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Shane Hnidy On Bruins: As Good, If Not Better Than Last Year

The Bruins were able to contain Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on Monday night in Pittsburgh and walked away with a 3-1 win. The B's now the trip to Winnipeg to take on the Jets.

Former Bruin and current color analyst for the Winnipeg Jets, Shane Hnidy joined Toucher & Rich to discuss the Jets, the NHL's realignment plan and this year's Bruins team.

"It'll be exciting to see the boys in town tonight and let them experience a little bit of the cold weather, where men are born," said Hnidy.

Read: Boston Bruins-Winnipeg Jets Preview

Winnipeg has been without an NHL team since 1996 when the Jets moved to Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes. What has the return of hockey meant to fans in Winnipeg?

"I think it's just a great place for hockey to be because it's just a frenzy right now, people have been starved. They went without something they loved for 16 years, they get it back and they have just embraced it," Hnidy said.

They talked about how these players were probably not recognized in their former city of Atlanta. Are they like rock stars in Winnipeg where hockey is more of a focus?

"It's tough for them to get around. Everybody's a rock star it doesn't matter who you are, even Blake Wheeler," Hnidy said.

The guys moved on to discuss the big story, the realignment plan of the NHL.

"I'm not exactly sure I'm too thrilled and I don't think they've figured out yet how the playoffs are going to work because with just playing within your conference one, four and two, three I think that takes away that eight seed which is always usually a battle. Eight vs one usually turns out to be the best series in the first round."

Read: NHL Approves Radical Realignment Plan

The Bruins are playing some of their best hockey right now and it's no surprise since they've gone 14-0-1 in their last 15 games. Does Hnidy think this team is better than last year?

"I think definitely they can be as good and if not better and they have shown it, I thought that right from the start," Shane said.

Listen to the whole interview:

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