Well, it didn't take Buffalo Sabres' newly acquired enforcer John Scott to pick a fight with the Boston Bruins....but after the gloves were dropped and the time served, Buffalo's Thomas Vanek delivered the real message.
Vanek scored a hat trick and helped on two others as the Buffalo Sabres overcame a 3-1 deficit in the 2nd period, and 4-3 early in the third, blitzing Boston goalie Tuukkaa Rask for 4 unanswered goals in the final frame for a solid 7-4 road win.
Scott and fellow ice-bully Steve Ott were picked up by the Sabres in the offseason for what coach Lindy Ruff suggested was just about “...overall team toughness, make us a grittier team.” - but with the truth being that you build your team to compete in your division, it was really all about being able to mix it up with the big, bad Bruins.
At 17:07 of the 1st period Scott dropped gloves with Bruins' tough guy Shawn Thonton in a fight that seemed less about sending a message and more about just getting it out of the way. Fisticuffs were expected in part due to the Milan Lucic hit on Sabres' goalie Ryan Miller last season, but once Scott clearly got the better of Thornton, the rough stuff gave way to some clean skating.
After serving his time in the penalty box, Thornton retreated to the locker room and didn't return - so whether a statement was intended for the Bruins or not, they recieved it - in more ways than one.
The first period passed by without score or incident, suggesting perhaps a defensive struggle was in store for the 17,565 fans at TD Garden - but what they got in the 2nd and 3rd periods was a scoring free for all that resembled an All Star weekend skills competition, and defense be damned...
Vanek scored on a one timer from the left wing at 1:38 of the second to give the Sabres the initial lead. Boston's Rich Peverley scored on a wrister at 5:12 of the second as he picked up the rebound from a shot, floated back just beyond the high spot and flicked the puck into the net from 15 feet out for his first on the year.
Two minutes later Brad Marchand scored on a beautiful individual effort taking the puck at the blue line, sweeping in from the right wing with a nice puck fake that allowed him to flash by the defense - traversed the crease and switched to the backhand on a hesitation move to flick the puck into the net for a 2-1 Bruins advantage.
Marchand scored again just over three minutes later, slipping a rebound past Miller who was screened by Tyler Seguin for a 3-1 Boston lead. Miller would give up one more the rest of the way, making some incredible saves in the face of a blistering Bruins sniper attack, stopping 38 of 42 Boston shots.
The Bruins had all of the momentum, then Lucic was called for Boarding and Zdeno Chara was called for a hold during the delayed penalty giving the Sabres the two man advantage - and just over one minute into the advantage Vanek's second goal, a skate deflection off a drive from Christian Ehrhoff got the Sabres back to within one score -
Then just as Boston returned to full strength, Vanek assisted with a gorgeous pass across the crease to Tyler Ennis who wristed it in to tie the match at 3-3, seemingly deflating the Bruins.
David Krejci did start the scoring in the final frame for the Bruins as he swept in from the right, floated across the middle and wristed one off of Miller's skate at 18:15 for a 4-3 lead...but just seconds later Alexander Sulzer tied it for the Sabres with a rocket from the high spot that Boston netminder Tuukka Rask, who stopped just 25 of 31 shots, never saw.
Cody Hodgson scored at 13:06 to give the Sabres their first lead since the beginning of the second, trailing on an odd-man rush and taking a drop pass from Vanek, poking the puck past Rask for his fourth of the year.
Vanek finished the contested scoring, intercepting the puck at the midline and skating unimpeded to the crease where he shuffled the puck from his forehand to his backhand and flipped it over the sprawling Rask for the 6-4 lead, followed by an empty netter by Jason Pominville with 15 seconds left in the match and an impressive 7-4 win.
Sabres' coach Lindy Ruff rubbed a little salt in the Bruins' wounds by taking a time out with seven seconds remaining to let his players savor the win - and a statement win it was for the Sabres, who raised their record 3-3-1 and ending thier four game winless streak after a 2-0-0 start.
Boston lost their first game in regulation this year, dropping to 5-1-1, and now must travel to Toronto for a Saturday face off with the Maple Leafs, then jump over to Montreal for a skate with the Canadiens next week.
A rematch with the Sabres in Buffalo looms a week from Sunday, and you can bet that there will be some gamesmanship on the part of the Bruins over Ruff's late time out, plus a score to settle on the toteboard...
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Bruins ready for Heavyweight fight with Sabres
Boston Bruins fans at TD Garden tonight will get a visit from the late, great Rodney Dangerfield.
Well, not literally, even though the kids would enjoy the zombie show, but figuratively, as the king of the one liners lives through one of his most well known, and if history tells us anything about what happens when the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres get together, the ice will be red and the penalty box seldom empty.
"I went to a fight the other night and a Hockey game broke out."
That night is tonight, though both teams are downplaying the offseason moves that brought a more physical presense to the Sabres lineup after dealing with the Beantown Brawlers last season.
In primary focus is the Milan Lucic incident last season in Buffalo, when the Bruins winger clobbered Sabres' goalie Ryan Miller when Miller left the crease to handle a loose puck. Lucic steamrolled Miller, causing a melee in the ice...
...so when the Sabres went out this offseason and got the gigantic and physical enforcer John Scott and goon Steve Ott, it was assumed that it was in direct response to the Sabres being pushed around by the bullies from Boston - something that Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff scoffs at.
"It had nothing to do with the Bruins." said Ruff in response to bringing in a couple of mugger types, "It was just overall team toughness, make us a grittier team."
