Tag Archives: nhl

B’s top Lightning

Posted on by
Reply

The Bruins opened up strong with two quick goals in the first 4 minutes tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Nathan Horton scored his 5th of the season just over a minute in on a dish from Dougie Hamilton. Less than 3 minutes later, Patrice Bergeron recorded his 3rd of the year with an assist from Brad Marchand. About halfway through the 1st, Steven Stamkos scored his 11th of the season on an absolute snipe over the top of Tuuka Rask.

Tampa Bay Lightning v Boston BruinsAfter the first two goals by the Bruins, the game really evened out. Actually, Tampa Bay probably took the upper hand and had many scoring opportunities late in the first and early in the second. The B’s still got their chances though, especially between Seguin and Lucic. Corey Conacher scored for the Bolt with 11 minutes left in the second period to tie the game at 2. Marchand didn’t take a long time after that to score his 9th goal of the season to re-gain the lead.

Nathan Horton scored 3 minutes into the 3rd period with his 6th of the season (2nd on the night). That’s how the game would end. The third period was slightly less exciting but still had it’s moments. The Black and Gold missed a few empty netters at the end. Tuuka Rask finished the game with 23 saves. The Bruins improve to 10-2-2 and will take on the Panthers on Sunday afternoon.

Throwback Thursday

Gallery

Posted on by

This gallery contains 10 photos.

In honor of the Bruins playing the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, I figured we could take a trip down memory lane. Let’s take a look at the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011 (the year we won the Cup). It was … Continue reading →

B’s Take Down Buffalo

Posted on by
Reply

The Bruins started an hour after the Celtics and still almost ended before them, especially the way that game just kept going. The Bruins traveled to Buffalo to take on the Sabres tonight, after having yesterday’s game rescheduled due to some snow flurries.. The B’s started off flat but were able to draw blood first, in the 2nd period, when Marchand notched his team-leading 6th goal of the season. Keep in mind that he was injured last game and didn’t play, and was reportedly going to sit out tonight too. Thankfully, he didn’t.

The Sabres tied it up later in the second period as Ennis slipped a goal b9127148-standardy Anton Khudobin (26 saves) as Tuuka Rask had the night off. This was clearly a Goaltender’s game, with both Goalie’s coming up with huge saves, especially by Ryan Miller (38 saves) of the Sabres.

Patrice Bergeron added one of his own to make the game 2-1 halfway through the 3rd period. That is two on the season now for Bergy. David Krejci had a wide open net after the Sabres pulled Miller in the last minute, but decided to give it up to Milan Lucic, who notched his 3rd goal of the year. Krejci made that assist number 7 on the season and leads the Black and Gold with 9 points on the season. That pretty much sums up this Bruins team. They don’t care about stats, they just want to win. Not many players would make that pass. Amazing game, and the Bruins are now 8-1-1. It was even more satisfying because they are the only team to beat us in regulation this season.

This is a new Bruin’s record for the best start in franchise history. The B’s are now tied for first place in the Eastern Conference with the Devils.

They will take on the Rangers for the third time this season on Tuesday. Each team has won one game a piece. Then, we will travel back to Buffalo again on Friday. Who designed this schedule? Anyways, hopefully both Boston teams can keep playing as hot as they have been!

Adios Tim Thomas

Posted on by
Reply

The Bruins have traded Goaltender Tim Thomas to the New York Islanders for a 2014 or 2015 second-round pick. That part of it will be decided down the road. Tim Thomas is a imagestwo-time Vezina Trophy winner, which is given to the best Goalie in the league each year. Thomas was also the MVP of the Stanley Cup finals two years ago when we won it.

Since Tim Thomas took the year off to spend more time with his family, the Bruins suspended him. He had no intentions on coming back to play this season, and at 38 years old, who knows if he will ever be back. By completing this trade, the Bruins were able to create a lot more cap room, while the Islanders, were able to use his remaining one year contract towards their cap floor, which they were well below before this. Even if Thomas doesn’t report, they will still be able to have him on the books, but won’t hindexave to pay him. It’s a win for everybody involved.

Thomas is 196-121-45 all-time with a 2.48 Goals Allowed Average and a .921 Save Percentage. His biggest moments coming in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals against the Canucks.

Everyone around here loves Timmy, but at the end of the day, it’s still a business. I would rather have them give up someone who won’t play than a valuable asset that reports day in and day out. Tuuka Rask has taken over between the pipes and is playing great. Rask is 6-1-1 with a 1.97 GAA and a .922 Save Percentage. The Bruins will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon.

B’s versus Canes

Posted on by
Reply

The Bruins will take on the 2-2 Carolina Hurricanes tonight at 7. The Bruins are looking to improve to 4-0-1 on the season. Both teams have scored 2.75 goals per game, while the Bruins have only allowed 2 per game, compared to the 3.25 that the Hurricanes have allowed.  However, we only average 29 shots per game, where they average 39. This is better for our percentages, but tough when we have Anton Khudobin making his first start of the season. He started one game for us last season and only allowed 1 goal while indexrecording 44 saves. He has only played in 7 career games.

Gregory Cambell, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, and Rookie Dougie Hamilton are all tied for the team lead with 3 points. Lucic is the leader with 3 goals and penalty minutes with 17. This fits right in with the Bruins model ever since the won the Cup 2 years ago. There is no clear-cut star on this season. It could have been Savard before he got concussed, but now there is no one. Just a team that’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the W. I love that hockey’s back.

Go Bruins!

B’s Are Back

Posted on by
Reply

It’s great to have the Bruin’s back, even if it is for a lockout-shortened season. The Bruin’s proved that keeping their team chemistry together over the off season was the right move after not signing any big names. They opened up the season versus the Rangers on Friday, taking tWinnipeg Jets v Boston Bruinshat game 3-1. Then, they took on the Jets on Monday afternoon, and won in a shootout.

