Bruins Roll Out Two More Wins with Thomas in Nets

The B's have racked up two more wins in their games against New Jersey on Saturday night and Washington, just last night.

For me, the fun part of these wins is how solid the Bruins looked against teams playing radically opposing styles. Against the Devils' stifling defense the Bruins were able to crank out a 4-1 win, and against the Capitals' much-vaunted offense, the B's pushed a tenuous 2-1 lead into a 3-1 win, getting big contributions from Horton, Krejci and Lucic in both games.

Thomas had both starts and looked like the Vezina winner he was a couple of seasons ago. There's a very fine line between being able to react in time to get into position, and looking silly while flopping around, and Thomas' off-season hip surgery seems to have made him more nimble. Pretty critical for a goalie who, despite having a great sense of angles, seems to be a "reaction" style goalie.

Overlooking a blatant giveaway or two, the B's top defensive pairing of Chara and Seidenberg seems to be causing the opposing offense fits, keeping Parise and Zajac off the board on the weekend, and keeping Ovechkin without a point last night.

The Bruins have their home opener against the Capitals on Thursday. Given that the Caps and Bruins were the top-two road teams last season, it should be interesting to see how well the Bruins are able to set themselves up for a win.

I would suspect that Rask will get the start on Thursday, just to keep the goalie rotation going. For Bruins fans, the ideal scenario is that both Rask and Thomas push each other to play at the top of their game.

Let's see what Thursday brings.

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 4 - Flyers 1 - Bruins Take a Stranglehold on the Series

The Flyers got the lead early in tonight's game, scoring just a few minutes into the 1st period. This was Philly's first lead of the series. The Fyers created a lot of crash and bang in the Bruins' zone, but to the Refs' credit, the teams were allowed to play and find a groove.

After going down 1-0, the Bruins started turning the play around, and quickly reeled off 2 goals in a minute and a half, losing David Krejci on a hit as he passed to Miro Satan for the game winning goal. Highly dramatic stuff, sports fans.

From that point on, I felt the Bruins just slowly took over the game. With the exception of powerplay opportunities the B's pretty much closed the Flyers down and potted 2 more goals (including the empty net) when the chances came up.

The Bruins lost McQuaid to injury as well, so they played 2 men short, and still blocked shots and caused forecheck hell on the Flyers through the neutral zone. It was a really well executed game plan, but pretty dangerous. The shot margin greatly favoured Philly and Tuukka Rask was expected to be, and was, outstanding.

I think it is interesting that Bergeron shot for the empty net (rather than pass) tonight, given that he messed up the open net in Game 2.

This win puts the Bruins up in the series by the glorious 3-0 margin. Only 2 teams in history have come back from that deficit.

Unbelievably, the B's could eliminate Philly as early as Friday, in a 4 game sweep. Personally, I think Philly is good for at least 1 home-win, given that up til tonight they were perfect at home in the playoffs.

But that honour is now solely the Bruins' - they are the only team who remain undefeated at home this year.

Bruins Down the Sabres in Double OT

Tonight's match up was as hard hitting as playoff hockey should be. The Sabres and the Bruins both played like they realized what was on the line.

This game had so much to enjoy, its hard to know where to begin. Ooof.

The Bruins were down 2-0 going into the third. They had carried the play for long stretches of the first two periods, but they had also needed Rask to bail them out.

Early in the 3rd period, the Bruins got a powerplay goal, and then scored another soon after, to tie the game with about 10 minutes left. Back and forth chances finished out the game, and the first overtime solved nothing.

In the second overtime the Sabres took a Too Many Men penalty (in the 2nd overtime!), and on that powerplay, Michael Ryder skated out of the Bruins' end, dodged an open-ice hit and gained the Buffalo zone along the boards. He then threaded a perfect pass to Miro Satan floating down through the high slot.

Satan basically out-waited Miller, dipping to his right as Miller dropped and sliding a backhand into the net (which was oddly stuffed with 3 players). Satan's celebration included a little jump, which was nice to see.

It is pretty crazy that the Bruins came back to win this game. They've been down at least 1-0 in every game in the series, and came back from 2-goals-down twice.

