hand were outstanding for Team Canada during the World Cup, along wit

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The 35-17 final score tells a little bit of a fib. Sundays victory over the desperate Cincinnati Bengals wasnt an easy one for the New England Patriots. Early on, tight end Martellus Bennett knows, it wasnt that much fun to watch.It was a slow start, so we probably lost some viewers, probably had some people walk out of the movie theater, Bennett said. But youve got to stay until the end of the movie.Especially now that the Patriots have their leading man back.Yeah, Tom Bradys team went 3-1 in the four games he missed, so they werent exactly lost without him. But something about this teams confidence feels different now that hes back. With Brady under center, the Patriots have pivoted from the silliness of the suspension to the serious business of their season. Its no longer about how theyll survive without him. Its about how the real, full-strength 2016 Patriots figure out how to win games. About the panicked look on the faces of New Englands opponents when they realize the Death Star is fully operational.I think were at a decent place, Brady said after the game, his team 5-1 and in first place in the AFC East. So weve just got to keep stringing these games together. They made it challenging on us, but were trying to figure out what were made of, and it was good to get going there in the second half.The Bengals did make it challenging. They whacked Brady around for much of the first half, moving him off his spot with their front four while covering well enough on the back end to challenge him. Early in the third quarter, Cincinnati -- a team thats supposed to be unable to score touchdowns -- led the game 14-10. Late in the game, after the Patriots had come back to take the lead and control, the Bengals went Bengal. Flags flew, whistles whistled and the guys in the striped shirts were wedging themselves in between the big dudes in the colorful jerseys.But all of that was orbital, and the steady center was Brady. As tough as it looked for much of the day, you look at the box score and see that he was 29-for-35 for 376 yards and three touchdowns. And you shake your head, because thats incredible. But its really just Brady.Hes the best, receiver Danny Amendola said. Hes the best teammate. Hes awesome. We were all excited to get out there today for him.Again, this team was 3-1 with Brady on suspension. They won in Arizona. They shut out the Texans on a short week with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. You wouldnt think they needed a confidence boost.But Brady is more than just a confidence boost. Hes the engine. The battery. The gravitational center. You can cast your movie with talented up-and-comers and feel fine about it. But when George Clooney shows up to play the lead, thats when you let yourself believe you have a hit on your hands.So while Brady did return from his suspension last week in Cleveland, his first home?game of the year was Sunday, and it was a feel-good party for the Foxborough faithful. They played a welcome back highlight video before the game, and the place erupted as Brady led the team out of the tunnel and onto the field. Chants of Bray-DEE! Bray-DEE! reverberated around Gillette Stadium as their hero fought through a tough start and quietly, surgically picked apart one of the AFCs nastiest defenses.It was an electric environment out there with Tom back, receiver Julian Edelman said.Brady said he felt the emotions too, at the beginning. But it didnt take long for it to start feeling like business.Once I got out there running around, it felt like football, Brady said. Youre not going to win because youre emotional, but I think having your attitude right mentally and physically, that allows you to be at your best.The Patriots are 5-1, and with Brady back their attitude looks right. They have tough road games coming up the next two weeks in Pittsburgh and Buffalo. But with Brady back in his leading role, theres a feeling around here that nothing is going to rattle them. Not an early deficit. Not even some late-game, post-whistle scrapping with Vontaze Burfict that earned Rob Gronkowski a 15-yard personal foul.We know tempers flare whenever things dont go their way, running back LeGarrette Blount said, from up on the high road. But their (2-4) record doesnt showcase how good they are. Theyre a really good football team.The 2016 Bengals still have to prove that. The 2016 Patriots are well on their way. With Bradys name back on the marquee, the Patriots movie is picking up steam. 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Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage.After having missed the playoffs the last two season, the Boston Bruins are focused on getting back in 2016-17.It was an interesting offseason for GM Don Sweeney. The Bruins added veteran depth and leadership at forward (more on that below) but lost veteran forward Loui Eriksson, who signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks. The Bruins bought out the contract of veteran defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, who recently signed a one-year deal with the New York Islanders. Finally, after six seasons in Boston, veteran unrestricted free-agent forward?Chris Kelly returned to the?Ottawa Senators, with whom he spent his first seven seasons.Heading into the season, the defense remains a mystery in front of goaltender Tuukka Rask. The Bruins could still acquire a solid, young blueliner via the trade market. If not, they will rely on their current defensive core and hope their blueliners stay healthy and find ways to be productive.If the Bruins get off to a slow start, coach Claude Julien could be on the hot seat and Sweeney might make a coaching change.Best new facesBoston added veteran forwards David Backes and Dominic Moore, along with veteran backup goalie Anton Khudobin. Backes, the former captain of the St. Louis Blues, signed as a free agent and will add depth down the middle and be a strong voice in the locker room, which the Bruins have lacked the past few seasons.With forward Frank Vatrano sidelined three months because of a foot injury, rookie Danton Heinen, 21, has a chance to earn a roster spot. The former University of Denver standout?could skip the minors and have an immediate impact in Boston because he has the hockey IQ and ability to do so. If not, he will develop his pro game in the AHL with Providence. Heinen is not used to the heavy NHL schedule, and hell need to be consistent in order to stick. So far, he has played well in training camp. Forward Austin Czarnik, 24, has played well during camp and could be a solid replacement as a penalty killer for Kelly. Czarnik is versatile, and that could serve him well.Biggest unknownsWhere Backes will playy remains a question.dddddddddddd Having David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron and Backes as the teams top three centers gives the Bruins a lot of depth. That could mean Matt Beleskey and David Pastrnak?play with Krejci. With Eriksson gone, finding chemistry for Krejci will be key. Julien could put veteran centerman Backes on Krejcis right side or move Ryan Spooner to the wing and keep Backes as the third-line center. Krejci had offseason hip surgery, so it will be interesting to see what kind of success he can have this season.Defenseman Adam McQuaid is healthy to start the season, and the Bruins will need him to remain that way in order to be successful. How much does veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara, 39, have left in the tank? Playing for Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey -- and reaching the finals -- should help the captain get off to a strong start, but if fatigue sets in down the stretch, that could be a factor.Sure thingsIf theres one sure thing in the NHL, its Bergerons consistent play. Bergeron and Marchand were outstanding for Team Canada during the World Cup, along with linemate Sidney Crosby, as they led their team to a championship. If their play during the best-on-best tournament was any indication of how theyll face this season, both Marchand and Bergeron could be in the top 10 in scoring in the NHL in 2016-17.Marchand, who recently signed an eight-year deal worth $49 million to remain with the Bruins, should carry his success from the past season (37 goals) and his play in the World Cup into this season. ?Rask will be Rask. Hell play his 55 to 60 games and be solid in the majority of them. He has been durable since taking over the No. 1 job during the 2013 lockout-shortened season.PredictionThe Bruins will not go a third season without making the playoffs and will earn a wild-card spot. It wont be easy for them, but they will make a strong push down the stretch and finish with a postseason berth. Fifth in the Atlantic. ' ' '