L10: Games 11-20 (3-4-3) THE SKY AIN'T REALLY FALLING WELL MAYBE IT IS

Harrumph. 3-4-3 is not a good record by any stretch of the imagination. I mean, it could be worse. With our superstar center Marc Savard out, the Bruins aren't doing so hot. Let's take a look at where we stack up...

.500

We've been at this record or so for pretty much the whole year. You don't make the playoffs at .500. You don't get a lottery pick either, unless Toronto comes through. In his season preview, Down Goes Brown mentioned that the Bruins lockerroom chemistry would suffer because they're not united by wanting to punch Phil Kessel in the face. They'll get a chance in a couple weeks, so maybe that will help. Oh, and Savard and Lucic coming back.

12.86%

This is the Bruins PP percentage. It is the worst in the league. In the year 1286, King Philip IV of France imposed the gabelle — a tax on salt in the form of a state monopoly — which would become immensely unpopular and grossly unequal, but persist until 1790. I'm still waiting for flying cars, here, people, and we're regressing. Please come back and save us all, Mr. Savard.

84.72%

This is the Bruins PK percentage, good for 3rd best behind San Jose and Chicago. Damn right, we've got the best PK in the east right now. The Bruins have been shutting down PKs and vomiting all over themselves on PPs. Google tells me that there was a "Species 8472" in one of the star treks after The Next Generation, so who cares really, but I went to all the effort of checking it out and now you're reading it so who's got the egg on their face now?

Thank you to the Minnesota Wild (dammit) and the Anaheim Ducks (haha, eat shit) for having more Short-handed goals against than the Bruins do.

-0.22

This is the Bruins Simple Rating System number for today. Higher is better, and yes it can go positive. This is good for 19th best, which is actually slightly better than their points percentage rankings. 22 is Shawn Thornton's jersey number. Not sure what the significance is of that, if anyone out there reading this (hi mom!) is a numerologist, please get in touch or leave a comment.

Toronto First round draft pick watch: 3-11-5 (29th in the league): TYLER SEGUIN!
Tyler is the #1 ranked OHL player right now, which is the league Taylor Hall plays in. Carolina looks to be Tanking for TH right now, though. Oh look, the two teams play each other tomorrow. Root for Aaron Ward, guys!

Things could be worse. Things could be worse. Things could be worse. Things could be worse. Things could be worse. Things could be worse. Things could be worse. Things could be worse. Things could be worse. Things could be worse. Things could be worse. Things could be worse.

GO BRUINS!

KREJCI RE-SIGNED!!!!

The Bruins Re-Signed David Motherfu- (Shut your mouth) Krejci this afternoon.$3.5, $3.75 and $4 million per year
This is the best news. The Best. Here's some Bad Horse for you:

Round 2 Game 7 BRUINS 2 CANES 3 WELP

Yup. Pretty much.

Congratulations to Byron Bitz for his first career playoff goal. It was a good one. Thanks also to Lucic for getting one.

I'll admit, I got a bad feeling as soon as this game got to overtime.

And I was right.

I'm a little disappointed that the bruins didn't do a stick-raising "celebrate the fans" type of thing, but I guess they followed tim thomas's lead in sprinting to the dressing room. What sealed it was hearing Byron Bitz getting called as third star and the security guard closed the door to the ice from the bench.

It was a very good year, the best since 1999 in terms of playoff depth, but obviously still a disappointment.

I don't know about y'all, but I'm hopping on the Penguins bandwagon. Both because fuck the Hurricanes and because I really like what the guys over at thepensblog do day in and day out.

...sigh...
There's always next year, right?

More focusing on the positives later, and maybe a little site redesign.

GO BRUINS!

Month Ahead: December

Looks like Ward is out for a week, and then day-to-day.  He's not traveling with the team this weekend, and completely unsubstantiated rumors say he'll be out until January.  Andrew Ference already is out until January, and the Bruins put him on Long-Term Injured Reserve (which doesn't actually mean anything about his status, it just means he doesn't count against the cap until he comes back)

The Bruins have called up Nick Boychuk and Matt Lashoff to fill the holes.  Let's look at what these intrepid Pruins have to look forward to, assuming they stick around all month:

3 against Atlanta

2 games against Tampa Bay, Carolina

1 against Florida, Washington, Toronto, St. Louis, Pittsburgh

The Washington and Pittsburgh games stand out as the toughest, but if the Bruins don't keep playing like they've been playing - out of their minds - we could drop a game to one of the non-Washington southern teams.