Bruins coach Claude Julien echoed Ruff's sentiments. “I have no problem with anything. It’s their choice to build a team any way they want.” but then Julien went on to qualify his statement, and it sounded suspiciously like a warning.
“Speculation is speculation as far as I’m concerned, and that’s all it is until something happens. We’ve played our style of game forever and we don’t plan on changing that. There’s nothing, as far as I’m concerned, to be worried about.”
For certain, the Sabres are not going to attack the Bruins with food - though it wouldn't be a first at a Bruins game....
During the shootout in Boston's 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, a linked-meat product - still in the bun - was thrown onto the ice just as Bruin's young center Tyler Seguin approached the goal for the initial shot...
..the offending sausage slid right in between Seguin and Devils' goalie Johan Hedberg and Seguin dodged it and scored the goal, but it was waved off by the referees as fan interference. He nailed the retry and Teammate Brad Marchand later netted the game winner, but the talk was all about "Weinergate".
"That's a first," Seguin said. "I'm still not sure what it was. Maybe a hot dog."
Fortunately, Seguin was more concerned about winning the game than his hunger.
The Bruins have been one of the leagues dominant teams thus far and is undefeated in regulation and looking to start 5-0-0 at home for the first time in 22 years when they lace 'em up against their bitter, struggling rivals from Niagra.
"We've played some pretty good hockey so far," coach Claude Julien said. "And the games that weren't quite as good as we should have been, we found a way to win. And to be a good team you've got to be able to do that."
Perhaps after all of the fighting and bad blood that will be on display tonight, the players can meet in at mid-ice and offer each other some fellowship and good tidings over a feast of hot dogs...
...or maybe share one during the game. Hey, this is TD Garden and on a night where the comedic spirit of the man who got no respect roams the aisles, it would be easy to find the humor in that.
heavyweight
Well, not literally, even though the kids would enjoy the zombie show, but figuratively, as the king of the one liners lives through one of his most well known, and if history tells us anything about what happens when the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres get together, the ice will be red and the penalty box seldom empty.
"I went to a fight the other night and a Hockey game broke out."
That night is tonight, though both teams are downplaying the offseason moves that brought a more physical presense to the Sabres lineup after dealing with the Beantown Brawlers last season.
In primary focus is the Milan Lucic incident last season in Buffalo, when the Bruins winger clobbered Sabres' goalie Ryan Miller when Miller left the crease to handle a loose puck. Lucic steamrolled Miller, causing a melee in the ice...
...so when the Sabres went out this offseason and got the gigantic and physical enforcer John Scott and goon Steve Ott, it was assumed that it was in direct response to the Sabres being pushed around by the bullies from Boston - something that Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff scoffs at.
"It had nothing to do with the Bruins." said Ruff in response to bringing in a couple of mugger types, "It was just overall team toughness, make us a grittier team."
Bruins coach Claude Julien echoed Ruff's sentiments. “I have no problem with anything. It’s their choice to build a team any way they want.” but then Julien went on to qualify his statement, and it sounded suspiciously like a warning.
“Speculation is speculation as far as I’m concerned, and that’s all it is until something happens. We’ve played our style of game forever and we don’t plan on changing that. There’s nothing, as far as I’m concerned, to be worried about.”
For certain, the Sabres are not going to attack the Bruins with food - though it wouldn't be a first at a Bruins game....
During the shootout in Boston's 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, a linked-meat product - still in the bun - was thrown onto the ice just as Bruin's young center Tyler Seguin approached the goal for the initial shot...
..the offending sausage slid right in between Seguin and Devils' goalie Johan Hedberg and Seguin dodged it and scored the goal, but it was waved off by the referees as fan interference. He nailed the retry and Teammate Brad Marchand later netted the game winner, but the talk was all about "Weinergate".
"That's a first," Seguin said. "I'm still not sure what it was. Maybe a hot dog."
Fortunately, Seguin was more concerned about winning the game than his hunger.
The Bruins have been one of the leagues dominant teams thus far and is undefeated in regulation and looking to start 5-0-0 at home for the first time in 22 years when they lace 'em up against their bitter, struggling rivals from Niagra.
"We've played some pretty good hockey so far," coach Claude Julien said. "And the games that weren't quite as good as we should have been, we found a way to win. And to be a good team you've got to be able to do that."
Perhaps after all of the fighting and bad blood that will be on display tonight, the players can meet in at mid-ice and offer each other some fellowship and good tidings over a feast of hot dogs...
...or maybe share one during the game. Hey, this is TD Garden and on a night where the comedic spirit of the man who got no respect roams the aisles, it would be easy to find the humor in that.
heavyweight
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Rask, Marchand exorcists; Bruins cast out Devils
The New Jersey Devils did something on Tuesday night that none of the Boston Bruins' other five opponents thus far have been able to do - Score a power play goal...
...And that's only way the Devils could score as Boston's defense was smothering and net minder Tuukka Rask stonewalled every other New Jersey scoring opportunity, leading the Bruins to their 3rd straight victory, a 2-1 shootout win at TD Garden.
Devil's David Clarkson scored a power play goal at 8:30 of the second period, ending an impressive streak of 24 straight penalty kills to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead. The Bruins did kill off four other Devils' power plays and have now allowed a goal on just 1 of 29 opportunities.
The 1-0 lead held up into the 3rd period and looked like it might be enough to give New Jersey a road win, but Nathan Horton scored his third goal of the season with just 4:05 left in regulation to tie the match at 1-1.
After a scoreless overtime period, Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand scored shootout goals while Rask allowed just one in six attempts, the first shot of the shootout by New Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk.
