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.

Recovering...

My apologies for complete absence from posting over the past several months.  I'll try to be more consistent this offseason...


As painful as the Game 6 loss to Chicago was, I find myself not nearly as angry anymore.  For starters let's be completely honest with ourselves.  The Bruins NEVER EVER do anything the easy way.  They win in fantastic fashion and lose just the same way.  Overtimes, Game 7's, being the sweeper, being the sweepee, you name it.  A waiver needs to be created for Bruins fans stating that the team is in no way responsible for your physical and mental health throughout the season and playoffs.

While the loss to Chicago flat out sucked, I am actually fairly pleased with how the season and playoffs turned out.  A month and a half ago, every single person except for the players in Black and Gold thought the season was over. 

After a historic comeback to advance to the next round, we need to insert not one, not two, (no I'm not doing my best Lebron impression), but three rookie defensemen into the line up.  What we got was glimpse into the very bright future of the B's blueline.  Hamilton will ultimately be significantly better than Krug and Bartkowski, but there was no way the coaches could take Krug out of the lineup.  The kid was on FIRE.  Fans should be happy and excited about the depth the B's posses at that position.

Next up was the most potent offense in the game.  The two best players in the world, a Norris trophy candidate defenseman, and the player that stood you up at the prom.  I personally didn't think the B's had a chance.  Talking to a coworker, we said that the only outcome of this series that 100% won't happen would be a Bruins sweep...   anyone keeping track on how often I'm wrong?   anyone still reading this blog?  No and no... alright, moving on...

And while it still stings, the B's were less than 2 minutes away from forcing a Game 7 to the best team in the league.  They lost to a very good team and provided some very very entertaining hockey.  It's pretty hard to complain. 

It would've been a storybook ending if the B's were able to bring the Cup back to Boston after everything the city has been through, but I think they did their part in taking our minds to a different place during this run.


Coming up: Offseason Priority Numero Uno - Tuukka Tuukka Tuukka

Golden Points: Boston vs Toronto

Yeah yeah yeah, I skipped a few games.  The game against Florida I wanted to puke my brains out it was so pathetic.  Then they finally put together a good effort against the Flyers on St. Patty's day.  I'll let you figure out the reason why I didn't blog that day... or the next.


Bruins Snowman - Toronto Goose Egg

Most of the players on the Maple Leafs probably already have their summer plans booked and the tee times confirmed, but you would think a team that is about to face a season sweep would show up with a little more pride than what they played with the other night.  I honestly don't know if the B's were that good or the Leafs were that bad. 

- Favorite part of last night, anyone that knows me can guess.  Yup, Lucic vs Komisarek Part...uh... 5?  I don't think  Komisarek will ever learn.  He keeps trying to fight Lucic and he keeps losing.  Most of the times it's not even close.  This time he even had the chance to walk away.  Looch gave him a shove then just started to glide backwards because a ref stood in the way.  Dumb idiot  Komisarek just kept on a'coming.  I wonder how is jaw felt the next day.

- Next favorite play was Seguin's pass to Marchand on the Gnat's power play goal.  That was just filthy.  A no-look rifle through the D to an open Marchand who roofs it in.  That was just gorgeous.  Can we please see this type of power play on a regular basis?!  PLEASE!

- Something Bruins fans should be encouraged by is the drastically improved play of Chris Kelly.  He's played very well the past few games and that third line is REALLY clicking right now.  After starting out his second go around with the B's looking like father time had caught up to him, Rolston seems to have found the fountain of youth at the right time.  He's showing a lot of chemistry with Pepe and Kelly.  I wonder what will happen if Peverley makes it back on the ice this trip.  It's a good sign that he's travelling with the team, but I don't think you should break up this line just yet.  

- I could really go down the whole line up and sing praises to everyone, but that'd be boring.  This is a big road trip coming up.  Three games on the left coast against three teams that are fighting for their lives.  It will be a good test to see if the B's have actually turned it around and if they are ready for some playoff hockey.  I would love to get 4 out 6 points.  With the loss coming because we gave Turco a start.

We need 10 more points to secure a playoff spot and 14 more to secure the division.  Then we just need additional 32 after that...

8 Golden Points: Game 12 vs Maple Leafs

Bruins 7 - Maple Leafs 0

8 Golden Points:

1. Spell check keeps trying to tell me "Bruins 7" is wrong.  I promise you checker, the Bruins scored 7 goals and in the past two games have scored 12.  What?!  The Bruins absolutely positively dominated this game.  All three zones, every situation, all the battles, everything.  The Maple Leafs literally gave up half way through the 3rd.  I don't know if I've ever seen a team just STOP playing.  It was beautiful.  Let's hope he B's can keep this up.

2. The big story of the night, of course, is Tyler Seguin.  His first career hat trick with three beautiful goals: PP on timer, bats one out of the air, and a nice complete end to end play.  He did this in front of HIS hometown, growing up 40 minutes outside of Toronto, and in front of his country as it's "Hockey Night in Canada" on Saturday nights.

3. On the flipside, the player we'll always be comparing Seguin too, Kessel, had another miserable outing against the Bruins.  The B's have to be in his head.  He's the leading goal scorer in the NHL and he only had 2 shots on net?  He had a golden opportunity to give most of us the bird when he had a break away in the third, but decided to pull his best Peverley impression and completely miss the net.

