Game 79: Bruins @ Rangers 7:30 PM ON VERSUS

Not much at stake tonight except pride and feeling out a possible 1st-round matchup.

I love that picture of torts up there.

Rangers' magic number is 5 but with a win tonight, I think they eliminate Toronto.

Stats!

GO BRUINS!

Game 68 Preview: Bruins at Devils CHEESEBURGER DUEL

(unrelated, but it is American Hero Mark Stuart beating the tar out of noted man of ill repute Dan Carcillo. Click for high-res)

Where am I? Is this...home? Is this? Hockey? What?

I do believe we are back in action after what can only be termed "malaise" (per court order) set in about this little blog here. But it's time to get back on the horse. We've got some playoffs to make, though my reaction to making the playoffs will be more one of pleasant surprise than a triumphant affirmation of what I believed all along. Whatever. It's bloggy-blog time, and we've got an appointment with the man downstairs.

Luckily, Satan is on our side (and skating in practice!)

Looks like Cheeseburger Duel in nets with Thomas and Marty.

The devils are ridiculous good again this year, but our special teams is better in everything except short-handed goals for. Our last 10 is better than their last 10. Is that...hope...I hear? Nah, probably not. Whatever.

Stats!

What color are your rain boots?
GO BRUINS!

Game 14 Preview: Bruins @ Detroit INJURIES AND INJURIES AND INJURIES OH MY!

Game 14
7pm Nov. 3rd, 2009
Versus, 98.5
vs. Detroit Red Wings (5-4-3)

Thomas and Osgood in net, Detroit's missing Franzen and has overall been in a slump, Bruins have as well. Going by the streak, this one should be a win but that means we're losing to the Habs on Thursday and nobody wants that.

Mailing it in as usual, enjoy the game on Versus unless you have DirecTV and then ask where the channel is and then get free center ice if you can swing it.

GO BRUINS!

GAME 1: Capitals @ Bruins HOME OPENER

THRREEEEEEE ORRRR MOOOORRRREE

GOOD MORNING BOSTON (and possible readers elsewhere). It's a beautiful morning here, perfect weather to cram into an arena or bar or living room to watch THE BEGINNING OF HOCKEY SEASON!!! There are few words to describe how excited I am at this point, and if you're reading this you probably don't need to hear them again and again and again.

The offseason has been a wild one, what with the court cases and offseason moves and kessel fucking off to Toronto, but that's all over for now. Tonight, we see the beginning of what could be another magical season or a disappointment. I'm not one for predictions, you can find those elsewhere. I suggest Two Line Pass's hockey haiku predictions (east | west) for a fun brain teaser.

Ovechkin hurt, January 2009

But enough about silly predictions. Let's get down to brass tacks. The Caps are a good team, and almost (ALMOST!) brought Chris Bourque to play in Boston's home opener. He was excited to make the team and interviewed about it, only to be put on waivers. Pittsburgh picked him up. Sobotka was assigned to providence, and the opening night Bruins roster is set, likely involving one David Krejci at center.

Game starts at 7pm, and will show on Versus tonight. If you have DirectTV, you might not be able to see the game so feel free to call and complain before heading over to a buddy's house to watch. People should be celebrating the start of the season anyhow, this is as good a reason as any to get together!

Holy crap I just rambled a bunch and I have no idea how coherent it is but I don't care because TONIGHT IS WHEN IT STARTS!

GO BRUINS!

VERSUS WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT OPENING NIGHT IS COMING

Puck the Media posted this:

(if you're one of the 5 people reading this in an email, click through for the youtube.)
lovin' me some center alignment...

GO BRUINS!

Game 40 Preview: Wild @ Bruins SPECIAL EARLY EDITION

Jan 6, 2009 7:00 PM ET

TV: Versus

Radio: WBZ

vs. Minnesota Wild (19-16-3)

Notes:

• I'm a fan of both teams.
  
• Minnesota just beat San Jose and took Detroit to a shootout. Otherwise, they aren't doing so hot. The leading scorer of previous years is out and likely never to return.
• The Wild have trouble scoring, but are excellent at preventing goals. The Bruins and Wild are fighting for top spot in that stat column.
• Sturm is having surgery on his knee. He'll be out indefinitely.
• Minnesota not only had Jessie "The Mind" Ventura as governor, but they also just certified comedian Al Franken as Senator.
• The Bruins have not beaten the Wild in Boston.  The Panthers are the only other team with a winning record at the Garden.
• Neither Patrice nor Marc-Andre Bergeron are playing tonight.
• Owen Nolan, Irish God of War, is playing tonight.
  
• Aaron Ward is a game-time decision with a charley horse.
• Fluto is saying most likely Manny in Net.
• Andy Brickley will be doing Color commentary tonight.
• Derek Boogaard is out with an upper body injury.  Shawn Thornton breathes a sigh of relief.

Previous Games:

Game 2: Bruins 3 Wild 4, Marc-Andre Bergeron scored. Link goes to the preview. It's got quite the analysis of Wild/Bruins over the years, too.