Also, for a team that had one of the worst powerplays in the league all year, it seems bizarre that they'd get 2 powerplay goals tonight (including the overtime winner).

Bergeron was superhuman all night, as was Chara. Rask, obviously, kept the Bruins in the game all night with crazy acrobatics - including a diving blocker save late in the 3rd. Mark Recchi again played like a man half his age but with all 42 years of hockey wisdom. Sobotka, of all people, was strong tonight, too.

Krejci, Begin and Sturm especially need to be playing at a much higher level. The Bruins really need the second and third line players to be contributing if they are going to have continued playoff success.

Now up 3 games to 1, the Bruins will look to finish out the Series in Buffalo on Friday. Should be an amazing game!

Bruins Win Two - Retain Final Playoff Spot

At this point in the season, it's a cliche to say that every win is a big one. But for the Bruins, last night's win over Atlanta, and Sunday afternoon's win over the Rangers, have huge implications for the Bruins' playoff chances.

Not only were the B's able to claim 4 very valuable points (keeping them solidly in 8th, and only one point out of 6th place), they were also able to beat the two teams immediately behind them in the standings.

What alarms me a little is that the scoring is coming from guys like Begin and Satan, instead of Wheeler and Krejci (in Krejci's defense, he's played far better lately). However, given the lack of scoring punch due to the absence of Savard (and Ka$h-Grab Kessel), I guess the B's should take scoring from wherever they can get it. Hell, if Thomas thinks he can pot a couple, put him in the lineup.

The Bruins' next game is against the Lightning on Thursday night. The Lightning obviously have nothing to play for - not even pride - but are still capable of putting pucks in the net. The Bruins need to keep the pressure on every team they play if they expect to make this year's "second season" (which starts in less than a month!).

Bruins Post-Olympics

It was a weird Olympics for the Bruins:

• Bergeron was under-used and then injured for Canada
• Krejci looking great for the Czechs
• Chara looked good, Satan okay, on an inconsistent Slovak club
• Sturm led the plucky charge of the Germans, and finally
• Thomas didn't have a single game for the USA

Now that the B's have played two games, it is fair to say they are not playing very well, post-Olympics. The 4-1 loss to the Canadiens was a fate they deserved after ringing shots off of posts and then surrendering 4 straight goals. Last night's win over the Maple Leafs was pretty disorganized and the Bruins looked like they lacked depth in the line up.

The play of Matt Hunwick has really slid on the games bookending the Olympic break. He got burned twice by the Habs because he was just standing there as the play developed around him, and last night he gave the puck away all night - most notably in the final minutes of the game, straight up the slot, only to be bailed out by Thomas. I know he's young, but he's making far too many mistakes to warrant the ice time he gets.

Thomas has been a bright spot though. He was sharp against the Leafs and played as well as he did last year. It was the first time Thomas has looked like himself in months. Let's hope it continues - you always want your number 1 guy to play at his best, no matter how good the backup is.

It will be interesting to see how these guys respond during the season's final stretch. Every game is a must-win, or they risk missing the playoffs, which start in 20 games.

How Did the Bruins Win Four Straight After Losing Ten in a Row?

After losing 10 straight games, the Bruins have been able to rattle off four consecutive wins and have jumped into 7th spot in the Eastern Conference (ahead of the Habs!) coming into the Olympic break.

In the previous 5 games, the Bruins went up 2-0 in every game, barely holding on for wins in the last four. A couple of nights ago, they held a 5-0 lead on Tampa Bay going into the 3rd period, only to barely hold on in the dying seconds for a 5-4 win.

So why have the Bruins been winning games?

Because:

• As poor (not financially) Tim Thomas warms a groove into the bench, Tuukka Rask has had 6 straight starts, looking sharp in all of them. Rask's record is 13 wins and 7 losses, with a 2.09 GAA, which is 2nd in the league. He's weird looking, too thin, gangly and has a name like a Star Wars bounty hunter, but you gotta go with the hot hand.
  
  
• The Bruins secondary forwards have finally stopped expecting the top forwards to provide all the offense. Guys like Ryder, Recchi, Krejci and Paille have started putting pucks away, and taken the pressure off of Savard and Lucic as they come back from injuries.
  
