Bruins 9 - Flames 0
The Bruins and Flames decided they were bored of a hockey and decided to play an entertaining game of football instead. Although there were no touchdowns, Bergie and Horton kicked a combined three field goals as Tuukka led a stifling defense to shut out the flames..... eh.... what?
I'm basically just a dope. "This could be one of those sneaky 'lose' games since they are looking forward to the rematch against the 'Nucks" WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG.
Even with the Gnat (Marchand), out of the line up with the flu, for the second straight night the B's laid the smackdown on their opponent. I actually didn't watch the game and thought the score was wrong when I checked.
Everyone on the first line (Lucic-Krejci-Horton) put in a goal with Horty netting two. This is a great sign. This is the second game in a row the 1st line played like the first line with a combined 8 points! What about that second line? Bergie netted two, Seguin one, and Pepe Le Pouliot filling in for Marchy had 3 assists for a total of 9 points!! You can't touch these lines.. do dodo do...do do...do do... can't touch these lines.
Pick your poison with who's between the pipes. Rask got the start tonight and didn't disappoint with one of the easier shutouts of the Rask's professional career. A fun game to play is "let's look at where the B's goalies rank". Rask is number one in goals against with 1.49 while Thomas is slacking at number 4 with 1.90. Rask ranks number one in save % with .940 while Thomas is again slacking at number 2 with .938!!
While this is awesome, it's also a problem...though a good problem. Rask's contract is up after this year. The B's need to sign him and sign him ASAP. If it doesn't get done until the summer time, some team is going to present him with an offer sheet that the Bruins may not be able to match. Granted, the B's will get many draft picks, but we'd be letting possibly the best young goaltender in the league go. PAY HIM!!
I hope everyone has a great morning... 1pm you better be glued to the TV or like me AT THE REMATCH!!!
No Luongo though. Although that sucks because I want to boo the crap out of him, it's a classy move by their coach to let the back-up, Corey Schneider, get the start. He's a Marblehead, MA native and Vancouver rarely comes to the town, so letting him start in front of his friends and family is nice. It's also a way to protect the mentally soft Luongo.
A Boston Bruins blog by Dome
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Golden Points: Game 36 vs New Jersey
Happy New Year's, Puckheads!! With the new year comes a renewed urge to blog more and continue blowing sunshine up this teams...butt.
Remember the beginning of November, coming off a horrible October the Bruins blew Toronto, NYI, and Buffalo out of the water? They scored a "ridiculous" 30 goals in 5 games. Remember? I kept telling myself "ride it out, baby!! We'll never EVER be able keep this up!". God I was wrong, dead wrong. Another 6 goals...
Anyways I digress which I know is a rarity with me.
Bruins 6 - Devils 1
Last nights game was a whoopin'. But we've seen many of those lately. Historically, B's vs Devils was a Claude Julien special with a little extra Claude Julien on the side. Two teams with great goaltending and a defense first mindset always resulted in a very good, very physical, low scoring, playoff type game. Only problem last night is that only one team decided to buy into any of that. Brodeur looked like an AHL call up and the Devils skaters looked like a JV squad. If you rewatch the highlights of the Bruins goals, NJ defenders get caught puck watching leaving some B's players WIDE OPEN for a shot. They wanted NO part of the B's.
The Devils did get the first goal of the game on the power play. And for that I think we should bench Timmy for 5 games. Unacceptable. How do you think the team is going to improve on their already league leading goals against average with you letting in a single goal? Wait, nevermind... it did. Alright fine you can play. But I'd still sit you tonight in favor of Tuukka. You need to have enough energy to pump Luongo's tires when he comes to town this weekend.
The Bruins D did a great job the entire night. This was one of those games where it looked like Thomas could see everything come at him and no one was getting anywhere near him. Most shots were from the outside and you didn't catch Thomas flailing around at all. Good job, D.
I was really happy to see Krejci AND Horton get on the scoresheet. If I had to nitpick, the 1st line needs to play better. They are playing good, but not great. The #1 line on one of the best teams in the NHL needs to be scary. I'd fear the 2nd line over this one at the moment, but if and when this line gets going, this team will be even scarier.
And I need to mention Bergie. He scored two goals with one of them being an absolute beauty on a break away. I'm pretty sure Brodeur is STILL looking for his jockstrap. I could go on about how good Bergie is, but I really wanted to mention NHL 36. It's a show that follows a player around for 36 hours before a game, and the one that aired last night followed Bergeron. I thought it was really well done and makes you like that guy even that much more. I highly recommend watching it, I believe it's replaying this weekend. Set your DVR people!!!
