Game 14 Preview: Buffalo @ Bruins SOLDIER NIGHT

Nov 8, 2008 7:00 PM ET
On TV: NESN
On the Radio: WBZ 1030
vs. Buffalo Sabres (8-2-3)

Notes:

• Tonight is Soldier giveaway night. Aaron Ward gave away 300. Don't get into any fights, folks. These guys have a hard enough time putting their lives on the line.
  
• Kobasew is a gametime decision.
• Bergeron was given the day off in practice because he just works so hard anyways.
  
• Buffalo is currently tops in the division. Boston can tie them with a regulation win.
• It's a good thing we didn't play last night: Montreal lost to Columbus, Buffalo lost to Atlanta, Ottawa lost to Carolina.
• We've played them once before. Lost on Oct 21st in the Shootout. Ryan Miller stole that game.
• Boston.com: After scoring the first goal in the game against Toronto, Big Money Wides is settling in.
  

Other Previews:

• The Bear Cave: Provides us with some AHL updates.
• WickedBruinsFan: Wheeler-Krejci-Sturm is a hot line.
• Stanley Cup of Chowder: The Sabres have a .833 win percentage when leading after the first period.
• BruinsBlog: Congrats to Fluto on having a baby! Not much around these parts.
  
• Goose Roost: A Sabres blog talks about Miller's resolution, and shows the painful shootout from last time.
  
• boston.com: Thumbnails.
  
• bruins.nhl.com: Preview | GameDay
  

Tim Thomas Campaign Headquarters Update:
(by: Chris from HubHockey, via Facebook)
I'm working on a pretty sweet image for the campaign. More on this later. Send your campaign materials to:
hockeyblogadventure@gmail.com
and I'll put them up here. Do it.

5 questions with a Sabres Blogger:

Nobody got back to me by post-time. I'll throw it in the recap if they do later.

Stats:

Two best play-by-play announcers, Jack Edwards and Rick Jeanneret, will be calling tonight's game:

You win on either channel.

GO BRUINS!

Game 13 Recap: Bruins 5 Leafs 2 HAT TRICK WHEELER

First of all, here's Shawn Thornton from before the game:

Now lets get to the important stuff.
First, Leafs give the Bruins a power-play. Not enough bacon. Wideman is a beast from the point.

1-0.

Next Power-Play, Blake Wheeler's got a new number, means he made the team. Time to celebrate. Goal.

2-0.

Mark Stuart subtly nudges Jason Blake closer to retirement. Maybe he's just saying he wants a trade? Either way, Blake's checked onto the Boston Bench. Sick.


They draw a third penalty with 19:00 gone in the period, Bruins can't get it together in either minute-long PP. Toronto's 3-0-2 when down 2-0. Whether the Bruins will let that fly remains to be seen, but Wheeler's still partying. Toskala shows off his breakdancing skills. Goal.

3-0

Jeff Finger dumps Shawn Thornton head over teakettle. Whatever, I don't think Shawn Thornton ever got locked in a bathroom. (Scroll down)


Wheeler's goal stands as the only one in the second, time for the third period.

Steen decides he'll score, gets his own rebound. Tim Thomas is still an all-star. 3-1

The party's still flowing. Chara remembers it's his 700th career game, decides to give himself a present. Goal.

4-1
Grabovski moves the puck faster than Tim Thomas can fall, scores with less than 2 left. 4-2. Opens up the idea of the empty netter. (Ron Wilson digs the empty net.) Wheeler hangs out in the neutral zone, kicks the keg. Empty Netter.

5-2
HAT TRICK WHEELER!
Other thoughts:

• Some big hits in the game.
• Nokes kills his penalty +/- by drawing a penalty.
• Bruins were SOLID on the penalty kill, even when the Leafs had the two man advantage.
• Dunkin Donuts didn't help the leafs much, apparently.
• Zdeno Chara gets a goal, maybe less bellyaching about his production after this game. At least until Saturday.
• I saw these fine folks at the game, had to get a picture. My dad had the camera, so I had to be in it. Nice sign, ladies. VOTE THOMAS 09!
  

