Flyers Beat Bruins - Win Game and Series 4-3

It is almost hilarious that my last post had the word "stranglehold" in the title, given how fully and completely the Bruins fell apart in this series. By almost hilarious I mean: not at all hilarious.

Tonight's game was no exception, as the B's stormed out to a 3-0 lead, and then strayed from their hard-press game plan to let the Flyers climb back into the game.

It was ultimately a 3rd period powerplay goal that put Philly over the top, taking a 4-3 lead late in the game which they were able to hold on to. The win means the Flyers are only the 3rd team in the history of the league to come back from a 3-0 game deficit in the playoffs.

How did the Flyers play? Pretty tenaciously, actually. I don't think they are necessarily a better team than the Bruins, but they got Gagne back just as the Bruins lost Krejci to injury, and that seemed to be the difference in the series - Gagne scored key goals and provided just that much more offense for Philly than the Bruins could generate.

The loss of Krejci was huge, in fact; he was the Bruins' leading scorer, played on the powerplay and penalty kill, won the vast majority of his faceoffs, and was the primary set-up man for Satan, who went ice cold with Krejci's injury. In his absence, the under-performance of Ryder, Paille, Begin, etc., was all too noticeable.

Now that the Bruins are out, I will face the barbs of the Canadiens' faithful that I work with, but thankfully, for a much shorter time than I would if the Bruins had advanced to play the Habs in the next round. It doesn't make me feel better that the B's didn't win tonight, but it does provide some very small, very cold solace.

It will be a few days before I really accept how badly this playoff run went. I am still pleased that the B's made it through the 1st round and performed (at points) well in the 2nd, but the need for off-season changes to the team are probably obvious to all.

I will take some time to reflect, watch the next rounds of the playoffs, and then begin posting about the off-season moves.

Thanks to all who have been regular readers on Black, White and Gold. You don't comment enough, but I still always appreciate you guys stopping by.

Bruins 3 - Flyers 2 - Bruins Take Two Game Lead in Playoffs

I'm pretty pumped up, having just watched the Bruins beat the Flyers, to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

I didn't really even expect the Bruins to advance past the first round, let alone make a serious dent in the second. So I'm chuffed.

I've said it before, but the Bruins could have lost nearly all of the games they've won in these playoffs. There have been some scary moments, and the B's seem to give up leads with regularity.

But, they are well-coached, they play with a lot of heart, and seem to believe that winning is possible. It's a perpetual underdog perspective that gives the team it's core or meaning.

Everyone seems to buy into the system this year - which is necessary given that isolated mistakes lead to goals-against in the playoffs, such as the giveaway that led to Briere's goal tonight.

However, the win came tonight with 3 minutes remaining, Milan Lucic scoring his first home goal all season. He has had a rough year, but he scored when the team needed him most. The place went crazy.

The win makes the Bruins perfect at home through the playoffs thus far (5-0) - strange since they won the Winter Classic and then lost 10 straight games, winning none at home.

In winning tonight, the B's have successfully retained home-ice advantage and now roll on to Philly on Wednesday. That is a very intimidating rink.

Finally, how lucky are the Bruins that GM Chiarelli brought in Mark Recchi? That guy leads by example and at 42 is still one of the best players on the team.

Bruins Beat Philly in OT - Take Game 1

The Bruins opened their playoff series against Philly with an overtime win, this afternoon in Boston. They may have given up 2-goal leads three times in the game, but the B's eventually won it in OT with drama.

Marc Savard played his first game back since his concussion, and was eased into the lineup by coach Julien, who kept Savard's ice time low until the overtime period.

In the overtime, the Bruins held the play for long, frantic stretches in the Philly end, and Brian Boucher's reputation (gained from besting Brodeur in the last round) was shown to be well-earned.

As is often the case with frantic offensive attacks, defensemen pinch in to help push the offense, and as a consequence the Bruins gave up odd-man rushes and had to rely on Tuukka Rask to stop a few breakaways.

But the Bruins kept up the pressure, wearing down the Flyers, and Marc Savard scored the game winner on a mini-slapper. His celebration was pretty great, and he tossed his stick into the crowd.

Bergeron, Satan, Chara, Recchi and Ference played very well. Wideman got schooled on Briere's goal, but kept the puck in at the blue line to set up Savard's goal, so what does that mean? He played okay?

