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 Add Whoa to their Woes

I've been really busy lately, and after long days in front of a computer, I've been less than willing to also spend my nights in front of the laptop watch the Bruins lose.

Which feels harsh to say, but it is the reality. The B's have 1 win in their last 7 games, and have blown leads in at least 3 of those games. They've looked terrible.

Experience has taught me that the Bruins usually go on a foul losing streak through January (last year being a notable exception), however, despite my efforts, I could not find any month-by-month tally of the Bruins record through the years to corroborate this. Which is just to say, I just don't have access to a year-by-year, month-by-month spreadsheet for these guys to show you what the real numbers are. But rest assured, even their best seasons are mired in the January blues.

Slides like this are what cost Claude Julien his job in New Jersey and Montreal - unexplained skids that are out of keeping with the level of talent on the team. The Bruins have injuries to at least 5 key guys, granted, but these losses are complete losses: everyone is to blame, from the Vezina-winning goalie (and his phenom backup), through the Norris-winning defenseman (and his cohorts), to the surprising top-six forwards. They just plain suck.

The B's will have a chance to try to right the ship this afternoon against Ottawa - a team that they were battling with for Division lead just a couple of weeks ago. The Bruins now hold down 7th place in the Conference, but are 2 points out of 11th spot.

If the Bruins are not able to staunch the losses, as fans, we should expect some changes to the lineup. And as Bruins fans we know that these 'changes' can often come with devastating results (bye-bye Joe Thornton).

Let's see what happens this afternoon....

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 Rattle Sabres - Win In Overtime

The Bruins opened their 4-game road trip with back-to-back games against the Thrashers and Sabres, and were able to get wins in both.

Last night's game against Buffalo saw the Bruins offering a very gritty effort, and showed how the addition of a single player can sometimes open up several offensive options.

Milan Lucic has been hailed as the second coming of Cam Neely since he was first drafted from the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, and while there are some similarities, the biggest difference between the two players is that Neely was a regular 50-goal scorer, while Lucic, as of yet, is not. Not even close (17 goals last season, 8 the season before).

However, in just his second game back from injury, Lucic had a major impact on last night's action. His physical presence and solid checking kept the Sabres players honest (and paying attention!), and he also potted the Bruins' tying goal on a great cross-ice feed from Byron Bitz. He was hitting everything that moved, and, being one of the hardest checkers in the league, this offensive weapon brought a physical element that seemed to influence the entire Bruins squad. One player, full-team impact.

In fact, Lucic's style of play seemed to directly bring out the speed and size of linemate Byron Bitz, who has been playing well lately, but seemed to be an entirely different player last night. Maybe he was inspired by Lucic's play, or maybe he just gained more open ice because of Lucic's impact, but the twin-engine attack of Bitz and Lucic generated a lot of chances, balanced the offense, and allowed players like Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to use their finesse skills more.

Tuukka Rask got the start in nets, his first back-to-back action in the NHL, and he looked very strong. He has now won 4 of his last 5 starts, and looks comfortable with the increased action. Tim Thomas' injury is still undisclosed, but the Bruins' management maintains it is not serious and he will return to action shortly. Either way, the team must feel comfortable knowing they have solid goaltending in Rask, in the interim.

Patrice Bergeron got the winning goal in overtime, perfectly deflecting a Chara point shot past Ryan Miller. Bergeron is easily the Bruins best all-around player, and it is striking how much of a game-changer he can be while just quietly playing his game. A healthy Bergeron equals a stronger Bruins club.

Coach Julien was positive in his post game comments, talking about the Bruins strong effort - especially through the 2nd Period - and the importance, going forward, of remembering the effort that was needed to get these two wins. Hopefully, these wins, and the return of a few key players from injury, will help the Bruins re-gain a piece of last season's form as we head toward the pivotal, pre-Christmas, stretch of the season.

The Bruins' road trip continues to St-Louis, to play the Blues on Monday.

Bruins Powerplay Beats Buffalo

On Saturday night, the Bruins limped into another game against a Division rival - this time against the Sabres and the red hot goaltending of Ryan Miller.

The Sabres may not represent the same level of Bruins-Killer that they did in the 80s and early 90s, but they still field a strong team that matches up well against the Bruins, especially when the Bruins have just finished consecutive games where they are unable to score, and have lost three straight.

