ON MOVING HIATUS!

Tonight the family and I will be finishing up our last minute packing, and tomorrow we'll be closing on our old house, buying the new one, AND moving all at the same time.

Fun!! (and HOORAY for Advil!)

I'll be bringing down my wireless LAN at home later today so I won't be able to update the blog after tonight's game (Timmay's starting BTW), and I won't have Internet at the new house until at least next Monday, so no blog updates or podcast this weekend.

In the meantime, I HIGHLY recommend visiting some of the Bruins blogs listed to your right, in case you're not a daily reader of theirs already. Wicked Bruins Blog, Ghosts of the Garden, and one of the newer blogs The Old Bruins Fan are all great reads and will do more than satisfy your lust for all things Black and Gold.

Until next week, take care, have fun, and GO BRUINS!

Interesting NHL survey

(Thanks to Tim F for this one!)

The Hockey News recently surveyed a group of NHL players across the league to get some input on the league and how the players view things. You can read the whole survey at
thehockeynews.com/en/news/news.asp?idNews=24100 but here's some interesting answers....

-70% of players like the shootout

-46% of players like the delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass, but 40% would prefer to just see the offending team not allowed to change players, like icing.

-an overwhelming 97% of players think that 5 for fighting is fine

-Only 2 players listed Boston as a team they would choose to play for (other than their own) BUT!!! Not a single player polled listed Boston as a team they would least like to be traded to.

-Marc Savard appeared a few times, as 7 players said he was the most hated player in the NHL, and 8 players said he was the most overrated (probably the same guys ;-) For the record, Sean Avery was both the most hated AND most overrated.

- 52% of players said they'd rather see their sons take the US college route to the pros, rather than major juniors.

- 3 players actually said that NAPS were the best part about their job!

- 2 players listed backchecking as the WORST part about their job. No confirmation that it was Ilya Kovalchuk and Daniele Briere who said that.

7th player

So..... who's your vote for 7th player? On a team that completely underachieved all season long, who gets your vote as the player who performed above and beyond expectations? Some candidates...

SAVARD - Pros: No one thought he'd replicate his point total in Boston without Kovalchuk and Hossa on his wings. Brought THE RALLY HELMET to Boston. Cons: High priced UFA who was expected to perform at a high level.

THOMAS - Pros: Decent numbers on a bad defensive team. Competes every night. Cons: won last year as a dark horse, we knew he could play net but he certainly hasn't been "lights out". Tends to give up the softies, and when he's on a losing streak, it's a LOSING STREAK.

ALBERTS - Pros: Has played solid minutes all season, greatly improved his hit timing, has been steady and unnoticeable, which is what you want from a stay at home d-man. Shows heart, will fight anyone, even though he loses almost all of 'em. Cons: Still makes bad passes/plays, still doesn't get that if your stick is parallel to the ice, it's a penalty.

KESSEL - Pros: Has definitely improved as the season has gone on. Clutch in the shoot out. Cons: Lost time to illness, 25 points isn't exactly setting the world on fire as a highly touted rookie.

MOWERS - Pros: Skates hard every night, does whatever is asked of him. Cons: Set up to fail by Lewis, put on the ice in situations he shouldn't be in, lack of any scoring ability will probably take him out of running

REICH - Pros: Tenacious. Goes balls out every single shift. Not afraid to take anyone on, has proven to be a pretty decent PK guy. Cons: Hasn't really played all that much, all things considered. Doesn't have that rabid PJ Stock-like following... yet.

And MY vote goes to.... (the envelope please)...

BUCYK. That's right, The Chief. He gets the award for me for having to watch this bunch of players who wear the spoked B, he who skated with Bobby Orr, Turk, Jonathan, O'Reilly, now has to watch this team claim to be the Boston Bruins. He puts up with it day in, day out as the team's travel coordinator, so he gets my vote for going above and beyond.

