Bruins 4 Sabres 2 Refs 0 THE SECOND ROUND AGAIN???

First off let me just say that this team has been all over the place this year so I've been expecting the worst since about mid-season. The worst keeps threatening to come close but the team's still alive so I'm pleased. I'm sure the rest of you are too. Well, unless you're this guy:(seriously, buffalo?)
The reasons the Bruins beat the Sabres weren't that complicated. Our superstar goalie was a smidge better than their superstar goalie. Our PK owned the shit out of their PP. 100% PK effectiveness.

100%.

Huge job by the guys playing PK minutes. Who are those guys? Here's your first line, by SHM/G:
On defense: Johnny Boychuk (2:53) and Zdeno "Oh Captain my Captain" Chara (2:52). 4 seconds difference in total SHTOI for the series which is near-negligable. They were rocks and it showed.

Hunwick and Wideman pulled down the next-biggest amount of PK time with 2:29 and 2:21, and Paille and Begin ended up with the most minutes for forwards. Neither scored a goal (Paille had one assist) but they did a great job with the PK. So, of course, did

TUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKK
2.18/.927

Who stole a couple games for the low-scoring Bruins. The test now, of course, is whether they can continue to get some timely goals or Buffalo was just that bad. I mean, it's possible that the hitting did wear down Buffalo, especially when it took Vanek out for 3.5 games. Look, the Bruins were so used to hitting that they even took down Krejci post-goal:So there's that. Then of course there's the storyline of former player vs old team. Sometimes that works out (Rask vs Toronto) sometimes it doesn't (Kessel vs. Boston.....so far) and sometimes you just gotta go running with the devil. Hail Satan. he scored 2 GWG this series, both of them huge:Tyler Myer's long legs make for a giant 5-hole.

Series-winning snipe? Sure thing!

Basically I envision all Buffalo fans look like this:
All of the time. At work (if they're lucky enough to still have a job), at a game, at...wherever else there is in Buffalo. I guess it's probably warm enough out there for golf, and as some kind-hearted Sabres fan was quick to point out in game one,

4-2
Game.
Set.
Series.

Montreal plays in Washington tonight for game 7. Habs win and Philly comes to us. Washington wins and we play at Pittsburgh.I know which matchup I like better but goddamn do I hate Montreal.
GO BRUINS!

Games 2 and 3 in Pictures

(click pictures for huge versions)
Game 2
Bruins keep the NBC 3rd-period comeback streak alive, win 5-3 on a Recchi empty-netter.

(click pictures for huge versions)
Game 3
Bruins bring it home to one of the loudest Gardens I've ever been in. Sobotka has his first NHL fight, Wideman scores a goal, and Recchi2Bergeron pots the game-winner.

Johnny Boychuk nearly kills a man.

Highlight reel for game 3:

GO BRUINS!

Game 1 Review: BRUINS 1 SLUGS 2 NUKE BUFFALO

More of this, please. (click for huge)

Well the Bruins were one of the only away teams to lose their first away game, on the strength of a CRAIG RIVET goal. Ridiculous. This is how most of the games will go, it's now just up to the Bruins to make sure they're on the right side of the one-goal game. If you watched you already know what happened and if you didn't you were probably busy whining about how boring goalie duels are. Whatever.

I've got a solution: Nuke Buffalo.

And I found some EXCLUSIVE footage of the Wideman "trip" on Derek Roy:

Three Bruins played over 20 minutes: Chara, Boychuk, Wideman. Boy, I'm sure glad Boychuk isn't signed next year so we get to pay him a lot of money or let him walk. Can't tell you how excited I am about that.

Looking at the refs last night one of them was reffing his first playoff game. So congrats to Brian Pochmara on making the jump, but seriously NHL he's got 126 regular season games and he's reffing in the playoffs? Damn.

1-0 bad guys. The odds aren't in our favor but then they never were.

GO BRUINS!

GAME 1: LET'S MAKE IT A SERIES TONIGHT

Feel free to check out the series preview at any of these places:

• here
• Stanley Cup of Chowder
• Die By The Blade
• Puck Daddy

It all goes out the window when the puck drops anyhow. There's a saying in playoff hockey, "The series doesn't start until someone loses at home."

Let's start the series tonight.

GO BRUINS!

Game 58 Preview: Bruins at Buffalo THE OILERS ARE OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS

Game 58
7PM, February 9, 2010
NESN, 98.5 FM
at Buffalo Sabres (32-18-7)

This might be the first time in a long time that the Bruins are playing a team with a better penalty kill and worse powerplay. The Sabres have lost their last 4, but still lead the division. The Bruins won their first game in a while on Sunday, breaking their much-celebrated, almost-record-setting slump.

Rask is in net tonight. I'm assuming he faces Miller.

The Bruins start next season in Prague, playing the Coyotes. Phoenix is a sister city to Prague, so I'm pretty sure they're considered the "home" team. Krejci and Sobotka ought to be happy playing there, and the rest of them probably won't like the jetlag, etc. However it's on a weekend so....ROAD TRIP!