However, on Saturday night, the Bruins and Sabres both played their backup goalies - Tuukka Rask and Jhonas Enroth - possibly because they both sound like Jedis or United Nations chairmen - and the Bruins were able to pull out a 4-2 win over Buffalo.

Most important in the Bruins win is that they broke their 0-for-20 goal-less run on the powerplay, and that a few players who had been struggling lately were able to score.

Zdeno Chara got his first goal of the season, Marco Sturm scored for the first time in about a month, and Byron Bitz, recently returned from injury, was able to help out as well. The B's scoring was rounded out by Mark Recchi, who, by my estimation, has been ice cold so far this season and has yet to regain that "inspiring veteran" status that he has been known for over the last four or five years. Hopefully, Saturday night's game was an indication of Recchi warming up a little bit.

Coach Julien's post-game comments touched on the team's effort lately, and how finally getting some bounces to match the Bruins' work ethic finally led to a win:

We talked about trying to get the team to relax a little bit and have confidence in their skills knowing eventually you are going to score goals. I felt that our team has been working hard in the last couple of weeks and probably deserving a better fate. When you don’t score and you don’t win games you have to find a way to keep your team focused, being believers, and knowing that if you stick with it someday it will turn. Hopefully it is a start tonight. We all know that we have a much bigger game against Pittsburgh, but right now you have to enjoy a win and enjoy the way you did it.

That "bigger game against Pittsburgh" comes this Tuesday for the Bruins. Hopefully, Saturday night's win will rejuvenate the B's a bit, and they can carry some momentum into the game against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Bruins Fall to Red Wings - 2-0

The Bruins' loss tonight pivoted on two minutes of poor play, where the Red Wings were able to pot a powerplay goal and then follow up with a quick even-strength tally in the 1st period, leaving the Bruins unable to respond for the rest of the game.

It was a very frustrating night for this Bruins fan, simply because the B's had chances to score - there were several shots rung off posts and at least one goal-line-trickler - all of which go toward making Chris Osgood look better than he actually is. That actually hurts me.

What also hurts is the Bruins' dismal powerplay, which ranks 29th in the league and went (by my count) 0-for-4 tonight. Coupled with the B's scoring only 3 goals in their last 4 games, the Bruins offense is looking pretty anemic right now and they need some guys to boost their play.

Not helping things? David Krejci, who actually played okay, but only okay, and frankly that's not going to be good enough with the contract he's sitting on and the injuries the Bruins have sustained. Krejci needs to be a force on the ice every time he's on it, and right now he's only causing a few surprises every 10-or-so shifts.

Also in my doghouse is Marco Sturm who was only notable tonight for taking the penalty that led to the first Red Wings goal, and Mark Recchi who seemed ineffectual at best and completely invisible at worst. For some reason, Recchi was awarded ice time in the final 2 minutes of the game and it was the first time I'd noticed him in 2 periods of play.

Frustrating also was the play of Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ference who each looked out of their respective positions for most of the night. I don't know if the Detroit speed caught them off-guard, but they looked like they were caught being reactive, rather than proactive, all game.

It was not a total washout for the Bruins though - I thought Patrice Bergeron looked really strong, I was impressed by Brad Marchand's energy and grit, and both Chara and Morris looked good as the number-one defensive pairing.

Tim Thomas also had a really strong game, snagging pucks out masses of bodies, and keeping his team in contention. Obviously, Detroit are known for how hard they crash the net, and Thomas did not look particularly phased by the activity in front of his net tonight.

But by far the strongest Bruins player of the night was Shawn Thornton, who created scoring opportunities and created chaos every time he hit the ice. Along with Steve Begin and (call-up) Trent Whitfield, Thorton's line seemed to be the one the Red Wings had the most trouble controlling.

And that's terrible.

When a team like the Bruins, rich in talent and depth (even with their injuries), has to rely on their 4th line for leadership and goal-scoring prowess, there's something not right in the line up.

Having missed the last few games for obvious reasons, I am going to reserve judgement on the Bruins so far this season, but tonight's game seems to echo reports of their most recent and Claude Julien has his work cut out for him: address the (awful) powerplay, improve the play of the top six forwards, and perhaps spend some time with Ference, some video footage, and a cattle prod.

The Bruins next play the Canadiens, this Thursday.

Bruins Buried by Avalanche

Yesterday's matinee game (Thanksgiving up here, but Columbus Day down south) saw the Bruins hosting the Avalanche, and repeating the mistakes of the previous few games.