Kalus nets #1 as B's win in Ottawa 3-2

Decent all-around effort by the Bruins last night in getting their first win since March 15th. HUGE congrats to Petr Kalus for getting his first NHL goal to tie the game, just a minute before Chara scored his 11th to pull the B's ahead.

After getting the crap kicked out of them in practice the other day, the B's responded well. Based on their track record this season, in another game or two they'll regress and continue to give up the blue line, the slot, not get in front of the other net, etc. But with little to root for at this point besides a high lottery pick, we'll take Kalus getting his first and Joey MacDonald playing a good game.

Do you think Mac earned another start on Thursday? I'd like to think so, aside from the one bad game he had he's been surprisingly solid since getting picked up, so I say stick with him. Timmay could use the rest. Of course, doing something like that might make sense, so I doubt it'll happen :-)

Bergy had 1G-1A last night, so good to see him still trying. Like CJ said on the podcast, I don't think anyone would be surprised to see him disclose after the season that he's had more than just the one vague injury he's hinted about.

Kessel - another strong game IMO. The kid's going to be a gamer.

Let's ride them into the ground now that the playoffs are out of reach

That's apparently the Dave Lewis train of thought nowadays, as he ran the troops ragged yesterday in a nasty 45 minute practice according to the Globe and Herald. No pucks were used, just a lot of lung capacity as much of the practice was comprised of sprints. Gotta feel for Timmy, who's been hung out to dry by his defense (or lack thereof) and had to skate all the sprints in full gear.

After practice, the coaching staff went back to the hotel to rest up for tonight's game while the team stayed at the Sens practice rink to watch the entire replay of the Pittsburgh debacle. On the one hand, yeah some tough love is needed or else we're looking at nothing but Ls to close the season. On the other hand, it's been done before this season, and obviously, IT HASN'T WORKED. The team is still consistently inconsistent and lacks grit and leadership. Still.

Marty Biron is about to sign in Philly for a respectable $3.5M/season. That would've been a good number for him in Boston, but with him effectively off the market, Giguere will be the #1 goaltending UFA this summer. Chiarelli has said "no top tier UFAs" but who knows if that's just posturing. Maybe his "Lewis is safe" comments are just media posturing too. Who knows.

In the offseason, if the B's want to shore up the back end I wonder if the "Nabby for Murray" deal will come back into play. Nabby does have the NTC, but may be more inclined to waive it in the offseason since he won't be looking at a team that's decidedly on the downswing mid-season.

The Bruins Report Podcast Episode 19 3/25/07

DOWNLOAD FROM HERE OR JUST STREAM BELOW

4 losses… no wins… no playoffs… no GOALS… yeah it’s a fun podcast this week. Russ recaps his zany Boston adventure, and gives a first hand account of what it’s like to see a team give up on a game, and the season.

More ranting about the coaching and the direction of the team takes up the bulk of the episode (what, AGAIN?) and Russ takes enough time to enthrall everyone with his obscure cartoon character impressions. All egged on by CJ, of course.

More B’s history is reminisced upon fondly in this week’s installment of “Puttin’ On The Foil”, which you think would be intro’d properly after being made a regular segment, oh, maybe 15 episodes ago.

This week’s band is Third Fire (http://www.piggybackrecords.com/thirdfire)

Visit us online at http://thebruinsreport.blogspot.com and also on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/thebruinsreport, or send in questions/comments to us at thebruinsreport@gmail.com

Fire Grady *clap clap clapclapclap*! B's shutout once again

In further evidence that the B's have completely given up on their "coach" and this season, they rolled over and played dead to the Penguins today, getting shut out for the 3rd time in just over a week and losing 5-0.

Timmay's lack of goaltending today, and the goal he gave up to Roberts, summed up his entire season. Great #1A goalie, but not a #1 you can ride and count on.