Tonight we have the Flames. I'm actually nervous about this game. It's a Western Conference team that's in the bottom half of the conference. Claude needs to try and keep his team from looking ahead to the HUGE game this Saturday (STANLEY CUP REMATCH!!!). But seriously, Saturday is going to be awesome.
Remember the beginning of November, coming off a horrible October the Bruins blew Toronto, NYI, and Buffalo out of the water? They scored a "ridiculous" 30 goals in 5 games. Remember? I kept telling myself "ride it out, baby!! We'll never EVER be able keep this up!". God I was wrong, dead wrong. Another 6 goals...
Anyways I digress which I know is a rarity with me.
Bruins 6 - Devils 1
Last nights game was a whoopin'. But we've seen many of those lately. Historically, B's vs Devils was a Claude Julien special with a little extra Claude Julien on the side. Two teams with great goaltending and a defense first mindset always resulted in a very good, very physical, low scoring, playoff type game. Only problem last night is that only one team decided to buy into any of that. Brodeur looked like an AHL call up and the Devils skaters looked like a JV squad. If you rewatch the highlights of the Bruins goals, NJ defenders get caught puck watching leaving some B's players WIDE OPEN for a shot. They wanted NO part of the B's.
The Devils did get the first goal of the game on the power play. And for that I think we should bench Timmy for 5 games. Unacceptable. How do you think the team is going to improve on their already league leading goals against average with you letting in a single goal? Wait, nevermind... it did. Alright fine you can play. But I'd still sit you tonight in favor of Tuukka. You need to have enough energy to pump Luongo's tires when he comes to town this weekend.
The Bruins D did a great job the entire night. This was one of those games where it looked like Thomas could see everything come at him and no one was getting anywhere near him. Most shots were from the outside and you didn't catch Thomas flailing around at all. Good job, D.
I was really happy to see Krejci AND Horton get on the scoresheet. If I had to nitpick, the 1st line needs to play better. They are playing good, but not great. The #1 line on one of the best teams in the NHL needs to be scary. I'd fear the 2nd line over this one at the moment, but if and when this line gets going, this team will be even scarier.
And I need to mention Bergie. He scored two goals with one of them being an absolute beauty on a break away. I'm pretty sure Brodeur is STILL looking for his jockstrap. I could go on about how good Bergie is, but I really wanted to mention NHL 36. It's a show that follows a player around for 36 hours before a game, and the one that aired last night followed Bergeron. I thought it was really well done and makes you like that guy even that much more. I highly recommend watching it, I believe it's replaying this weekend. Set your DVR people!!!
Tonight we have the Flames. I'm actually nervous about this game. It's a Western Conference team that's in the bottom half of the conference. Claude needs to try and keep his team from looking ahead to the HUGE game this Saturday (STANLEY CUP REMATCH!!!). But seriously, Saturday is going to be awesome.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Bruins DOME-inate the Flyers
I wasn't able to watch the entire Flyers game, instead I listened to most of it on the radio and watched the ending. But without being able to see the game myself I feel a full 8 Golden Points wouldn't be right. Plus, it's starting to get boring writing about this team... but in a good way. Pouliout is playing well so I can't trash him. The Bruins are 18-2-1 in their last 21, they've gone from last place to first place. The Flyers had sole possession of first place and Boston made them look like an AHL team; completely dominating them 6-0. Yup, two field goals to a goose egg. Suck on that Philly.
The captain returned from his leg injury and showed everyone that he's still a beast. He notched a Gordie Howe hat trick: a goal, an assist, and a fight. Although the fight wasn't as completely one-sided as Chara fights normally are, he did get some solid punches in there. It's strange to see Chara fight off of a face off. He doesn't drop the gloves often (understandably so, he's one of the best defensemen in the league) and when he does it's usually because an opponent did something cheap to him or to a teammate during play.
Timmy T earned his 4th shutout of the year (tied for league leader) and is just straight butter. I take Timmy for granted. I rarely get nervous. It's bad. Previous seasons I would frequently freak out if a team was on a power play or on the break. I literally think "Timmy will pull this one out" and he does. It's insanely unorthodox, but insanely effective. Even when father time catches up to him, Tuukka has been playing very well too. Not sure if anyone else in the league has a better goal tending duo.
Don't look now, but the Bruins are 9th in the league in power play percentage and 3rd in the league in penalty killing. I'm not as surprised with the penalty kill, but 3rd is still very impressive. It does help when you have Thomas and Rask on your side. But the power play to be in the top 10 in the league, I'm thoroughly impressed.
