Golden Points: Nashville Predators

Bruins 4 - Predators 3 SO

Being more of an Eastern Conference fan, I don't know too much about the Predators.  You know Shea Weber is one of the better defenseman in the league and if it wasn't for Chara he'd have the hardest slap shot in the league.  They also have a Finnish goaltender, Pekka Rinne, who was a Vezina trophy finalist last season and is also having a pretty good year currently.  They have horribly ugly home sweaters and finally, gulp, ex-Senator of 10+ seasons Mike Fisher is married to Carrie Underwood.  I hate myself for knowing that...

Although this game went to overtime then a shootout, I thought the B's outplayed the Predators, who lie 5th in the West.  When your team is struggling, it seems have to work even harder to pull off those victories.  When your team is on fire, you squeak a couple wins in there that you probably shouldn't have gotten.  That's the beauty and the hell of sports.

What I was most happy to see was the play of Milan Lucic (team high 7 shots).  Even before scoring the game tying goal with a hair over a minute left, I would've said he was the best B's player on the ice that game.  When he moves his feet and gets that big ole frame of his moving around, he can be a very dangerous player.  The key word in the statement is "when".  If he lets his emotions get the best of him, then he makes stupid mistakes, but this game he played a solid north-south game.

For most of the season, the second line has played more like a number 1 line, and they now are rewarded with a promotion with the Horton out with a concussion and Krejci and Lucic trying to find their games.  Patrice Bergeron continues to have a stellar season, winning 60% of the faceoffs he took, scoring a shorty and scoring in the shootout.  To be fair, Brad Marchand did nearly all the work on Bergie's shorthanded snipe, pushing the puck up the ice and splitting two defenders before laying it off to the assistant captain.  Proving to the Boston fan base that they have a right to be excited about his skills, Tyler Seguin scored a nifty shootout goal: coming in with speed, slowing down then deking the crap out of Rinne.  I'm pretty sure Rinne is still looking for his jockstrap.

Can't complete this post without showing love to the fourth line.  As much as I wanted Paille demoted at the beginning of the season, I'll eat my words and say that I couldn't imagine breaking up this line.  The chemistry they have together is pretty awesome and the give n' go between Thornton and Paille was even more awesome.

Now on to a few low points:
-  I thought Thomas looked pretty, dare I say, normal this game.  The Fisher goal is one that Timmy saves 99.99% of the time.  He also seemed to be fighting the puck at times during the game.  With the homestretch not too far off in the future, I would really like to see Tuukka and Timmy step up there game.  I just need to find a way to get Thomas to stop updating his facebook status...

- The "Master of Time and Space" has not only figured out a way to slow the game down, but he's also figured out how to completely disappear.  Ever since fellow linemate Horton went down with a concussion, Krejci has been struggling to find his game.  We know how great he can be, but we'd like to see the centerman who just received a nice raise play at a high level on a consistent basis.


Tonight and tomorrow will be a nice test for the Bruins.  We have the #1 team in the Eastern Conference, NY Rangers, coming to down tonight and then we travel up to Montreal and try to take down the Habs in the Bell Centre.  If the Bruins aren't focused, they could get embarrassed these two games.  I don't care how poorly the Habs are playing this year, it's always an interesting contest between the two.  It makes it even more difficult having played the Rangers the night before.

Golden Points: Game 42 vs Florida

Bruins 3 - Panthers 2

It what was a surprisingly entertaining game, the B's barely squeaked out a victory over the Southwest Division leading Florida Panthers.  That's right, the #3 seed in the East are the Florida Panthers.  Let that one sink in a bit.  Give credit to the brass of Florida, they completely revamped this team over the offseason and it's paid off.  Now their attendance still isn't where it should be, but if the new alignment ever gets approved, they will directly benefit from having the likes of Boston, Montreal and Toronto coming to town more often.  You guys see how many B's fans were there?  It'd be interesting to see if they could poll who you were cheering for as you are walking in to determine the percentage.

It's the same song and dance after every game that Tuukka starts.  This guy is playing out of his mind right now and would be a starting goaltender on almost any other team in the league.  Although Rask's numbers are better, Thomas gets grandfathered into the starting role because of his performance last year.  We're really being spoiled right now with this goaltending tandem. 