Seriously, this game sucked. The B's sucked, the announcing sucked, seeing God* get 3 points today sucked, but at least he's ahead of lazy Jumbo Joe in the league scoring. How's Guerin going to feel, knowing he was traded to San Jose for a first round exit because Thornton spends too much time thinking of honey dipped donuts instead of scoring in the post season?

What a waste of time watching that lifeless game. I'm almost HAPPY knowing I'll miss a few games when I move in 5 days, because I'm too much of a Bruins sucker to NOT watch the games.

*I say "God" because every time Crosby touched the puck, you could hear the NBC announcers making a mess of their pants. Especially Pierre McGuire. Gah. What a bunch of man crushes.

Second verse, same as the first! Start the chanting now.

Bruins have lead in 3rd period.

Bruins give up lead in 3rd period.

Bruins lose.

Sound familiar?

Hey Grady, thanks for being a lying SOB. You commented in the media today about how calling up Kalus and Stuart was about showing what they can do to help the future of this team. And I quote, from the Globe today:

"Pay attention, there's other players in the organization that want your job," Lewis said. "[The call-ups] want to show that they can play here. Everyone who comes up wants to stay."

And there's also this gem:

"We're still trying to put down a foundation," Lewis said, "and getting guys to believe."

So tell me Coach Lewis, how exactly do these young players get to show that they can play here by playing the following:

KALUS - 6 shifts, 4:24 TOI
STUART - 11 shifts, 8:25 TOI, +1

Please, all of you who have been on my case for being on Grady's case, explain this to me. How do future players for this franchise, like Krejci, Kalus, Stuart, Walter, etc. get to show "they can play here" with stats like this?

Oh, and where was Brandon "Mr. Point Per Game In Boston" Bochenski in overtime? ON THE BENCH.

Also, Krejci gets demoted for his bad coverage on a play that results in a goal. Chara GIVES THE FRIGGIN' PUCK AWAY with a lazy, bad play in his own zone, but there's NO CONSEQUENCE. Chara better be buying MacDonald dinner every night for the next week for costing him his shutout.

This team is F'd next season if Lewis is still here.

Let the tryouts begin

Ben Walter has been sent back to Providence, and Petr Kalus and Mark Stuart have been recalled. Not sure if there's an injured D, or if Allen *and* York are going to sit, but both players should be in this weekend's games.

Kalus' point totals are so-so for his first pro season, but he's been a constant physical presence, and has a lot of grit that has pleased the Bruins brass.

Now, if they could only demote Lewis and call up Gordon...

B's give up in 3rd, season is done.

Taking over 2 hours to get to Boston and then pay for parking: $20

2 hot dogs, 1 soda for dinner at Garden: $13

Watching the B's give up in the 3rd and give up on the season: &%$^%$^*##*&(@

It was brutally painful to sit in the New Garden last night and watch the Bruins (more specifically, their defense) give up on a 3-1 lead and essentially give up on the season. When it was 3-1, the B's were skating well. All it took was ONE FREAKING GOAL where TT stacked the pads and the rest of the team stood around admiring his work while Plekanic grabbed the rebound and scored from almost behind the net. Their confidence crumbled, their discipline crumbled, and that was that.

On the good side.... watching Kessel in person is fantastic. The kid is going to be GOOD. I mean, SCARY good. Especially if the Bruins can get guys to skate with him.

On the bad side... pretty much everything else. PK was pathetic, discipline was pathetic, the Scabs who complained they didn't want to muss up their mascara when Reich and Ference challenged them were pathetic, the fans throwing beers at 12 year olds were pathetic...

That's pretty much that. Time to start calling in those golf times, fellas. And we, the fans, can only hope this umbrella of ineptitude is finally lifted from this team next season.

Lottery pick, here we come!!!

Essensa in net!

Ok, not tonight, just today at practice while Timmay got some rest.

According to Fluto's blog over at boston.com, Essensa hasn't had the pads on in about 4 years, but took to the ice today to give the team two goaltenders as they practiced.