Only four of those games are at home, as well.  The Bruins were (everybody now) 8-0 at home last month, and are 9-1-1 overall at home.  Away, they're 7-3-3, which is still not bad until you realize that without the charity point they're 7-6.  The Bruins keep mentioning they get a lift from the hometown crowd, but they're back to the October grind of a whole bunch of away games.  However, this time it isn't against the whole Northwest division.

Starting January 1st, though, they're playing 6 at home in a row.  Not that I'm looking too far ahead or anything.

Other things:

• Some hack in Montreal is posing the question:  Are the Habs a religion?
• The Bruins will be at the Target in Woburn today 1pm-3pm to buy toys for kids in hospitals.  This would be as good a time as any to bring up my favorite toys-for-sick-kids charity, Child's Play.  Click on that link, then pick a hospital - any hospital - and send sick kids some toys.  Or send them money.  The guys who set it up use funds from their company (http://penny-arcade.com/) to run the charity, so nearly %100 goes to buying toys for hospitals.

GO BRUINS!

Game 13 Preview: Toronto@Bruins BRU FEST NIGHT

Nov 6, 2008 7:00 PM ET
On TV: NESN
On the Radio: WBZ 1030
vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (5-4-4)
Notes:

• Kobasew has been skating with the team. Hnidy hasn't, due to "lower body" injury.
• Sobotka's been sent down to Providence for the weekend.
• Kobasew out, Hnidy out, Stuart "available," Hunwick in.
• Blake Wheeler switched numbers to 26.
• Glen Murray's back, and claims he couldn't be bought out because he's hurt.
  
• Mark Stuart had enough time to blog because he's battling the flu and wasn't at practice yesterday.
  
• We've already played the Leafs once. They outworked us in that game to come back from 2-0 to go 4-2.
• Toskala in net.
• All-Star Write-In Tim Thomas in net.
• Our penalty kill is still worst in the league. Toronto and Colorado are only 1% better.
  
• Petteri Nokelainen is one of the league's leaders in Penalty Plus/Minus. The ForeChecker is solid.
  
• Puck the Media just discovered Jack "SAVE BY THOMAS" Edwards.
• Solid costume over at herewegobruins.com.
• bruins.nhl.com has a story on how the bruins have hopefully learned their lesson.
• Tonight is Bru Fest. Still no word from the team on how Season Ticket Holders can get in without buying a new ticket. I guess they just want to inflate ticket sales. I can't be bothered to spend (2x$45=)$90 for a beer and the priveledge of scalping a crappy ticket.

5 Questions with a Leafs Blogger:

I'm trying out a new thing, asking bloggers of other teams to answer 5 questions.

Our first: Loser Domi, of The Wonderful World of Loser Domi.  I've included the whole email verbatim here:

I don't know if you read my blog, but I'm more of a humour blog than actual in-depth analysis. How did you hear of it? (just curious) I apologize if this makes this request a bit odd. However, I shall answer to the best of my abilities. 

1) Toronto's MVP so far?

I've been really impressed with Schenn, Kubina, Moore, Kulemin 

2) Boston and Toronto have the two worst PKs in the league.  What's your excuse?

they need MORE BACON

3) Ron Wilson so far?

Ron Wilson is at the very least entertaining to me. He probably causes nightmare in others, however.

4) Sundin?
Sundin is currently living on a farm that's too far away to visit, where he has lots of sunshine and room to run around in and plenty of Swedish meatballs to eat. 

5) Who will win?

as much as it pains me to say it, Bruins, becasue they almost always win against the Leafs, and that makes me sad

So there you have it, folks.  More Bacon is the key to a good penalty kill.  Thanks again to Loser Domi for answering my email.  And agreeing that we all hate the Habs.

Other Previews:

• Ghosts of the Garden: Thanks Toronto for the spark they gave us last time around.
• The Bear Cave: Vesa Toskala is the favorite for goal tonight.  He already beat us once.
• Stanley Cup of Chowder: Solid preview, funny fan video.
• Boston.com: Thumbs
• bruins.nhl.com: Preview | GameDay 
• As always, other previews after 4pm can be seen to your left, under the tim thomas voting badge.

Tim Thomas Campaign Headquarters Update:

• Boston.com: Picked up the story, same quotes from Thornton, Thomas, Julien.  Usually this means it's in the morning paper.
  