Stats!

Holy crap, the Bruins' powerplay is in the top half of the league all of a sudden.

Anything is possible.

GO BRUINS!

Game 52 Preview: Bruins at Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo

The most normal picture of Miller's face, ever.
Game 52
7:30 PM, January 29, 2010
NESN, 98.5 FM
at Buffalo Sabres (31-14-7)

Well, at long last Bruins Hockey is back. Of course it's an away game on a Friday evening so you might skip it or turn it off early if the Sabres go up or whatever, but fear not!

The Bruins have beat the Sabres in both games this year! Huzzah! And some even better news:

Savard. Saviard?

THE SAVIOR RETURNS! LO, THE GOLDEN CHILD WILL LEAD US FROM THE DARKNESS!*

*offer may not be valid in all areas.

Stats!
I gotta say...it's not pretty.

Looking forward to the Bruins playing again.

Here's Ryan Miller's Olympic mask:

Miller v. Rask in net.

GO BRUINS!

Game 22 and 23 Recap: BRUINS 2 SABRES 1 BRUINS 4 BLUES 2 THE P THE A THE T THE R THE I THE C THE E IT'S PATRICE

Well I haven't written in a few days and those dang Bruins keep on winning games so maybe I should just shut down the blog and never write again in the hopes the Bruins never lose another game. Then again the Wild are tomorrow and the Bruins have only beat them once so maybe we'll stay open for now.

Regardless, here's the deal: PATRICE BERGERON is awesome. Yes, yes, Milan Lucic is back and that's wonderful. Yes, Marc Savard is back (YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS) but let's take some time for the Patrice Bergeron Appreciation station. There's some traffic up ahead, I apologize for the delay.

In the two games I've neglected to cover so far, Patrice is only a +2 despite having 1 goal and 4 assists. He's figured into all but 1 of the 6 goals in the last 2 games, and the one he didn't started with TUUUUUUUUUKK so we'll spot him that.

In the Buffalo game, we had some unbridled awesome going on - First of all, TUUUUUKK passes one up to Bitz. Bitz puts it on Lucic's stick and Lucic's stick puts it on net. This is a great goal right now, but not when Lucic is scoring on Miller in the Olympics. (USA! USA! USA!)

The Bergeron goal in the Buffalo game was pretty slick as well. In what I'm sure was a set play, the Bruins face off in the offensive zone. Bergeron gets it to Chara. Chara wrists it in, Bergeron taps it down a bit and Miller's got no chance. Again, good to see now but I don't want Chara scoring on Miller in the Olympics, either.

2-1
WIN!
10-8-4

In the Blues game, there was a lot of scoring one after another. First the Bruins score on a powerplay. Yeah, a powerplay. A goal. On a powerplay. A real one. The puck went in their net and we had more guys on the ice. WHAT?

Whatever, I'll take it. Mark Recchi snares a rebound out of the air and bounce-passes it through Mason into the net. Awesome.

1-0

Blues tie it back up while we're trying to get the puck to start a penalty. Jerks.

1-1

Then the Bruins go on the power play again. "Oh brother" you think, "a power play against the 2nd-best PK in the league. This should be fu-WHEELER!!!! WOOOOOOOO" as Bergeron puts it across the slot (past Recchi - I think - in front of the net) to Wheeler and Wheeler just buries it. That's 2! 2 power play goals! ah ah ah ah

2-1

The Blues continue to be jerks and tie it up again. But that's where their party ends.

2-2

Bergeron gets the puck to Chara, who blasts one in. Lucic tips it down and Mason's got nothing. The SLGT folks keep cheering "Masonry" when he's making some slick saves, though.

3-2

Then - uh oh - the Bruins take a penalty. Oh wait, no biggie, just keep Patrice and Marco out there and we'll see what happe-SHORTHANDER? bwahahahahahhahahahaha

4-2

Plenty of sturmface going around.

WIN!
11-8-4

Excellent. Excellent play, so happy Savard is back so Patrice gets to play against second-tier players. So happy Lucic is back and seems to be all about hitting folks all the time. He can't fight, of course, but if he scores and hits that's enough for me.

GO BRUINS!

Game 21 Recap: BRUINS 3 THRASHERS 3 REFS 0 SO WIN TUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKK (AND PAILLE)

Well that was certainly something. The Bruins are 6-0-0 when leading by 2 at some point in the game, as well as 5-0 -0 when leading after the second period.

The Bruins are 3-3 in the shootout. It's not as bad as you think. Sure, they've only scored 4 goals total on the shootout, but that just means we have killer goaltending. For now, I'm not sure what Thomas was out with but it's apparently an undisclosed lower body injury or something. I missed the first period, so I only know what twitter told me about that.

And now, onto Evan's favorite part, the RECAP! WOOOOOOOOOO

Game starts off and pretty early on Marco scores a goal. I'm still getting updates from twitter. My favorite is probably this one:Yeah.

