Losing brings out emotions in Bruins

BOSTON — In the past nine months, Boston sports fans have watched three of their four major professional sports teams compete for a championship.

Since the turn of the century, Boston has been crowned the champions on 12 separate occasions. It's needless to say that fans of these teams have high expectations.
 
So, what happens when the Bruins fall 4-1 to the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals? Three words: devastation, heartbreak, and disappointment.
 
But fans weren't the only ones drowning in their sorrows following Wednesday night's crushing defeat. As the final siren filled TD Garden, Bruins winger Brad Marchand became emotional as he knelt on the ice and watched the Blues celebrate in glory. 
 
"They just took our dream," Marchand said. "Everything we worked for, for our entire lives. 60 minutes away from that."
 
Marchand has been a key member of three Bruins teams to reach the Cup finals. In 2011, they won it all. But in 2013, they fell to the Chicago Blackhawks.
 
"Never get over this, not over '13 yet," he said. "This hurts more than that."
 
From veteran players like David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron to rising star Charlie McAvoy, emotions were running high in the locker room. Jake DeBrusk sat in his locker, still fully dressed in his pads and skates, sobbing with his head in his hands.
 
"We battled together, we shared some ups and downs," captain Zdeno Chara said. "We just came up short."
 
The Bruins loss reminded Boston fans that sports are more than just a game to all of us. Winning doesn't come easy. And it's not something to take for granted.

Kate Rogerson is an intern in the Boston 25 Sports Department. 

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