• Puck Daddy: Leads with Hub Hockey's post about the Vote Tim Thomas Campaign.
• Facebook:  Join the Vote Tim Thomas group, started by Hub Hockey's Chris.  Solid move, Chris.

Voting begins November 12. Send campaign materials to
hockeyblogadventure@gmail.com

Stats:

Obligatory Youtube:

It's a classic.
GO BRUINS!

Game 12 Recap: Bruins 5 Stars 1 OTT SUCKS

5-1, bitches.

This game was ridiculous.  If you missed it Steve Ott overshadowed the pure douchebaggery of Sean Avery in a big way, and refused to fight both Thornton and Lucic.  So Ference had to crush him and then Savard (!) starts wailing on Avery.  Let's look at the penalty sheet, thanks to hockey-reference.com:

1st Period
08:51	BOS	Aaron Ward (2 minutes for holding)
10:52	DAL	Brenden Morrow (4 minutes for hooking, unsportsmanlike )
16:26	DAL	Sean Avery (2 minutes for hooking)
2nd Period
00:57	BOS	Shawn Thornton (4 minutes for roughing)
01:29	DAL	Steve Ott (2 minutes for hooking)
05:22	BOS	Milan Lucic (2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct)
05:22	DAL	Steve Ott (2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct)
05:22	BOS	Shane Hnidy (2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct)
05:22	DAL	Sean Avery (2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct)
06:51	BOS	Blake Wheeler (2 minutes for hooking)
06:51	DAL	James Neal (2 minutes for goaltender interference)
08:30	BOS	Michael Ryder (2 minutes for roughing)
15:50	BOS	Andrew Ference (2 minutes for delay of game)
17:06	BOS	Dennis Wideman (2 minutes for slashing)
3rd Period
04:54	DAL	Sean Avery (5 minutes for fighting)
04:54	DAL	Steve Ott (2 minutes for holding)
04:54	BOS	Andrew Ference (5 minutes for fighting)
07:02	BOS	Milan Lucic (2 minutes for roughing)
07:02	DAL	Steve Ott (2 minutes for roughing)
07:02	DAL	Marty Turco (2 minutes for served by Neal (interfere)
09:31	BOS	Shawn Thornton (5 minutes for fighting)
09:31	DAL	Krys Barch (5 minutes for fighting)
11:37	BOS	Mark Stuart (10 minutes for misconduct)
11:37	DAL	Steve Ott (10 minutes for misconduct)
11:44	DAL	Sean Avery (12 minutes for boarding, misconduct)
11:44	DAL	Matt Niskanen (15 minutes for fighting, misconduct)
11:44	BOS	Marc Savard (12 minutes for roughing, misconduct)
11:44	BOS	Shane Hnidy (15 minutes for fighting, misconduct)
11:44	BOS	Milan Lucic (10 minutes for misconduct)
12:50	DAL	Brenden Morrow (2 minutes for hooking)

Sturm bookends the game with 2 goals, keep him on the line with krecji and wheeler.  When their third line has to defend THE GERMAN, there's really no stopping him. 

Mar-Ty...  Mar-Ty...  Mar-Ty...

Hubhockey has the youtube video done by dafoomie about the game.

I still hate the stars, and I really liked this game.  Mike Modano didn't.

Thomas was solid, except that one goal in the first period that Avery shot from the blueline.  You could see even he didn't like that goal.

Record: 6-3-3

Home Record: 2-1-1

L10: 5-2-3

GO BRUINS!

Game 12 Preview: Dallas@Bruins SEAN AVERY NIGHT

Nov 1, 2008 7PM ET

On TV: NESN
On the Radio: WBZ 1050
vs. Dallas Stars
Notes:

• My family's from Minnesota, so I'll always hate the Stars.
• The Stars are depressing, apparently.
• This begins a 3-game homestand that's part of 8-of-13 games that the Bruins are playing at home in November.
• Zdeno Chara hasn't been producing very well so far. I just want him to stop taking stupid penalties. Sean Avery is good at drawing those. Watch out.
  
• The Stars made it to the Western Conference Finals last year.
• Thomas in Net. Manny Fernandez is an expensive backup goalie.
• Sturm has been dropped to the third line with Krejci and Wheeler. That's an exciting, talented line to have. Could be just what Sturm needs to get back on his game.
• Turco in Net. He's been slumping so far this year.
• Mike Modano has a website. He's also married to Willa Ford.
  