Anyways they won the game even though TUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKK had to face kovalchuk in the shootout.

Wheeler had a great move but lost the puck going the wrong direction and instead of trickling between the goalie's pads like last year it went past the goalpost. So close.

Whatever, Bergeron owns.

And they play buffalo tonight. No preview, crazy day at work. Deal with it, I have to.

GO BRUINS!

Game 16 and 17 Recaps THIS BLOG IS UNDER REVIEW

I didn't see game 16 because I had a friend's band's show, but that's never stopped me from recapping before.

The Bruins took heart from actually scoring in the previous game (a week ago as I type this) and went, well....

WIN!

(7-7-2)

p.s. I have an irrational hate for Jason Pominville. I don't know why, but I don't know why I should stop. Pominville, Population: Douchebag.

Then the Penguins (well, half of them anyhow) came to play on Tuesday, but the Bruins came to play even more. Hunwick scored even if the ref didn't believe it, and then that funny bounce was ridiculous. Here's a chatlog with friend of the blog Greg Nation about the game since I don't have time to write my usual stuff:

11:19 AM Greg: i was very impressed by whittman's and bitz's performance

last night

11:20 AM and of course, Tim Thomas wins the Tim Thomas award for last night

incredible goaltending

me: whitfield

Greg: hell fleury had some ridiculous saves too, but not enough

whitfield, yes, sorry

me: yeah, I hear that

11:21 AM most scary penguin when on the ice? Probably Staal

11:22 AM Greg: yeah we shut down crosby

11:24 AM me: Chara owned

we blocked so many damn shots

10-2 shots after the first

11:25 AM Greg: yeah our D did block a lot of shots

11:26 AM Morris had a huge game defensively, Wideman had that sick one-on-one where he deftly used his stick to break up the attack

11:27 AM me: Wideman also tripped over the blue-line right before that

he has breakdowns but when he's good he's pretty damn good

11:29 AM Greg: yeah, i thought we played pretty well

it was such a fast paced game, very fun to watch

me: you bet

Greg: and that crazy bounce that sent the puck off the post when thomas was out of net

then the diving thomas save to knock it out

me: that was INSANE

yeah

11:30 AM Greg: he has such a strong stick arm, people take shots with two hands on the stick and he just whaps their stick and puck out of the way with his one hand

like the recent habs game with 'big whiffer'

he just stopped the shot and shoved the puck back out with his stick hand

11:31 AM me: Thomas owns

3-0
WIN

(8-7-2)

GO BRUINS!

Dan Paille trade is for veteran Catwalker, middling forward

Well, my previous method of finding out about new Bruins acquisitions by typing their name into youtube has worked again. Here's the thing: The first video is of him laying out a hab, and the third - THAT'S 1-2-3 THIRD - is of him at a "Charity Catwalk." I think this whole Improper Bostonian thing is rubbing off.

For your review, and because I'm not clever enough to sub in the fashion show scene from Slapshot:

Sheesh.

At least the fourth video is Paille laying out another Hab. If he can do that more often, he'll have a lot of friends in Boston. If he's too busy doing fashion shows where the announcer says it's his "best shot all year" then we might have a problem. We only gave up a 3rd and conditional 4th and his contract expires at the end of the year. Looking good, Chiarelli. Re-sign a couple guys now.

Kobasew shirts will be wicked cheap though, and Wild fans out there want a shirt to go along with the new Savior of the Franchise?

UPDATE

He knocks Chara over, but is worse for wear post-hit.
O CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

I think I need more centered text.

Preds up tonight. More on that later.

GO BRUINS!

Game 81 Recap: BRUINS 1 SABRES 6 NOT GETTING THE PRESIDENT'S TROPHY THIS YEAR

Yup, even though LA did their part and beat San Jose the Bruins pulled EXACTLY what they did last year against Buffalo and sat down for this game. Here's your recap.

Third Period.
0-5. If you tuned in late, you tuned out pretty quick.

In the third, the Bruins Powerplay sets up and Recchi's in front of the net. Hunwick plays the part of blue-line slapper.

1-5. Hey, nice goal, guys. Way to not get shut out.

When the score is 1-6 and the save highlights page looks like this:
The defense sucked.

1-6. Final score.

Loss.

Is it Thursday yet?

vs. BUF: 2-3-1 (final)
Record: 52-19-10 (L 1)
Away: 23-13-4 (L 2)
L10: 7-2-1
April: 3-2-0
GO BRUINS!

Game 81 Preview: Bruins @ Buffalo OH WHO CARES

April 11, 2009 4 PM ET
TV: NESN
Radio: WBZ 1030 AM
@ Buffalo Sabres (40-32-9)

Notes:
The only way this game matters for anyone but the fans watching the last game of the buffalo season is if San Jose loses tonight.

Luckily for us viewers, the Sabres are wearing their third jerseys, aka their updated classics.