4. The Bruins only had two power play opportunities this game, but again converted on one of the tries.  Baby steps in the right direction.  And again the stone wall known as the penalty kill unit stepped up to the plate, shutting down the Leafs on all four of their chances.  I was not keeping track but it seemed like the Bruins penalty killing unit actually generated more shots on goal the the Leafs power play unit.  Again...domination.

5. I love saying good things about Lucic.  You lose a lot of credibility when the the player of the jersey you own stinks.  Lucic stunk in the playoffs and smelt like he needed a diaper change earlier in the season, but once we got him a fresh set of pampers he's been lights out.  Not wanting Seguin to get too far ahead of him, he decided to throw two goals in the net himself.  He now has goals in 3 straight games, 5 out of the last 6.  I could really use a Lucic fight soon....  Just saying.

6. Timmy gets his first shutout of the season.  It must be nice to have to carry your team once in awhile.  He didn't have to make any ridiculous saves, didn't really have bail any of his teammates out too badly (Kessel did that himself by missing the net), he just played a solid game.  The Bruins played from puck drop to the end of the game and rewarded Timmy with a shutout.  I'm hoping we see some Rask and hopefully the team continues to play well.

7. I haven't said anything about the defense and you'd think they would have something to do with a shutout right? Agreed.  It's just not as juicy as a Seguin hat trick or putting Kessel down, but the defense the past two games has been Claude-esque.  Meaning I'm not just talking about defensemen, the forwards also played great defense.  The whole "onion" system is working again and if you watch the game you'll hear Jack and Brick constantly talk about layers.  Get by one layer of the defense, your met with another.  It's not flashy, but when it's working right it's fun to watch.

8.  I thought with the game out of reach, there was no way Thornton was going to have to fight anyone.  WRONG...well sort of wrong.  He didn't fight anyone, but he tried to fight Phaneuf after his hit on Kelly.  I'm not sure how Phaneuf didn't get a penalty because it sure looks like he left his feet on this one.  You see who the first person over to greet Phaneuf was...Caron.  What a guy!  Nice things about Caron - 2, Nice things about Pouliot - 0.

8 Golden Points: Game 7 vs Toronto

Bruins 6 - Maple Leafs 2

8 Golden Points:

1. As we saw in the later part of the 'Canes game (which I'd like to forget about), Julien went with a different combination of lines to start this game and boy does he look like a genius.  This looked like a completely different team out there.  6 goals from 6 different players.  The Maple Leafs came into this game red hot while the B's have been ice cold.  You would not have known that after watching this game.

2. I think I'm going to change the name of this segment to 7 Golden Points + Seguin.  Last night, instead of playing center on the top line, he slid over and played ring wing along with Kelly and Lucic.  How'd he respond?  A goal and 2 assists.  In 7 games Seguin is 2-6-8 +5.  As a team we've only scored 17 total goals and he's been apart of 8.  One of his best plays came at the end of a shift, he hustle backed on a defense, dove and broke up an odd man rush.  He's doing it all!  And I repeat... "THANK YOU KESSEL!!"

3. In my last 8 Golden Points, I mention Lucic and Horton were just baiting everyone into thinking they sucked and that they were going to start playing well real soon.  Well as always (or on rare occasion...whatever), I was right.  The best game of the year from these two.  When Looch plays that North-South hockey, he's nearly unstoppable.  Not too many players can push him off the puck.  Crunching Phaneuf early in the game was a good indicator of things to come. 

4. We saw the return of David Krejci last night.  It can't be long until he goes back up to the first line.  He is just so good with the puck on his stick.  As Jack would say, he's the master of time and space.  Although he didn't show up on the score sheet, he had a solid game and didn't appear to show any lingering affects from his "core" injury.  He also went 11 for 16 at the face off dot. 

5. The Bruins special teams showed up last night too.  The PK unit has been lights out all year long, shutting down the Leafs on all 4 of their power plays.  On the year the PK unit has killed off 28 of 32 power plays for 10th best in the league.  Not too shabby.  The PP unit also ate their Wheaties this morning, going 2 for 5 on the night.  As Bergeron said after the game, they kept it simple and didn't hesitate.

6. The defense looked very good tonight.  Chara had a monster game (goal and 2 assists), Ference had a monster first period (3 assists) and a monster open ice hit on Grabovski.  During the preseason there was a battle for the 7th defensemen between Bartkowski and Kampfer.  After watching the last two games, it's CLEAR Kampfer is the 7th defensemen.  The only bad was Siedenberg was a minus 1.  EEeek.

7.  For the first time this season, you didn't feel like our goalies had to be unbelievable in order for us to get the win.  Lucky for us, our goaltenders are unbelievable anyways.  It wasn't necessary for Thomas to be stellar tonight, but when he needed to make a save he did.  Stoning Grabovski on the break away and Steckel on the doorstep during the closing seconds of the second were huge, timely saves.  He almost had an assist as he threw one down the ice to Seguin that was called offsides. 

8. Phil Kessel... ahhh the trade that keeps on giving.  As a Bruins fan, you have to get a little giddy when you see him put up 0-0-0 -1 and Seguin puts up 1-2-3 +2.  It's just beautiful.  At the end of the month Golden Spokes will do a "Prospect Preview" and see how the talent pipeline is looking.  If you watched the game last night, you saw stats on how Jared Knight and Dougie Hamilton are tearing it up for their juniors teams in the OHL right now. 

Next up: Saturday vs San Jose Sharks (1-3-0)  Welcome back, Jumbo Joe.