Seguin also scored on Boston's first attempt in the shootout, then both goalies stopped the next four shots each before Marchand connected. Rask stopped a drive by Marek Zidlicky with his left pad to seal the victory.
Both Goaltenders were fantastic, Rask stopping 25 shots while Johan Hedberg denied 27 for the Devils who fell to 3-0-2 on the season but are still unbeaten in regulation.
Clarkson's goal was a long range sniper shot from the left just after weaving across the blue line firing into the upper right corner past Rask who was screened by Travis Zajac. That goal made the Bruins the last team in the NHL to give up a power play goal.
Horton's goal was a beauty, getting a touch feed from David Krejci and zipping the puck past Hedberg, who was playing for the first time this season after Martin Brodeur started the Devils' other four games.
With the win, the 5-0-1 Bruins have their best start to a season in 41 years, matching the 1970/71 club by earning points in their first six games and lead the Eastern Conference in points with 11.
The Devils now return home to host the New York Islanders on Thursday then travel to Pittsburgh for a date with the Penguins on Saturday while the Bruins prepare to host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday and travel to Toronto on Saturday to take on the Maple Leafs.
...And that's only way the Devils could score as Boston's defense was smothering and net minder Tuukka Rask stonewalled every other New Jersey scoring opportunity, leading the Bruins to their 3rd straight victory, a 2-1 shootout win at TD Garden.
Devil's David Clarkson scored a power play goal at 8:30 of the second period, ending an impressive streak of 24 straight penalty kills to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead. The Bruins did kill off four other Devils' power plays and have now allowed a goal on just 1 of 29 opportunities.
The 1-0 lead held up into the 3rd period and looked like it might be enough to give New Jersey a road win, but Nathan Horton scored his third goal of the season with just 4:05 left in regulation to tie the match at 1-1.
After a scoreless overtime period, Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand scored shootout goals while Rask allowed just one in six attempts, the first shot of the shootout by New Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk.
Seguin also scored on Boston's first attempt in the shootout, then both goalies stopped the next four shots each before Marchand connected. Rask stopped a drive by Marek Zidlicky with his left pad to seal the victory.
Both Goaltenders were fantastic, Rask stopping 25 shots while Johan Hedberg denied 27 for the Devils who fell to 3-0-2 on the season but are still unbeaten in regulation.
Clarkson's goal was a long range sniper shot from the left just after weaving across the blue line firing into the upper right corner past Rask who was screened by Travis Zajac. That goal made the Bruins the last team in the NHL to give up a power play goal.
Horton's goal was a beauty, getting a touch feed from David Krejci and zipping the puck past Hedberg, who was playing for the first time this season after Martin Brodeur started the Devils' other four games.
With the win, the 5-0-1 Bruins have their best start to a season in 41 years, matching the 1970/71 club by earning points in their first six games and lead the Eastern Conference in points with 11.
The Devils now return home to host the New York Islanders on Thursday then travel to Pittsburgh for a date with the Penguins on Saturday while the Bruins prepare to host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday and travel to Toronto on Saturday to take on the Maple Leafs.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Bruins again ride special teams to victory, 5-3 over Carolina
It's called Special Teams, and the Bruins play them better than just about anyone.
Boston killed off all six shorthanded situations while scoring two power play goals of their own - and David Krejci scored the go ahead goal with less than two minutes remaining and as the Boston Bruins outlasted the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in Raleigh, North Carolina Monday Night.
The Bruins have killed off all 23 power plays they've gone up against this year.
Nathan Horton and Zdeno Chara each scored their second goals of the season while Brad Marchand scored on a shorthanded opportunity for his 3rd. For Krejci and Seguin, who had an empty netter with just seconds to play, it was their first on the young season.
Marchand's shorty and Chara's power play goal gave Boston a quick 2-0 lead before Jamie McBain scored at 14:50 to get the 'Canes back within one going into the second period.
Nearly 16 minutes elapsed in the second and the Bruins had to kill off three penalties before the scoring barrage of three goals in less than 3 minutes saw the score knotted at 3 entering the final frame. Horton nailed his 2nd of the season at 15:52, then Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal logged goal 50 seconds apart for Carolina to tie the match.
The Bruins seemed collectively exhausted after having to endure the shorthanded situations early in the second, and left them flatfooted for the final moments of the 2nd when the Hurricanes took advantage to score their two goals in the period.
The Hurricanes energy level seemed to dwindle as the third period progessed, however, and the Bruins responded by mercilessly pelting Carolina net minder Cam Ward, who stopped 33 shots but became overwhelmed late in the game with the relentless Bruins firing 18 shots on goal.
The Bruins started backup goalie Anton Khudobin against the Hurricanes, and he responded with a solid effort, stopping 29 shots for Boston, who remains unbeaten in regulation on the year at 4-0-1. It was Khudobin's first NHL action since last April.
During the lockout, Khudobin played in the KHL and posted a 6-14-2 record in 26 games for Moscow Oblast - and Khudobin feels that the experience and playing time was key to playing well for Boston this season.
“It feels good,” he said of knowing he’ll finally play this week. “Of course, I have to be ready. I have no other choices.”
Carolina dropped to 2-3-0 and saw their two-game winning streak snapped. They now get the bulk of the week off to prepare for the Ottawa Senators on Friday night, then travel to take on the Flyers in Philadelphia on Saturday while the Bruins have a quick turnaround as they host the New Jersey Devils tomorrow night the square off against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
Boston killed off all six shorthanded situations while scoring two power play goals of their own - and David Krejci scored the go ahead goal with less than two minutes remaining and as the Boston Bruins outlasted the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in Raleigh, North Carolina Monday Night.