Stats:

GO BRUINS!

L10: Games 31-40: 8-2-0

Well, the Bruins got all the way to 10 wins in a row only to drop the last 2 games. They haven't looked as good as before and they're definitely playing better teams than before. I have a feeling it might get worse before it gets better. Here's what happened in the last 10 games:

• Game 31: Bruins 8, TOR 5: David Krejci gets his first NHL Hat Trick, Wideman cracks glass, Toskala is pulled and then replaced. Each Toronto goalie gives up 4 goals. Kessel Streak: 16 games.
• Game 32: Bruins 4 CAR 2: Bruins look like crap the whole night, still double-up on the Canes thanks to an empty netter. Patrice Bergeron gets another concussion, this time while hitting a guy. Terrible. Kessel Streak: 17 games
• Game 33: Bruins 6 STL 3: It's a battle of the Mannys, but Wheeler steals the show in the first 5 minutes, scoring a short-handed goal for a possible goal of the year. In the first period, 2 penalties each have a SHG and a PPG. Martin St. Pierre gets an assist in his first game with the Bs. Kessel Streak: 18 games.
• Game 34: Bruins 2 NJD 0: Kessel's streak ends but Thomas makes a BEAUTIFUL save on Elias to get a shutout and Lucic scores in his 8th game. Krejci pots the empty netter. This is the first time the Bruins have won more than 5 in a row all season.
• Game 35: Bruins 3 CAR 2: Blake Wheeler scored 2 goals in less than 5 minuts for the millionth time. A Savard pass leads to the game-winner.
  
• Game 36: Bruins 2 ATL 1: The Bruins finish a season sweep of the Thrashers. This time it's krejci passing to Ryder that causes the game-winner.
  
• Game 37: Bruins 5 PIT 2: The highlight of this game is a 4-on-3 Bruins powerplay with Savard and Krecji up front. They get into the offensive zone, and prove the Greater Crisp Passing Theory of hockey.
  
• Game 38: Bruins 4 PIT 2: 10 in a row. The Bruins continue to beat the slumping pens, scoring an empty netter to finish this one off. Vladimir Sobotka stands up Jordan Staal at the blue line.
  
• Game 39: Bruins 2 BUF 4: The winning streak ends. The Buffalo defense was fantastic, the Bruins couldn't get anything going, except a Shawn Thornton goal.
  
• Game 40: Bruins 0 MIN 1: Minnesota grinds out a 1-0 win on the strength of a Marek Zidlicky power play slap shot. The Wild are undefeated in Boston over 5 games here. Dammit.
  

5 Questions with the enemy Review:

Game 34: Puck Daddy

Bonus question: Is your job the best ever?

Since leering at Scarlett Johansson while she sleeps can’t really be considered a profession, yes.
Game 40: Wild Road Tripper from Hitting the Post

3) You travel to many Wild away games, and have home season tickets. Is that awesome or totally awesome?

WRT: With the number of Wild games I see in person (50 this season alone) I have somewhat of a feeling of how players and the rest of the teams' travelling party feels like. For them, it's a real grind. Thank God, they get to fly charter. The rest of us are stuck with commercial flights, a lot of which are late and/or cancelled. Say what you will, but the NHL really needs to rethink how it schedules games. To ask anyone to play hockey in Southern California (or Florida) one night and in sub-zero Minnesota (or, Ottawa) 48 hours later is asking a lot. It's good and it's bad for me (and my wife) as our schedule is set so far in advance we normally get cheap air fares (cheaper after Southwest begins serving Minneapolis-St. Paul, March 6) but then we have very little flexibility to change our minds after we commit to a game. I know the B's don't have that much of a problem with it, but out here we are really screwed.

Game 40: Greg Nation, friend of the Blog.

Which Boston-area mascot is the best?

I hate mascots. In fact, everyone above the age of 5 does. They're stupid, cartoonish creations that detract from the seriousness of the sport. But, if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Boston Massacre Roller Derby's mascot, which appears to be a drunk guy in a lobster suit with a rifle.

Watch your back, Minnesota.

Best Goal:

Blake Wheeler, 4:59 into Game 33 vs. St. Louis. This is shorthanded, mind:

Best Save:

Tim Thomas, second period of Game 34 in New Jersey. Elias has a wide open net and Thomas is sprawled out from a save on Parise. SAVE. So huge.

Best Hit:
Vladimir Sobotka on Jordan Staal. Sobotka is tiny, Staal is huge.

Record: 29-7-4
L10: 8-2-0
GO BRUINS!

Game 39 Recap: BRUINS 2 BUF 4 HAD TO HAPPEN EVENTUALLY

They say you can't win 'em all. The Bruins didn't. Here's how:

Matt Ellis and Thomas Vanek scored in the first 6 minutes. Kessel responded when Savard gave it to him on the powerplay:

1-2. You're holding out hope for a lot more Bruins scoring, or for the Buffalo defense to be less suffocating.

