Round 2 Review: BRUINS 3 FLYERS 4 IN WHICH HISTORY IS MADE

Yup, sucked pretty hard.

Game 1 Review: BRUINS 5 FLYERS 4 THERE'S ONLY ROOM FOR ONE MARC IN THIS TOWN APPARENTLY

Celebratin'

Let's see here, some big news from Saturday's game. First of all, Marco Sturm is out until December with an ACL and MCL tear. He went in for a hit, missed, and slammed into the boards. Terrible news. Here he is getting helped off by Krejci and Bergeron.

Ouch.

In happier news,

Savard is back, baby.

15 minutes of ice-time eased the Center back into the swing of things. 2pims, 2sogs, 1gwg, I'll take it.

Boucher and the Flyers defense did a great job stopping scoring chances from turning into goals.Except here

And here.

Oh hey Steve, what's going on? You've got your arms in the air like you... scored... a... playoff... goal?
It's true! The pictures don't lie! He scored! In fact he started the scoring by going to the hash marks just when Recchi was coming around the back of the net. Recchi tries to wrap it around and in, but Boucher stops the first attempt. It Bounces Back out and "Boom-Boom" Begin Blasts the Biscuit Behind "Boohoo" Boucher.

The Bergeron Buried a Black rubber Burger, Buying the Bruins a Big Bi-goal lead that helped them eventually Best Briere and Buddies. phew, I think that's enough of that.

Look at this picture:

How can you argue with a face like that?

Oh and if you didn't see it, Krejci's goal was dirty like this morning's shower. He gets in alone, and waits out Boucher. Boucher goes down, Krejci goes around, bingo

bango

bongo.

Man, I'm glad we've got Krejci. He's been on fire since the Olympics.

Chris Pronger tried to beat up his fellow elder statesmen Satan and Recchi like it was 1880s congress but Mark Recchi takes shit from nobody, even Alternate Captain Elbows.

All in all a tense game with a great outcome. Exciting stuff. Here's some highlights:

5-4
Win

GO BRUINS!

Bruins vs. Flyers Series Preview

For the second year in a row the Bruins advance to the second round of the playoffs and are lined up to play the team that knocked out New Jersey. We all know what happened last year so we don't have to talk about it. Here's some regular season and playoff stats for you all to chew on:

Regular Season (whatever)

Playoffs so far:Keys to winning:

Keep this guy smilingPhiladelphia's got a couple guys banged up, and not in a teen-pregnancy kind of way. From the flyers' own site:

• Jeff Carter (C): Out indefinitely with a right foot injury.
• Ray Emery (G): Out for the season with a hip injury.
• Simon Gagne (LW) - Out three weeks with a right foot injury (4/21).
• Ian Laperriere (RW) - Out indefinitely with a brain contusion and mild concussion.
• Michael Leighton (G): Out 8-10 weeks with a high ankle sprain (3/17).

Which is not to say that the Bruins are totally healthy.

• Marc Savard is easing back into it and we'll probably see him back tomorrow.
• Mark Stuart has started skating, but still isn't skating with the team due to a nasty hand infection.
• Dennis Seidenberg has been good for the Bruins since the trade but he sliced a tendon so he's not playing against Philly.
  
• P.J. Axelsson hasn't played all year for some reason, I gotta wonder when he's finally going to crack the lineup.

Here's a message from the Bruins bear for everyone who is road-tripping to philly and/or meets a road-tripper:

Oh and don't get puked on if you can help it.
Be sure to check out Broad Street Hockey.
GO BRUINS!

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!

DRAFT LOTTERY TONIGHT! WOOOOOO

Well, ladies and gents, this is it. This is the part of the season you've been waiting for that isn't the playoffs. It's time for a

DRAFT LOTTERY PARTY!!!!

So the Bruins have an 18.8% chance of getting first overall and having to pick between Taylor Hall:

And Tyler Seguin:

Lordy lordy, what would we DO????

But if we don't get that 18.8% there's a 42% chance that we get the second overall pick. The Bruins would pick one of those gents but we wouldn't need to hear about how they should have picked the other one. Yeah, you know that would be coming.