If you think I still have that hat you are sorely mistaken.
Record: 7-3-3
Home Record: 3-1-1
L10: 6-2-2
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!

More on the Tim Thomas Write in Campaign

The story is being picked up internet-wide. Tim Thomas has been robbed, just like he's done to so many shooters. Ba-ZING!

• BruinsBlog: Shawn Thornton says "He should campaign."
• bruins.nhl.com: Ward says "This is just another challenge to be overrun by 'The Tank'"
• HubHockey: has already been mentioned, but they made the kickass graphic you're seeing to your left.
• WEEI's Joe Haggarty: Claude Julien says "There are bigger things for Timmy to worry about"
• Hockey Journal: Thomas says "I think I’ve been underestimated"
• Puck Daddy: led with Thomas on the relevant post, despite snubbing Thomas after his back-to-back shutouts on his daily three stars post. I only bring it up because Puck Daddy is so consistently solid otherwise.

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

Out with the old, in with the new...voting

The U.S. election brouhaha is over, and now we get to the real important stuff:  The All-Star game voting.  As mentioned yesterday, Tim Thomas got snubbed after winning last year.  hubhockey wants to boycott, I want to take it over.  So when the polls open on November 12, remember:  Habs suck.  Write in Tim Thomas.  You can see the campaign button I made over on the left, there.  I am now declaring open season on campaign posters, stickers, etc.  send all submissions to: 

hockeyblogadventure@gmail.com

And I'll post whatever I get on the site here.  Together, we can elect Thomas to the starting position, but it will be tough.  Let's do it.  Habs suck.

UPDATE!  Hub Hockey has a great campaign poster.

Oh, and in other hockey news.  Check out Fluto and friends on BruinsBlog for better coverage:

• Sobotka's heading down to providence for the weekend.  Not sure why, exactly, but them's the breaks.  
  
• Kobasew could be back in the lineup on Thursday.
• People have been practicing.  Hunwick in, Kobasew in, Hnidy out.  Nisky's safe for now.
• Stanley cup of chowder is at it again with hugging harry reynolds.

GO BRUINS!

WRITE IN TIM THOMAS!

Mirtle posts the NHL's All-Star Ballot, and there's one glaring omission: Tim Thomas. Starting November 12th, write him in as your Candidate for starting Goalie. The habs have managed to get a full starting lineup on the ballot because it's their centennial and everybody needs to love the habs.

There are still 29 other teams in the league, folks. 5 of them have been around quite a long time. Brodeur is hurt and out, this whole thing is stupid. Way to go, NHL. When did you make this list, July?

Anyhow, it's time for a write-in campaign for our favorite Goaltender, Mr. Tim Thomas!

VOTE THOMAS 08-09!
The following picture is available and encouraged for use in writing in Tim Thomas as goalie starter for the All-Star game. Heck, he only is leading the league in Save percentage, and close behind in GAA and shutouts. Remember, November 12 is the day that that voting starts.
GO BRUINS!

Boston Bruins Retired Numbers: #2, Eddie Shore

2: Eddie Shore Number Retired:: 01-JAN-1947

" It's my last game, and I wanna play it straight. No more "Nail 'em." No more "Fuck with 'em." That's finished. I wanna win that championship tonight, but I wanna win it clean. Old-time hockey, like when I got started, you know? Jeez. Toe Blake, Dit Clapper, Eddie Shore, those guys were the greats." - Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman) in Slapshot

He's a guy who played WAY before my time. He started with the Bruins 2 years after they became a team, won 4 Hart Memorial trophies, and won 2 of Boston's 5 Stanley cups in 1929 and 1939. He ended Ace Bailey's career, but Ace forgave him. This video has a bunch of people that actually know anything about the man, the myth, the motherfucker, Eddie Shore.

[ Joe Pelletier | HR | Wikipedia | HHOF | YouTube]

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!