Matt Ellis scores again to start the second. Shawn Thornton responds with a kick fake and wrister from the point:

2-3. A pretty goal by Thornton. You're thinking there's still a lot of hockey left, but that bad feeling is gnawing at you.

Paul Gaustad scores. 2-4.

The third period is better because Buffalo doesn't score. The Bruins fail to score, as well.

Game.

Loss.

It was bound to happen eventually.

Record: 29-6-4
Home: 14-2-1
L10: 9-1-0
January: 1-1-0
vs. BUF 2-2-1
GO BRUINS!

Game 39 Preview: Buffalo @ Bruins BUFFALO BUFFALO BUFFALO BUFFALO BUFFALO BUFFALO BUFFALO BUFFALO

Jan 3 2009, 1:oo PM ET

TV: NESN

Radio: WBZ

vs. Buffalo Sabres (18-15-5)

Notes:

• I still don't like Pominville.
• The Sabres have a better PK than the Bruins. 3rd best, even.
• Krejci has gotten a point in each of the Bruins wins on the current streak.
• Matinee game means morning post means not the most in-depth ever.

Previous Games:

In each previous game, the home team has won.

• Game 6: Bruins 2 BUF 2 SO LOSS in Buffalo.  Ryan Miller stole that game.
  
• Game 14: Bruins 3 BUF 1 Win at home.  As Jack Edwards said, "Chucky's Back!"
  
• Game 19: Bruins 7 BUF 4 Win at home.  This game was insane, with it being 3-4 at the end of the third.  Manny then doesn't let anything in for the rest of the game.
  
• Game 22: Bruins 2 BUF 3 Loss in Buffalo.  The game-winner is a SHG.  Derek Roy shot one off of Krejci's stick into the net.
  

Other Previews:

• Bruinsblog on boston.com: Morning Breifing
  
• The Bear Cave: "Marc Savard is the leading scorer in the season series, as he has two goals and four assists for Boston."
• NESN First Shift: "Tim Thomas (16-3-3, 2.04) or Manny Fernandez (13-2-1, 2.02) vs. Ryan Miller (16-10-4, 2.58)"
• boston.com Thumbnails
• bruins.nhl.com: Game Notes (pdf) | Preview | GameDay
  

Stats:

GO BRUINS!

L10: Third ten games (8-2-0)

It's been quite the little trip here.  Phil Kessel is the NHL 1st star of the week, and Puck Daddy has a whole article on him.  The Bruins continue to show that they'll stand up for each other.

• Game 21: Bruins 2 Habs 2 SO WIN. Roy's number is finally retired by the Habs, the Bruins come in and win right in front of all of those fans. Blake Wheeler gets the only goal in the shootout, and gets a No Habs No letter from Sens Army Blog.
• Game 22: Bruins 2 BUF 3 Loss.  In the 18 Buffalo-Boston games, the home team has won.  This one was played in Buffalo.  Derek Roy shot one in off a Bruins stick. Despite trying to get it going in the third, they just couldn't put it in.
  
• Game 23: Bruins 7 NYI 2 WIN. Black Friday in the new Third Jerseys brought a blowout against the league-basement Islanders.  The 7th goal in this game was super-pretty.
  
• Game 24: Bruins 4 DET 1 WIN. Detroit comes to Boston to try to pick up a win.  Luckily, the Bruins aren't scared of the reigning stanley cup champs.  After 12 minutes without a shot, Blake Wheeler buries it behind Osgood on the first shot of the game.  They go on to win.
  
• Game 25: Bruins 3 TBL 1 WIN.  Lecavelier-to-Martin St. Louis starts the scoring about a minute in, but Thomas starts taking the game seriously and the Bruins come back to win, 3-1 with an empty netter.
  
• Game 26: Bruins 4 FLA 0 WIN. Manny Fernandez pitches a shutout.  The Florida Coach after the game: "We could have been out there for three days and still not scored."
  
• Game 27: Bruins 5 TBL 3 WIN. This was the game that the Bruins got up 3-0 in the first 10 minutes, then stopped playing altogether.  P.J. Axelsson's Empty netter made this score look less scary than it was to watch.
  
• Game 28: Bruins 1 WAS 3 Loss. Proving that the Bruins can't win them all, Washington continues a home winning streak against the Bruins.  Ovechkin got the empty-netter.  It was a pretty hard-fought game.  I can't wait until Washington comes to Boston.
  
• Game 29: Bruins 7 ATL 3 WIN. 14 Players have points in this mega team effort.  4 fights make this quite the game as the first of the home-and-home series.
• Game 30: Bruins 4 ATL 2 WIN. The Bruins pick up where they left off in Atlanta, and 6'7" Thrashers defenseman Valabik has to answer to Chara after picking on Kessel.  Valabik is star-struck and throws no punches.  How do you fight your idol?  Chara doesn't even knock him down.  Sort of a sad fight, in a way.  That said, back off of Kessel or one of our bruisers will Crush you.  By Bruisers, I mean Lucic, Chara, Thornton, or Savard.  Savard?  Yeah, check his PIMs for the season.