  
• Savard and Lucic have come back from injuries! Marc Savard's numbers are modest this year compared to his previous few, and Milan Lucic is still an emerging power forward, but these two players strengthen the Bruins by making other players around them better.
  
  Having them back in the lineup and in game shape gives the B's more offensive firepower and frees up guys like Krejci and Bergeron, who other teams had been keying on.
  
  
• Patrice Bergeron has had a great year so far, entering into some sort of Yzerman Zone of offensive gifts and defensive responsibility. He's been the first to pucks, setting guys up, lifting sticks - doing tons of subtle little things every shift that can change a game. I hope he has a great Olympics!
  
  
• Finally, GM Peter Chiarelli hasn't done anything stupid, like pull the trigger on a 'blockbuster' trade to save the season. The Bruins are young enough and talented enough that they could continue to develop into a juggernaut in the coming years. Many in Bruins Nation believe that this year is an aberration and that it is better to maintain a longer view of this team.

Now the Bruins enter into the two-or-so weeks of the Olympic Break, while many of the team's best players fly to Vancouver to play with their respective countries. Hopefully the 4-game win streak and 2-week pause has the team returning to the ice feeling good, and the winning ways will continue.

The B's will have to keep twinning if they expect to make the playoffs. At this point any team could get hot and jump from 12th to 7th in four short games.

Of Note: A sidebar on Tim Thomas: I hope he goes to the Olympics and looks amaaaazing - not against Canada, of course - and comes back to the B's looking renewed and solid for the stretch run. I don't get the sense the Bruins organization wants to bail on Thomas, but he needs to step it up if he's going to actually be the Number 1 goalie he's spent his life fighting to become.

Bruins Drop 10th Straight Game - Aim for 11 Today

Not only have the Bruins lost 10 straight games, they've lost their last two games in the shootout after surrendering a 2 goal lead.

People talk about teams being "fragile" when they go on losing streaks, but I honestly can't imagine how damaged the Bruins players must be feeling right now.

And my response?

I do not care.

The Bruins are playing well enough to win these games - at least the defensemen and goalies are. The reality is that all the chances that guys like Marco Sturm, David Krejci and Blake Wheeler are getting down low have to be buried. If you are a top six forward, it is not enough to be 'contributing' unless your contributions are goals. The Bruins do not need multimillion dollar backchecking forwards - just ask PJ Axelsson (if you can find him....I think he's somewhere in Sweden).

When a 42 year old Mark Recchi is out-hustling guys TWO DECADES his junior, then something needs to happen to shake things up.

One more point: can someone explain the idea of doing chip & chase (or dump & chase) on the powerplay? Like, you already have possession of the puck, and you have one more player than your opposition. What is the logic behind consistently throwing the puck away into the corner, to then go to try to retrieve it? It is not working, and it is a ridiculous idea to begin with. You already have the puck! Jeez, skate the damned puck in, curl back and set it up. Obviously. Just look at any team with a successful powerplay for examples of how it is done. Man.

The Bruins enter this afternoon's game against the Canadiens one game short of their all-time losing streak record of 11 games. Unless they improve some fundamental things right away, they're going to lose today as well. It pains me to say - especially against the Canadiens - but I can't expect the Bruins to win if their last two games are any indication of where the team is headed.

An absolutely brutal streak will be on the line this afternoon.

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 Shut Out Stanley Cup Champion Penguins

The Bruins rolled out their black retro sweaters and took on the defending Stanley Cup champions tonight in Boston, shutting out Sydney and company, 3-0.

Tim Thomas got the start in nets, and backstopped the Bruins to their most complete game of the season.

From the first face-off, through the final moments of the game where they were down 6 players to 4 (on the penalty-kill with the Penguins' goalie on the bench for the extra attacker), the Bruins kept their intensity up and played the up-tempo-defensive system that brought them so much success last season. Matt Hunwick, Daniel Paille and Patrice Bergeron got the goals for the Bruins.