The Bruins have killed off all 23 power plays they've gone up against this year.
Nathan Horton and Zdeno Chara each scored their second goals of the season while Brad Marchand scored on a shorthanded opportunity for his 3rd. For Krejci and Seguin, who had an empty netter with just seconds to play, it was their first on the young season.
Marchand's shorty and Chara's power play goal gave Boston a quick 2-0 lead before Jamie McBain scored at 14:50 to get the 'Canes back within one going into the second period.
Nearly 16 minutes elapsed in the second and the Bruins had to kill off three penalties before the scoring barrage of three goals in less than 3 minutes saw the score knotted at 3 entering the final frame. Horton nailed his 2nd of the season at 15:52, then Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal logged goal 50 seconds apart for Carolina to tie the match.
The Bruins seemed collectively exhausted after having to endure the shorthanded situations early in the second, and left them flatfooted for the final moments of the 2nd when the Hurricanes took advantage to score their two goals in the period.
The Hurricanes energy level seemed to dwindle as the third period progessed, however, and the Bruins responded by mercilessly pelting Carolina net minder Cam Ward, who stopped 33 shots but became overwhelmed late in the game with the relentless Bruins firing 18 shots on goal.
The Bruins started backup goalie Anton Khudobin against the Hurricanes, and he responded with a solid effort, stopping 29 shots for Boston, who remains unbeaten in regulation on the year at 4-0-1. It was Khudobin's first NHL action since last April.
During the lockout, Khudobin played in the KHL and posted a 6-14-2 record in 26 games for Moscow Oblast - and Khudobin feels that the experience and playing time was key to playing well for Boston this season.
“It feels good,” he said of knowing he’ll finally play this week. “Of course, I have to be ready. I have no other choices.”
Carolina dropped to 2-3-0 and saw their two-game winning streak snapped. They now get the bulk of the week off to prepare for the Ottawa Senators on Friday night, then travel to take on the Flyers in Philadelphia on Saturday while the Bruins have a quick turnaround as they host the New Jersey Devils tomorrow night the square off against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Rask, Bruins' penalty kill stop Islanders 4-2
When either the Boston Bruins or the New York Islanders take a penalty and have to skate shorthanded, it's snack time.
For Hooking or interference, you have time to nuke a hot dog and grab a soda from the fridge, but if you see a couple of skaters drop their gloves, go ahead and fire up the grill - you've got the time...
...because ain't nobody scoring on either of these two teams penalty killing units.
Both the Bruins and Islanders have killed of every shorthanded situation this season, so when they met at TD Garden on Friday night, their combined 31 shorthanded minutes would have afforded you enough time to hit the drive-thru at BK.
Tuukka Rask stopped 24 shots and four different Bruins scored goals as Boston tripped up the New York Islanders 4-2. For all four, it was their first goal of the season.
With the score tied at 2, Zdeno Chara scored the tie breaker at 7:07 of the third period and Patrice Bergeron added an insurance policy at 13:33 for the final tally. Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell also scored for Boston, now 3-0-1 on the young season.
Keith Aucoin scored both of the Islanders' goals, once in the first period after Thornton gave the Bruins an early lead, then gave the Islanders their only lead of the game in the second period, skating in on a sloppy clearing attempt and fired a slap shot past Rask.
It was Aucoin's first career two-goal game, and has scored three times in two games.
New York Goalie Rick DiPietro, playing his first game since Dec. 3, 2011, after last season was cut short by a groin injury, made 23 saves for the Islanders, now 2-2-0.
The Islanders continue their five game road trip with a trip to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on Sunday, then travel to Pittsburgh for a date with the Penguins on Tuesday while the Bruins have a couple of days off before traveling to meet the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday before returning home to host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
Something to keep an eye on is whether Bruins rookie Doug Hamilton is going to stay with the club or go back to the Juniors. Hamilton had two assists in the game. The club must decide between now and thier game with the Devils on Tuesday night.
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/gameflash/2013/01/25/32204_recap.html#ixzz2J38MHcyT
For Hooking or interference, you have time to nuke a hot dog and grab a soda from the fridge, but if you see a couple of skaters drop their gloves, go ahead and fire up the grill - you've got the time...
...because ain't nobody scoring on either of these two teams penalty killing units.
Both the Bruins and Islanders have killed of every shorthanded situation this season, so when they met at TD Garden on Friday night, their combined 31 shorthanded minutes would have afforded you enough time to hit the drive-thru at BK.
Tuukka Rask stopped 24 shots and four different Bruins scored goals as Boston tripped up the New York Islanders 4-2. For all four, it was their first goal of the season.
With the score tied at 2, Zdeno Chara scored the tie breaker at 7:07 of the third period and Patrice Bergeron added an insurance policy at 13:33 for the final tally. Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell also scored for Boston, now 3-0-1 on the young season.
Keith Aucoin scored both of the Islanders' goals, once in the first period after Thornton gave the Bruins an early lead, then gave the Islanders their only lead of the game in the second period, skating in on a sloppy clearing attempt and fired a slap shot past Rask.
It was Aucoin's first career two-goal game, and has scored three times in two games.
New York Goalie Rick DiPietro, playing his first game since Dec. 3, 2011, after last season was cut short by a groin injury, made 23 saves for the Islanders, now 2-2-0.