Stats/On-Pace Projections:

Best goal of the last 10 games:

Maybe this one's just fresh in my mind, but Michael Ryder's second goal against atlanta on Saturday was pretty dominant:

It was his 10th of the season.
L10 Record: 8-2-0
Overall record: 21-5-4
GO BRUINS!

Game 22 Recap: BRUINS 2 SABRES 3 CONSARNIT

Well, the home-team winning streak continues in this series. Luckily, we don't see these guys until January, and it's in OUR building next time. I missed the first 2 periods due to family engagements. So once again, it's time to piece together what happened.

VIDEO RECAPODROME...ACTIVATING.

10 minutes into the game, the bruins are working it out of our zone when Derek Roy literally shoots it in from David Krejci's stick blade. Seriously. Ridiculous. Want proof? Fine. Here:

See? Unbelievable. 0-1.

2 Minutes left in the 1st, and Derek Roy sneaks one in short side.
0-2.

4 minutes into the second, the Bruins start battling back. This nice little number is what we like to call a "Matt Hunwick Garbage Goal." Krejci-Kobasew-Miller-Kobasew-Miller-Hunwick-GOAL.

1-2. Hope springs eternal.

Then 5 minutes into the second, Hecht on the Sabres PK streaks up and rifles one past Thomas. Just embarassing.
1-3.

Thornton fights Andrew Peters. They stood around a bunch, but eventually got to it.

Third period, about halfway through, this one's a doozy.
Kessel walks it in, gets it across to Savard, Savard half-whiffs on a slapshot, but it gets to Lucic. Lucic tips it when it gets to him, then Kessel finally grabs it and shows them how a goal is supposed to be scored.

2-3.

Thomas pulled with a minute to go, we can't bury it.
GAME.
Loss.

Not the worst game ever, the Bruins were certainly trying to get it going in the third. The announcers mentioned some funny bounces, maybe that's it.

Happy Thanksgiving, folks. See y'all Friday for my early-morning Preview. Hmmmmm.....

Record: 14-4-4
L10: 8-1-1
Away: 7-3-3
Streak: L1
GO BRUINS!

Game 22 Preview: Bruins @ Buffalo BUFFALO? AGAIN? REALLY?

Nov 26, 2008 7:00 PM ET

On TV: NESN
On Radio: WBZ
@Buffalo Sabres (9-8-3)
Notes:

• Again? This is the 4th game against Buffalo this year. After this, we don't see them until Jan. 3rd, and then not again until the second-to-last game of the season, April 11th. In each game, the home team has won. Games so far:
• Game 6: 2-2 SO Loss in Buffalo
• Game 14: 3-1 W in Boston.
  
• Game 19: 7-4 W in Boston. Miller got chased from the net.
• The Bruins are on a 4 game winning streak, including 3 divisional games against the Leafs, Habs, and Sabres.  They also haven't lost in regulation in November...yet.
• Manny vs. Miller has been the goalie-duel for the last 3 games.  
  
• Congrats to Marc Savard for getting first star of the week last week.
• Will Marco "The German" Sturm ever return?
• Vanek still has 15 goals, and is still tied for the lead in NHL scoring.
• Buffalo has cooled down a lot after their hot start. I worry about that happening to the Bruins.
  
• NHL Fanhouse:The Bruins are now the measuring stick.
• Puck the Media doesn't want to see the NHL on ESPN.
  
• Boston.com sees that Savard is a complete player.
  
• Matt Porter has an early gift idea.
• Give thanks for Jack Edwards.

Other Previews:

• The Bear Cave: Solid write-up. Kobasew and Savard are scoring a bunch in this series.
• HockeyFights.com: Andrew Peters vs. Shawn Thornton?
  
• Stanley Cup of Chowder: Delivers the embarrasing fan vid goodness.
• Here Comes the Bruins!: Thinks Miller will play shut-down goal.  I tend to agree.
  
• NESN First Shift: The Bruins have a lot to be thankful for this season.  
• BruinsBlog
• bruins.nhl.com: Preview | GameDay | Notes (pdf)
  
• boston.com thumbnails
  

Tim Thomas:

(The other goalie on both lists:  Backstrom from the Wild.  Sick.)

This space was once the Campaign Headquarters.  No more.  Penguins Experience agrees.

Stats:

GO BRUINS!

Game 19 Recap: BRUINS 7 SABRES 4 WELCOME TO CRAZYTOWN

Ho. Ly. Crap. What a crazy game. Other acceptable words: Zany, wacky, astounding, silly, etc, etc.

Let's cut the chit-chat, and kick off our recap.
The starting lineup for the bruins: Thornton-Yelle-Nokelainen Hnidy-Stuart Fernandez.
That's right, our fourth line starts. Coach must know what he's doing.

