BOSTON, May 6 (Reuters) - Boston did not want to leave the door open for a repeat of last year's collapse against Philadelphia and on Friday they slammed it shut with a 5-1 victory to sweep their Eastern Conference semi-final series 4-0.
The Bruins had held a 3-0 advantage over Philadelphia in last season's second round series before the Flyers rallied to win four in a row.
Bruins head coach Claude Julien said they had never been allowed to forget it.
"It's something that's been hanging over our heads for over a year," he added. "Even though we've tried to turn the page, we've been reminded of it every day.
"Right now I think we're understanding the fact that if you're a calm and focused group, that will help you win some hockey games," said Julien.
Boston have reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1992.
"The one thing our team understands is that there's some great fans here in Boston ... We said in the first round that they've been punished enough," Julien said.
Milan Lucic broke out of a month-long slump to score twice, including the critical first goal.
"If feels good. It's been frustrating these last 20 games not being able to put the puck in the back of the net," Lucic said. "But my team mates always had my back and they told me it's going to come, just stick with it," Lucic said.
Boston will face the Tampa Bay Lightning, who swept Eastern top seeds Washington, for a spot in the Stanley Cup finals.
"This is a huge win for our club and our organisation. The last three years we've been looking for this eighth win in the playoffs to get to the third round," Lucic said.
Lucic opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 12:02 in the first period, firing home a snap-shot assisted by Nathan Horton and David Krejci.
Kris Versteeg tied the score at 13:22 in the second period before Boston defenseman Johnny Boychuk scored early in the third with a shot that snuck past goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky's glove and turned the momentum firmly toward the home team.
Lucic opened up a two-goal cushion with his second of the game to spark boisterous celebrations in the stands.
Brad Marchand and Daniel Paille added empty-net goals in the final two minutes after Philadelphia pulled their goaltender to try to get back in the game.
Julien heaped praise on Boston goalie Tim Thomas.
"He's very confident and very calm as well ... He's given our whole team a lot of confidence. The guys are feeding off that."
"We're a determined hockey club right now. We're playing really sharp," said Lucic.
Boston won three of four games against Tampa Bay this season and the third-seeded Bruins will have home-ice advantage.
"You need to take time to appreciate what you've done, but at the same time have to stay focused, because the toughest games are yet to come,"
The Bruins had held a 3-0 advantage over Philadelphia in last season's second round series before the Flyers rallied to win four in a row.
Bruins head coach Claude Julien said they had never been allowed to forget it.
"It's something that's been hanging over our heads for over a year," he added. "Even though we've tried to turn the page, we've been reminded of it every day.
"Right now I think we're understanding the fact that if you're a calm and focused group, that will help you win some hockey games," said Julien.
Boston have reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1992.
"The one thing our team understands is that there's some great fans here in Boston ... We said in the first round that they've been punished enough," Julien said.
Milan Lucic broke out of a month-long slump to score twice, including the critical first goal.
"If feels good. It's been frustrating these last 20 games not being able to put the puck in the back of the net," Lucic said. "But my team mates always had my back and they told me it's going to come, just stick with it," Lucic said.
Boston will face the Tampa Bay Lightning, who swept Eastern top seeds Washington, for a spot in the Stanley Cup finals.
"This is a huge win for our club and our organisation. The last three years we've been looking for this eighth win in the playoffs to get to the third round," Lucic said.
Lucic opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 12:02 in the first period, firing home a snap-shot assisted by Nathan Horton and David Krejci.
Kris Versteeg tied the score at 13:22 in the second period before Boston defenseman Johnny Boychuk scored early in the third with a shot that snuck past goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky's glove and turned the momentum firmly toward the home team.
Lucic opened up a two-goal cushion with his second of the game to spark boisterous celebrations in the stands.
Brad Marchand and Daniel Paille added empty-net goals in the final two minutes after Philadelphia pulled their goaltender to try to get back in the game.
Julien heaped praise on Boston goalie Tim Thomas.
"He's very confident and very calm as well ... He's given our whole team a lot of confidence. The guys are feeding off that."
"We're a determined hockey club right now. We're playing really sharp," said Lucic.
Boston won three of four games against Tampa Bay this season and the third-seeded Bruins will have home-ice advantage.
"You need to take time to appreciate what you've done, but at the same time have to stay focused, because the toughest games are yet to come,"
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