Rask, despite letting in 4 goals, played incredibly, but I got the feeling the Flyers were starting to figure him out a little based on where they were testing him.

Finally, it looks like the B's will be without Marco Sturm for awhile. He tweaked his knee 26 seconds into the game and had to be helped off the ice. Will the Bruins call someone up, or just activate Thornton or someone, I wonder.

Today's game could have been a nightmarish loss for the Bruins, but instead it is a triumphant victory - it's odd in hockey how close those two poles are.

Game 2 goes Monday in Boston.

Bruins to Face Philly in Round 2

Now that the Bruins have sprayed all over yet another of Ryan Miller's dreams, and the Canadiens have (unbelievably) dismissed the Capitals, it has been determined that the Bruins will play the Flyers in Round 2.

I'm pleased the B's didn't draw the playoff-hardened Penguins. However, the Flyers rode past the Devils with an unexpectedly outstanding goaltending performance by Brian Boucher, and that doesn't sit right with me. Maybe it's his year - that happens sometimes.

The Bruins will have Marc Savard back in the lineup after his concussion. He will most likely be on a line with Sabotka - who has totally come into his own in the playoffs - and Michael Ryder. Maybe having one of the best passers in the league on his line will spark some consistent offense from Ryder.

I think there will be a period of adjustment for Savard, especially if Bergeron is an example; Bergeron was medically cleared and played fine, but it was a few months before he regained his all-star play.

I also think it will be tough for Savard to go from sitting on the bed eating torillas to playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Bruins first game against the Flyers is Saturday afternoon. A weird matinee start.

Bruins - Flyers Winter Classic Summary

The words "magical" and "special" are used far too often in the hockey world, usually by players and coaches who have learned this media-speak shorthand to avoid describing their actual feelings.

However, yesterday's Winter Classic game, held outdoors in Boston's Fenway Park, actually was magical and special, and showed fans (new and established alike) the best of what hockey can offer.

It helps that the Bruins and Flyers were both hungry for the 2 point win. Had yesterday's game felt more like an All-Star Game (ie: where the win doesn't matter), it would have fallen flat. But the two-generations of animosity between the Flyers and Bruins seemed to spark both teams, and once the wonder and nostalgia of playing outdoors faded, the teams got down to hitting, fighting and trying to chip the puck into the net.

There's been barrels of digital ink spilled on the event already, so I won't rehash the details of the game here, except to say that it was awfully fun to see Tim Thomas be responsible for a goal against (due to a poorly-timed, though not undeserved, cross-check to the back of Scott Hartnell), then battle so hard in the final moments of the game to preserve the win, making at least three unbelievable saves on point-blank chances.

To then have Thomas named to the USA National Hockey Team - his dream since being 5-years old - at the end of the game, it was like writing another chapter in Thomas' storybook, vastly underdogged, career.

My previous posts have highlighted the problem with having Thomas play below his potential this season, but even having said so, there can be little doubt that he is one of the best Bruins of all time - if only for his continual ability to prove doubters wrong, and get the job done simply through his lunch-bucket work ethic.

The Winter Classic will be remembered as one of those rare, ultra-high-profile sporting events that actually lives up to the hype. The Bruins can take the experience (and the win!) forward through the rest of the season, and hopefully build on it as the Olympics approach.

Of Note: It is an absolute joy to watch so many interviews with Bobby Orr - just listening to Bobby makes me happy; For as happy as I am that Tim Thomas was named to the US National Team, as a Canadian, I cannot wish him too well in the tournament; The Bruins' retro sweaters are easily the best sweaters they have and I hope they wear them in more games this season; Coach Claude Julien and his coaching staff looked amaaaazing in their little brown fedoras - like the coaches of old!

bruins go two-for-two through the weekend

Last night's shoot-em-up in Toronto was blocked for us Bruins fans in Montreal; we were left to watch the Canadiens and Sabres as the rest of the country watched the Festival of Red Lights in TO.

In Saturday night's game, neither goalie was particularly effective, as Pogge and Joseph let in 7 goals, and Manny Fernandez - still struggling to find his form - let in 5. However, despite the porous goaltending, the Bruins' firepower won the night, which was a welcomed change given how hard it has been for the team to score lately. As the adage says, the team that scores more goals wins, and the Bruins won, 7-5.

