GOLDEN POINTS: Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres

Bruins 3 - Sabres 1

Bruins goals: Marchand (6), Bergeron PPG (2), Lucic ENG (3)

Sabres goal: Ennis (5)

After Snowstorm Nemo found New England and brought upon us snowmagedan we got treated to a divisional matchup with Sabres.  I don't know what it is about them, probably just the fact they have Ryan Miller and Tomas Vanek, but no matter how bad they are it's always a tough game against them.  

The Sabres handed the B's their only regulation loss of the season last time they played (and it was a pretty awful loss), but since the B's are 2-0 allowing only one goal.  Not too shabby!  There was no revenge for Scott beating up Thornton, and I didn't think their should be.  It was a fair fight and Scott just crushed Thornton.  I think the goal should be to keep Scott on the ice as much as possible, dude sucks.

• Ahh, the return of the Gnat.  Usually it takes a game or two to get back up to speed after missing so many games, but Marchand picked up exactly where he left off: scoring goals and pissing people off in the process.  He scored his team leading 6th goal last night and baited Ott into an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.  Booyeah.
• Hamilton finally shows that he's a rookie.  I've been pumping this guys ego thus far, so I feel obligated to also mention when his play is only great not super amazing.  This was the first game that I've watch where I noticed multiple mistakes on Dougie's part (the cross ice pass that got intercepted and a way too eager pinch up the boards that he got burned on).  Luckily, neither led to goals (or I don't think they did).  Kids learning.
• Ryan Miller is a damn stonewall.  He made some incredible saves, especially the one on Horton comes to mind.  He was the only B's killer that showed up last night.  I didn't even notice Vanek out there.  Good job by the B's to contain him.
• Speaking of goalies, need to give some love to Khudobin as well.  He's showing he's ready any time he's called upon.  Only allowing one goal and also making his share of great saves.  I'm really liking this goalie tandem and quite frankly it helps ease the pain for the downward spiral off this Earth that Thomas went through.
• Do I really need to complain about the power play?  And don't point to Bergeron's goal.  Yeah it was nice, but the PP still sucks.  I'm done.

Next Up: New York Rangers Part III

GOLDEN POINTS: Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens

Bruins 2 - Habs 1

Bruins goals: Seguin (2), Krejci (3)
Canadiens goals: Subban PPG (1) 


While we didn't get the pleasure of listening to Jack and Brick call the first B's/Habs game of the year, I actually thought NBC Sports did a nice job on the whole "Rivalry Wednesday" theme.  If you tuned in at 7ish you got treated to some video montages of the rivalry through the decades and some sound bites taken from interviews with old players.  If you don't like two teams that hate each other, then it wasn't for you.  But for me, good stuff!

Every season divisional games obviously mean more than others.  You win the division, you are a top 3 seed.  In a shorten season they mean even more.  It's still early in the year, but the B's had a chance to either put 3 points between them and the Habs (and remain on top of the East) or allow the Habs to leap frog them to the top of the division.  The Habs are playing well this year, combined with the fact that it's never easy going to the Bell Centre (like the little Canadian flip of the "e" and the "r"...I'm so cultured), I wasn't too sure if the B's would pull off the double U.

Then the game started and I REALLY didn't think the B's were going to get a shot on goal, let alone a victory.  They played just awful hockey in that first period.  Luckily we have a good goaltender or it would've been a long night.  It was also a surprisingly uneventful game in terms of fisticuffs/face washes/scrums.  Not necessarily a bad thing, for while it was a fairly clean it was still entertaining.  Maybe the B's are waiting for them to come to the Garden to rattle their cages a bit.

Anyhoo...