Tuuka Rask has only allowed two goals and the B’s are playing like they typically do, as a team. Everyone either has 1 point or 0 so far. The Black and Gold will take on the Rangers again on Wednesday night and then the Islanders on Friday.

Back on the Ice: Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers Preview

Posted on by
Reply

Bruins Back On the Ice: The Boston Bruins open up what’s left of a 48-game regular season against the New York Rangers at 7pm in TD Garden tomorrow (Saturday Jan 19th). The Bruins vs. Rangers contest is one of 13 games on tap for tomorrow, with 6 more games on Sunday for a weekend full of hockey.

Tale of the Tape: According to the Associated Press, both the Bruins and the Rangers are potential Stanley Cup favorites entering this season. Here’s a breakdown of both teams:

Rangers: The New York Rangers enter this season with Stanely Cup hopes as they nearly missed the big game last year with a conference finals loss to their rivals the New Jersey Devils. The Rangers made an offseason addition to their roster, as they landed former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash via trade.

Nash brings even more scoring power to an already potent mix, with Ranger forwards Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards. With the Blue Jackets Nash racked up 289 goals and 547 points in 674 games with a pair 40 goal seasons as well as 5 30+ goal seasons, according to the AP.

Then there’s the goal play of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who only allowed 1.97 goals averaged against him in 62 regular games last season. Lundqvist also posted an even more microscopic 1.82 GAA in the post-season for New York. Couple that with Nash, Gaboric, plus Richards, and the Rangers could be as good as advertised.

Bruins: The Bruins will be looking to win their second Stanley Cup Finals trophy in 3 seasons and they’ll have to try and do it without usual goalie Tim Thomas. Thomas you may remember was one of the keys to the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup triumph. Thomas decided to take this shortened season off and spend time with his family.

That puts Tuukka Rask in front of the net for Boston. Rask has promise as he posted a 2.05 GAA in 25 games backing up Thomas last season. Also, Rask posted a 1.97 GAA in a 45 game span back in 2010 when Thomas was injured. The Bruins will hope Rask can put up similar numbers in this 48-game regular season.

Aside from losing Thomas, the Bruins have most of  last year’s crew back. This includes Tyler Seguin, Brad Marchand, and Milan Lucic. All of whom signed multi-year contract deals with Boston before the lockout began.

The Bruins will be looking to bounce back to Stanley Cup form this year, after a first round Game 7 playoff loss to Washington last year.

Brian Boyle Milan Lucic #17 of the Boston Bruins tries to keep the puck as Brian Boyle #22 of the New York Rangers defends on February 14, 2012 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The New York Rangers defeated the Boston Bruins 3-0.

My Prediction: With this being the first game of a shortened season, it’s hard to say how any team will do. Nevertheless, I will take a shot in the dark and say the Bruins win 2-1 over the Rangers.

However, the Bruins may have a tough time scoring against the Rangers Lundqvist, as he boasts a pair of shutouts in his last 3 trips to Bean-town and a nasty 1.53 GAA in 27 games against the Bruins.

Despite the numbers, I give Boston the edge as the Bruins had 9 players who found work in Europe during the lockout. So, I’ll take experience over stats in this one.

Where to Watch: As a reminder the Bruins vs. Rangers game begins at 7pm tomorrow evening (Saturday January 19th) in the TD Garden and can be viewed on NHLN (NHLNetwork). If you’re going to the game, remember to cheer, drink, and act responsibly.

NHL= No Hope Left

Posted on by
2

Meaningless Meeting: It was more of the same this week, as the NHL and NHLPA failed once again to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement. The two sides did not meet with one another, but rather met separately with federal mediators. Despite discussions lasting a total of six hours, no progress was made and no future talks are planned for now, according to sources.

At this point, the only thing that is getting accomplished is the cancellation of regular season games. All games through December 30th have been nixed. That’s almost half of the season gone (roughly 43 percent according to ESPN Stats).

Final Thoughts: Unless something can be done, and soon, I don’t foresee this lockout ending. With nearly half the season wiped out, and neither side budging (with federal mediators help mind you), I fear this season is all but lost. My advice to Boston fans: Watch pre-recorded Bruins games from last season, focus on the Celtics, and start a calendar countdown to opening day at Fenway (116 days by the way), because hockey isn’t being played anytime soon at the Garden.

2012 NHL Lockout Update: Mediation Might Not Work

Posted on by
Reply

ImageThe Bad News: At first, the NHL and NHLPA agreeing to bring in federal mediators to help negotiate the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement, actually sounded like good news. Then the two sides met up for the first time in over a week this Wednesday, and after two days of lengthy discussion, (with federal mediators mind you) they still couldn’t come to terms on anything.

Here’s a friendly reminder of what’s on the table during these seemingly fruitless meetings: elimination of salary arbitration, free agency rule changes, limits to player contract terms, and of course shared revenue.

The Worse News:  As if it isn’t bad enough to see federal mediation failing to help, more cancellations have been made. All games through December 14th have been axed. This includes the NHL All-Star weekend festivities, which have also been wiped out.

Image

Salvage This Season: Boston Bruins fans and hockey fans alike can only hope that mediation brings an end to this lockout and allows a long awaited season to finally begin. Mediation has helped other sports end lockouts before, so there’s a chance this could work. However, the two sides ultimately still have to come to agreeable terms in order for anything to be salvaged. Hopefully they can cut a deal soon.

The players want to be back out on the ice playing, the owners want to be in their cozy executive chairs making profits, and the fans just want to see some hard-nosed, in your face hockey. Can’t we all just get along???