The B's once again spotted their opponents a 2-0 lead, and then tried to claw their way back into the game by tying it up, but without changing their work ethic. Not surprisingly, the results were not positive for the Bruins, and they lost 4-3 to the Avs.

The hardest part of yesterday's loss, however, was that the winning goal came shorthanded and was sparked by a lousy turnover on a terrible line-change, essentially handing the Avs an opportunity to walk in on Tuukka Rask (which they did) and score (which they also did).

This loss brings the Bruins Season-opening home stand to a close with two wins and three losses, and a lot of questions about where last season's team is hiding.

Coach Claude Julien summed up the Bruins pretty well, when asked about the team's defensive breakdowns:

You've got to get back your identity. We used to be very good at that, and until we can get that straightened out, we're going to have to battle and come from behind all the time. That's what's putting us behind the eight-ball in every game. We battled back in the second period, tied the game up. The next shift is crucial. We had a terrible shift, had a penalty, and they're back at it,
and then it's three to two. That shift has to be important and we have to bring the momentum and bring it back in their own end. The little things like that are game changers.

The Bruins next play on Friday, in Dallas.

Bruins Quotes from Tonight's Game

Some quotes from the Bruins on this evening's game:

Claude Julien on the attitude of the Bruins tonight…
As far as that’s concerned, I think the first period was good for us. We could even have brought our game up another notch and that’s what we needed to do in the second period.

But it’s hard to bring that when, again, the effort just wasn’t good enough tonight from most of our guys. When you’re talking about your fourth line being your hardest working line it doesn’t bode well for the hockey club. Aside from that line, nobody played to their potential. We need to have those guys play up to their potential.

Steve Begin on tonight's game...
Everybody has to show up. It’s not a two, three, four or five guys. So it’s everybody, we have 20 guys in this room. It’s cliché. You guys are going to hear that a lot but it’s but that’s how it is. A hockey game is 60 minutes and if you don’t show up for 60 minutes there’s a good chance you are not going to win the game.

Shawn Thornton on if this game was embarrassing...
It was frustrating. You will never here me say that I am embarrassed of my teammates. I’m frustrated, it wasn’t what we needed and it got away from us.

Tim Thomas on this being a game you just drop and don’t think about after tonight…
No I don’t think so. I think you better learn from it. And you better remember it. If there were any times during the year where you start to slip you look back on this game like ‘whoa’ and we have to get going or else it’s going to be ugly like that game.

bruins sign steve begin, re-up bitz, recchi, boychuk

Two years ago the Bruins made major headlines during the Free Agency period by signing Zdeno Chara and Marc Savard.

At the time, the Bruins club had been eviscerated by a dismal managerial gamble going into the lock-out year (ie: allowing pretty much everyone to walk away on the ill-conceived belief that suitable replacements could be found cheaply and easily in a salary-capped NHL), and the team were left searching for an identity after missing the playoffs in successive seasons. Hence, the signing of two big, splashy players who could both contribute right away and establish the character for the club.

Since that time, the Bruins have largely tried to improve their fortunes by successfully stewarding their younger players, and bolstering them with veteran talent (largely playing specific roles).

The Bruins decided to allow Stephane Yelle to leave via free agency, and in his place comes former-Hab Steve Begin. I make no bones about my dislike of Begin, who once blindsided Savard with a cross check 20 metres away from the play that ended Savard's season, but he is the kind of player the team can use in a variety of situations. He adds grit, some PK ability (which I guess is why he differs from fan-fave Shawn Thornton), and had his best season under Coach Julien in Montreal. Frankly, he's the kind of player that most would rather have as a team-mate than an opponent. Hopefully he stays out of the box and doesn't hurt the team from the inside out.

In other news, the B's also re-upped Mark Recchi, who proved his value throughout the playoffs, chipping in timely goals and leading by example. I am a big fan of Recchi, who, while he has aged, has been rejuvenated by his recent tenures in youth-heavy Pittsburgh and Boston, and provides some guidance for the aforementioned younger players to follow. Welcome back, Mark.

Additionally, the Bruins re-upped Byron Bitz to a multi-year contract (which is very good news, especially in light of Steve Montador leaving via Free Agency), and also came to terms with prospect Johnny Boychuk. I don't know much about Boychuk, but he is one of those players that Bruins faithful have been hearing about for a few years - named the AHL's Defenseman of the Year last season - but remains in the minors. Is this his year to play with the Bigs?