Tonight's match against the Flyers was carried nationwide on NHL Network, and was a very entertaining game. The Flyers scored first, but the B's roared back after a fight between Montador and Carcillo, and potted three unanswered goals - two by Lucic. They added another in the third period, and the game remained 4-2 until inside the final 2 minutes, when Philly scored and drew to within one goal. However, despite some scary moments, the B's were able to hold on and win the game 4-3.

Tim Thomas was, as usual, unorthodox and unbelievable, making at least two saves by diving across the open goal-mouth and deflecting the puck aside - in one instance losing his helmet, stick and blocker in the process. Totally awesome.

Mark Recchi (who, according to my Toronto correspondents, is "kind of hot") continued his strong play of late, registering the winning goal in tonight's match-up, and Dennis Wideman had shifts that were some of the best I've seen any defender play this year.

On the whole, a couple of solid games with crisp passing, powerplay execution, and good overall team chemistry...and not a moment too soon. The Bruins have seven games remaining before the playoffs, and are starting to show the form necessary to succeed in the post-season.

The Bruins' next game is Tuesday, at home, against the Lightning.

bruins lose 4th straight game

While the Bruins may be sitting atop the League in points, and may have only registered 11 regulation-time losses all season, the fact remains that they have lost four straight games, most recently, last night to Nashville.

As previously posted, I missed the game against Philly, but watched the Sharks come back to win, and watched highlights of the 1-0 loss to New Jersey and the 3-2 loss to Nashville. I find it is hard to really assess how dire the situation is, frankly. All four of these teams are either at the top of their game (SJ or NJ) or on a bit of a run recently (Philly is streaky and Nashville are starting to put it together). Is there shame in being beaten by these clubs?

I don’t know if that is even the right question to ask.

A few weeks ago, I was posting about how the Bruins were winning games – sometimes against clubs at the top of their division, sometimes against clubs outside the playoff picture – without really deserving the win. A lucky bounce, a phenomenal save (or ten) at just the right time, or a particularly soft goalie on any given night became the difference maker for a Bruins club that really was not playing that well. Sloppy passes, poor execution, scrambly play, lackluster defensive coverage, etc., were the norm.

For several games in a row I pointed out how the B’s were scored on inside the first or last minutes of a period (sometimes both!), or how they had consistently coughed up the first goal of the game for weeks on end.

None of this seemed to matter in Bruins Nation, beyond being quietly disconcerting, because the Bruins were still winning. In fact, they had a spectacular record despite the above statistics.

But now the season has come into the home stretch. Most clubs have less than 30 games remaining, and are ramping up, as the Bruins are beginning to show some weaknesses. By losing by a single goal against Nashville, New Jersey and Philadelphia, the B’s have shown that they are competing on par with their adversaries in each game – but the difference of one goal IS that first-goal-against, or goal in the last minute of a period.

In a reversal of fortunes, in last night’s game, the Bruins erased a two goal deficit against the Predators, and were able to score the tying goal inside the final 2 minutes of the game. I would like to think that this latest run of losses, coupled with the fight-til-the-end attitude shown in last night’s match, are enough to jumpstart the Bruins out of their recent complacency.

However, for a team that was recently 15 points ahead of everyone in the League, boasting the numbers that they do, the B’s should not require any jumpstart at all.

What will it take to be reassured that this Bruins team is playing to its potential and will make appropriate noise when the post-season rolls around?

It starts with some wins.

bruins 3 - flyers 1

Just a quick post to summarize the Bruins' game against the Flyers last night. With the score deadlocked at one-goal-apiece through most the game, the Bruins potted two more in the third period, in the span of 25 seconds, to ultimately decide the game.

Tim Thomas was brilliant in nets, looking calm and sharp against a layered offensive attack from Philly. In response, David Krejci and Dennis Wideman had outstanding games, with each player taking care of business in both ends of the rink.

Bruins goalscorers were Ryder, Krejci and Wideman, but won the game due to tighter defense and a fast-action breakout from their own zone.

The B's meet the newly-coached Ottawa Senators tonight.

Of Note: There is no love lost between the Bruins and Flyers - Randy Jones is the....player....responsible for running Patrice Bergeron into the boards from behind, leading to his concussion problems, and Scott Hartnell was the....player....responsible for deliberately driving Mark Stuart's head into the dasher boards. In my book, the Flyers organization deserves no sympathy for the above reasons, but moreso for their shabby treatment of Roger Neilson, Bill Barber and (now Bruins assistant coach) Craig Ramsay.