Savard and Bergeron are both recovering from the flu (per the Herald) but both should be in good shape for the game tonight. Not that the flu is an excuse for the whole team not bothering to score any goals the last two games...

Looks like Sammy is done in Montreal after publicly saying he regretted signing there. Well, that's what happens when you become a Scab. God robs you of all your talent. Let that be a lesson to you.

Yes, that was tongue in cheek, so ease off the emails already :-)

I'm excited to go to the game tonight, as I've mentioned being well south of Boston as well as being a dad, husband, and taxpayer keeps me from being able to afford to go to too many B's games (both financially and spare-time wise). I've got the B's sweater ready to go, and so am I, so if the B's want to have ANY CHANCE WHATSOEVER at not golfing shortly, there's got to be a win tonight (right Ference?).

GO B's!

when you don't score...

you don't win.

The B's played a much better game tonight than the atrocity the other night.

But once again, they were shut out.

The bugler is getting ready to take his horn out... it's getting polished up... if there's a loss on Thursday, I think we might hear the soft, sad tones of "Taps" mourning this season...

Happy Orr Day!

If you see Mr Robert Gordon Orr on the street today, wish him a Happy Birthday. If not for his knees, he could probably *still* lace 'em up today. And be better than half the guys who've played D for the B's this year.

Ok, probably better than all of them.

Timmay gets the start tonight, no Donovan or PJ. Muzz is definitely still out for a while. If you believe in sending good vibes, send 'em to the B's tonight in Montreal because a few more losses spells total doom for the team.

The Bruins Report Podcast Episode 18 3/18/07

DOWNLOAD FROM HERE OR STREAM BELOW!

It’s like Rantcast Pt II this week! With the playoffs seemingly slipping away, Russ’ word pronunciation slips away as well, with unintended results (TBR is not responsible for YOUR firewall logs at work!).

It’s a short week with only 2 game recaps, but they’re chock full of criticism and pissed off ire. Some former Bruin comments are aired out and discussed, as well as the future “vision” of the current coaching staff.

In “Puttin’ On The Foil” this week we follow up on last week’s listener question, discuss charity and local college games, and also chat about some very valid rule issues brought up by a listener.

This week’s band is Tea Leaves

Visit us online at http://thebruinsreport.blogspot.com and also on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/thebruinsreport, or send in questions/comments to us at thebruinsreport@gmail.com

Thank goodness for fantasy baseball...

because I had an online draft to take me away from the carnage. That was just PATHETIC.

Let me say it again - PATHETIC.

And this is not the time of the year to have a "let's forget about this one, and go play hard at the next one boys!" game.

Not at all.

Writing any more about this 7-0 drubbing would be a waste of time.

Phil "The Closer" Kessel wins it in the SO 4-3

Gotta hand it to the B's tonight - down 3-0 (after a natural trick for Chris Clark) they stormed back and tied the game, and ended up winning 4-3 in the shootout.

Savvy had another 3 assists on the night, Patrice had 1G-1A in the game and also scored in the SO. And, of course, The Thrill won it in the SO, going last after Ovechkin (MAN CAN THAT GUY PLAY) scored.

Alberts had a fight, it's nice that he likes to go, I just wish he'd actually win a bout for a change.

Also, the powerplay - IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!

So, they got 2 points when they needed it, and they showed some cajones to come back and grab 'em. The points, that is. We'll see how things look at the end of this 4-game stretch with the Scabs and Rags, though.

Walter gets the call

Ben Walter has been recalled from Providence and will be playing in tonight's game. Walter had a quick cup of coffee with the B's last season, but didn't stick around long. The former UMass Lowell standout has been having a decent season in Providence, and has definitely picked up his physical play from last season.

Zilla is back in the nets for the Caps, let's hope the B's bombard him early (and often) and give him a rude "welcome back".

A callup or 7 D?