The Islanders continue their five game road trip with a trip to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on Sunday, then travel to Pittsburgh for a date with the Penguins on Tuesday while the Bruins have a couple of days off before traveling to meet the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday before returning home to host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
Something to keep an eye on is whether Bruins rookie Doug Hamilton is going to stay with the club or go back to the Juniors. Hamilton had two assists in the game. The club must decide between now and thier game with the Devils on Tuesday night.
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/gameflash/2013/01/25/32204_recap.html#ixzz2J38MHcyT
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Gaborik scores hat trick; Rangers nip Bruins in overtime
If you're going to score a hat trick, it may as well be with some dramatic flair.
Right Winger Marian Gaborik scored on a breakaway goal just 27 seconds into overtime leading his New York Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the previously unbeaten Boston Bruins on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Gaborik's goal was his third of the game and came as he split Bruins defensemen and got a clear shot on goal that was initially blocked by goalie Tuukka Rask, but right back at Gaborik who batted it out of the air and into the net, triggering the customary shower of hats onto the ice.
Rangers' goalie Henrik Lundqvist stopped 26 shots for the win despite blowing leads of 2-0 and 3-2 as Brad Marchand scored a power play goal just into the 2nd period and Milan Lucic tied the game at 2-2 on a rebound of his own shot midway through the period.
The tie was short lived, as Taylor Pyatt scored for the Rangers' 46 seconds later when he put in a rebound of Derek Stepan's drive that bounced off Rask's chest to give New York it's 3-2 lead going into the 3rd period. The scored stayed there until Nathan Horton tied it at 3-3 with 4:23 left in regulation.
Gaborik nearly had his hat trick in regulation as Rick Nash emerged alone in front of the crease with the puck, but Rask stuffed his attempt, then Gaborik tried to poke in the rebound with less than a minute left in regulation, but was stonewalled by Rask, who had a fabulous game in goal in stopping 29 shots, given that the Bruins team defense came out sluggish to start the game, forcing Rask to make some heart-stopping saves.
But he couldn't stop Gaborik's gamer and Boston lost for the first time on the young season while the Rangers won for the first time, avenging their opening night loss to the Bruins in the process.
The Rangers now make the short trip to Philadelphia to take on the winless Flyers tomorrow night, then return home for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Boston returns home for a date with the New York Islanders on Friday night, then take the weekend off before flying off to meet the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.
Right Winger Marian Gaborik scored on a breakaway goal just 27 seconds into overtime leading his New York Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the previously unbeaten Boston Bruins on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Gaborik's goal was his third of the game and came as he split Bruins defensemen and got a clear shot on goal that was initially blocked by goalie Tuukka Rask, but right back at Gaborik who batted it out of the air and into the net, triggering the customary shower of hats onto the ice.
Rangers' goalie Henrik Lundqvist stopped 26 shots for the win despite blowing leads of 2-0 and 3-2 as Brad Marchand scored a power play goal just into the 2nd period and Milan Lucic tied the game at 2-2 on a rebound of his own shot midway through the period.
The tie was short lived, as Taylor Pyatt scored for the Rangers' 46 seconds later when he put in a rebound of Derek Stepan's drive that bounced off Rask's chest to give New York it's 3-2 lead going into the 3rd period. The scored stayed there until Nathan Horton tied it at 3-3 with 4:23 left in regulation.
Gaborik nearly had his hat trick in regulation as Rick Nash emerged alone in front of the crease with the puck, but Rask stuffed his attempt, then Gaborik tried to poke in the rebound with less than a minute left in regulation, but was stonewalled by Rask, who had a fabulous game in goal in stopping 29 shots, given that the Bruins team defense came out sluggish to start the game, forcing Rask to make some heart-stopping saves.
But he couldn't stop Gaborik's gamer and Boston lost for the first time on the young season while the Rangers won for the first time, avenging their opening night loss to the Bruins in the process.
The Rangers now make the short trip to Philadelphia to take on the winless Flyers tomorrow night, then return home for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Boston returns home for a date with the New York Islanders on Friday night, then take the weekend off before flying off to meet the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.
Oliver Wendell Homes dubbed Boston "The hub of the universe" and, as such, sees plenty of traffic.
But in the past week, the Celtics have gotten stuck in a huge pot hole, the Patriots crash landed on approach to the Super Bowl and the Red Sox train hasn't left the station yet...so it's a really good thing that the Bruins are flying high.
At 2-0, the Boston Bruins have displayed a brand of hockey reserved for midseason, which is warming the broken hearts of the Boston sports faithful...and should tell their fans all they need to know about the mind-set of this team...
...as should thier Penalty killing units that have killed off all nine power plays that they have faced thus far in the abriviated season, and a huge reason for their fast start.
"I thought our penalty kill has been good the first two games," said coach Claude Julien, "five-on-three the last game against the Rangers, and then two four-on-threes (against Winnipeg)"
The best way for a hockey team to show thier appriciation to the fans for sticking with them through the ugly 100+ day lockout is to give them a good brand of hockey when they returned to the ice.
For Boston Bruins' fans, they are getting seeing a brand of hockey reserved for midseason, not the sloppy brand that one would expect with the team being together for just a six day training camp...
...which is being played by the New York Rangers
But in the past week, the Celtics have gotten stuck in a huge pot hole, the Patriots crash landed on approach to the Super Bowl and the Red Sox train hasn't left the station yet...so it's a really good thing that the Bruins are flying high.
At 2-0, the Boston Bruins have displayed a brand of hockey reserved for midseason, which is warming the broken hearts of the Boston sports faithful...and should tell their fans all they need to know about the mind-set of this team...