Other Previews:

• The Jumbotron's new female writer likes sean avery.
  
• The Stars don't have fan blogs.
  
• bruins.nhl.com Preview, GameDay, Week ahead.
  
• Bruins Blog Lines, Refs, Notes.
  
• Boston.com Thumbnails.
  

Stats:


GO BRUINS!

Game 11 Recap: Bruins 2 Flames 3

Thomas' shutout streak lasted 145:47.
Scott Boras is the devil.
3-2 loss. sucks.

Lucic to Wheeler Goal

The announcer might be able to sound more bored...if he was dead. He was probably high or something. I appreciate Jack SAVE BY THOMAS Edwards so much more. Way to go, TSN.

Bergeron makes Kipper look like a WHL backup.

There would be video here, but NHL.tv doesn't have itself together. Lame. It was a pretty goal. It's also not on youtube. Basically, Patrice stole Mikka's lunch money behind the net and then popped it into the gaping 24 square foot maw left by Kiprusoft.

As predicted, plenty of juicy rebounds. No follow-through.

Happy Halloween!

Game 11: Bruins @ Calgary

Oct 30, 2008, 9:00 PM ET

On TV: NESN (HD)
On the Radio: WBZ 1030
vs. Calgary Flames (5-3-1)

Notes

• Joe Pelletier wants Lucic on Team Canada's 4th line.
  
• The Bruins had yesterday off.
• Calgary hasn't gone to a shootout yet this year.
• Kessel and Thomas make Nemmy's Vancouver 2010 team.  It's a great read.  Seriously, read it.
• Boston.com likes our fourth line.
• Kevin Paul Dupont says that the last time the Bruins won 1-0 back-to-back was 1936, when Tiny Thompson backstopped the team to 3 1-0 wins in a row against the Wings, Hawks, and Habs.  I guess TT is a good set of initials for a Bruins goalie.
• Bruins Blog says Thomas gets the nod.

Other Previews

• Boston.com did a thumbnail.
• The Jumbotron's new contributor Cameron Frye (congrats!) points out that Calgary has won their last 4 games.
• Hit the Post says that The Kipper is giving up some juicy rebounds.  Are you listening, Bruins?
• Bruins Hockey Blog doesn't realize we're only ten games in when talking about the goaltending situation.
• Stanley Cup of Chowder points out that bertuzzi has a 28.6 shooting percentage.
• CBC predicts a goalie showdown.

Stats

Here's the Kipper:

GO BRUINS!

L10: A Look Back at the first ten games

In between the recap and the next preview (phew) I wanted to take a look at what people have been doing so far this year before games no longer count into the Last 10 Record and what they are on pace for:

Ok, for laughs the "on pace" is really what they should be doing for a full 82 games based on what they've done so far.  So, Kobasew is on pace for a killer season, assist-wise. Silly Cornelius, stats do not work like that. So what else can we learn from the table?

• Kessel is like my NHL09 offline be a pro - He gets all his points from goals.
• Only players that have been in all 10 games have had penalties scored on them.
• Ference and Ryder have the best +/- right now, Chara is a measly -3.
• Kessel's 37 shots tie him for 7th in the league and 6 goals tie him at 6th.
  
• Savard's 34 shots tie him for 20th and 5 goals tie him for 16th. Savard also has 8 assists, good for a tie for 12th. Together, he is tied for 3rd in scoring with Mikko Koivu and Sidney Crosby with 13. Only Alexander Semin and Evgeni Malkin have scored more.
  
• Tim Thomas has tied Martin Brodeur for shutouts on the season, though Brodeur is chasing history and Thomas just wants to keep the puck out of the net. Tim Thomas is also second behind only Ryan Miller with a 1.77 GAA and barely beats out (by .001) Tampa Bay's Mike Smith for highest save percentage with .943
  
• Blake Wheeler has the most Games Played of any player debuting this year.
• I am obsessed.

Notable Events from the last ten games:

• Lucic puts Van Ryn through the glass:

• Lucic! Lucic! Lucic!

• In the immortal words of Jack Edwards, SAVE! AFTER! SAVE! BY! THOMAS!
  

• Shootouts are terrifying now. I was honestly more happy that the game ended in an OT win when Wideman scored than anything else.
• Some other stuff probably happened, check in the archives for what I missed here.
  

L10: 5-2-3
Overall: 5-2-3
Difference: (Same)
GO BRUINS!