Finally, it looks as though PJ Axelsson will explore the Free Agent market after all, but true to his classiness as a person and a player, will keep the Bruins in consideration as he searches for a potential fit for his services.

chara, thomas and julien win top awards

It may not be the Stanley Cup, but Bruins' Zdeno Chara, Tim Thomas and Claude Julien all won top honours in their respective categories tonight at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas.

Chara walked away with the Norris, Thomas the Vezina, and Claude Julien won the Jack Adams Award.

Julien was presented the Adams by Pat Burns, whose career path aligns with Julien's: coaching in the same cities (the same junior team, then Montreal, Boston, New Jersey) and now winning a Jack Adams award as well. Let's hope there's a Cup in Julien's near future too.

Thomas' speech was pretty incredible. He was emotional and said he has spent more time worrying about just getting his name on a roster than the Cup, and was humbled to be included in the names of his heroes. Very cool.

Overall a great night for the B's.

bruins - season wrap up - award nominations

Well, enough time has passed since the Bruins were eliminated in overtime of Game Seven against the Hurricanes (themselves ousted by the Penguins, en route to the Finals and the Cup) to get a sense of the Bruins' season.

Which is to say, I've pulled out of the several-day funk.

And I'll begin by addressing those Bruins nominated for awards this year.

First, Bruins coach Claude Julien was named The Sporting News' coach of the year, and is nominated for the NHL's Jack Adams award for coaching excellence. He led the club to the top of the Eastern Conference in the regular season (with a record of 53-19-10), and amassed 116 points, marking the first time the club has broken 100 points since 2003-2004.

The B's went out in the second round, and I think Julien was out-foxed a bit by Paul Maurice. However, I don't think the team played particularly well for their coach in games two or four and he certainly cannot be blamed for the exit from the Playoffs. He's a good guy, well liked and respected, and given his history of sometimes getting a raw deal despite maintaining winning records, I would be pleased if he won the Jack Adams award.

Tim Thomas was always solid, and often brilliant, in nets this year. He posted up a record of 36-11-7 with a smoking 2.10 Goals Against Average in the regular season, and went 7-4 with a 1.85 GAA (which seems crazy low to me) in the playoffs. He won the Roger Crozier Saving Grace award (which I'd never heard of) for Best Save Percentage, and (with Manny Fernandez) won the Jennings Trophy for lowest GAA in the NHL. He has also been nominated for the Vezina, which would be a phenomenal achievement for Thomas, given his journeyman rise to the NHL. Most importantly, he has been re-signed to a multiyear deal, allowing him to continue to achieve while prospect Tuuka Rask develops (more on Manny Fernandez in a subsequent post).

Finally, Zdeno Chara was nominated for a Norris Trophy, the (second-most) coveted prize for defenders. The Bruins captain had 19 goals and was a ridiculous plus -23 in a season where he was a dominant force, game in, game out. Chara's previous two seasons with the club had him, at times, looking for an identity on the ice - questioning whether he should he be offensive, or be looking to keep it simple - ultimately having defensive lapses in the middle ground. But this year, Chara really seemed to find a comfortable groove doing almost everything right. He played a much simpler game that allowed his mean-streak to shine through, and I think the good people of the Bruins' nation have come to embrace him (by linking arms). Chara is also a finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership Award, which goes to the player with active community involvement.

These awards will all be handed out on Thursday, I believe, but regardless of the outcome, it is important to recognize these Bruins players for their nominations and growth as a team this season. Next, addressing free agencies!

bruins lose 4 - 1 as hurricanes win third straight game

The Bruins looked sloppy on the ice all night, and eventually lost this game because of it.

The B's went down 1-0 within the first three minutes of the game, and continued to have an awful first period, repeatedly turning pucks over and playing far out of position. However, they came out more calm and effective in the second period and, in direct opposition to Game Three, dominated the play along the boards and down low through the middle frame, and were able to tie the game up.

All elements were poised to have a Big Third Period, full of energized attacks and dogged checking. But it never materialized. Zdeno Chara took a penalty in the first two minutes of the third period and the 'Canes scored on the ensuing powerplay. It is the first time Tim Thomas has allowed a third period goal in the playoffs, but it would not be the last: the 'Canes scored two more times in the final frame to put the game out of reach. In the end the Bruins didn't scrap, didn't get any ridiculous close-calls, didn't generate any last-minute hits and therefore didn't send any kind of positive message going into Game Five. They went out with a whimper.