Less than two minutes in, Pominville: population Goal.
For some reason, I don't really like the guy. I don't know. Whatever. 0-1. Less than 2 minutes in.

A minute later, Wheeler steals the puck in the offensive zone, sets up the sick pass to Kobasew. One-timer/deflection/back-door. Miller=pwned.

Sick set-up. 1-1. Less than 3 minutes in.

4:30 or so. Ludman shoots it in, Derek Roy deflects it past Manny. Buffalo Goal. That drunk guy in the Thomas jersey is trying to start a "Hook 'em" chant. Julien stays the course. The buffalo fans are getting excited. Sing while you're winning, right?
1-2. Less than 5 minutes in.

While they're announcing the second goal, Vanek gets a goal. I don't usually post opponent's goals, but this is rick jeanneret.

Compare with Top Shelf. 1-3. Still less than 5 minutes in.

Don't worry, the next 15 minutes stay exciting.

David Krejci sings "anything you can do, I can do better" as he skates down during the announcement of the last goal and knuckles it past Miller. Goal.

2-3. If you took the over in this game, you're pretty confident. Less than 6 minutes in.

A scuffle happens, Mark Stuart and Andrew Peters go to the box, but so does Shawn Thornton, serving Mark Stuart's penalty. Buffalo Power Play. What do ya know? Thomas Vanek gets in front of the net, deflects another one in. That guy in the Moog jersey is trying to start a "pull the goa-lie" chant. Buffalo fans are spilling beer, they're celebrating so hard.
2-4. Less than 13 minutes in.

Manny announces "No Mas."

While they're announcing that goal, Kessel and Savard play some Magic: The Goalscoring.
Savard rams it into the backdoor. Again. Goal.

3-4. The last goal of the period.

Intermission: You get a beer and ask where you can buy a Thomas Jersey. Julien talks to his team.


Second Period. We end up on the PowerPlay early. Zdeno Chara(enstein) stands tall on the blueline. Winds up. Bergeron passes. Chara's gravitational pull brings it in. SLAP! GOAL!

4-4. Less than 3 minutes into the 1st. Tie Game.

Hunwick shoots, misses. It's ok. Kobasew picks it up, banks it off Miller's back. Is that even a back door, or just crappy luck?

The guy sitting next to you explains that that goal is the exact same that knocked his high school team out of the playoffs in overtime his junior year.
5-4. Our First Lead. Kobasew is on Hat-Trick watch.

Late in the second. Power Play. You blink if you miss it. Faceoff-somebody-chara-bergeron-chara.
SLAP!
GOAL.

6-4. Kobasew AND Chara are on Hat-Trick watch.

Third Period. You find out Lundqvist got pulled in the "Revenge 1994" game. King Nothing plays in your head.

Two major plays that I can remember from this period. First up, the top line gets the shovels out. Lucic tries, fails. Luckily, Kessel is right there, waiting. Goal.

7-4. Everybody's trying to start a "Mil-ler" chant, but what's this? That's not Miller #30 in net anymore. Patrick Lalime comes in. The whole rest of the game (all 17 or so minutes of it), Lalime and Manny are perfect. Here's a Manny save for you:

Game over man, Game over!
And Here's Jack and Andy with some commentary:

Thoughts:

• Crazy game. Manny held on, though, and our goalscoring machine worked.
• 30 goals in 3 games last night
• Any night where two division rivals pull their goalies is good. Especially if one is in the building.

Other Random Good Hockey stuff:

• Kitt Amudson is a Joke. Thanks, Japer's Rink!
• Andrew Ference was in the building last night, as was Tukka Rask.
• Steve Dangle Agrees with me.
• I'm still running that Contest.
  

WIN.

Record: 12-3-4
Home: 6-1-1
L10: 8-1-1
Streak: W2
GO BRUINS!

Game 19 Preview: Buffalo @ Bruins BRU FEST/COAT DRIVE NIGHT

Nov 19, 2008 7:00 PM ET

On TV: NESN
On Radio: WBZ
vs. Buffalo Sabres (9-5-3)

Notes:

• This is the third time we're playing these guys, and it's only November. We're currently 1-0-1 vs. them. We play again on November 26th.  See previous recaps:
  
• Game 6: 2-2 SO Loss in Buffalo
  
• Game 18: 3-1 Win at Home
• If you're going to the game, bring an old coat to donate for charity.
• Congrats to Chuck Kobasew on his 300th game tonight.
• Sturm is out of the lineup tonight.
• Manny in net.  He's won his last 3 games, is 4-0-1 in his last 5 starts.
• The good Dr. Mirtle writes about projections vs. last year's performance.  Bruins are 2nd in points difference, 7th in Goals for difference, and 3rd in Goals against difference.  All in all, better than last year.
• Tonight is the second Sam Adams Bru Fest.
• HubHockey has another SteveDangle video, this one about the all-star game.
• After scoring his first NHL goal the other night, Matt Hunwick got 20+ texts.
• Boston.com has more on the Ference Injury. Badass. He should be back in January.
• John Beattie has a "Jack Edwards call of the week" feature on his blog.  This week's winner: “…with more moves than a monkey with 100 feet of rope…” prior to Rangers right winger Nikolai Zherdev’s shootout attempt in the Bruins’ 3-2 shootout loss at MSG
• Jack Edwards is into Poetry.  Sick.