The difference between tonight's game and the game against, say, the Red Wings last week, was remarkable. Tonight it seemed like the Bruins had adapted to life without Savard, Lucic and Kessel (two injuries and a trade respectively), and had begun to find a bit of chemistry on their lines.

David Krejci returned from battling Swine Flu and looked good throughout the game. Michael Ryder did not register a goal but caused a lot of havoc, and both Chara and Morris were effective at shutting down the Penguin forwards.

While I recognize that the Pens were without a few key players (most notably Malkin and Gonchar), tonight's game was fairly evenly fought, and there were chances at either end of the ice. The 3-0 score had less to do with the play of the Penguins (and nothing to do with how Marc-Andre Fleury played) and more to do with how the Bruins kept attacking the Pens in waves.

Frankly, it was good to see, and an indication of the full potential of this team which we've only seen in brief glimpses so far, this season.

Of Note: Raymond Bourque was in attendance tonight, as his son Chris was suiting up for the Penguins; Tonight's win marked the first time the Bruins had won 2-straight games this season; Tim Thomas recorded his 14th career shutout, passing Andy Moog for 10th on the Bruins all-time list.

Pre-Game News: Krejci has H1N1 & Rask Signs Extension

Two brief notes before tonight's game between the Bruins and Canadiens:

David Krejci has been diagnosed with H1N1 (Swine Flu). He has been isolated from the rest of the team, and the Bruins' medical staff are working to keep him healthy. He'll be out of the action until he is symptom-free for at least 24 hours, and in the mean-time the Bruins' offense takes another serious hit. Do I feel badly for commenting on Krejci's merely okay play in the last game, now that I know he has Swine Flu?

Sort of.

The other news from the Bruins' camp is that Tuukka Rask has been signed to a contract extension through 2011-2012. The young gun is the Bruins' newest next-big-thing and excitement hasn't been this high since Jon Casey, John Grahame or Andrew Raycroft.

Personally, I'm still waiting for the next Andy Moog.

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 Get Beat Up by Ducks, Lose 6 - 1

A great start from the Bruins led to an absolutely brutal finish, and a complete collapse against the (apparently still Mighty) Ducks of Anaheim.

The Bruins turned in a good first period - getting 19 shots on net and maintaining solid, sustained pressure for long stretches of the period. Also, I must say it is great to see Krejci and Sturm playing so well, coming back from injury.

The Bruins' first (and only) goal came from a defensive break-out from Dennis Wideman, forwarding it up to Savard, who saucered it to Sturm, who was skating down the left wing. Sturm was able to blast a slapshot past Duck's goalie, Jonas Hiller.

Starting the second period, an early 5-on-3 powerplay gave the Ducks the tying goal, on Selanne's point shot, and less than a minute later (on the remaining 5-on-4 powerplay), Selanne got the lead for Anaheim. Unfortunately, the Bruins powerplays later in the period were a lot less effective, or possibly, the Duck's penalty-kill was completely unreal. Seeing Saku Koivu have an impact on the Bruins' players while not be wearing Bleu, Blanc et Rouge does not soften the blow, I have learned.

With about 7 minutes left in the second period, Corey Perry was able to cross through the slot, deke out at least two players, and out-wait Thomas, who lay prone and looked foolish as Perry went top shelf. Suddenly, after being dominated in the first period, the Ducks enjoyed a 3-1 lead.

Then my online stream of the game died suddenly, and I missed the final 4-or-so minutes of the second period, and the first 5 minutes of the third. After searching around a bit I was able to find a new stream, which also subsequently died. Oh, internet, how you hurt me so.

Either way, with about 5 minutes gone in the third period, I found another stream of the game and almost immediately saw Evgeny Artyukhin score for the Ducks, by simply out-muscling the defender to the puck and potting it behind Thomas.

With about 11 minutes left in the match, with the Bruins now down 4-1, I found myself just hoping for a lucky goal for the B's, to just regain some of the momentum the club lost when the first period ended. That's not how you want to cheer for your club..."Come on guys, just get lucky!"