This was a very, very frustrating game if you are a Bruins fan. While there was finally some traffic in front of Cam Ward, the Bruins threw so few pucks at the net (and the Hurricanes blocked a lot of point shots) that the scrambly "garbage goals" that the playoffs are built upon were never really available to the players taking their licks in the crease.

At this point, I feel like the Bruins are being out-coached in the Series, or are simply not acting on the directions coaching staff are giving them. Longtime readers of Black White and Gold will know that I'm a fan of Claude Julien, but the fact is, the 'Canes made an adjustment to their playing after Game One and have won three straight games. The Bruins have not really adjusted their style to what they are seeing from the Hurricanes (they've merely been more or less effective at playing it), and they've paid the price.

The Hurricanes are not playing some crazy system that you cannot figure out - they often utilize a "pick" style play where a secondary player skates in front of a defending Bruin to create space for the puck-carrying player. It's a play often used in basketball and in hockey is better known as "obstruction" or "interference". However, it is not being called by the referees and the Bruins have not altered their play to either a) counteract the pick or b) use it themselves.

My feeling is that unless the Bruins shake up their system in Game Five, they should not expect to win. I think this Series has gone beyond just playing harder or with more heart and expecting their techniques to work. Other than Game One, the Bruins have never really held the play long enough to warrant the belief that their system will be ultimately effective if executed properly.

The Bruins should be looking for more traffic, garbage goals, uglier plays and a general level of chippiness that can lead to turnovers and "flukey" goals, because as the old saw goes: in the playoffs they never ask how, they only ask how many.

Of Note: My inside-source was incorrect, and Blake Wheeler did end up playing in Game Four - however, Byron Bitz was also inserted at the expense of Shawn Thornton; Bitz had a very good game, generating offense through his physical play and paying the price in front of the net; David Krejci had a brutal game, whiffing on clearing attempts at least three times, losing checks and being kept to the perimeter on offense; Steve Montador had another rough game, though with admittedly less drastic consequences; Shane Hnidy was also inserted into the lineup and had a solid, if unassuming, game - nothing wrong with keeping it simple as long as he's keeping it mean.

Game Five is scheduled for Sunday.

bruins injury updates - prior to game four

I got confirmation from my sources (saw it on TV) that the Bruins will be without the services of Andrew Ference and Blake Wheeler in Game Four. Ference re-injured his lower body - man, I hate it when that happens - and Wheeler was hit by a puck in Game Three.

This means that we probably will see Shane Hnidy in for Game Four, but not at the expense of Steve Montador, as I was hoping earlier. Regardless of who the fill-in might be, the Bruins are simply not as strong with Ference out of the lineup given the player he's become. But the B's do have enough experience with his absence (again, he re-injured his lower body) to probably be comfortable playing without him.

Wheeler's absence is a little trickier. He is 6'5" and 205 pounds with a tremendous upside. However, he's been under effective in this round, becoming invisible for long stretches of games (and Julien usually rolls 4 lines).

Coming into the lineup will most likely be Byron Bitz, who has played less games than Wheeler, but has logged far more games than the next nearest player. Bitz is 6'3" and 200 pounds, so if he's able to at least come in and move some bodies around, he could be effective.

One big difference though: in the Regular Season, Bitz was even on his plus / minus; Wheeler, however, was a plus 36.

We'll see what line combination Coach Julien puts together with his roster tomorrow night. Please tell me Cam Neely is suiting up for the game...we could use a little jam.

bruins lose 3-0 as carolina evens the series

Over the season I've watched different Bruins teams hit the ice. Sometimes the team shows up and dominates (as per Game One), and sometimes they come out really flat. However, the Bruins club we saw tonight was a rarer beast - one that gets outplayed into making mistakes.

Mostly known for their discipline and adherence to Coach Julien's system, the Bruins tonight put themselves into positions for blocked shots, errant passes and giveaways. The giveaways were particularly costly, as Chara's blind cross-blueline pass on the powerplay was picked off and led to a goal against.

It should be noted that the Hurricanes were expecting that pass, I suspect because their coaches told them to, and also that on the Bruins' powerplay in the 3rd period, Chara played down low, screening the goalie - something I've not seen him do since playing in Ottawa. And it's a good plan to place Chara in front of the net, because:

Cam Ward will stop everything he can see.

I know it's tempting to always have a 105 mile an hour slapshot on your point, but if the shots are not getting through, or being easily seen, something has to change for that shot to be successful. Big bodies in front would help.

