New Bruins Schedule Released

I still haven't watched a full baseball game yet, but I'm already itching to get back into hockey.

After coming to an agreement allowing NHL players to participate in the upcoming winter Olympics (YES!), the 2013-2014 schedule has been released.

Here are my top 10 games that I will either be attending or glued to the TV for:

#10 December 10, 2013 @ Calgary Flames
This could be the only time you ever see me put the Flames in a "top 10" games to watch.  This will be Jarome Iginla's first game back to Calgary since being traded last season.  Do you guys remember that?  It was one of those moves that no one really talked about, nor did it ever come up in the playoffs.  Especially not the Eastern Conference finals.  It'll be pretty cool to see the fans react to Iginla and I expect him to be amped up to perform.


#9 November 14, 2013 vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Flames...and now the Blue Jackets?!? I promise I'm not high.  This will be Nathan Horton's return to the garden.  While I wish there was a way to keep him, he clearly desired a market significantly more lax than Boston.  Well, Nathan, you found it.  Still think he'll get a good ovation.


#8 November 5, 2013 vs Dallas Stars
The big trade for the B's this offseason was obviously unloading Plexiglass Peverley and Party Boy Seguin to the Stars in order to increase our Swedishness (Loui Eriksson).  I'll discuss more about the trade in a later post, but it should be interesting to see this game.  I'd assume Seguin will want to show the B's that they gave up on him a little too soon.


#7 February 4, 2014 vs Vancouver Canucks
Boom.  Bring me right back to June 2011....  LLLUUUOOOONNNGGGOO, the Swedish Sisters and the Vegetarian come back to Boston for another 2011 Cup Finals rematch.  They have a new but familar coach in ex-Rangers head coach Tortarella, but mostly the same key players on the team.  Oh man, this is going to be a good one, just for the fact I love our fans and they will never let this team forget what happened in 2011.


#6 November 29, 2013 vs New York Rangers
Besides last year, the B's have always had a home matinee game on Black Friday and I LOVE IT.  Just like they did in 2011, the NHL has decided to piggy-back off of this and air the game on NBC.  I personally think this is a great time to try and get an annual national game.  NFL has Thanksgiving day, and you can't compete with college football and NFL on the weekends.  I'll be recovering from turkey and beer on the couch watching this game!


#5 October 5, 2013 vs Detroit Red Wings
Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you one of our newest members to the Atlantic Division (yes we are now the Atlantic Division, while the old Atlantic division is now the Metropolitan Division).  We add another original 6 team into the fold and our second game of the season is the first time we'll play them as division rivals.  My Swedish crush, Daniel Alfredsson, also spurned us for the Wings.  Just a little added fuel to the fire.  Welcome East, Wings.  Did I mention this is a Saturday NIGHT game??  Get your drank on fans.


#4 November 9, 2013 vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Remember the feeling you had back on May 13th when you thought the hockey season for Boston was ending?  Then the beyond excitement feeling knowing you just completely ruined Toronto fans spring?  I do and I'm sure the Leafs do too.  This should be a very intense match up as the two teams play each other for the first time since Game 7 of the first round.  If Loui Eriksson scores, can we still chant "Thank You, Kessel"?


#3 October 30, 2013 @ Pittsburgh Penguins
The Bruins will have March 27th circled on their calendars (see #1), but I can guarantee you the Penguins will have 10/30 circled on theirs.  That is the date the B's will travel to Pittsburgh in an Eastern Conference Finals rematch.  Remember that one?  The series in which the Penguins were suppose to just man handle us offensively?  Oh yeah..the B's completely embarrassed the team and the two best players in the world by SWEEPING them. #BoomThatHappened


#2 Any game vs Montreal Canadiens
Best rivalry in all of sports.  I'll take on anyone in this argument.  These games never ever lack drama or emotion.  They will be a more skilled team with the addition of Danny Briere and they will definitely be a tougher team with the addition of George "Best Mustache in Sports" Parros.  I guarantee a Thornton vs Parros bout in the first period of the first game against these two teams.  Both teams will be competing for the division title again.  Sad the B's handed it over to the Habs late last season.


#1 March 27, 2014 vs Chicago Blackhawks
Normally the #1 spot is reserved for the Candiens, and while the 4 games against the Habs would take #2-#5, I have to give the Cup Finals rematch the #1 spot.  I'll just say that again, Stanley...Cup...Finals...rematch.  Less than 2 minutes away from forcing Game 7.  I expect the B's and the crowd to be on a different planet with intensity.  I don't even know if that statement makes sense, but it does to me.

Rask for Nash?!?

With Columbus recently in the Hub, there's been a rumor floating around that the Bruins could potentially trade Tuukka Rask for Rick Nash.  First off, unless the Blue Jackets have the old Boston regime in the front office, I highly doubt they would accept this trade or offer it.  Why?

