Here’s what the Bruins should do. Learn from Pittsburgh’s mistakes last year. Don’t go get a star forward.

First, get a top four D-man. I’m sure the Bruins, just like the Pens last season, think their D is great. And sure, their team D has been very good. But when the playoffs hit, and a team like Detroit, San Jose, or even Anaheim comes knocking, things change. All three of those clubs have more depth in the back, and all those clubs have top blueliners with playoff experience and success. It was the biggest difference in the Cup finals last season.

Second, get two face-off men. Sign Yanic Perreault. Don’t think he’s playing right now. Good 13th forward. And then trade for someone that’s maybe a second or third line guy that can contribute a little offense, but be excellent in the circle. See if you could pry away Sammy Pahlson. If the Flames crash and burn (pun intended), see what they’d want for Craig Conroy. Or look to a guy with a little less fan-fare like Dominic Moore. To beat the Wings or Sharks, you gotta keep the puck from them.

Bergeron was your only consistently good face-off man. Regardless of him being healthy or not, get one more guy that’s dominant at the dot. Someone you can throw out with Savard when you need a win, and then make the quick change.

Defensive experience and face-offs—two areas Detroit took advantage of against Pittsburgh. The B’s need to learn a lesson from this and shore up in these areas, otherwise they do not stand a chance in 7 games against the class of the Western Conference.

Posted by Nathan on 01/06/09 at 08:47 AM ET

for what appears to be a legitimate run at a Cup?

In case none of the mediots in Beantown bother mentioning this, the last time the Bruins won a playoff round was in 1999. In their four first round exits since, they were the top seed once and the second seed another time. So please spare us the Cup talk until your team is actually playing games in May, okay?

Posted by shep on 01/06/09 at 11:35 AM ET