Incidently, I have been a little underwhelmed with the play of Blake Wheeler, a hulking monster of a kid with great speed. Given that Ward is playing so well, I think the B's should focus on getting more action in front of him, and consider Wheeler and Lucic for the role. If the 'Canes are expecting those D to D passes, and there is a clear line of sight on every shot from the point:

Cam Ward will stop everything he can see.

Too much is made in the media about the battle between Eric Staal and Chara. The bigger battle is between all the Bruins and Cam Ward. Hopefully Game 3 will bring a little bit more intensity from the Bruins, and create more chances for ugly goals down low.

Of note: This is the Bruins' first loss of the playoffs, and ends their home-ice winning streak at 11 games going back to the regular season; the Hurricanes have never lost two playoff games in a row; Mark Stuart had an excellent game, I thought, quietly making smart, tough plays; the photo at top is Thomas making four saves while being pushed into his net - he was not at fault for any of the goals against.

claude julien's quote on tonight's series sweep

Here is a quote I found very complimentary to the character of Bruins' Coach Claude Julien:

On how it must feel, on a personal level, to win, in Montreal…

I know there are several people who would like to hear me say this is revenge. It’s not. Or people who would like to hear me say it’s more satisfying. I will continue to say this: it’s here that I got my first chance to be a coach in the NHL. I had a good stay here. Unfortunately, in our business, coaches often get fired. But we manage to land elsewhere. I’ve been lucky this way. I can say that I learned a lot here. It was my first experience. I learned a lot, under Andre Savard and even under Bob (Gainey), who was excellent with me. I grew around these guys. That is why, although I am happy to win, I am not bitter. Whether we win here or in Boston, the most important is that we win the series.

bruins beat habs 4 - 2 & push the habs to the brink of elimination

The Bruins did not have a spectacular game on the whole, but were efficient in their checking, and were an absolute defensive force in the 3rd period, and this swung the game in their favour.

The game started with the Canadiens' fans booing the American national anthem (which I am sure their US-born players, Chris Higgins and Francis Bouillon, appreciated), and then booing starting goaltender Carey Price. Over the course of the game the fans at the Bell Centre booed the Canadiens' powerplay, Koivu's efforts in the offensive zone, the referee, and then made sarcastic cheers when Price made easy stops.

Only the booing of Zdeno Chara made any sense to me.

Honestly, if your team is on the brink of elimination to a far stronger team, and your idea of home-town advantage is to boo your own players, you are not a fan of any team, nor should you be surprised when they do not win.

And I certainly do not lump all Canadiens fans into the above category. But the booing at the Bell Centre was clearly heard on the National TV broadcast, and was at points louder than the cheering.

Anyway, despite the bad blood between these two clubs, tonight's game was a relatively clean affair. The Canadiens dished out some great checks in the first period, but less as the game went on, focusing more on trying to retain puck possession. The Bruins seemed to pick up the slack in the hitting department and began finishing checks more often through the second and third periods.

The B's won tonight primarily because of a few bursts of sustained pressure on the Canadiens defense, a lot of chip-and-chase hockey to wear the Habs' D down, and (as mentioned) a smothering defensive system in the third period. Ex-Hab Michael Ryder got the game winning goal, which must have pleased Claude Julien.

Finally, unlike Saturday's game, tonight's match-up was a close affair - but in playoff hockey, those little differences are all that separates any team from a win or a loss. Or all that separates a Series win from elimination.

The B's have a chance to close-out the Series on Wednesday, here in Montreal. Should be a great game!

bruins 5 - senators 3

The Bruins had a lot more jump tonight against a resurgent Ottawa team, who had won their previous four straight games and have played far better hockey under new Coach Cory Clouston.

For their part, the Bruins returned to old form for large portions of the game. I gather there was some heat in the Boston media about how the Bruins' players let Thomas get run with impunity by Novotny in the game against the Blue Jackets, but tonight's squad played a more physical game and battled hard in the corners.

However, taking a 3-1 lead into the third period, and extending it to 4-1 while I was talking to my mother on the phone, should have put the Bruins in a less complicated position to win.

The Senators came back with two quick goals and for several minutes rolled waves of players at the B's 1-2-2 set up. Ottawa had solid chances too, but with Sens' goalie / former Bruin Alex Auld on the bench, the Bruins were mercifully able to chip it out and pot the empty net goal.