5 Questions with the enemy SPECIAL EDITION!

Helping out today are a few Folks. There's Wild Road Tripper (WRT) and on the Wild side of things, and because I'm a fan of both teams, I asked friend of the blog Greg Nation 5 questions about the Bruins.  Here's Wild Road Tripper, of Hitting the Post.

1) We're nearly halfway through the season. Who's been impressive?

WRT: Impressive? Three stand out:

A. Cal Clutterbuck (#22). He started the season out in Houston, and was brought up to give a physical presence to an otherwise wimpy frontline. He has done that, already registering enough hits in less than one-half a season to surpass the Wild franchise hit record (115).

B. Mikko Koivu (#9). Wild fans don't call this guy 'the Franchise' for nothing. He has indeed stepped it up a notch while the Gaborik saga has dragged on. On any other NHL team, he would be named permanent Captain.

C. Owen Nolan(#11). The 'Irish God of War' has scored four goals in his last 3 games since coming off the injured list at his own insistence New Year's Eve vs. San Jose. He is showing why the Wild invested $5.5 million over the next two seasons on him.

2) Gaborik. Crap. Do you think the Wild will get anything more out of him?

WRT: I point you to the rant I wrote on Sunday on the Hitting the Post blog. He's not coming back this season; he will not ever wear a Wild sweater again; and he would love to go to a more wide-open system, where he would be able to strictly 'cherry-pick' in the neutral zone, and never have to go within 65 feet of his own goal except after the final horn has sounded.

See ya later, Gaby.

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.

4) Who is most likely to be with the Wild next year: Riseborough, Lemaire, Backstrom, Gaborik, Skoula?

WRT: My best guess is that Lemaire will be here as long as Risebrough is, Gaborik is gone (no way in hell he comes back), Backstrom will probably sign somewhere else (hopefully I am wrong there, but DR doesn't seem to see any urgency in re-signing him, despite his great numbers), and we all hope and pray someone (preferably in the KHL) will take Skoula off our hands. He is absolutely worthless. Even he knows it. But Jacques thinks he's better than apple butter so he plods on, like the big oaf he really is.

5) Predictions for Tuesday's game?

WRT: The Wild always seem to do well vs. the Bruins. Their styles seem to make for great skating, up-and-down affairs. And, unlike the last time these two teams met in the Garden (I was there, BTW) this time it's the B's who have the momentum and the Wild are the team on the fringe looking in. Will Manny start? And, if he does, can Jacques get under his skin enough for him to lose his cool?

Once again, that's WRT from Hitting the Post. Thanks, and keep up the good work!

Now, because I'll be wearing a Wild jersey to the game, here's friend of the blog Greg Nation, answering 5 Questions about the Bruins:

1. It's halfway through the season. Who has impressed so far?

A tough choice between Krejci and Kessel, but I'm going to have to go with Kessel. From the moment I first saw him play, I noticed he possessed an innate abundance of talent that will only continue to be refined into skill by experience. Even at his young age, his play is punctuated with flashes of brilliance and I expect he will grow quite a highlight reel over the course of his career.

2. After this year, there are 11 free agents, most notably Thomas and Fernandez as UFAs, and Krejci and Kessel as RFAs. Also, P.J. Axelsson's contract will be up. Which goalie do you keep?

Thomas because he puts up better numbers. I obviously think we should hang on to Kessel and Krejci since they have impressed so far, and as much as it pains me to say, P.J.'s time might be up. I like to think of him as the Mark Bellhorn of the bruins, I just hope the habs don't pick him up.

3. Which is worse: Bergeron getting another concussion or Sturm undergoing surgery?

That's a tough one. For surgery, we'll lose Sturm for the rest of the season but a concussion doesn't necessarily mean we'll lost Bergeron for very long. Looking at the bigger picture though, I don't think the Bergeron we're seeing this season is the same Bergeron that played prior to Randy Jones' cheap shot. Patrice is only 23 years old and probably has trouble remembering his name. As it seems that knee surgery for Sturm is inevitable, I say the Bruins should focus on bubble-wrapping Bergy's head.

4. 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.

5: Predictions for tonight's game?

Shawn Thornton will score the first goal to everyone's, including his own, amazement. Owen Nolan will throw out his hip. The ice girls will throw me a free T-shirt. Sobotka will injure Brent Burns on a huge hit. Patrice Bergeron will get a concussion. Krejci's line will produce two goals. Kessel will score one goal. Bruins win, 4-1.

Thanks again to everyone above who answered!