With Shean Donovan potentially out for tomorrow's game against the Rangers, Grady Lewis was quoted in today's Globe as saying that they might go with 7 D, even though it's "hard to play with seven defensemen, because you don't have any rhythm". Now, I'm *really* hoping that this was a mistype by Fluto at the Globe, because I don't think that even Lewis could decide to do something in a game that's contrary to having a good lineup.

In the Herald, they intimate that he *won't* go to 7 D. Let's hope that's the right quote.

If the B's don't go with 7 D, and they call someone up, I'd be interested to see who it is. Kalus is always a possibility, as is Ben Walter, and with Krejci being demoted for his -2 in 3:03 in his last Boston game I don't think we'll see him soon.

The Bruins Report Podcast Episode 17 3-11-07

DOWNLOAD FROM HERE OR JUST STREAM BELOW!

It’s a ranty ranty rant episode this week! Some of the games are discussed, albeit briefly, with CJ and Russ just venting about the team, the coaching, and the fact that they lose 3 in a row when they have games on hand and suck against the worst team in the league, but can pull out a big win against the second best in the NHL.

4 4-point games are on tap, and the Chris Simon Incident is discussed and compared with McSorely’s whack on Brashear.

“Puttin’ On The Foil” brings us a day that will live in infamy, and a few that, well, probably won’t.

No band this week, in memory of Brad Delp.

Visit us online at http://thebruinsreport.blogspot.com and http://www.myspace.com/thebruinsreport, or send in questions/comments to us at thebruinsreport@gmail.com

So who's making the playoffs????

Not this team.... 4-1 loss to the worst team in the league?

3 losses in a row when you need points in every game?

Chara - a minus 3 today. Great game Mr $7.5M. Did he throw a hit today? Anytime in the past 3-4 games?

You know the coach hates you when you get even less ice time than Jeff Hoggan.

That NHL commercial CJ mentioned on the podcast...

AH I laugh every time at the end, his expression is the best. Thanks CJ for alerting me to this gem.

Joey Mac actually gets another start/Hoggan up/PJ & Muzz done?

Joey MacDonald will get the start against the Flyers tomorrow. He's got his new pads in, but expect him in the old Red Wings ones since he said the new ones are still too stiff. Color me shocked that Timmay isn't going to be driven into the ground like a 1987 Escort your parents gave you.

Jeff Hoggan has been recalled, since he's such a pure goal scorer, to help the B's not potentially get shut out again. David "Was that my guy who just scored on a breakaway?" Krejci has been sent to Providence because Grady Lewis hates anyone under the age of 30. No, in all seriousness, Krejci was a -2 in just over 3 minutes of ice time, so it's back to the farm, and up with the experienced guy. Well, kind of experienced anyways.

PJ's apparently got a broken wrist and is out 6-8 weeks potentially which means the rest of the season. Murray is going to be out a while with his balky groin, so there goes the B's top goal scorer for the rest of the season. Kessel and Kobasew will most likely be Savard's wings for the rest of the season. Funny last night that Savard tried to start some fisticuffs since he wasn't getting anything done points-wise. Say what you will about him, but he shows more fiestiness than that big guy back on the blue line who used to be a feared physical presence. Now I think he just rents himself out as a jungle gym/climbing wall at kids parties on the weekends.

B's lose even more points, lose 2-1

In another East-meets-West game, where the B's could have gone balls to the wall for 2 points, they again fell well flat and lost 2-1 to the Wild. The only B's goal came with just over a minute to play on a tip in from Bochenski.

Grady went with another short bench, with Krejci Chistov and Reich all seeing less than 5 minutes (although I don't blame him for sitting them after their totally lackadaisical play on Bouchard's goal). Kessel was once again one of the best players on the ice, making plays and passes, and getting the save on the shot on Boston's empty net in the last minute of play.

I really don't know what to say at this point... for a team fighting for a playoff spot, who supposedly thinks they can make it, I don't get the fact that they were almost shut out for 2 games in a row.

So far, I'm hating the Wideman for Boyes deal. With a passion. Hating it. Ward/Mara, I'm definitely OK with now as Ward has proved solid.