Sadly, from Artyukhin's goal onward, the Bruins looked disorganized and uncoordinated. Bruins players bumped into each other at the offensive blueline and behind their own net, passes went several feet errant. With their composure nearly completely shot, the Bruins' loose passes led to a turnover and then Anaheim's 5th goal, from Bobby Ryan, with about 6 minutes left.

Brutal. But not yet the end.

In an act of over-the-top horror, with less than a minute left in the game, Corey Perry broke in alone on Thomas, and took a shot which Thomas stopped with his shoulder. It then deflected back out, went off Perry's HEAD, and into the Bruins net, making it 6-1.

On the whole a brutal night of unexpectedly terrible hockey, lousy internet streams and Finns haunting B's fans at every turn.

The Ducks are a good club, but really, they're not 6-1 good.

bruins free agents, salary cap and next year's plans

This weekend's NHL Draft (taking place just a few minutes away from my house, in fact) has brought a spotlight on the Bruins' players who are not locked to long-term contracts.

In particular, a rumour was circling yesterday involving Phil Kessel, who becomes a Restricted Free Agent as of July 1st, that would see him go to Toronto for Tomas Kaberle. The deal seems to have broken down due to nobody really understanding whether it was Kessel and draft picks for Kaberle, or Kaberle and draft picks for Kessel.

Ridiculous.

This reminds me of how, a few years ago, the Bruins announced they had signed Jonas Hoglund only to have the deal annulled due to a faulty fax machine, or how Ray Shero agreed to become GM only to then change it up and sign with Pittsburgh while the Bruins were organizing the press conference to announce his arrival (on the other side of that, while Shero has the Cup, I think Chiarelli has done the better work as GM).

Regardless, what this all suggests is that the Bruins will probably try to move Kessel rather than ink him to a long-term deal. The money that Kessel will probably demand on the open market (somewhere around $5 million, when he's probably at a stage of his development that should garner $2.75 - $3.5 million) was better spent by the B's on David Krejci - who, while less explosive than Kessel, is a more consistent player in both ends of the ice and is at a different stage of development.

Kessel reminds me of a young Marian Hossa, who entered the league as a legitimate offensive threat but would disappear for long stretches of games. While Kessel had a far better season than last year, and has shown a tremendous amount of character in both his professional and personal life, he does seem to be one of those players that simply needs more experience to fully bloom into a well-rounded NHL player. I have no doubt it will come, but the reality of today's NHL is that the Bruins only have a certain amount of time and cap room to wait for Kessel to become the player he can be.

Having said that, Chiarelli has stated he'll match any offer put forward for Kessel, but given the team's salary cap concerns, I would expect that Kessel will be moved shortly thereafter, regardless of how much they want to retain Kessel.

When the season ended, the B's had several important pieces remaining unsigned - including the aforementioned Krejci and Kessel, but most importantly, Vezina Trophy winning goalie, Tim Thomas. The Bruins made the right move and ensured Thomas will remain with the club for the next four years by inking him to a $20 million contract. Props to Chiarelli for getting this deal done.

This means that backup Manny Fernandez will be allowed to walk (or, more reasonably, hobble) into free agency, and that Tuuka Rask will probably be brought up for NHL seasoning. It should make for an interesting and emotionally explosive goaltending tandem. Hopefully, the Bruins have maintained their stick sponsors through next season.

Matt Hunwick and Byron Bitz are also RFAs this year, and both are young enough and played well enough in the playoffs to warrant contracts. I expect the Bruins will find a way to bring both these guys into the fold. These two are the Bruins' primary concerns after Kessel as they represent high quality prospects with tremendous size and desire to get dirty.

Coming up on Unrestricted Free Agency are defensive stalwarts PJ Axelsson and Stephane Yelle, and ironically, the less-defensively-sound Steve Montador. I believe Axelsson is the longest-serving Bruin but I doubt the B's will be able to retain him with the other players they have to bring under contract. In fact, I would be surprised if, after money is allocated to Bitz and Hunwick, the Bruins have any budget room for another big-ticket UFA, so I suspect they'll all be set free (including Shane Hnidy and the handsome Mark Recchi).