The one negative from the game this weekend would be Lucic. I just saw he's getting a one game suspension. I figured that much. It looks like he tries to get the side of him, but he clearly hits the numbers. I just wish the refs let someone on the Flyers try to fight him. There's really nothing better than Lucic pummelling a Flyer (or Canadien which we are robbed of tonight).
This run is definitely the best Bruins hockey I have ever witnessed. I just wish this was happening in April / May. Let's hope they stay healthy and keep this up. I just don't see any team beating the B's in a 7 game series.
Pepe Le Pouliot is playing well... Danny Paille is playing well... Zach Hamill is actually playing ... WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!?!
Dome-ination... that's what.
The captain returned from his leg injury and showed everyone that he's still a beast. He notched a Gordie Howe hat trick: a goal, an assist, and a fight. Although the fight wasn't as completely one-sided as Chara fights normally are, he did get some solid punches in there. It's strange to see Chara fight off of a face off. He doesn't drop the gloves often (understandably so, he's one of the best defensemen in the league) and when he does it's usually because an opponent did something cheap to him or to a teammate during play.
Timmy T earned his 4th shutout of the year (tied for league leader) and is just straight butter. I take Timmy for granted. I rarely get nervous. It's bad. Previous seasons I would frequently freak out if a team was on a power play or on the break. I literally think "Timmy will pull this one out" and he does. It's insanely unorthodox, but insanely effective. Even when father time catches up to him, Tuukka has been playing very well too. Not sure if anyone else in the league has a better goal tending duo.
Don't look now, but the Bruins are 9th in the league in power play percentage and 3rd in the league in penalty killing. I'm not as surprised with the penalty kill, but 3rd is still very impressive. It does help when you have Thomas and Rask on your side. But the power play to be in the top 10 in the league, I'm thoroughly impressed.
The one negative from the game this weekend would be Lucic. I just saw he's getting a one game suspension. I figured that much. It looks like he tries to get the side of him, but he clearly hits the numbers. I just wish the refs let someone on the Flyers try to fight him. There's really nothing better than Lucic pummelling a Flyer (or Canadien which we are robbed of tonight).
This run is definitely the best Bruins hockey I have ever witnessed. I just wish this was happening in April / May. Let's hope they stay healthy and keep this up. I just don't see any team beating the B's in a 7 game series.
Pepe Le Pouliot is playing well... Danny Paille is playing well... Zach Hamill is actually playing ... WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!?!
Dome-ination... that's what.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Kaberle Traded to the Dark Side
Everyone rejoice!! We have yet another reason to boo the crap out of Kaberle!!! What was the first? The fact that he absolutely stunk up the joint here last season. If you know me, you know I was not a huge Kaberle fan...at all. Like, not even a little bit.
In exchange for Jaroslav Spacek, the Canadiens have acquired enormously overpaid and under performing Tomas Kaberle from Carolina. If you remember, Kaberle just a few months ago signed a 3 year, $12.75 million contract with the 'Canes. According to the article I read, the 'Canes had been looking to move him for a month. So what you're saying, Carolina, is that a month into the first year of his contract, you already regretted that decision?! Interesting... I wonder why...
After 29 games played, Kaberle's line looks like this: 0 goals, 9 assists, and a -12. Carolina also has the 4th worst power play in the league. For someone who is suppose to be an offensive defenseman and a power play savior....Ouch. Spacek's stat line isn't much better (12 games played: 0 goals, 3 assists, +2), but I still think for Carolina, this is a great move. They gain a little cap room this year with his contract, but most importantly, he's a free agent at the end of the season. They don't have to worry about the other 2 awful years left on Kaberle's contract.
As for the Canadiens, they currently have the 3rd worst power play in the league and they can expect to hit rock bottom now. I'm not quite sure why they made this move. Maybe their thinking is that Kaberle spent almost his whole career in the Northeast division and a move back to their will get him going. I don't know. I think he stinks, so anytime the Canadiens get a stinky player I'm happy with it. Oh man, I cannot wait to boo him!!
In exchange for Jaroslav Spacek, the Canadiens have acquired enormously overpaid and under performing Tomas Kaberle from Carolina. If you remember, Kaberle just a few months ago signed a 3 year, $12.75 million contract with the 'Canes. According to the article I read, the 'Canes had been looking to move him for a month. So what you're saying, Carolina, is that a month into the first year of his contract, you already regretted that decision?! Interesting... I wonder why...