Did we trade away Chara? Or just his balls?

On the good side, the Leafs and Scabs both lost, but the Rangers won, so once again the B's failed to make any movement up the charts.

BTW - see Simon's 2-handed chop on Hollweg last night? Pathetic. If Simon isn't gone for at least half the season next year, and the rest of this year, then you know, once and for all, that the NHL and Gary Bettman are frauds.

Flat B's fall to Avs 2-0

The Bruins, for whatever reason, came out *extremely* flat last night and dropped to the Avs, losing any chance of earning 2 points in one of their games on hand.

If not for Timmy, this game would've been much more lopsided, and as it is if not for being interfered with, the game result may have been much different.

I don't get the refs saying that Ward pushed McLean into TT - replays clearly showed McLean leaning into TT on his own, and in the "new" NHL Ward knew if he attempted to move Ward he'd get an interference penalty. Thank you, Gary Bettman!

Kobasew made his B's debut, skating about 15 minutes overall and seeing icetime on the PP after Murray went down... again.

All in all, I don't get what the B's were thinking coming out *that* flat after two great games. Oh, and what's this? ANOTHER too-many-men penalty??????? Sheesh.

The KKB reign begins tonight

Chuck Kobasew will make his Bruins debut tonight, skating with Kessel
and Bochenski.

Kessel
Kobasew
Bochenski

Of course, as predicted by all, Chistov gets to take a seat in the press
box. Hopefully he'll rotate in and out with Tenkrat and Riech, 'cause we
all know Grady's security blankie Mowers is assured of a regular shift.

"We can scrub each other!"

Listen to the latest official Bruins podcast, around the 6:50 mark
during the Jason York interview you can clearly hear 2 players talking
in the background and you can hear one say:

"we can scrub each other!"

Um, I'm all for having a close knit team in the locker room, but that
might be going a bit too far...

The Bruins Report Podcast Episode 15

DOWNLOAD FROM HERE OR JUST STREAM IT BELOW!

This day-delayed episode of The Bruins Report brings listeners exciting chases, romantic love triangles, action-packed drama, and…. no actually it doesn’t bring any of that.

Russ and CJ quickly go over the two main deadline deals from last week, and their impact on the two losses and two wins this past week. Joey MacDonald (how many NKOTB references is this poor guy going to suffer from here in Boston?) gets his first win, and the playoff race is ON!

More fun facts in “This Week In Bruins History”, and the Net Defective sets a record for consecutive weeks mentioned. CJ also updates B’s fans on the top prospects down on the farm.

This week’s band is Boysetsfire (www.boysetsfire.org)

Visit us online at http://thebruinsreport.blogspot.com and http://www.myspace.com/thebruinsreport, or send in questions/comments to us at thebruinsreport@gmail.com

A night of firsts as B's beat Devils 4-1

Another solid game for the second night in a row, as the B's beat the Devils on the road 4-1. A quick list of firsts:

• First win in net for the B's for Joey MacDonald (I was skeptical of his start, glad I was wrong!)
• First goal for the B's by Aaron Ward (just toss it at the net)
• First win against Brodeur in NJ in nearly THREE YEARS

Kessel had yet ANOTHER 2 point night, and is +5 in his last 2 games. Bochenski scored, again, and Chistov made a great play to set it all up. Glad to see those guys getting the ice time they deserve.

The Bruins D has been looking much better since that crappy Flyers game, and it was good to see everyone play hard. Although, they do get negative points for taking every single B's penalty (the old man York had 2 to hisself).

Ward was a team-high +3, and Chara and Bergy were both +2 (in addition to the entire Kessel line). Good to see those stats finally going up instead of down. Time-wise, Reich was the only B who saw less than 10 minutes of ice time. I still don't see how Mowers gets 22 shifts and Bochenski gets 13, I guess PK time makes the difference.

