Milan Lucic's Blog: Playoff mailbag
Milan Lucic scored his first playoff goal in Game 3. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
Milan Lucic
2008-04-15 14:56:59
Hey everyone,
As promised, we have a mailbag edition in this blog, but I also wanted to give you my two cents on the playoffs. Let’s get to a couple of those questions. A big thanks to everyone who wrote in…
I have been a Bruins fan since the ’70s, so I’ve seen many players come and go. I feel pretty good about this team. I like the young blood on the roster and feel this team is only getting better with experience.
The comparisons have been obvious, or maybe not, but how does it feel, or what do you think about being compared to Cam Neely?
Gordie Daniels, Keene, N.H.
Thanks for your e-mail Gordie. Anytime you are compared to a player of that caliber, it’s a huge compliment. Cam was an unbelievable player and competitor and it’s been great getting to know him more this season (Neely is in his first year as team vice-president).
He has been a good resource for me. I know there is still a long way to go and a lot of work that needs to be done before I can really be compared to him and match what he has accomplished, though.
I am a huge Vancouver Giants fan. As a former Giant have you been able to follow the team at all this year and do you stay in contact with any of your former teammates?
C. Decario, Burnaby, B.C.
I still keep in touch with a lot of the guys and have a lot of friends on that team. I miss playing with them and hanging out! They have had a good season and I really hope to catch up with them this summer.
I have three boys who play hockey in East Vancouver and they would like to know if you played minor hockey there.
Dean Melhorst, Vancouver
Yes, I played for VMHA out of the Agridome.
Hi Milan, what do you think it will take for the Bruins to do well in the playoffs?
Nick C.
I think we have the makeup of a team that can do well in the playoffs. We have good chemistry, can be physical and play solid defense. The playoffs are a completely new season; everyone starts with a clean slate. Anything can happen…
Speaking of the post-season, you always hear how the playoffs are different – the skating is faster, the hits are harder and the games are more intense overall. I can tell you now this is all 100 percent true. Everyone has seemed to pick their game up a notch and raise their level of play.
I think the intensity carries over into the stands. We’ve had unbelievable atmospheres both in Boston and Montreal through the first few games. Twenty thousand fans screaming and waving towels; you can feel the energy in the building from inside the locker room before the game even starts.
It was awesome seeing our fans rise to the challenge of drowning out the Montreal fans who made the trip down to Boston. The Canadiens fans were all over us in Montreal and you could hear them boo every time Zdeno Chara touched the puck.
A lot of the Canadiens fans made the trip to Boston and they tried to do the same thing here in the Garden, but our fans said ‘no way that’s going to happen in our house.’
When I was on the bench you could actually hear the boos get overwhelmed by the cheering of our fans when ‘Z’ got the puck. It was pretty cool. They even started booing Alex Kovalev (Montreal’s acting captain) when he got the puck, in retaliation.
The place was electric.
The games have been really physical so far and I think we can expect that the rest of the way.
I was lucky to have about 15 of my family and friends make it out for Game 3. They saw an amazing game and me score my first playoff goal. It’s funny because just about the same group was in Los Angeles when I scored my first NHL goal back in October.
I need to start having them come to all of our games! Good things seem to happen when they are in the stands.
That’s about it from Beantown,
Milan
A native of Vancouver, Milan Lucic is a rookie with the Boston Bruins. His blog will appear on THN.com throughout the NHL season.
Amy Boling (Posted 2008-12-22 12:45:11)
Milan Lucic, Mark and Mimi watch the Bruins everytime they are on. The neibors here them yell at every goal!(that you guys score).Mimi and Mark will be at the game on March 14 2009 in section loge 5 row 20 seats 22 and 23. If you could get a sign and put it up on the big screen, or get a autograph picture and it has Mark and Mimi my #1 fans. They would really love it!!!!!!.
Mark's 9 year old daughter.
P.S.Mimi and I think you are cute.
P.S.S. This would be a big suprise for them!!!!!!!.
