Game 18 Preview: Kings at Bruins BEAT LA BEAT LA BEAT LA

Apparently the NHL schedule makers really enjoy the Boston/LA matchup since we doubled with them last year and are doubling with them again this year. The game in LA is in January and is Czech/Slovak pride night. Cool. Also cool: the Kings are doing "Legends nights" this year where they wear old-school jerseys and celebrate 40 years. One of their legends nights is against the Wild but that's neither here nor there. Here's the old-school jersey:

Yeah, not too shabby. Especially on Drew Doughty

So here's hoping for a good win.

Stats!

Both teams are playing pretty well so far this season, with LA sitting atop their division and the Bruins having one of the best points percentages in the league. It's all going to come down to whether the Bruins want to extend their 3-game win streak more than LA wants to stop their 3-game losing slide. Should be a good one.

GO BRUINS!

Game 72 Recap: BRUINS 2 KINGS 3 OT LOSS WHAT THE HELL BRUINS

Are you kidding me? Are you fucking kidding me?

At least it wasn't an own goal, I guess.

The story of this game is the LAKings scoring late. The first period, the Bruins look like they're finding their legs in the early goings, then they seem to find them. They start playing like they mean it.

Ok, back on track. 15 minutes into the first, krejci gives it to ryder down low. Ryder puts that puck from behind the net through a guy or two onto hunwick's stick and hunwick blasts it home. This is after John Quick has managed to make a lot of good stops.
GOAL!
1-0. Hunwick gets the goal! Huzzah!

The rest of the first goes on but I don't remember anything particularly noteworthy.

EXCEPT

Right at the end of the first, the kings are working the front of the net as the final seconds count down. The green light flashes and the siren sounds, and then they put one in. It's like those fake goals you "score" in NHL 09. You know what I'm talking about. For me, it usually foreshadows real goals.

Then the second period starts, and within a couple minutes Recchi manages to get one home when Patrice gives him an absolute gift of a pass, completely faking out Quick.
GOAL!
2-0. One of their home-run passes finally does something. It's the last time, but they keep trying. Learn a new tactic, Kobasew.

Then Ivanans tries to start a fight or something and the Bruins aren't going for it, they like their 2-0 lead right where it is. Which is ok for the next 25 minutes of play.

But then the Kings are an aggressive, play 60 minutes because we want to make the playoffs team. Like the Islanders with more points and better talent. So then Michael Handzus.
2-1. 10:10. Uh oh.

Drew Doughty. 1:36
2-2. Shit.

Overtime time. The bruins for some awful reason are trying to get it to the shootout. I don't know why, it doesn't make any sense what the hell is going on with this team why are the L A KINGS more successful in February and March than the Bruins? Shit.

Oh yeah, Dustin Brown. 0:35.
2-3. Game.

Overtime Loss.

Shit. And I was all ready to stop shaving, too.

Quote of the night:

"Our powerplay was totally flat tonight and took away the momentum. If anything, I thought our PK had better scoring chances" - Coach Claude

Record: 45-17-10 (L 2)
Home: 24-6-6 (L 1)
L10: 3-5-2
The only teams with 10 or more OT Losses in the east are the Bruins, Flyers, and teams further back than 8th. The only teams with 3 wins in their last ten are Tampa Bay and Buffalo.

Don't push it just yet.
GO BRUINS!

Game 72 Preview: Bruins vs. Los Angeles

Mar 19, 2009 7:00 PM ET

TV: NESN
Radio: WBZ 1030 AM
vs. Los Angeles Kings (29-30-10)
Notes:

• Every game is a trap game if you're still riding on early-season success.
• The Forechecker gives us an idea of what the Kings are angry about coming into this game. (the picture)
• The Kings main goalie is Johnathon Quick. Kinda hard to chant.
  
• Harvard Women's Hockey co-captain Jenny Brine thinks the Bruins will mix it up in the playoffs.
• The Vote for Tim Thomas facebook group has changed names twice in the past day. Getting bored, Chris?
• Matt Kalman says put Manny in. Or don't. Batman!
• Here's a good hockey story, about Aurel Joliat. Thanks to Greatest Hockey Legends for the tip.
  
• Pierre Lebrun looks at second-half standings.
• The Bruins and Firefighters are teaming up for a Muscular Distrophy night, with raffle tickets for stuff signed by the Bruins.
• LA has as many points since Feb. 1st as the Bruins.
• Yelle might be back, Thomas in net.
• Ouch.

Other Previews:

• HubHockey: "Backing him up is Erik Ersberg (8-10-5) whom I guess has decided to one up Manny Fernandez and not record a win since December 13th"
• Stanley Cup of Chowder: "If I had the last name Quick, I don't think I would chose a college that calls its athletic teams the Minutemen."
  
• The Bear Cave: "The last meeting on Causeway Street was back on January 12, 2006, when Mathieu Garon and the Kings blanked Boston 6-0. The Bruins' last home win over the Kings was also a shutout, as Byron Dafoe and John Grahame combined for a 5-0 victory on January 10, 2002."
  
• Matt Kalman: "This Kings team plays with such structure and grit that it can beat anyone. Think of them as the hard-working New York Islanders, but with talent."
  
• NESN First Shift: "Lately the Bruins penalty kill, (ranked 13th with an 82.2 percent success rate) has been a tired bunch, allowing opponents to go 10-of-38 (26.3 percent) in the last nine games."
  
• boston.com thumbnails
• bruins.nhl.com: Preview | Game Notes
  

Stats:

GO BRUINS!