Bruins Nation

Man I hate Barry Bonds. This hilarious cartoon by Daryl Cagle wasn't necessarily intended for Barry Bonds, but if I see or hear anything involving steroids or pathetic human beings, I automatically think of Barry Bonds.



P.S. Happy Halloween!

A video of former Boston Bruins defenseman Nick Boynton and his fight vs Hollweg:

Nick Boynton beats the crap out of Hollweg but then Boynton gets either a little lazy, a little tired, or a little hurt but he ends up falling. A good one minute fight though!



The Bruins next game is Thursday when they will play the Buffalo Sabres (ugh, the same 10-0-1 Buffalo Sabres that crushed us last week.)

What a great game! This is the new Bruins team that I thought would show up at the beginning of the season. This is the "big" Bruins team that Chiarelli put together. Chara played like the 6 foot 9 Chara. Mara almost started a brawl. Brookbank did start a fight. I love this team when they play like the way they played tonight.

The Senators struck first on a 5 on 3 powerplay goal in the second period. There was nothing the Bruins could've done about it.

In the third period, P.J. Axelsson had a steal in the Senators end and shot a beautiful shot to the top left corner of the goal, tying the game. Then with 4 and half minutes left, Zdeno Chara, who had a million hits in the game, shot a slap shot from a couple feet in front of the blue line right past the goalie, giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead.

It was such a great game. Skating was crisp, puck handling for the most part (except for Lashoff and Kessel) was great, the hitting and aggressiveness was hard and intense, and the scoring opportunities were plentiful.

Tim Thomas got his first win of the season. He only gave up one goal and had thirty saves. He played so well, he played confidently and was superb. that combined with a few clutch saves and a few diving saves makes me look like an idiot. (I thought Toivenen should have started, but then again Lewis is the coach, not me, I'm just president of the nation.)

I don't do live blogging but I couldn't resist. This first period was great. It looks like a different team. Zdeno Chara, the big guy who should be physical, actual was physical and at one point basically had three hits in a row. Brad Boyes had a big hit, and yan Stastny, the Bruins' little guy, came through with a huge hit. Wade Brookbank got into a fight, and Jeff Hoggan almost got into a fight. Big hockey, which seems to be the Bruins gameplan this game, is very fun to watch.

Also it looks like Tim Thomas is comfortable out there. Yesterday he looked nervous but today he looks confident. Confidence is key for a goaltender.

It's 0-0 at the end of the first period. The Bruins are playing "big", hopefully that'll lead to two points.

Timmy, please beat Ottawa! We need a win and you need a win. 2-6 is unacceptable and 0-3 is unacceptable. (Yes, shootout losses are one hundred percent losses).

This is for scoring a goal in each of the last two games.

Friday October 27th, 2006: Phil Kessel

picture from sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Friday September 28th, 2006: Brad Stuart
Friday October 6th, 2006: Zdeno Chara
Friday October 13th, 2006: Andrew Alberts
Friday October 20th, 2006: Glen Murray

Wow I looked like an idiot on Saturday. Sorry this is so late by the way, but I was at a wedding. The wedding was very nice but I'm glad to be back home in Boston. Anyway the Bruins made me look stupid (if you recall from the last entry, I predicted the Bruins handing the Sabres their first loss). I didn't get to see the game from Texas, but from what I read it, the Bruins were man-handled.

Phil Kessel (assisted by Bergeron) scored his first goal of the season and career. While Wade BrookBank (assisted by Marc Savard and Brad Boyes) also scored his first of the season.  One huge stat that I did look up though is that the Bruins went 0-4 on the powerplay while the Buffalo Sabres went 4-7. That is unnacceptable. I really want to believe this is a changed Bruins team, but we're looking a lot like we did last year.

Next game is agianst the Canadiens. I can't wait to watch this one. I love Bruins-Canadiens games. Don't miss it, the games Thursday at 7.

I'm at a wedding in Austin, Texas and I won't be able to watch tonight's game against the undefeated  Buffalo Sabres. However, I got a feeling we're going to win. Tonight's game is at home and the Bruins have something to prove to the NHL. They have to prove that they're a different Bruins team, not like the one from last season. (Even though the first six games kind of looked like last season.)

In honor of his multiple goal performance yesterday.

Friday October 20th, 2006: Glen Murray

Picture from www.hockeyjournal.com

Friday September 28th, 2006: Brad Stuart
Friday October 6th, 2006: Zdeno Chara
Friday October 13th, 2006: Andrew Alberts

Undefeated at home!!! The Boston Bruins won their home opener yesterday against the Calgary Flames 3-2. The way the Bruins played was all around different, it was a pleasure to watch. The Bruins skating was quicker and more crisp, and our scoring opportunities were greater.

The Bruins scored the first goal 18 seconds into the game after Andrew Alberts knocked the puck away from a Flames player near the Bruins blue line. Then Patrice Bergeron gathered up the puck and skated down the ice, a two on one with Brad Boyes. In the Flames zone, Bergeron then passed to Boyes near the net who scored the Bruins first goal at the garden this season.