Claude Julien, on the difficulties the team had in the third period, including poor decisions that led to two goals…

"It’s not something that’s new; it’s something that players should know, and that first goal in the third that made it 4-2, we had three veteran players caught low, in between [Mark Recchi] and [Chuck] Kobasew and [Patrice Bergeron], and then we gave them almost a three-on-two, four-on-three, and they capitalized on it, so those are the kinds of things, you know, that if your third man is high, you’re not getting outnumbered in that situation, and you’re keeping the game at 4-1, and we kind of gave them some momentum. And they came back off the draw, and a quick play, and all of a sudden, it’s 4-3."

Of Note: Milan Lucic looked motivated tonight, playing on a line with David Krejci and Michael Ryder, who also showed up tonight for the first time in a bit.

bruins 0 - blue jackets 2

Last night's Bruins game was one that I could not track down online, so I had to rely on highlights. And I did not like what I saw. The Jackets were out-hitting, out-shooting and basically dominating the B's, sending dudes flying and getting to loose pucks.

Steve Mason registered his league-leading 9th shutout, whereas the Bruins have dropped 5 of their last 6 games.

Of note: Phil Kessel received a clean hit and left the game in the first period (he would return) and Tim Thomas was absolutely run by Jiri Novotny, breaking Thomas' mask and forcing the netminder to use Manny Fernandez's helmet. What disturbed me was that there was no penalty call on the play (despite it being an obvious and deliberate body-check) and NO Bruin decided to teach Novotny a lesson.

This is, I feel, part of the larger issue with this team right now. They are not fighting for pucks, not fighting for space in front of the net, and frankly are not even fighting for each other. If it hasn't been clear from earlier posts, I am very frustrated with the Bruins' lack of consistent effort lately, and am not sure how many losses it will take for them to figure out what they need to do to win.

bruins go one-and-one in weekend games

The Bruins were able to claw their way back into their matinee against the Rangers this afternoon, having come from 3-1 to tie it up in the third period, but alas, they could not hold off the Ranger offense, and lost 4-3.

Manny Fernandez got the start, and from the highlights, looked confused on at least two of the Ranger goals (one of which he put into his own net). This brings his current losing streak to 5 games, after having posted a 10-1 record for a good part of the season.

Coach Julien was told of Fernandez accepting blame for today's loss and had the following to say in his defense:

''He's hard on himself, that's the way he is....if everyone is (as) hard on themselves like that, and then they go out to correct, we'll be okay.''

Yesterday's match-up between the Bruins and Blackhawks had the Bruins up 4-1 before Chicago mounted a comeback, bringing the game to 4-3 before Alexsson's empty net goal sealed the deal for the B's. Tim Thomas registered the win, and was especially heroic in the final 6 minutes of the match.

Mark Recchi (seen above in the danger zone) scored his first two goals as a Bruin in yesterday's game (and looked great doing it), whereas ex-Maple Leaf Nik Antropov scored for the Rangers in today's match, showing the impact of the trade deadline in concrete results.

The Bruins actually played better over the last two games than they have played lately, but neither game resulted in wins I would call confident. The B's are still unable to play a full 60 minutes of their uptempo style of attack, and whenever they take their foot off the gas, their opponents gain the upper hand.

With the current rush from New Jersey and Washington, I think the Bruins will be hard-pressed to maintain their current first-place in the East position; however, this is a situation where I am sure every Bruin would be comfortable with just entering the playoffs on a competitive streak, putting wins together with a consistent effort.

bruins 1 - coyotes 2

It has been an incredibly long day that started at 6.30 am, and there are still many more things to take care of before bed, so I will keep this brief.

The lowly Phoenix Coyotes beat the Bruins tonight 2-1 in Boston. The Coyotes picked up some new and interesting players at the trade deadline, but really, so did the Bruins and I had expected the result to be more favourable.

The loss gives the B's 9 losses in the last 12 games, and I for one and sick of it. While they may have over-performed earlier this season, they are grossly under-performing now and increasingly at risk of blowing an otherwise magical season with their sloppy play.

If the Bruins were a friend of mine, they are now at the stage where I would drag them out of the bar and rough them up a bit for their consistently stupid actions. Why. Don't. You. Smarten. Up. You. Bag. Of. Trash....

I was really hoping that some new blood in the locker room would inspire the team to better performances. Apparently not. But maybe they do need some blood spilled in that locker room....