• TUUUuuuUUUUUUKKKAAA!!!  Number 1 star of the game, hands down.  He was the only player that showed up to play and if it wasn't for him, the B's would've been down a significant number of goals after the first few minutes.  Timmy who?
• I thought the defense played a very poor game, especially Chara.  This is one of the worst games I've seen Chara play.  He's a machine, so I'm sure he'll just shut down for 30 seconds, reboot and be back to normal...not very worried.  Dougie was easily the best out of the bunch last night.  Maybe he can...ready... teach 'em how to play defense!!  See what I did there...
• Claude Julien looked like a hockey Albert Einstein last night (minus the hair).  The offense struggled mightily all night, so coming out of the 2nd intermission he flips Seguin and Horton and the first line scores two goals right out of the gate.  Well played, Mr. Julien, well played.
• While they didn't get much playing time, I thought the rookie line (MacDermaid - Tardiff - Spooner) played pretty well.  Basically, they didn't f-- up, which is impressive considering the type of game and the environment they were playing in. 
• I hate Subban's flopping ways, but man does that guy have a rocket of a shot.  Grrr why can't he just suck so I can trash on him some more??  And, after typing this I'll have to go throw up, Carey Price had a good game too.  That's all the praise a Canadiens team can get right now without my B's card being revoked.
• And lastly, the power play BLOWS.  What is going on here?!?  I've tried to be patient, but this is just embarrassing.  It has to be all mental.  The players on the ice are very good players on a very good team and yet when they have an extra man on the ice they all fart in their brains.  I'm not talking SBDs, I'm talking loud clear the room farts in the brains.  I still feel if they can get a few in, they'll get on a roll and make it a dangerous part of their game.  They are just too damn good.

Next Up: SnowStorm Nemo Tampa Bay Lightning (6-3-0 12pts  3rd in East)  They play the Devils tonight so there position in the standings can change tonight.  Either way, it's another big game.

GOLDEN POINTS: Boston Bruins vs New York Islanders

Bruins 4 - Islanders 2

Bruins goals: Thornton (1), Campbell (1), Chara (1), Bergeron (1)
Islanders goals: Aucoin 2 (3)

It started out as one of those games you know the Bruins SHOULD dominate, but they were not playing up to their capabilities.  Luckily by the third period, they got their shit together and finished off the Islanders Mortal Kombat style.  Well, sort of... Seguin did completely air mail an open empty netter, but still... the Islanders were drastically outplayed towards the end of the game.

The first two periods were very inconsistent.  One or two shifts in a row would provide solid pressure and opportunities, but then the next few minutes the Islanders would be on the attack.  This team kills me.  Even against "easy" teams (sorry Islanders fans that don't read this).

• I promise, this will be the first blog that I don't talk about Dougie Hamilton.  Why would I talk about his 2 beautiful assists to go along with his golden locks?  The first was only a great, low shot from the point that generated a rebound.  And the second was only a sexy break out pass that led to a break away.  I mean the Bruins have only been trying to get a defender to do that for a decade now (Wideman, Hunwick, Kampfer, Kaberle).  So no, I will not mention Dougie Hamilton.  
• But I will mention Looch.  I believe it was the last blog post that all I was missing from Lucic was a fight.  If you cross your fingers, wiggle your nose, and click your heals together you get exactly what you ask for!  It wasn't much of a fight, but a poor lad by the name of Carkner decided he wanted to meet Looch's fists up close and person, then take a brief nap. And side note, I want Jack Edwards to commentate my LIFE.
• One reason for the success of the B's the past few seasons is the consistent play of the 4th line.  Campbell, Paille and Thornton know their roles and play them perfectly.  Thornton and Campbell were rewarded last night with a goal a piece.  What I liked even more, even though it cost Thornton a 10 minute misconduct, was how he stuck up for Paille.  We know Paille would probably lose a fight to the girl scouts.  He laid a beautiful hit on an Islanders Brian Strait.  Tough guy Martin comes over and wants to fight Paille.  Thornton, looking out for his linemate, steps in to make sure that doesn't happen.  Good stuff.
• Special teams again is the tale of two faces.  The power play couldn't find the back of the net, but luckily neither could the Islander's.  The penalty kill for the B's is still impenetrable.  I will say I like the power play significantly more than in prior years, there is a lot of movement and the B's are generating shots.  Prior years everyone just stood around in an umbrella formation and waited for someone else to do something.  Once they get on a roll, I think the PP will be a weapon for us.

Next up: Carolina Hurricanes  #DontCryWhalersFans