...as should thier Penalty killing units that have killed off all nine power plays that they have faced thus far in the abriviated season, and a huge reason for their fast start.
"I thought our penalty kill has been good the first two games," said coach Claude Julien, "five-on-three the last game against the Rangers, and then two four-on-threes (against Winnipeg)"
The best way for a hockey team to show thier appriciation to the fans for sticking with them through the ugly 100+ day lockout is to give them a good brand of hockey when they returned to the ice.
For Boston Bruins' fans, they are getting seeing a brand of hockey reserved for midseason, not the sloppy brand that one would expect with the team being together for just a six day training camp...
...which is being played by the New York Rangers
Monday, January 21, 2013
Seguin's defense, shootout goal helps Bruins ground Jets
Winger Tyler Seguin is definitely known for his offensive prowess, but it was his improving defensive focus that earned him props on Monday.
Sequin fed a streaking Brad Marchand at 14:12 into the first period for the Bruins' lone regulation goal, then joined Patrice Bergeron with shootout goals as Boston defeated the Winnipeg Jets in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee at TD Garden.
Suguin made a nifty move to intercept a puck as the Jets were leaving their zone, passing immediately to Marchand who easily beat Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec to tie the game at one. Right Winger Chris Thorburn scored Winnipeg's lone goal, slipping one past Boston Goalie Tuukka Rask just a minute and a half into the contest.
After a scoreless overtime period, Tuukka stopped two of Winnipeg's three shots in the shootout to take the win and lead the Bruins to their 2-0 start.
Both Pavelec and Rask stopped 27 shots, though some of the stops were merely the "Iron Unkind" variety, clear shots that hit the posts and ricocheted off.
Winnipeg was 0-4 on the Power Play, including a good chunk of the beginning of overtime, but the Bruins were able to kill it off, something that Bruins' coach Claude Julien said was the key to the victory.
"That's what made the difference," he said. "I thought our PK was good - breaking up plays when they got over the blue line."
Patrice Bergeron echoed Julien's sentiments. "I think we were playing aggressive right off the bat," Bergeron said,"We didn't give them time to set up the plays they wanted because we were so aggressive."
The Jets were obviously disappointed with the effort in the man advantage.
"It's disappointing when you get those opportunities in the end there," Jets forward Evander Kane said. "Myself, I can't be making those bad passes and not generating anything. That's something that we're going to have to get better at."
Kane will have his change to do just that as they travel to Washington D.C. to take on the Capitals tomorrow night, then return home for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, while the Bruins travel to New York for a rematch with the Rangers on Wednesday before returning home to take on the Islanders on Friday night.
Sequin fed a streaking Brad Marchand at 14:12 into the first period for the Bruins' lone regulation goal, then joined Patrice Bergeron with shootout goals as Boston defeated the Winnipeg Jets in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee at TD Garden.
Suguin made a nifty move to intercept a puck as the Jets were leaving their zone, passing immediately to Marchand who easily beat Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec to tie the game at one. Right Winger Chris Thorburn scored Winnipeg's lone goal, slipping one past Boston Goalie Tuukka Rask just a minute and a half into the contest.
After a scoreless overtime period, Tuukka stopped two of Winnipeg's three shots in the shootout to take the win and lead the Bruins to their 2-0 start.
Both Pavelec and Rask stopped 27 shots, though some of the stops were merely the "Iron Unkind" variety, clear shots that hit the posts and ricocheted off.
Winnipeg was 0-4 on the Power Play, including a good chunk of the beginning of overtime, but the Bruins were able to kill it off, something that Bruins' coach Claude Julien said was the key to the victory.
"That's what made the difference," he said. "I thought our PK was good - breaking up plays when they got over the blue line."
Patrice Bergeron echoed Julien's sentiments. "I think we were playing aggressive right off the bat," Bergeron said,"We didn't give them time to set up the plays they wanted because we were so aggressive."
The Jets were obviously disappointed with the effort in the man advantage.
"It's disappointing when you get those opportunities in the end there," Jets forward Evander Kane said. "Myself, I can't be making those bad passes and not generating anything. That's something that we're going to have to get better at."
Kane will have his change to do just that as they travel to Washington D.C. to take on the Capitals tomorrow night, then return home for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, while the Bruins travel to New York for a rematch with the Rangers on Wednesday before returning home to take on the Islanders on Friday night.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Defense physical, solid; Bruins manhandle Rangers 3-1
Take care of your defense and the offense will take care of itself.
Adam McQuaid checked down New York Rangers' Ryan Callahan in front of the goal to prevent a point blank scoring opportunity, and it may well have saved an opening night win for the hometown Boston Bruins.
Tuukka Rask stopped 20 shots for Boston in his first game after taking over for Tim Thomas, and the Bruins beat the New York Rangers 3-1 in the lockout-delayed season opener on Saturday night., but it was the shot that never was that was the turning point in a tight game, part of a brilliant Bruins defensive effort that saw the Bruins kill off a 5 on 3 Rangers' power play.
Six minutes into the third period, the Bruins clinging to a 2-1 lead and the visiting New York Rangers with the two-man advantage, the Bruins defenseman cleaned Rangers' right winger Callahan off his feet in front of the crease as the puck was centered to him...
...the puck deflected to the corner where left winger rick Nash was called for hooking, making it a more manageable 4 on 3 for mere seconds, and a man advantage for themselves just 20 seconds later - and just seconds after the Rangers got back to full strength, Bruins birthday boy Johnny Boychuk fired a laser from the right wing that beat goalie Henrik Lundqvist for the final tally.