Other Previews:

• Here come the Bruins!: "they have some of the best names in hockey."
• Bruins Blog: "Minnesota is one of only five teams that has defeated the Bruins in regulation this season."
• Iron Ref Champ Stanley Cup of Chowder:The B's are 3-0-1 on Versus this season.
• Bruins Hockey Blog: "Tonight, the Wild will be without star forward Marian Gaborik"  Oh, if only you knew....
• Double A Hockey: Ways to beat the Wild.
• The Bear Cave: "Minnesota is ranked 27th in the NHL with 96 goals scored, and has just two players on the roster with ten or more goals."
• Matt Kalman: "Without injured forwards Patrice Bergeron and Marco Sturm, two members of the Boston Bruins’ top power play unit from the start of the season, the club went through a three-game stretch in late December where it went 0-for-12 with the man-advantage."
• NESN First Shift: "Manny Fernandez (13-2-1, 2.02) vs. Niklas Backstrom (18-12-2, 2.21)"  It's like the Wild goalie rotation from 2 years ago!
• Boston Herald: Thumbnails
  
• boston.com: Thumbnails
  
• bruins.nhl.com: GameDay | Preview | Game Notes (pdf)
  

Stats:

Ok, I pretty much want both teams to win, if possible. And me to not get beat up at the game.

GO BRUINS!

Game 18 Recap: BRUINS 3 LEAFS 2 REFS 0 WIN BY THOMAS

Ok, so I missed the first period, mostly. Turned it on just in time to see the Leafs score for 2-1. So this recap will be pieced together out of boxtops and enthusiasm.

Check out this story about blind hockey.

And then re-read this story about Tim Thomas.

Or don't. Your loss. Recap time.
First Period:
Nearly halfway through, Lucic goes and gets the puck, throws it to Savard. Savard passes one off the boards to a streaking Kessel, he picks it up. Kessel goes 5-hole from far away. GOAL.

1-0.

A couple minutes later, Lucic and Savard are at it again, this time anointing Matt Hunwick. Hunwick's first shot is blocked, but he's just getting Toskala out of position. GOAL.

2-0.

Ok, here's the part where we've choked up a loss to these guys before. Crap.

I turn on the TV. Jason Blake rams one in short side. 2-1. Ugh.

Second Period.
Thornton and Mayers go at the beginning. Mayers drops his gloves early, because he's scared of Thornton. Andy Brickley explains, thanks to HockeyFights.com:


Versus explains why not to have interviews mid-game, and Chiarelli has no idea what to do. Whoever the interviewer is, they're a tool. Ward gets the puck from in front of the Net, and passes it to Ryder at the other Blue line. Ryder decides "oh, why not, I'll score" and follows through. GOAL.
(listen to this with audio if you like vomiting)

3-1.

No more goal-scoring in the second, due to a tornado in front of the Boston net.

Third Period.
Grabovski scored about 10 minutes in, (3-2) and then the Bruins collapse for the last 10 minutes, just like in NYC. They can't be doing that. Luckily, Thomas is still in net.
All the way down to the final buzzer:

GAME.
WIN.

bruins.nhl.tv's save highlights for the game:
Sick.

Other thoughts:

• We looked like crap out there. Thanks to Thomas, we still got the win. Some days that will be Manny, and he can steal games too.
• Goal by Ryder! He showed what he can do...against Vesa Toskala.
• Thornton's fight was embarassing. I'm not a huge fight fan, but I can see when it doesn't go well.
• If anyone feels like doing some photshopping, Thomas as wall, Thomas as Superman, or Thomas carrying the team would be appropriate. What a beast.
• Hunwick looked pretty good, the goal didn't hurt. Ference is out until January, but his surgery went well.
  

Record: 11-3-4
Away: 6-2-3
L10: 8-1-1
Streak: W1
GO BRUINS!

Game 6: Bruins @ Buffalo

Oct 21, 2008, 7:00 PM ET
On TV: 2/6 on VS (HD) 
On the Radio: WBZ 1030
vs. Buffalo Sabres (4-0-1)

Notes

• This is a short one because the home opener was last night and I need to fit sleep and work in there somewhere.
  
• Buffalo is off to a great start.
• "Bull" and "Bear" are two words to descibe the stock market.  "Sabre" is not, though there are jobs getting cut as a result of the bear market.
• Versus has been hyping this matchup for days.
• Thomas Vanek has 2 short-handed goals already, his first two of his career.
  
• Patrick Kaleta (32 PIM), Craig Rivet (29 PIM), and Adam Mair (21 PIM) all have over 20 PIM and together combine for more than the whole Bruins team (68 PIM), and we've even played the Canadiens once already this season.  I like that the Bruins are playing a clean physical game early in the season.
  
• I went to a buffalo game here, sat near a pretty nice group of people from Buffalo...and their asshole friend who got them all kicked out.

Other Previews

• Stanley Cup of Chowder.
  
• BruinsBlog has refs, lines are probably the same as last night.  Kobasew and Axelsson are still out.
• WickedBruinsFan is liveblogging the game.
• NHL Fanhouse is doing a Live Blog.  I might be on, but I don't yet have watch-tv-and-be-on-internet technology.  This was in the top part before, but now Jaci gets top billing.
  
• bruins.nhl.com.
• boston.com.
• Others to come I'm sure, check the bar to your left under "Bruins Blogs"

Stats going into tonight's game

Last night was a well-played game with a disappointing ending. Tonight we're on VS against the 4-0-1 Sabres.

GO BRUINS!