Bruins In First After Exciting Weekend

The Bruins took 3 out of 4 points in back to back matinee contests this weekend with the Flyers and New York Rangers. The game with New York certainly lived up to the billing as the #1 and #2 teams in the conference set to battle with first place on the line. It was fun to watch these teams, who are basically built the same way, go back and forth and play a deadlocked even game for a full 60 minutes. Strong defense, strong goaltending and balanced scoring are what these teams are all about, and we got a good balance of that on Saturday afternoon.

The game was very physical from the get go with plenty of scrums and crease clearing play. The Bruins PP continued its struggles (0-4 on the day) despite being given 3 1st period chances to build some momentum. Both teams went into the first intermission tied at 0-0. It did not take New York very long to dent the twine, with Ryan Callahan scoring his 16th just 1:31 in. Shawn Thornton and Mike Rupp immediately engaged in a spirited scrap as both tried to work momentum for their team. It appeared the Bruins got a bigger lift, as just 44 seconds later Andrew Ference scored his 4th of the year, and second in as many games. Marion Gaborik would pot his 24th of the year at 14:30 and a few good shifts from the Rangers had the Bruins running around a bit. In the closing minute, the Bruins set up a good cycle game and a fortunate redirect off of a Ranger stick tied it up, giving Adam McQuaid his 2nd of the year and ended a 26 game goal drought. The third continued the back and forth and after 60 minutes, the Eastern Conference powerhouses were all knotted up.

The overtime period proved to be very interesting. The teams traded a few chances early, and then Ference gathered the puck in his defensive end. He picked up speed, carried through the neutral zone, dumped a puck in deep and gave chase. Ryan McDonagh turned and chased the puck as well and when Ference did not pull up enough (in Brendan Shanahan's words, more on that in a minute) his momentum sent McDonagh face first into the boards. Ference was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for charging and the Bruins were left with over 3 minutes of 4 on 3 time to kill. The B's did an excellent job and Tuukka stopped what he needed to. Then with 3.6 seconds left, there was a pile up in front of the net, Rask stopped two attempts off Rangers sticks but could not get the last one as Gaborik scored his second of the night, 25th on the year. The hit by Andrew Ference could have been avoided. He could have, should have, pulled up or held up McDonagh. That being said, I believe McDonagh had some responsibility in the play as well. He slowed up and almost welcomed the hit. When you watch the video, he put the brakes on but he did not brace himself for the contact. I do not believe Ference is a dirty player and I think he tried to box him out. He certainly did not push him from behind, it was much more shoulder. That being said, I understand that is a play the NHL wants gone, and I can respect that. I thought it should have been a 2 minute penalty and I thought Ference would receive 1 game off. I watched the video from the NHL, and they talked about boarding, well Ference wasn't called for boarding and there is a real good reason for that. The referee who made the call saw it was not from behind but also felt Ference had the power to eliminate that play.

Onto Sunday afternoon and what was another thrilling installment of Bruins and Flyers hockey. I am real happy we will have at least one more year of these teams meeting 4 times before the playoffs. Both teams played Matinee games on Saturday, both looked tired at times, but both wanted to hit and hit often. The Bruins improved to 24-0 when leading by 2 goals at any point and the two most penalized teams in the NHL put on a show. It did not take long for the fireworks to start with two hits on the first shift and a first minute goal by Patrice Bergeron(15). Then Milan Lucic and AHL heavyweight Tom Sestito dropped the gloves, Lucic landing a few good shots before the referees helped Sestito up off the ice. Maxime Talbot scored his 11th about 30 seconds later to tie it up. Tyler Seguin would score his team leading 18th with the extra man after the Bruins PP once again squandered two straight chances. Freshly called up Steven Kampfer got caught circling his zone with his head down by a great crushing check thrown by hard-nosed Brayden Schenn. Chris Kelly immediately answered with his second fighting major on the year. Milan Lucic would add his 17th before the end of the very physical first period. The Bruins went into the room up 3-1 and the first period yielded 36 penalty minutes and 2 fights.