Boston pelted Lundqvist with 34 shots, with Milan Lucic, Daniel Paille and Boychuk managing to get the puck behind him.
Nash made his presence felt in his first game with the Rangers, logging the helper on the Rangers' lone goal tallied by Brad Richards. Nash has played in Columbus with the Blue Jackets for the past 6 seasons before signing a deal with the Rangers before the lockout.
The game was physical and sharp from the outset, but it took until there were just seven minutes left in the second period before the two teams finally dropped the gloves.
Predicatably, Shawn Thornton was in the middle of the first scrap, he and Rangers winger Mike Rupp squaring off, then Bruins center Gregory Campbell squaring off with New York defenseman Stu Bickel a few seconds later - all four sat for 5 minutes in the poke.
The Bruins next take the ice on Monday for a Martin Luther King Day matinee against Winnepeg at TD Garden before heading to New York for an early rematch with these Rangers on Wednesday night while the Rangers have a quick turnaround, heading home to host the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night.
Lucic was tossed from the match with 5 1/2 minutes left with no announcement from the referees, but his physical play answered questions regarding his game shape and focus. He had looked limited in the whirlwind 6 day camp, and coupled with his wife giving birth to his first child on Thursday, there was legitimate concern. But all seems well with Lucic and the Bruins...
...funny how winning does that.
Adam McQuaid checked down New York Rangers' Ryan Callahan in front of the goal to prevent a point blank scoring opportunity, and it may well have saved an opening night win for the hometown Boston Bruins.
Tuukka Rask stopped 20 shots for Boston in his first game after taking over for Tim Thomas, and the Bruins beat the New York Rangers 3-1 in the lockout-delayed season opener on Saturday night., but it was the shot that never was that was the turning point in a tight game, part of a brilliant Bruins defensive effort that saw the Bruins kill off a 5 on 3 Rangers' power play.
Six minutes into the third period, the Bruins clinging to a 2-1 lead and the visiting New York Rangers with the two-man advantage, the Bruins defenseman cleaned Rangers' right winger Callahan off his feet in front of the crease as the puck was centered to him...
...the puck deflected to the corner where left winger rick Nash was called for hooking, making it a more manageable 4 on 3 for mere seconds, and a man advantage for themselves just 20 seconds later - and just seconds after the Rangers got back to full strength, Bruins birthday boy Johnny Boychuk fired a laser from the right wing that beat goalie Henrik Lundqvist for the final tally.
Boston pelted Lundqvist with 34 shots, with Milan Lucic, Daniel Paille and Boychuk managing to get the puck behind him.
Nash made his presence felt in his first game with the Rangers, logging the helper on the Rangers' lone goal tallied by Brad Richards. Nash has played in Columbus with the Blue Jackets for the past 6 seasons before signing a deal with the Rangers before the lockout.
The game was physical and sharp from the outset, but it took until there were just seven minutes left in the second period before the two teams finally dropped the gloves.
Predicatably, Shawn Thornton was in the middle of the first scrap, he and Rangers winger Mike Rupp squaring off, then Bruins center Gregory Campbell squaring off with New York defenseman Stu Bickel a few seconds later - all four sat for 5 minutes in the poke.
The Bruins next take the ice on Monday for a Martin Luther King Day matinee against Winnepeg at TD Garden before heading to New York for an early rematch with these Rangers on Wednesday night while the Rangers have a quick turnaround, heading home to host the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night.
Lucic was tossed from the match with 5 1/2 minutes left with no announcement from the referees, but his physical play answered questions regarding his game shape and focus. He had looked limited in the whirlwind 6 day camp, and coupled with his wife giving birth to his first child on Thursday, there was legitimate concern. But all seems well with Lucic and the Bruins...
...funny how winning does that.
Bruins' Gameday: Brawl Babies
The criterium for any Hockey Power Poll should include a percentage for how physical a team can be.
If that were the case, the Boston Bruins would be atop the list.
Get ready to Rumble!
The Lockout shortened NHL season begins for the Beantown Brutes this evening as they take on the hated New York Rangers at TD Garden.
Most of the Bruins spent the lockout either playing europe or in the minors, so they will more than likely be in excellent shape, have their techiques down and ready for a fight.
The Brutes feature plenty of scrappers in Shawn Thornton, Greg Campbell and Aaron Asham. Mike Rupp and Adam McQuaid are not afraid to mix it up either - and with the night belonging to the fans, complete with the propaganda and emotions of opening night, the Bruins will be ready to give the fans what they want...
...which is physical, hard-hitting pucks.
Throughout the lockout, many fans had written off thier loyalties to the sport and vowed to boycott the games when and if the NHL had a season, but if the attendance and enthusiasm displayed by the fans at the Bruins' shortened camp is any indication, those threats where merely emotionally induced...and the players are ready to give the fans a great show.
Scoring will not be at a premium either, but this opening game of the condenced 48 game schedule will be about establishing a fearsome, physical presence, and the only way to do this is to beat a fierce rival both on the scoreboard and on various points on their bodies.
We shall know more about the Bruins after tonight, but they have looked ready through the short six day camp and they know that the fans are ready - and the Brutes are anxious to thank the fans for their support, and the best way is to give them a physical vicotry...
...and the detailed recaps of each game can be found right here on Chowder and Champions, your Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots authority!
If that were the case, the Boston Bruins would be atop the list.
Get ready to Rumble!
The Lockout shortened NHL season begins for the Beantown Brutes this evening as they take on the hated New York Rangers at TD Garden.