Jen (Posted 2008-05-27 11:17:40)
Happy Summer!!
Hailey Dodge (Posted 2008-04-22 21:22:44)
Milan, you played so well this season. Sorry that you guys didn't advance to the next round, but next year will be the best year yet. I've really enjoyed reading your blog, and watching you play. Congrats on the seventh player award, and have a good summer vacation cause i'll see you on the ice again in October!! :D
Cary (Posted 2008-04-22 16:48:00)
Sorry, by the way, that's thorn in the side for Montreal. Again, take care.
Cary (Posted 2008-04-22 16:46:57)
Milan, you did great kid. I'm a Habs fan and trust me, it happens all the time, Boston gets a real thorn in the side in a player like you. That is a huge compliment. You are going to be one real good one in the coming years. You've got heart unlike I've seen in most playes your age. I had a lot of fun watching you in this series. May we meet again, win or lose, it'll be great!!! Have a great summer.
Wink (Posted 2008-04-20 13:23:25)
Milan,
They are hailing that game as probably the best game in Boston in twenty years......it was absolutely INCREDIBLE. I took a former lifelong Whalers fan to the game.... after seeing the effort you guys put in, he is NOW a Bruin's fan.
YOU GUYS CAN WIN THIS!!! You are making believers out of everyone in the world... not just Boston.....Monday night in Montreal, you will not hear us... but you can be assured that EVERYONE is cheering for you, and our hearts are all there with you rooting you forward to VICTORY! Good Luck!
Maxime (Posted 2008-04-18 13:49:24)
I sincerely hope for you guys the coach Julien doesn't get fired next season...he's kinda stuck with that rep...winning record in Montreal, moved to make place for Carbonneau...Stellar record in New Jersey...fired because Lou didn't want to share his toys...hope he found a home now...he's a great coach.
RayBaz (Posted 2008-04-18 13:17:59)
Lucic, you the man!! I just love the way you play the game. Looking forward to following your development. That goal the other night was spectacular! Thanks for taking time to blog. We all appreciate it!
A nd to all the Habs fans that posted here:
It is nice to read posts from Habs fans who show respect and class to opposing players and fans. Cheers! There is something to be said about people/fans that can voice their opinions and feelings without marginalizing others. I have been reading posts written by Habs fans on many websites, and all I can say is that many of these folks are severely lacking in character. That is not to say that some Bruins fans cannot be included in this group because some of them are just as bad.
james boston (Posted 2008-04-18 12:17:31)
Yes,payback from the 2004 debacle. Now the table is turned. Guess whats the common denominator?Yup.Coach Julien.I TRULY BELIEVE!!!!LETS GO BOSTONNNNN!!!!!!!
Wink (Posted 2008-04-18 01:32:33)
Great job tonight man! What a GAME! The faithful fans have never lost faith... I for one KNOW that you can win the next one in Boston as well..... ONE GAME AT A TIME..... just WIN on Saturday in front of all you supporters.....we can ALL feel the noose tightening a bit around the Habs necks....
Joe Blake (Posted 2008-04-17 22:15:28)
Ya baby !!! Game 6 back in beantown. " Ole ...Ole ole ole ...Ole ..Ole ""
alexandra (Posted 2008-04-17 20:14:51)
lucic, you are one damn good player. for such a young guy, you play your heart out every time you're on the ice. as a boston fan, you are one of my favorites on the team! plusss, you are an insane fighter! i love watching you drop the gloves, you bring the intensity that boston has been missing for a while. your hard hits and famed fights is exactly what boston needs! keep up the hard work!
maxime (Posted 2008-04-17 16:53:34)
People who perform well in Montreal don't need to fear being criticized for people here are blinded by performance. When the team starts to lose, we find little unimportant tidbits that no one cares about so we have something to complain about. Like Koivu not speaking french. Honestly...i live in Montreal, i am french born, and i couldn't care less if Koivu speaks french or not. We ain't all like that Milan...promise :P
james boston (Posted 2008-04-17 16:08:39)
Win or lose,Milan,us true Boston fans will ALWAYS have your back.No matter what.Hit 'em hard,hit'em clean!!!!LETS GO BOSTONNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
Richard Tardif (Posted 2008-04-17 15:43:46)
Go to Montreal so he can get trashed for not speaking french? Come to Ottawa, we need some heart.