After 29 games played, Kaberle's line looks like this: 0 goals, 9 assists, and a -12. Carolina also has the 4th worst power play in the league. For someone who is suppose to be an offensive defenseman and a power play savior....Ouch. Spacek's stat line isn't much better (12 games played: 0 goals, 3 assists, +2), but I still think for Carolina, this is a great move. They gain a little cap room this year with his contract, but most importantly, he's a free agent at the end of the season. They don't have to worry about the other 2 awful years left on Kaberle's contract.
As for the Canadiens, they currently have the 3rd worst power play in the league and they can expect to hit rock bottom now. I'm not quite sure why they made this move. Maybe their thinking is that Kaberle spent almost his whole career in the Northeast division and a move back to their will get him going. I don't know. I think he stinks, so anytime the Canadiens get a stinky player I'm happy with it. Oh man, I cannot wait to boo him!!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
New Realignment
After allowing representatives from various teams the opportunity to voice their opinions on which direction the league should go in regarding realignment, the Board of Governors have approved a brand spanking new, four conference alignment. Here's how it shakes down (the conferences haven't been named yet):
Conference "A": Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver
Conference "B": Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
Conference "C": Boston, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto
Conference "D": Carolina, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
You play everyone in your conference 6 times and everyone else twice (one home game, one away game). I like the continued importance of "divisional" play. What I also like is that every single season (until the next realignment) the Wings and Hawks visit the Hub. It was a near crime that there could be a year not all six of the Original 6 teams would visit the Hub. Unfortunately we only play Conference C (the other East conference) two times instead of four. The little rivalries that have developed with NYR, Philly and Pitt will suffer, but I'll live.
The top four teams of each conference make the playoffs, so the same amount as the current format. The first two rounds are played against your conference foes and I love this. The B's / Habs rivalry has been so good lately because we've been lucky enough for them to have met in the playoffs. With the heavy influence and emphasis placed on conference play, old rivalries will continue to flourish and I'm sure we'll see many new ones sprout up.
The first alignment plan was just a one for one swap: Winnipeg for either Detroit or Columbus. If you think about it, it doesn't solve many of the problems that some teams face. Mainly travel and the start time of games... plus that would've split up one of the better rivalries in the game. Conference "A" and Conference "B" are aligned more appropriately with their time zones and should help garner more fans. Not every fan base is as dedicated as Detroit and Chicago and stays up 'til midnight watching there team.
Overall, I'm a fan. The great Northeast division remains intact and we welcome the two Florida teams to the fold. Right now, that makes the conference even better as the Florida Panthers are leading the Southeast division right now and we all know what Tampa Bay brings. Hell we now have 6 opportunities to get out of frozen New England and watch the B's in Florida in our floaties and our floral pattern swim trunks. Not too shabby!!
Conference "A": Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver
Conference "B": Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
Conference "C": Boston, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto
Conference "D": Carolina, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
You play everyone in your conference 6 times and everyone else twice (one home game, one away game). I like the continued importance of "divisional" play. What I also like is that every single season (until the next realignment) the Wings and Hawks visit the Hub. It was a near crime that there could be a year not all six of the Original 6 teams would visit the Hub. Unfortunately we only play Conference C (the other East conference) two times instead of four. The little rivalries that have developed with NYR, Philly and Pitt will suffer, but I'll live.
The top four teams of each conference make the playoffs, so the same amount as the current format. The first two rounds are played against your conference foes and I love this. The B's / Habs rivalry has been so good lately because we've been lucky enough for them to have met in the playoffs. With the heavy influence and emphasis placed on conference play, old rivalries will continue to flourish and I'm sure we'll see many new ones sprout up.
The first alignment plan was just a one for one swap: Winnipeg for either Detroit or Columbus. If you think about it, it doesn't solve many of the problems that some teams face. Mainly travel and the start time of games... plus that would've split up one of the better rivalries in the game. Conference "A" and Conference "B" are aligned more appropriately with their time zones and should help garner more fans. Not every fan base is as dedicated as Detroit and Chicago and stays up 'til midnight watching there team.
Overall, I'm a fan. The great Northeast division remains intact and we welcome the two Florida teams to the fold. Right now, that makes the conference even better as the Florida Panthers are leading the Southeast division right now and we all know what Tampa Bay brings. Hell we now have 6 opportunities to get out of frozen New England and watch the B's in Florida in our floaties and our floral pattern swim trunks. Not too shabby!!
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