But is it going to last?  Rask is a restricted free agent at year end.  Pay 'em?  I say yes, but it takes two to tango.  He knows next year he'd probably be the back up too.  Hopefully Chiarelli can do his best used car salesman and convince him this is the best opportunity for his development and his career.  Good luck!

Without Tuukka, the B's lose this game.  I thought the defensive play was sub par and the offense was okay.  They let up way too many break aways and as good as Rask is, he can only do so much on breakaways.  I hate hate HATE letting up a goal immediately after our own power play.  Don't hear that "tap tap tap" on the ice?!  Tuukka's letting you know some dude is about to jump out of the penalty box... GET YOUR ASS BACK!!!!!

Anyways, the number one center on the All-Star snub team (though who really cares about the All-Stars), Bergie, had another fantastic game.  He scored the only two goals and game up huge by scoring in the final round of the shootout, which extended the shootout and allowed Krejci to score the winner.

The B's are taking the tour of Florida this week and playing Tampa Bay tonight.  How is Tampa so bad?  I don't believe their record, they have too many good players to be this bad.  Is this the same team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals GAME 7 last year??  It'll be interesting to watch.  This is also Marchand's last game out.

Marchand Suspended 5 games...and my beef with the 'Nucks

While waiting for the results of Marchand's hearing, I refrained myself from posting because I was getting extremely heated at the Vancouver Canucks and their organization.  Now I'm heated at the Canucks and the NHL and I just can't hold it back.

As I said in an earlier post, I do think Marchand should be suspended.  I thought 2 would be fair, but if you take into consideration he's been suspended and fined before then I'd up it to 3 games.  If you take this instance in a vacuum, then I'm not that upset.  He got two more games than I thought, oh well.

Enter in the lobbying effort by the Canucks.  I just don't see how their coach, Vigneault, can say things like, "He'll get his".  I am shocked that the league hasn't fined him for saying this.  He's basically putting a hit out on Marchand.  Why hasn't Shanahan stepped up?!

And the GM, Gillis, saying things like "a dirty hit by a dirty player".  You don't like dirty players Gillis?!  One of the dirtiest players in the league, Lapierre, flies over and jumps on top of the pile trying to get in a few cheap shots.  Even TSN.ca (the Canadian ESPN) columnist and former referee agrees, Lapierre should've received the game misconduct as what he did is the definition of "third man in". 

How about your "tough" guy Wiese?  Clearly telling Thornton he'd gladly fight him, but only then to back off like a coward.  No, but it's cool for your goon to take on our first line winger.  Does anyone on your first line stand up for themselves or their teammates?

Next Mr. Gillis, you employ Andrew Burrows on your team.  Apparantley you think it isn't a dirty move to bite the fingers of your opponent....then joke about it on national television.

Yeah, Marchand will have to answer the bell someday, but he isn't afraid to.  Maybe someday Burrows, Wiese and Lapierre will "get theirs" too.

Just because our players are tougher than yours, just because they aren't afraid to drop the gloves, just because our team takes after our captain and your team takes after yours, doesn't mean they are dirty.  I would take the make up of this Bruins team over the make up of the Canucks team every...single...time.  Yeah, the Canucks are very skilled, but my neutered dog has more balls than them.

Yes, I believe Marchands hit was dirty.  Unfortunately the league has been very inconsistent with this type of hit and there needs to be clarification now.  There were two instances during the finals last year, one against Lucic and one against Marchand, where a nearly identical hit occurred.  Unlike Salo, neither of them turned their back and luckily didn't hit their head on the ice, but the hits are almost identical.  Why were those not called?  This Boston.com article has the video's to prove it.

Normally you don't see Chiarelli or Julien say much towards another team or player,  but I am very happy that in this situation they stepped up to the plate and defended Marchand and the rest of the team.  That shows good leadership, not what Vancouver's brass is doing.

I'm finished.  I could go on and on, but I'm done.  I really wish we played them again this season, I guess we could if we both make it to the finals again.  I would love nothing more than to spank them again!!!

NHLPA Rejects the New Alignment Plan

A few days late in reporting, but I didn't want it to get buried under my must read Golden Points!!