The second period pretty much belonged to the Flyers and Scott Hartnell. He was snubbed as an all-star selection and it seems to have lit a bit of a fire under him as he is playing real well as of late. He recorded a natural hat trick on 3 goals that were almost identical wristers from the slot, two of those coming on the power play. He is a hard-nosed player who really has some good skills and anyone would like having him on their team. Tom Sestito, on the other hand, is a goon who would not be seeing NHL time if not for an injury ravaged team. He is a dirty player who goes high and hard very often and did so three or four times on Sunday afternoon. One of those coming on a textbook blindside late hit on Nathan Horton, who went right back after him and was handed a interference penalty. I certainly hope the league looks at that play and that player. Either way I am sure he will be on the repeat offender list before long. Bruins nation is holding their breath as I write this with Nathan Horton being evaluated for a "head injury". He did not come back out for the 3rd period. End of two and the Flyers have gotten their first lead of the day, 4-3.

The Bruins opened the third with 2 goals in about three minutes (Krejci 11th and Campbell 6th) to regain the lead. Then, the part of Hartnell's game we all remember came back into play with another blindside shot to an unexpecting opponent. This time Chris Kelly's head was whipped back when Hartnell came through and lowered his shoulder. Thornton immediately grabbed Hartnell and gave him the business. Hartnell was given a charging penalty and Thornton was given the extra so the PK was once again on the ice for the black and gold. Maxime Talbot would score his second of the day(12) to tie up the game. The game would head to overtime.

Entertaining 4 on 4 set before Kimmo Timonen picked up a holding penalty. Nothing doing on the power play and it would go to the shootout. Giroux scored on Timmy, sandwiched between stops on Read and Simmonds and Krejci and Seguin secured the extra point for the black and gold. These two games certainly lived up to expectations from the fans. The Rangers game was a wonderful game and hopefully that will not be lost in the discussion of the Ference hit. The game with the Flyers was a fun one to watch as well. I do hope those plays by Sestito and Hartnell get a good look from the league. I hope Horton will be good to go.

My concern for this team is their depth on the blue line. I know Kampfer got obliterated today, but I believe we only saw him take 4 shifts after that because he looked scared. He looked lost and he is just not panning out like the Bruins hoped he would. We see what an injury would do to this D corps and I think it needs to be addressed. With the uncertainty of Dougie Hamilton for next year, I would assume it would be another rental. I like Tim Gleason, I think he would be a good fit, a small cap hit, and someone we could give up very little for. Like Joe Corvo, hint hint.....the guy looks aweful out there, get him off the power play. Any other thoughts for mid season pickups or problem areas for this team?

Marchand Suspended 5 Games

Brad Marchand has been suspended 5 games for a clipping misconduct he was assessed Saturday against Vancouver. The video from the league office is here. I do not own any rights to the video footage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sqm7mHos0E

My initial reaction on Saturday was that I was furious. My reaction to the 5 games, furious. But I must admit that the video explanation certainly helps. I think Shanahan has done a good job so far this year. It is also impossible to argue that Marchand could not have gone shoulder to shoulder, which he should have done. This was not a below the knee hit though, and that is the main component of a clipping penatly. Salo is 6 foot 2 and Marchand comes in at 5 foot 9, of course he will get lower. The other element that is very frustrating is that this exact, exact, play happened three times against Vancouver last year. Two of those times were to the Bruins. No penalties called. I have watched Marchand, and many other players around the league, use this manuever, and no calls have been made. If the league has decided to outlaw this hit, and will punish it the same way going forward, then I can be on board. However, I do think it is fair that in a game with so much chippyness and "grey area" plays, that the league decides to make an example out of Marchand. Now they claim he is a repeat offender and throw the book at the guy when it is a very commonplace hit. Thoughts? Reactions?