First and foremost, Nash is your franchise player.  He's the only heart and soul this team has ever known and he's still only 27. Secondly, you were able to convince Carter to stop being a baby and leave Philly because he was going to be playing with one of the elite players in the league.  Trade Nash and Carter checks out.

Yeah, Tuukka is good but the Blue Jackets would be looking for another NHL ready player in return to accompany Rask.  Who are you giving up?  Krejci?  If so, I would want more than Nash in return for that.  So unless you want to turn this into a blockbuster, I just don't see the pieces available to get this done.

Let's say it does happen, who backs up Thomas?  Thomas isn't getting any younger.  I really hope he doesn't get hurt, but injuries happen all the time.  The Sabres are probably going to run him next Wednesday anyways.  Kazakhstan native Anton Khudobin is the goalie down in Providence, but I don't think he's NHL ready yet.  It would be much more beneficial for him to get reps down in Providence then sit on the bench.  They could kick the tires on Marty Turco or make a trade for disgruntled Evgeni Nabokov, but then again if the Blue Jackets are looking for a goalie fix on the cheap, why wouldn't they go for those options first?

Lastly, Chiarelli has said Tuukka is the goalie of the future.  Damn right he should be.  Why would you mess that up?  The Bruins will be solid in net for YEARS to come.  Why throw that away?!  Worst case scenario for Tuukka, he's the backup for two more seasons.  Unless Thomas has found the fountain of youth, I don't see them resigning him at 39, unless he wants to be the back-up and gets paid as a back-up.

Hypothetically speaking if the Blue Jackets did offer Nash for Rask straight up, you go for it and PRAY Thomas stays healthy.  But I just don't see it happening.

8 Golden Points: Game 17 vs Columbus

Bruins 2 - Blue Jackets 1  SO

8 Golden Points:

1.  The win streak keeps rollin' on.  This was hands down the ugliest win of the streak and probably of the season, but I'll take it.  Columbus is sitting in the cellar of the league and could've stole 2 points if it wasn't for the guy I'll talk about in Golden Point numero dose.  I feared the Bruins would have a let down this game and was actually bracing for a loss.  They do a great job of getting mentally amped for games versus some of the top dogs in the league, but just can't seem to get there for the games they should easily win.

2. Once again, Rask got a start... once again, Rask played very well... and once again, the Bruins played poorly in front of him.  Why can't this team play well in front of Rask?!  This was a game the B's could've lost, but the play of Rask kept them in it and ultimately won it for them.  It's a very good sign that Rask is getting a lot of starts early and taking advantage of them.  He's now 3-3 on the year with a 2.32 GAA and .919 SAA. Those numbers don't blow me out of the water, but I'll take it.

3. Ahh you had to know one of the points was going to be about McQuaider this post.  The Dude scored his first of MANY goals of the season.  Okay, he may not get many... ALRIGHT he WON'T get many, but damnit let me dream.  This is one of those goals you love to see.  The defenseman at the point just throws the puck towards the net, hoping to get a tip or a juicy rebound.  This time it paid off for McQuaid as his shot had eyes and decided to go in.  He played a pretty good game defensively too considering he was going against the top line and getting paired with Chara.  His play drew some positive feedback from both the captain and the coach.  Score one for the Dude.

4. No, Seguin did not show up on the score sheet.  No, he didn't score in the shootout (but should've...he deked the shit out of Sanford).  I just can't remember the last time the Bruins had a player like him.  Literally every time Seguin touches the puck you scooch your heiny to the edge of your seat waiting for something awesome to happen.  He plays with so much speed and he's just so damn good.  Just felt like sharing...

5. Shawn Thornton is the man.  Although the fight with Jared Boll was a draw to maybe slight edge Boll, that still doesn't matter.  Thornton...is...the...man.  He was very heated after the bout.  I tried figuring out what he was pissed about.  Some people say it's because Boll went catwoman on his ass and scratched his face, some say Boll went WWF on his ass and went for the illegal eye gauge.  Either way, "The Code" was broken and Thornton was not happy.  I think he needs a hug.

6. I use to hate the shootout because the B's SUCKED at it.  Knock on some friggin' wood, but the B's are undefeated in them so far.  I'd still prefer to see Bergeron on it instead of Peverley, but hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it.  It does help we have some stellar goaltenders too.

7. Pepe Le Pouliot in instead of Caron... poor decision and I'm not even going to elaborate.  If you want a fun drinking game, take a shot every time Pouliot falls on his ass.  You'll soon be falling as much as him.

8. With Ference out for a few games and with Johnny Rocket out with the flu this game, we've gotten a look at Kampfer again for a few games.  I haven't written anything about him, which is both good and bad.  I guess more good.  I guess that means he hasn't made any boneheaded plays.  I'll try to pay a little more attention to him next game to see if I can give you guys a little more color...or as the Canadians say... colour.

Next Up: Saturday night vs. Islanders (5 - 8 - 3  13 pts)