Of course there's a third option, for third overall, and that's a 39.2% chance. That would be rough. We want that top-2 pick and that top-2 talent.

Good luck to us.

Versus, 8pm
NESN analysis, 8:30 pm
NHL.com streaming, 8pm.
GO BRUINS!

P-P-P-P-P-PLAYOFFS!!!1

(click the picture for a desktop-size version of this beauty)

A couple of quick news items:

• Zach Schilawski is the greatest!
• Bruins made the playoffs!
• Matt Cooke got knocked the fuck out by Evander Kane!

Here's the playoff schedule, courtesy of bruins.nhl.com:

SERIES C, TIME (ET), #3 Buffalo vs. #6 Boston

1. Thursday, April 15, 2010, 7 p.m. Boston at Buffalo, CBC, NESN
2. Saturday, April 17, 2010, 1 p.m. Boston at Buffalo, NBC, CBC
3. Monday, April 19, 2010, 7 p.m. Buffalo at Boston, VERSUS, CBC, NESN
4. Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 7 p.m. Buffalo at Boston, VERSUS, CBC, NESN
5. *Friday, April 23, 2010, 7 p.m. Boston at Buffalo, CBC, NESN
6. *Monday, April 26, 2010, 7 p.m. Buffalo at Boston, CBC, NESN
7. *Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 7 p.m. Boston at Buffalo, CBC, NESN

So there's that. After this ridiculous season of ours the Bruins are the 6th seed in the east, which I'd say is good but then I look at the rest of the east and realize that the Leastern Conference is pretty bad. The East wasn't even good at being the worst! Sheesh! Oh well, that's as behind us now as shaving, so let's look at what's coming up.

At first glance...We're riding more of a hot streak into the playoffs than they are, but they score more than we do. They're not great on the road but we're also not great at home. Buffalo picked up nearly 70% of possible points at home this year, so they must be pretty happy with home ice. Jerks.

Dennis Seidenberg and Marc Savard are out for the playoffs pretty much, and Mark Stuart is "probably not" playing for Boston in the series. That sucks.

The Bruins have a couple short-handed goals but half of those came in 1:04 over the weekend:

If you're hyped up for the playoffs consider playing Rinkotology. If you sign up, post your username in the comments. Mine is "Zorkon."

There will also be an #nhltweetup coming very soon, so stay tuned for more info.

GO BRUINS!

Game 80 Preview: Bruins vs. Hurrican'ts I KNOW WHAT I WANT FOR FAN APPRECIATION DAY (HINT IT'S EYEBLEAF'S FAVORITE)

It's kind of fun that the last home game of the Bruins regular season is also the first home game of the Revolution season. Revs play TorontoFC at like 7pm tonight so unless you're watching Habs/Leafs on NHLNetwork (which you totally should be and rooting for Toronto) maybe flip that o-hahahahahaha oh my who watches MLS on TV anyways?

Regardless, the Bruins have a chance to clinch at home with a win today. 3 points today and tomorrow clinches 6th which isn't so bad. But check this out: Montreal might still miss. Here's how:

• Bruins get at least a point today (though they need a win to clinch).
• Toronto beats Montreal in regulation.
• Rangers beat Philly in overtime tomorrow.

Bonus: The Maple Leafs are locked in to 29th place for the season so you don't have to feel bad about them winning and maybe us not getting as good a draft pick. The draft lottery is on Tuesday, but you can check in with the Oilers website for all your lottery simulation fun. Hit reload to re-run the simulation.

Here's the probabilities for Boston's pick from Toronto:

• 1st overall chance: 18.8%
• 2nd overall chance: 42.0%
• 3rd overall chance: 39.2%
• 4th or higher chance: 0.000% ()
  

So things are looking up in Bruins-land. The crazies are giving up and moving on to the Red Sox. Bruins have a 60.8% chance of picking Hall or Seguin, both of whom will likely help a starved Bruins offense next year. And the playoffs are looking like a reality. Brilliant!