Most of the Bruins spent the lockout either playing europe or in the minors, so they will more than likely be in excellent shape, have their techiques down and ready for a fight.
The Brutes feature plenty of scrappers in Shawn Thornton, Greg Campbell and Aaron Asham. Mike Rupp and Adam McQuaid are not afraid to mix it up either - and with the night belonging to the fans, complete with the propaganda and emotions of opening night, the Bruins will be ready to give the fans what they want...
...which is physical, hard-hitting pucks.
Throughout the lockout, many fans had written off thier loyalties to the sport and vowed to boycott the games when and if the NHL had a season, but if the attendance and enthusiasm displayed by the fans at the Bruins' shortened camp is any indication, those threats where merely emotionally induced...and the players are ready to give the fans a great show.
Scoring will not be at a premium either, but this opening game of the condenced 48 game schedule will be about establishing a fearsome, physical presence, and the only way to do this is to beat a fierce rival both on the scoreboard and on various points on their bodies.
We shall know more about the Bruins after tonight, but they have looked ready through the short six day camp and they know that the fans are ready - and the Brutes are anxious to thank the fans for their support, and the best way is to give them a physical vicotry...
...and the detailed recaps of each game can be found right here on Chowder and Champions, your Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots authority!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A man for all seasons...101 days later
College Football is done, and the NFL is a month away from it's apex. Baseball's spring training starts shortly thereafter and Basketball has just about reached it's midway mark.
American sports "Big 3"
American sports "Big 3"
Sunday, January 6, 2013
NHL, Players agree to end lockout
The Owners pulled their goalie - and both sides scored.
As a result, the National Hockey League lockout is over. Tentitively.
When NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Player's Union representative Donald Fehr removed themselves from the negotiating process early last month, the hope was that the talks would become less contentious, but two of the most militant owners in the talks, Boston’s Jeremey Jacobs and Calgary’s Murray Edwards, took advantage of the lack of experienced leadership for the players and tried to railroad the process.
And when the players said they wanted Fehr back in the negotiations, Edwards balked and essentially told the players that the NHL would pull everything off the table. Instead, the owners were pulled from the table and the deal got done without the stonewalling efforts.
"Don Fehr and I are here to tell you that we have reached an agreement on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement, the details of which need to be put to paper," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed to reporters early Sunday morning. "We have to dot a lot of I's and cross a lot of T's. There is still a lot of work to be done, but the basic framework has been agreed upon."
Details of the agreement have not been officially announced, nor has a start date for the season. That is expected later on Sunday, but it seems that on many of the final issues, both sides gave in on previously intractable stances.
Some of the highlight of the agreement include a concession by the players that their share of hockey-related revenue will drop from 57 percent to a 50-50 split for all 10 years of the tentative deal. Also, the league loosened their demand for a $60 million cap in Year 2, meeting the NHLPA's request to have it at $64.3 million - which was the upper limit from last year's cap. The salary floor in Year 2 will be $44 million.
Obviously the deal is far more complicated that just these two issues, and the layman's details of the deal will be recapped in daetail in the coming days when the signed agreement becomes public knowedge.
"Hopefully we're at a place where all those things will proceed fairly rapidly and with some dispatch," said Fehr. "We'll get back to business as usual just as fast as we can. Hopefully within a very few days the fans can get back to watching people who are skating, not the two of us."
Now comes the monumentous task of getting players reporting to their respective teams, getting an abreviated training camp up and running and implimenting a schedule, belived to be somewhere in the range of 50 games.
But we can let the people involved worry about that - as for the fans, they can start getting their gear together.
Because Hockey is back. Finally.
As a result, the National Hockey League lockout is over. Tentitively.
When NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Player's Union representative Donald Fehr removed themselves from the negotiating process early last month, the hope was that the talks would become less contentious, but two of the most militant owners in the talks, Boston’s Jeremey Jacobs and Calgary’s Murray Edwards, took advantage of the lack of experienced leadership for the players and tried to railroad the process.
And when the players said they wanted Fehr back in the negotiations, Edwards balked and essentially told the players that the NHL would pull everything off the table. Instead, the owners were pulled from the table and the deal got done without the stonewalling efforts.
"Don Fehr and I are here to tell you that we have reached an agreement on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement, the details of which need to be put to paper," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed to reporters early Sunday morning. "We have to dot a lot of I's and cross a lot of T's. There is still a lot of work to be done, but the basic framework has been agreed upon."
Details of the agreement have not been officially announced, nor has a start date for the season. That is expected later on Sunday, but it seems that on many of the final issues, both sides gave in on previously intractable stances.
Some of the highlight of the agreement include a concession by the players that their share of hockey-related revenue will drop from 57 percent to a 50-50 split for all 10 years of the tentative deal. Also, the league loosened their demand for a $60 million cap in Year 2, meeting the NHLPA's request to have it at $64.3 million - which was the upper limit from last year's cap. The salary floor in Year 2 will be $44 million.
Obviously the deal is far more complicated that just these two issues, and the layman's details of the deal will be recapped in daetail in the coming days when the signed agreement becomes public knowedge.
"Hopefully we're at a place where all those things will proceed fairly rapidly and with some dispatch," said Fehr. "We'll get back to business as usual just as fast as we can. Hopefully within a very few days the fans can get back to watching people who are skating, not the two of us."
Now comes the monumentous task of getting players reporting to their respective teams, getting an abreviated training camp up and running and implimenting a schedule, belived to be somewhere in the range of 50 games.
But we can let the people involved worry about that - as for the fans, they can start getting their gear together.
Because Hockey is back. Finally.
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