The weekend started with news that the NHLPA rejected the new alignment that was proposed earlier in the season.  They sited unanswered questions regarding the extra travel for some teams (boo hoo) and the uneven number of teams in each conference, making it easier for teams in the 7 team conferences to make the playoffs.  Instead the current format will still be in place for the 2012-2013 season (and yes, Winnipeg will still be in the Southwest division of the Eastern conference... makes sense).

I was shocked when I heard this.  When this plan was first released, it seemed like a majority of the people had a positive reaction about it.  I know fans in the midwest were particularly happy because they'd be playing against more Midwestern teams and not the west coast.

I'm also very nervous now.  The CBA is up after this season and the NHL absolutely cannot afford to have another lockout.  Granted I'm not going anywhere, but the casual sports fan who has started to watch more hockey will be scared away for good.  Although this isn't part of the actual CBA negotiations, this is not a good start.  If this is any indication of how the talks will go this summer, I'm nervous.  The players association has pissed off the owners with this rejections and I'm sure the owners won't forget this.

Keep your fingers crossed and let's just enjoy the rest of the 2011-2012 season while we can.

Golden Points: Game 38 vs Vancouver

Canucks 4 - Bruins 3

Although the end result was not what I was hoping for, the entertainment value of the Stanley Cup Finals rematch did not disappoint one bit.  The 'Nucks are very special team.  I've never not cared about a team one bit to absolutely despising every player on a team so quickly as I have with the Canucks.  Lapierre, Burrows and Weiss are the definition of the type of hockey player I can't stand and I highly doubt I'm alone.  It didn't take long for the B's to be fed up with their antics.  We were treated to a lovely 1st period scuffle that saw Thornton being jumped by 6 Canucks players, Lucic getting wrongfully ejected (NHL has rescinded the game misconduct and no suspension given), and 4th liner Weiss picking a fight with 1st line winger Horton.  On the replay it shows how smart Burrows is when he pokes Thornton's throat with his stick...stupid Burrows.

It was quite enjoyable watching the B's come to the aid of their fellow teammate, but this scrum somehow led to the Bruins being down two men.  Kesler scored the first goal of the game, but hey... it's hard to keep the number one power play from scoring on a full 2 minute two-man advantage.  

Campbell got the crowd going for the second time of the night by engaging in a not as entertaining bout with Lapierre.  The Garden faithful wanted blood in this fight.  We chanted "Campbell...Campbell" hoping to see a whoopin' we all know Lapierre deserves, but it was really more of a grappling match with a few punches thrown.  

What happened next was disgraceful.  As replays show, Weiss seemed to verbally agree to drop his gloves against Thornton, fakes like he's going to once the puke is dropped, then backs away like a coward.  Kudos to the ref that was standing right there, he gave Weiss two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct...aka....two minutes for being a bitch.

I was steaming after that one.  I very very much dislike this team.  Did you ever think that you could ever hate Swedish twins?!

Even with all this other excitement, the story of the game was Brad Marchand's clipping penalty.  Marchy got ejected from the game and put the team down a man for 5 minutes locked in.  That means even when Vancouver scored...twice...the Bruins didn't get their man back on the ice.  This is really what loses the game for them.  The Canucks scored 4 goals and all 4 goals came on the power play.  Two of their power play goals came as a result from this hit.  Marchy can't be feeling too good about this one; injures a player and then ultimately causes your team to lose.

The hockey hombres I follow on Twitter originally were blasting Marchand for a cheap play. The play occurred in the corner of the rink I couldn't see.  I just saw Marchand go into the corner and Salo's skates fly up over head...so I initially was going bonkers.  After watching the replays I reluctantly agree with the tweets that it was a dirty play.  Marchand does have the right to protect himself, but he has to do it in a manor that won't put Salo in serious harms way.  I would expect a 2-3 game suspension from this.

Some good news?  With Krejci's goal, he is now sporting an 8 game point streak (5 goals, 7 assists).  With Krejci and the first line playing well again, you wonder how the outcome of the game would change if Lucic wasn't ejected from the game.  We'll only be able to get another shot at them this year if we see them in the Stanley Cup Finals.  I hope not, I really don't like seeing a team with that make up get rewarded.  Hopefully someone else in the western conference can knock them out.