Bruins Douse The Flames

In a game that was over 1:14 after it started, Thursday night at the Garden the Bruins put together a full 60 minute dismantling of the Calgary Flames. 12 players recorded points, including 3 point games from Horton, Seguin, Bergeron, Krejci, and Pouliot. Two goal nights from both Bergeron and Horton helped pace the Bruins largest offensive night in 13 years. Add to that Tuukka Rask's 3rd shutout of the season, which improved his running tally of 1 goal over the last 275 minutes between the pipes, and you have another thorough domination by the Black and Gold. The score and shots on goal differential (42-25 in favor of the Bruins) were not even entirely indicative of how one sided this game was. As Andy Brickley called it, "Men against boys". The Bruins dominated long stretches of the game and had offensive zone possessions which frequently lasted minutes due to the non-stop fore check and crisp cycle game. The Bruins ability to grind and their killer instinct were both on display Thursday night. The Bruins got on top early and never looked back or took their foot off the pedal. Late in the game, the boys were still blocking shots, getting sticks in passing lanes, and being responsible in all three zones. In short, the fundamentals never stopped and we watched Bruins hockey in its purest form. Scoring from all four lines, energy, effort, and consistency. With the score 8-0 midway through the 3rd period, it would have been very easy for the Bruins to start looking forward to Saturday's rematch with the Vancouver Canucks. Instead, they continued their dominance and looked very much like they were now playing to keep Calgary off the board. A tripping penalty on Gregory Campbell put the PK on the ice, and their hard work once again yielded an opportunity with Danielle Paille netting his 7th of the year. This trait is something we did not see in prior years. The Boston Bruins relaxed when they got up, and that usually led to some interesting finishes, including some very frustrating losses. This team knows they have a target on their backs, and they are playing with a chip on their shoulder and a swagger that is a true pleasure to watch. This is not a team that is just getting the bounces or riding a hot goaltender. This team appears to be poised for another run. A team that plays their system and plays it well. Their team depth, offensive prowess, defensive mentality and ferocious work ethic (and attitude) can carry this team once again to the pinnacle of hockey.

Saturday, January 7th. It's the day all Bruins fans have had circled on their calendars for months. The return of the Vancouver Canucks. Sure, it is only another two points at stake and the winner will not be hoisting anything on Saturday afternoon. However, the pure hate that grew in that 7 game series, players and fans alike, has not been forgotten. I will not pretend to know the players mindset right now, maybe it is just another game for them. I doubt it, given the character, integrity, and attitude of this franchise, but maybe. So I will stick to what I know best, the mindset of the rabid fan. The mindset of the people that flooded the garden last June, sat on the couch, or took over the local sports bar. The person who watched as Raffi bleeping Torres stole game one. Watched Alex Burrows and "The Bite". Then, 11 seconds into overtime, he is the hero of game 2. Got excited for it to shift back to Boston for game 3, and then watched in silence as Nathan Horton lay on the ice. Sick to my stomach and unbelievably furious, I could not believe the turn of events for my Bruins. Then something clicked with the start of the second period. Inspiration was found. Confidence was gained. Someone poked the bear and the rest is history. Tim Thomas clearing out his own crease. The Sedin punching bag. The flat tires. Lord Stanley being returned home. It is all history now. But for those of us that truly love this sport, we will never forget where we were, what we did, what we felt on the night Big Z and the boys got to lift the cup. You know what else we will never forget? The unthinkable level of despise for the Vancouver Canucks that was reached by all of us. So, to some, the matinee on Saturday may be just the 38th game in a long season for a measly two points against a Western Conference team we usually see once a year. But to the masses in the city of Boston, in New England, and to true Bruins fans everywhere, this is about more. It is about putting another exclamation point on last spring. It's about showing the hangover is really over. And it is about telling a Western Conference powerhouse that if you want Lord Stanley, you are going to have to come through Boston to get it. That, my friends, will prove to be no easy task. Saturday the puck drops at 1:00. Let's go Black and Gold!