Game 65 Preview: Bruins vs. Phoenix UPSHALL IS BACK, WAYNE SHOULD BE A PLAYER/COACH

Mar 5, 2009 7:00 PM ET

TV: NESN

Radio: WBZ 1030 AM

vs. Phoenix Coyotes (27-31-5)

Notes:

• Boston traded Nokelainen, Karsums, and Lashoff for Steve Montador, Mark Recchi, and Tampa Bay's second round draft pick in 2010
• Phoenix traded Olli Jokinen, Derek Morris, Daniel Carcillo, Michael Tellqvist, and some picks away for Scottie Upshall, Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust, Dmitri Kalinin, Peter Prucha, Nigel Dawes, and draft picks.
• Scottie Upshall scored a goal against the Bruins on Tuesday during the Bruins-Flyers game.
• Thomas and Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom used to play on the same team.
• Lucic is back.
• Globe story on Deadline Pickups.
• It's Blake Wheeler's first game against the team that drafted him.
• Shane Doan beat Marc Savard in the all-star breakaway competition, despite Tim Thomas's best efforts.
• Montador is wearing 23 in the tradition of Paul Mara.  Recchi is wearing 28, last held by Wade Brookbank.
• The Coyotes are in spoiler mode.
  
• The Bruins are the Annyong of the Arrested Development NHL.

Other Previews:

• Caveman Hockey: "Time to snap the fuck out of it. Put on the foil, stop bitching to the refs, just go out and play some Boston Bruins-style hockey."
• Cameron Frye: "I called Janet Jones and we talked about the spread and I put some money on the game. I'm saying the B's pull this one off and it's 4-1. Look for the NKOTBs to leave their mark"
• HubHockey: "Marc Savard hasn't scored in 10-games. P.J. Axelsson hasn't found the net in 18-games. Milan Lucic hasn't scored in the last 8-games. While David Krejci and Blake Wheeler are goalless in the last 6-games."
• Stanley Cup of Chowder: "the Coyotes were very busy on deadline day. Phoenix made a total of four trades involving 10 players and 4 draft picks."
• The Bear Cave: "the Boston Bruins are beginning to see action in their rear-view mirrors. The New Jersey Devils are currently just six points back, while the Washington Capitals sit eight points behind the Bruins. With that being said, Boston enters Thursday's contest with a record of 42-13-9, which includes a 21-5-5 mark on home ice."
  
• Matt Kalman: "Phoenix player to watch: Who’s left?"
• NESN First Shift: "Recchi now becomes the fourth leading scorer on the Bruins with 45 points.  Newly acquired defenseman Steve Montador has 20 points and is now the third leading scorer on the Bruins blue line."
• Newspapers: Globe | Herald
  
• bruins.nhl.com: Preview | Game Notes (pdf)

Stats:

The Bruins' magic number is 14.
GO BRUINS!