake DeBrusk — have factored into this latest Cup run for the Bruins. But make no mistake, their Fab Five is driving this bus. And they look like they have plenty of gas in the tank. Even Chara, who is expected back for Game 1, took to the ice in full uniform and skates to celebrate the victory. Not much keeps this group apart.

"It's very special, means a lot," said Bergeron. "We've basically kind of grown up together. Obviously, we've been around each other so long, it's been a fun ride to be a part of with these guys. It's the core group, the leaders that have been through a lot, I guess, the ups and downs. You realize how hard it is to get to this point, so you have to be thankful for that but, like Tooks mentioned, we've built something special with the young guys. They're a big part of this team, this group and they want to get better, they're big-time players and they relish any challenge. It's been a fun ride."

One that doesn't look close to over yet, and could to lead to their own bedtime stories.