If the Bruins lose / set free Hnidy and Montador, but are able to bring Hunwick under contract, that will mean that he and Mark Stuart will see increased responsibilities next season. I would suspect that Chiarelli will also try to bring in another veteran with a mean streak, as that would retain the identity of the team and offer some mentorship to younger defenders without over-burdening Chara with yet another responsibility.

Prospects Wacey Rabbit, Carl Soderberg and Martin St. Pierre are also Restricted Free Agents with Soderberg being the priority signing. Should those kids all come on board they could serve with the Big Club in limited roles, potentially replacing Yelle and, through group-effort, Axelsson.

I sort of feel like the Bruins can reel in Hunwick and Bitz, give them a bigger role, and try to sign Kessel in order to deal him for other young guns. If they can do the above, and let the other UFAs they have coming up walk away, then they will experience a drop in team depth, but they could get lucky and have some kids fill in admirably (it happened this year with nearly every young kid on the team, with Krejci, Wheeler and Stuart having wonderful years), and still be a very competitive team next year, while building toward the seasons that follow.

On that score, the bigger concern for the future is what to do at the end of next season when Wheeler, Lucic, Mark Stuart and Marc Savard all come up as Free Agents. Ugh. Headacheville.

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 beat hurricanes 4 - 1 and take game one

I've been anxiously waiting for the Second Round to begin for about a week now, and was really pleased that the B's drew the Hurricanes as an opponent. Tonight's game was one where the outcome (for me, at least) was never really in doubt; the Bruins came out strong early and brought their game to the 'Canes in successive waves, and Carolina, still sweaty from their Game 7 upset of the Devils were largely dominated by a fresher Bruins club.

The Hurricanes did their best to get Eric Staal freed up from Zdeno Chara, and primarily relied on Joe Corvo to advance the puck to the forwards. Jussi Jokinen, Sergei Samsonov and (obviously) Cam Ward all had good games for Carolina, but beyond some brief stretches, all seemed over-matched by the Bruins, who looked bigger and faster in most one-on-one battles.

In watching the highlights after the game, I realized that Tim Thomas made at least 4 unbelievable saves, which is enough that the outcome would have been entirely different had he not been playing or been having an off-night. Cam Ward also made a few incredible stops, and was certainly not to blame on any of the Bruins' goals.

Michael Ryder and David Krejci each scored, and Marc Savard had a pair and looked playoff-tested in tonight's match. Ryder's goal was, I think, the back-breaker for Carolina - he picked off a neutral zone pass and skated in with Wheeler on a two-on-one, and snapped it over Ward's left shoulder. This goal allowed Boston to begin tightening the bolts on Carolina, shutting down the neutral zone and forechecking the time away.

On the whole, the club looked fresh and had several stretches where they owned the Hurricanes' offensive zone. If the Bruins are able to continue moving the puck and avoid penalty trouble as well as they did tonight, they will be in good stead to win this Series.

The Bruins and 'Canes will renew their acquaintances on Sunday night at 7.30. Looking forward to that one, too!

bruins 2 - senators 1

The Bruins probably should not have had as much trouble as they did, trying to pot goals against the Senators in last night's match, but in the end, they got one more and that's how hockey games are decided.

Alex Auld was very good for the Senators, stopping multiple chances in close as the B's kept the pressure on the Sens for long stretches at a time. On the other side of the rink, Tim Thomas was tested early and often by an Ottawa club with nothing to play for but pride (and the rights to John Tavares).

As has been the case in some Bruins games this year, the B's ended up pinned in their own zone, unable to clear the puck due to arms made of surgical tubing (or something similar - possibly noodles), as Thomas literally dove around inside the crease stopping everything thrown his way. Some players looked great for the B's (Bergeron, Chara, Wheeler, Bitz), while others looked TERRIBLE (Ward, in particular, offered up awful floaters-as-clearing-attempts that kept the heat on his Bruin teammates, and sort of counter-acted that idea of experience bringing veteran leadership).

David Krejci had a good game, which is notable as he's been relatively invisible in recent games, and Michael Ryder was a force every time he was on the ice.

The win brings the Bruins to 50 wins for the season, and puts them one win away from retaining home ice advantage through the entire Eastern portion of the playoffs (should they advance that far).