Lindy Ruff thinks the Bruins are for real:

“I think they’re definitely one of the top teams,” said the Buffalo bench boss. “Their depth up front, the fact that (Patrice) Bergeron’s back, (Phil) Kessel’s kind of having his coming-out party, (Marc) Savard’s a real good player, Sturm, great two-way player. They’ve got good depth, they’ve got a solid defense, led by a guy that’s an All-Star and he happens to be 7-foot-11 (Zdeno Chara) or whatever he is – so that’s big enough and good enough. They’re a good team and their goaltending’s been good. All aspects of their team have been good, so they’re one of the teams we’re going to have to look up to, one of the teams you’re going to have to beat.

Thanks to New England Hockey Journal.

Other Previews:

• The Bruins Report: Covers the Ference injury.  
• Stanley Cup of Chowder: "we have finally solved the mystery of the whereabouts of Peter Schaefer's missing soul patch."
• HubHockey: Shows off some Photoshop Skillz.
• Kynch's Korner: Includes a hilarious editorial cartoon.
• The Bear Cave: "Dennis Wideman, Phil Kessel, Chuck Kobasew, and Craig Rivet are the only four players with more than one point in the season series."
• NESN.com First Shift: "The Bruins have six forwards with at least 10 points: Marc Savard (21), Marco Sturm (12), Phil Kessel (12), Milan Lucic (11), Michael Ryder (10) and Patrice Bergeron (10)"
• bruins.nhl.com: Preview | GameDay | Notes (pdf)
  
• BruinsBlog: Bruins Lines | 
• boston.com thumbnails
• Top Shelf: "We're done with them after this game, right? Please?"  Sorry, we play again on the 26th.

5 Questions with the Enemy:

For today's session, we have Heather B from Top Shelf.  Top Shelf takes it's name from a Rick Jeanneret call, "TOP SHELF, WHERE MOMMA HIDES THE COOKIES."  

Let's see what she has to say:

1) Who's impressed you so far this season?

For us?  I think it has to be Thomas Vanek.  He's managed to ride his good second half of last season into this season.  He's looking much more confident and comfortable in his skin so far than he did most of last year - huge contracts will do that to you sometimes, I guess - and he's slowly but steadily improving his play in the defensive zone as well.  He's started killing penalties some this year and was practically beaming when he scored his first ever short-handed goal last month.  It's nice to see him becoming the go-to guy he's capable of being.

For you?  I covet Milan Lucic.  I love all of Buffalo's speedy little guys but a dose of talented size would be awesome.  If you guys ever want to get rid of him, let me know.

2) Obviously you'll like Rick Jeanneret best, but have you heard Jack Edwards?

Sadly, I don't have Center Ice or anything like that so I never hear anyone else's announcing team.  Sorry!

3) All-star voting?

It is what it is.  It seems like there's always one or two guys who are having great seasons who get left off the ballot but as long as it's fan voting, it's going to be a popularity contest.  I'm mostly in the "Give the people what they want" camp.  (As long as the people aren't Canadiens fans using tricky means that is.)  If a guy gets the most votes, he should play.  It's just an exhibition game.  I do wish the voting didn't start so early in the season though.  Is that necessary?  The game is forever away!

4) Does Buffalo have a local music group that represents it, akin to Boston's Dropkick Murphy's?

I'm not a music person so I can't tell you how well-known they are nationally these days or how many people relate them to Buffalo but the Goo Goo Dolls have very strong ties to Buffalo.  Johnny Rzenik and Robbie Takac both grew up in the area and both still have homes here.  They have a music studio in these parts and Robbie in particular is very involved with the local scene and runs an annual music festival which is pretty cool.  They both always speak very fondly of Buffalo which Buffalonians are suckers for.  Anyone who appreciates us is a-ok in our book.

5) Who will win tonight's game?

Well, jeez, I have to say us, right?  The Sabres are coming off two poor games - one half-effort against Pittsburgh and a match-up with Columbus that barely qualified as a hockey game.  I think Lindy Ruff coddled them a little at times last year but so far this season he seems to be riding them pretty hard (as he should) and really pushing them after bad games.  I expect to see them play much better hockey tonight with better all-around defense which will be the key.  (For all my complaining about how often we face Boston though I will say, you guys are still being very underrated.  I won't be the least bit surprised when you're in the playoffs this year.)

Once again, that's Heather B from Top Shelf.  Thanks again to you, Heather!

Stats:

If anyone has a picture of Thomas punching that Sabre they always show in the Garden, please send it to me.  Thanks!

GO BRUINS!