Later in the period, Glen Murray scored making it 2-0. In the second period the Flames scored a goal, but then on the powerplay Glen Murray picked up his second goal of the game.

The Flames scored in the third period but Hunnu Toivenen and the Bruins cracked down and held on for the 3-2 win.

Next game is Saturday at 7 against the Buffalo Sabres (game's on NESN like always).

Before I end I just want to mention that the Bruins went 1 for 3 on the power play and the Flames went 0-3. Special teams are crucial in the new NHL, if 33% of the Bruin's power plays end up as goals, then the Bruins are in really good shape.

Sorry this is a couple days late, I've been working on a highlights video.

Anyway the Boston Bruins lost to the New York Islanders on Saturday night. I don't really have much to say about it. Hannu did well, had 35 saves but still lost. The Bruins scored first on a nice goal by Glen Murray on the power play, assisted by Marc Savard and Brad Stuart. They played well in the first period. But then  they just gave up. It truly was depressing to watch. They weren't skating their fastest or anything. In the third period down by three they just stopped playing hockey. 3 goals in the new NHL is not impossible to overcome, but the Bruins weren't even willing to try. Oh well, maybe a nice six game homestand can put this team back on track. Going 1-4 to start the season ain't pretty.

I'm trying to have the highlights video done by the home opener. If I don't, then I'll try to post something in the meantime.

It was a messy fight with no real winner, but it was still a fight. here it is:

To the former Boston College stand out and 6 foot 4 Bruins Defenseman.

Friday October 13th, 2006: Andrew Alberts

picture from www.boston.com

Friday September 28th, 2006: Brad Stuart
Friday October 6th, 2006: Zdeno Chara

Not again!!! The memories from last season are coming back to me. Blowing huge leads in the final minutes. I thought this was a different Bruins team. And the shootout is still haunting us. How hard can it really be to score just a regular goal. It's just you and the goalie. Marco Sturm did exactly what you should do, you shouldn't try to do little plays in front of the goalie and try to fool him, you should just look, find an opening, and blast the puck right by the goalie.

Anyway let me explain the game. The Bruins were doing so well. The number two line (Kessel, Bergeron, and Boyes) were playing fast smart hockey. Bergeron picked up the first goal of the game to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Then later in the game Marc Savard scored on an excellent wrist shot that was right over the goalies shoulder. Marc Savard managed to get right in front of the goalie with the puck off of a great pass from Brad Stuart.

The Bruins were doing really well sitting on top of a comfortable 2-0 lead with 4 minutes left in the game. Then for some reason, a reason that I don't know, the hockey gods cursed the Bruins. It all fell apart. The Blues managed to score a pretty lucky goal off of a nice shot from a Blues forward to make it 2-1. Then with about a minute and a half left, a Blues forward shot the puck at Thomas, Thomas saved it and then in front of the goal, Wayne Primeau fell on the ice, leaving his guy wide open. His guy got the rebound and sent a perfectly aimed shot right past Thomas to tie up the game.

The Bruins started the overtime man-down due to a really crappy hooking call against the Bruins (I think it was hooking, I'm not sure). The Bruins killed the penalty but had a pretty bad overtime in which they got off only one shot. Then the shootout happened...

First Tim Thomas makes a nice lay on his belly leg pad save. Then patrice Bergeron's shot was saved. Then tim Thomas made a nice leg over leg pad save. Then the Bruins shot missed again. Then Tim Thomas let up a goal. then Marco Sturm scored on a nice shot that zipped right in between the goalie's legs. Then the Blues player scored and Marc Savard's shot was blocked. Final score: Blues 3 Bruins 2.

The Bruins now have three points though because they lost in overtime. The standings in the title of this blog show 1-2-1. That means 1 win (worth 2 points) two losses (worth 0 points) and one overtime or shootout loss (worth 1 point). If one wants to know the real record just add up the last two numbers (I.E. right now the Bruins are really 1-3.) If one wants to know how many points a team has, just multiply the first number by two and add in the third number. (I.E. the Bruins now have 3 points).

One last thing: The Bruins went 0-7 on the powerplay last night. I can't take it anymore. We have to convert on the powerplay.

Oh man, this is starting to look like last season. Last year the Bruins lost crucial games to Atlanta, games they should have won. (For example: In April last season the Bruins were up 4-2 with something like 7 minutes left in the game. They gave up two lousy goals and the game ended up going into a shootout. Both the Bruins and Thrashers made their first goals but then after Tim Thomas makes save after save the Bruins don't score either. And then finally when Tim Thomas lets up a goal our guy just misses the net completely and the Bruins lose) I'm not saying that last night's game was crucial or that close. But the Bruins had plenty of scoring opportunities (including 8 power plays) and they could not get the puck to go into the net.

The Bruins one and only goal was scored by P.J. Axelson on the power play. It was assisted by Brad Boyes and Zdeno Chara.

