Sweeney With Toucher & Rich: 'I Like The Bruins In The End'

The Boston Bruins prepare to defend their championship starting Thursday night when the host the Washington Capitals.

Former Bruins center Bob Sweeney spoke with Toucher & Rich about the approaching first round matchup with the Capitals, Alexander Ovechkin and making another deep run in the playoffs.

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"I think with the Bruins winning last year they know what it takes and I look for the Bruins to come out hard, as well as Washington, but I like the Bruins in the end."

The guys discussed one of Washington's biggest scoring threats in Alexander Ovechkin. In the last four games these two teams have played the B's have managed to keep Ovechkin from putting the puck in the back of the net.

How much is Zdeno Chara taking that line and decreasing the effectiveness of Ovechkin going to matter in this series?

"Well I think it would be huge. If we look back at last year when Zdeno was paired with Dennis Seidenberg I mean they were a dynamic duo, so to speak, and were the ultimate shutdown pair."

Many think that this B's team might be playing better than last year's Stanley Cup Championship team, does Sweeney agree? How would he compare the two teams?

Read: Will Bruins' Regular-Season Record Vs. Capitals Affect Series?

"The Bruins do have a lot of experience now, they've been game tested all the way to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Finals and prevailed there, so that is important."

Plus what do the young players have to focus on in order to make another deep playoff run this year?