As for the season so far, it's been a disappointing one so far. A bunch of players aren't having career years again and we aren't even dominating the habs. However, hope springs eternal for the Bruins as they aren't eliminated from the playoffs. Minnesota is but who didn't expect that. The important part about the Minnesota season this year is Guillaime Latendresse who got traded from the Montreal media asking him why he didn't score a hat trick every night to the hokiest team in hockey and the hard-hitting reporting of the Minnesota media (actually I like Mike Russo a lot but they seem to be friendlier in Minnesota. Minnesota Nice. Nice. The folks over at Hockey Wilderness have taken to calling him BTE (Best Trade Ever). Of course when you're a ten-year-old team that's less difficult.

I know I don't shut up about how awesome Steve Stamkos is but I'm signing up for Stammer's Sweethearts, especially after how hilarious this chart of where he's scored his goals from:

If you want to see the same kind of chart for Crosby (king of the tip-in) and Ovechkin (shoots from everywhere, scores from everywhere, Russian machine never break) Check it out on NHL.com. The MLS website could take some queues from them. Stamkos owns and I hope he scores 8 goals this weekend and takes the Rocket Richard.

Wisconsin is playing BC tonight in the NCAA Frozen Four Final.

GO WISCONSIN
GO REVOLUTION
GO LEAFS, GO RANGERS IN OT TOMORROW
GO BRUINS!

Game 73 Review: BRUINS 3 BOLTS 5 BOY THAT STAMKOS KID SURE IS GOOD

This picture is hilarious, click on it and take a close look at Recchi's face.

So the Lightning are a good young team, and even though they're probably not making the playoffs this year (then again that the Bruins are in the conversation is kind of ridiculous). That Stamkos kid sure does have a killer shot. Here's the goal-scoring race:Ovechkin, sure. Crosby, yup he's been scoring more. Stamkos? Hot damn. Kid can score. Especially last night, where the home-town fans were treated to a spectacular finnish goaltending performance. Of course it was in the wrong net, as Nittymaki stopped nearly all of the 50 shots on net. I guess it's better than no shots on net, but nobody ever said those shots were any good. The two goals were made out of getting someone next to the net and hoping for the best.

Really, though, Stamkos is way exciting and I like watching him play. At least, that's what I'm choosing out of this awful game.

Final: 3-5 bad guys.

GO BRUINS!

Game Review: BRUINS 4 THRASHERS 0 WHO ARE THESE GUYS?

4-0
GO BRUINS!

Game 71 Review: BRUINS 2 RAGS 1 I'LL TAKE IT I GUESS

Before we get all excited about this one win, let's remember that the Bruins were playing the Rangers, who are a bad team this year. I mean, it's not like the Bruins are any better, but still.

The big parts of the first are Stuart gets boarded by Prospal:

Patrice Bergeron jumping right up in Vaclav's face like that, attaboy. Stuart getting up and ruining Gaborik's day was pretty good too. And there was a fight.

The scoring started late in the second.

Let's look at what the Rangers defense was doing during the two goals.

First goal:As you can see, Ference is over on the left. He's got the puck. That ranger sitting in the middle of nowhere, considering maybe blocking a pass but giving plenty of open space? Vinny Prospal. All Ference has to do it get it across to Miroslav Satan, and for once the cross-crease pass connects.

I mean, look at that pretty passing lane and lack of defense. It looks like last year (hahahahahaha I wish)

Goal.
1-0
A sigh of relief, for sure.

The Bruins close out the second with this little ditty:

Attaboy, Begin.

The next period, the Rangers give another gift to the Bruins, leaving Dennis Wideman all alone at the top of the circle. He fumbles the pass, but manages to snipe backhand top shelf on lundqvist, who was probably screened all to hell by Olli Jokinen right there.

At least, that's the excuse I'd use if I were Lundqvist.
2-0
Goal.

Tuukka gave up a goal with a couple minutes to go, he wasn't happy about it.

2-1
Game.

Overall, I'll take it. Not a great team or against a great opponent, but it makes playoff chances look better and there's nothing wrong with that.

GO BRUINS!