Our power play sucked. We went 1 for 8! We need to start scoring when the other team is man down. Last night was unacceptable. Also Phil Kessel dove in front of his first NHL goal. (I'll explain don't worry the metaphor is hard to understand.) Dove is used as a pun. Because Phil Kessel had a wide open just him and the goalie shot and basically tripped over his own feet. He had an easy goal and botched it, so he still has zero career goals scored.

Tonight's game is the home opener for the St Louis Blues. An old time rivalry. Tim Thomas is getting the start tonight, his first since the Florida disaster. The game starts at 8:00 on NESN!

One amazing Bruins fan made this video and put it on YouTube.

It's a video of all of Patrice Bergeron's goals during the 2005-2006 season. Also if you listen carefully, at minute 1:20 and on in the background is Time To Go by the Dropkick Murphys.

Two Points!

Today the Bruins beat the Tampa Bay lightning in Tampa 3-2. Hannu Toivonen started today instead of Tim Thomas and played the entire game only allowing two goals (instead of 7 allowed by Thomas). The Bruins passing was sloppy and overall game play was poor, until the third quarter when, after the Bruins scored the go ahead goal, they buckled down and really prevented Tampa Bay from tying up the game.

The Bruins scored two goals in the first period. The first one was by Wayne Primeau (his second of the season). Primeau's goal was a nice wrist shot to the top right corner of the goal. It was assisted by Brad Boyes and Shean Donovan.

The second goal was scored by Brad Boyes. The play started when Phil Kessel managed to keep the puck moving behind the Lightning net. He then dished off a one handed pass to Zdeno Chara who took a shot on goal. That shot was redirected into the goal by Brad Boyes and put the Bruins on top 2-0. Assists went to Chara and Kessel.

In the second period Tampa Bay scored two goals to tie the game up.

Early in the third period the Bruins scored the winning goal. Brad Boyes intercepted a pass in the Tampa Bay zone and looked to take a shot, but then passed to a wide open Patrice Bergeron who was next to the goal. Bergeron then scored the go-ahead goal. An assist was given to Brad Boyes.

One huge difference between tonight and last night was the penalty kill. It was there tonight. Hannu did his part and the Bruins defensemen did their part. Especially in the third period, the Bruins really stiffened and shut down Tampa Bay.

Also, the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs today!!!

I'm not even going to blog about it. It was that bad. The Bruins lost to the Panthers 8-3

Scoring for the Bruins was Marco Sturm in the first period, Glen Murray in the second period, and Wayne Primeau in the third period.

Tim Thomas was named the starter and completely sucked. He gave up 7 goals in 48 minutes. Hannu Toivonen then came in for the last twelve minutes and gave up one goal.

There was no such thing as a Bruins penalty kill, the Panthers went 6-8 on the Power Play while the Bruins went 1-8 (Sturm's goal was on the power play.) Zdeno Chara lead the team in minutes with just under 30:00.

Hopefully the Bruins will rebound tonight in Tampa Bay. Tonight's game is on at 7:30.

I won't be updating tomorrow so this friday player blogging is a little early.

This is for the 18th captain of the Boston Bruins!

Friday October 6th, 2006: Zdeno Chara

picture from www.bostonbruins.com

Friday September 28th, 2006: Brad Stuart

I am going to be in Memphis, Tennessee tomorrow for one day. It sucks, I'm going to miss the Bruins opener. Anyway in case anyone is confused, here is the info:

Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers
Friday October 6th, 2006
7:30 PM on NESN and WBZ 1030.

Here are the official 2006-2007 Boston Bruins:

41 Andrew Alberts D
11 P.J. Axelsson LW
37 Patrice Bergeron C
26 Brad Boyes RW
28 Wade Brookbank D
33 Captain Zdeno Chara D
29 Nathan Dempsey D
22 Shean Donovan RW
32 Jeff Hoggan LW
68 Milan Jurcina D
81 Phil Kessel C
23 Paul Mara D
18 Mark Mowers C
27 Glen Murray RW
20 Wayne Primeau C
71 Marc Savard C
43 Yan Stastny C
6 Brad Stuart D
45 Mark Stuart D
16 Marco Sturm LW
17 Petr Tenkrat RW
25 Jason York D

Goalies
30 Tim Thomas G
54 Hannu Toivonen G

Zdeno Chara was named the 18th captain of the Boston Bruins. Let me just say, our team is stacked. Just look at the roster.

***Also Petr Tenkrat is still on the team!!! Sorry about the earlier article. It was a different Petr (petr Kalus) who was sent to Providence.

Sorry for the lack of posting. I have been really busy.

Anyway the Boston Bruins lost to the New York Rangers 5-3 on Saturday, officially ending the pre-season. Bruins goals were scored by Glen Murray, Brad Boyes, and Petr Tenkrat. (Even though he scored, he was still sent to Providence)

I saw the first two periods of the game. Hannu was just letting 'em in. He had a rough game. It's a drag though that I only got to see the first two periods because the Bruins scored two goals in the third. I would have liked to have seen Tenkrat's goal.