Last night's game was a nail-biter, for sure, but the win marks the B's 6th in a row. Great stuff!

bruins trade rumours - the way forward (so to speak)

Given how voracious the hockey-gossip mill can be, and all the names being floated out there as possible trades to any team before the looming NHL trade deadline (seemingly every player on every team is available, if you listen to the media), I thought it may be a good time to stop and comment on what the Bruins may do.

As has been pointed out by Fluto Shinzawa at the Boston Globe, the B's face off-season challenges where both goalies (Thomas and Fernandez) are becoming Unrestricted Free-Agents (UFA) this summer; where Krejci, Kessel (pictured above), Hunwick, Lashoff, Karsums, and Soderberg are all becoming Restricted Free Agents (RFA) this summer; and where Wheeler, Lucic, Nokelainen, Stuart, and (goalie prospect) Rask are becoming RFA's in 2010-2011. Given the restrictions of the NHL salary-cap, there is simply no way that the Bruins team we see this year will be the same one next year, and it may be remarkably different the following year. There is not enough money in the pot to keep them all.

Also, HockeyBuzz inside-man Eklund has been regularly reporting on the hot coals under the Erik Cole trade rumours. It seems Edmonton has been unimpressed with Cole's lack of productivity, and the Bruins are looking for a left-handed shot on the top 6 forward lines - to replace the firepower of the injured Marco Sturm. There are also recurring rumours about Chris Pronger joining the B's, or Keith Tkatchuk coming back to his hometown of Boston (something I, for one, am not advocating).

Given Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli's savvy management thus far, I think it behooves the team to move one of the UFAs or RFAs coming up this year, to try and better the team for this season's playoff run. With a few exceptions, this Bruins club is VERY young, but in today's NHL, there is not the luxury of "waiting til next year" for a legitimate shot at a deep playoff ride - there is no guarantee that the prospects and restricted free agents you've amassed will be there for you in the coming years, or that the chemistry in the room will work out to your advantage (look no further than the Senators or Penguins for a magical combo of crazy talent + lack-of-chemistry = total nightmare seasons).

While it pains me to think of some of my favourite B's being moved before their contract expires, it frankly is the smartest option in a marketplace where a team's future depends on maximizing the returns on players for years to come.

If the Bruins were to let any of their hotshot youngsters depart in the off-season - either to test the market as UFAs, or by being offered ridiculous contract-sheets that the Bruins would have to match (hello Dustin Penner!) - I'd feel a lot worse than if they moved whichever players they most risked losing to get some returns.

In this way you are losing the immediate future of a familiar lineup, but reducing the chances of getting caught in an off-season without these players, or the return they could offer.

On the Cole rumours specifically - I have a hard time believing that ANY player's numbers would not benefit if they are partnered with Marc Savard or David Krejci - two players gifted with an unparalleled ability to dish the puck to a sniper. In that sense, he's a good player to consider in the Black White and Gold.

bruins 5 - hurricanes 1

The Bruins lumbered into last night's tilt with the Hurricanes having lost a season high 4-straight games, and promptly gave up the first goal of the game. That shuddering noise you heard was me...raging and slamming my hand into the table.

However, Blake Wheeler tied the game with quick hands on a rebound, and the game winner came from unlikely sniper Shane Hnidy, who's point-shot found the back of the net.

The 2-1 lead was holding fast through the 2nd and into the 3rd period, thanks to some outstanding goaltending from Tim Thomas (who seems to have re-found his form) and hard-fought one-on-one battles along the perimeter. The turning point of the game came with David Krejci's shorthanded breakaway, which seemed to open the gates for the Bruins' goalscorers - the B's quickly added three goals in the final five minutes of the match.

It was a much needed win for the Bruins, who went 2-for-3 on the powerplay against the 'Canes, despite having a powerplay that went 2-for-36 in their previous 9 games (that's 5.5% for you statisticians).

Personally, I thought the game was important simply because the team looked good, and displayed the tenacity that represented them in the earlier part of the season. They battled from a goal deficit and then maintained the pressure after snatching the one-goal lead until they could break the game open.

All good signs, especially in light of their recent skid.

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.