Hrvoje (Posted 2008-04-17 14:28:26)
ej I was wondering whats your backgraund milan first and last name where is it caming from?
Matt (Posted 2008-04-16 20:22:58)
Milan,
I got to say, im a die hard habs fan as well, but you are a FORCE man! I would die to have you play for the habs
Big Fan (Posted 2008-04-16 18:12:39)
Please win on Thursday.... DO NOT THROW IN THE TOWEL... you have a chance to do something NEVER done in the history of the Boston Bruins.... you can MAKE HISTORY.....and this is a team whichyou CAN BEAT......
Maxime (Posted 2008-04-16 14:14:04)
Milan, even though i bleed blue white and red, i still believe you are the most skilled and important player on your team at the moment. The loss of Bergeron for the season is quite a hit to take, but in my opinion, you come very close to filling his skates. Besides, Bergeron is not that much older, and has yet to make the waves he can accomplish. You, on the other hand, are already rocking the boat, and gave (still giving) the Bruins an extra spark that made you guys reach the point where you are now. You guys might be down 3-1, (will probably be playing golf as of Friday :P ), and i might hate the Bruins with a passion (not as much as the Leafs though), but you have earned the respect that a future Hall of Famer deserve. Never give up. There is a fire burning inside you that many players have lost. I don't know what goes on inside your head, but opposed to many who only seem to play because they get paid for it, you look like you play out of pure passion for the game and it shows that you desire to win.
P.S. Whatever is going on between you and Mike K, keep it going. So far, i have seen nothing but clean hits on both part, and it makes the game so much more fun. I happen to be waiting for those moments when you and Mike will be on the ice at the same time, and since both of you still got a great deal of seasons to play, it could become very interesting...just as long as one doesn't decapitate the other...fun stuff...In the future years, a Boston-Montreal game is going to become a pay-per-view event as a Lucic-Komisarek showdown!
Keep up the great work!
Tom (Posted 2008-04-16 13:15:05)
Hey Milan! I'm a Habs fan but must say I admired the way you guys played last night in that 1-0 loss. You guys kept me on edge the entire time! Great battle you and Komisarek have going, keep it up it's great hockey! GO HABS GO! And thanks for your time with the questions!
Samantha B (Posted 2008-04-15 23:43:43)
You guys were awesome tonight, only letting the Habs get one goal.. still one goal too many, but we can tell you boys are improving. Keep it up, don't let them win it.
Matt (Posted 2008-04-15 21:12:11)
Love the Blog... More players should follow suit.
henry mcgann (Posted 2008-04-15 19:03:15)
can someone find out WHY don't Versus and NBC show the singing of the National Anthem befor the games.. CBC always does.. I think they are making money (Ads) off of the Anthems, this is wrong. someone start the ball roling. please..
Wink Brown (Posted 2008-04-15 16:38:10)
P.S. my 70 year old father who was at the game actually had tears in his eyes after the overtime goal...=) Good luck tonight!! -wbrown@ccc.commnet.edu
Wink Brown (Posted 2008-04-15 16:31:36)
Milan!
I took my fiancee and parents to the game on Sunday (for my mother's birthday) It was hands down the BEST game I have EVER seen, and when u scored the first goal it was absolutely unbelievable. We have all been diehard bruins fans for at least 25 years now, and that game is one that will NEVER die in my memory. In spite of the expense, we have already bought tickets to game 6 which WILL be necessary as soon as you guys win tonight! Keep up the great work man and know that everything you guys do is soooo apreciated by all of your fans!
-Wink Brown
Lizi (Posted 2008-04-15 16:31:03)
Milan, that goal was a thing of beauty. Thanks for being a huge part of bringing the Old Time Hockey attitude back to Boston.
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