PODCAST - we'll be online tomorrow night. With the Devils game tonight, when we usually record the show, we figured we'd record tomorrow to be able to recap tonight as well.

BEER - I finally had Arrogant Bastard today. HOLY FRIGGIN' CRAP people, you have not lived until you have had The Bastard. If a Bud Light is your idea of a "good beer", don't waste your time, wuss.

B's & crowd beat Scabs 3-1

I'm going to say this right off the bat - when I make my annual pilgrimage to to Boston later this month for a B's-Scabs game, MAN I hope the crowd and game are like last night!!!

Much better game all around for the D in stifling the small but fast Scabs forwards. Montreal had 32 shots, but not very many of the dangerous "guaranteed goal" kind.

Great game by Kess, bumped up to the first line late in the game from centering the 4th line, he ended up with 2 helpers on the night.

Can someone please explain to me how Bochenski, averaging nearly a PPG since coming over from Chicago, scores a goal last night but still gets LESS ice time than Jeremy Reich??

Nice to see Tenkrat also score, his move up to the second line was another payoff. So there's 2 decent moves by Grady, and one continual stupid one.

Timmay in (again), no Kobasew yet, Aaron's Army

Timmay will get the start against the Scabs tonight. I highly doubt we'll even see MacDonald down the stretch, unless there's a blowout. Joey's still sporting the Detroit red and white, which I suppose isn't as bad as when Jeff Hackett was wearing his Scabs pads and mask for a few weeks. I think I threw up a little in my mouth every time I saw that during a game.

Chuck Kobasew has been skating with the B's, but won't play this weekend. Hopefully over the coming week he'll get into a game, as long as his elbow is feeling fine. I'd expect either Tenkrat or Chistov to take a seat, and see Kobasew start slow and work his way up the lines. Kobasew works best when banging around the crease and boards with a good center to toss him the puck.

Good to hear the D putting the Flyers loss on their shoulders, they all agreed that there wasn't enough good communication, which is something that will come. When the only guys back there who started the year in Boston are Chara and Alberts, there's bound to be some coverage issues. If they want to have ANY chance of even thinking playoffs, that needs to get fixed. And quickly.

As fellow podcast host CJ pointed out in an earlier comment, Aaron Downey has returned to the Bruins family as a minor league "reassignment", with Phil Sauve headed to Hamilton in the exchange. Aaron is probably one of the most popular players in P-Bruins history, and it was common to see entire sections at the Dunk (back then the Providence Civic Center) holding up "Aaron's Army" signs. Aaron only played in one game for Boston, after being recalled a few games earlier. He was actually recalled against the Sabres but didn't dress, and was interviewed on the radio between periods. His voice was shaking, he was so excited to be recalled to the NHL for the first time. The Chief joked that it was a good thing he wasn't dressed, as he was so pumped up that he might check himself right through the boards :-)

Best night of Mowers' life ruined, B's lose 4-3 in OT

The Bruins need 2 points, so what do they do? Get 1.

Kudos to Mark Mowers, scoring twice in the first 10 minutes and giving himself (and Donovan as well) a +2 on the night. I was totally rooting for the guy to get the trick. He took advantage of a nervous Biron, unfortunately for the B's Biron settled down and made some great saves for the rest of the game, including a number of stops in traffic. If Biron signs, looks like a fantastic move by Philly.

TT had a good game overall, I was going to get on his case for the Upshall goal, but Scottie just flat out made a great move and deked Timmay out of his compression shorts.

Ward had a decent first game as a B, dishing out the hits and playing 29 shifts. Wideman got an assist on Mowers' first goal, but made some very poor plays and passes. He's a work in progress and it shows. He actually got over 3 mins on the PP, which shocked the hell out of me, I figured Grady would have him stapled to the bench.

So much for that "our defense is shored up now" comment from Chia, giving up what, 55 friggin' shots? I'll give 'em a few games to mesh, but that many shots (plus a shortie) to the worst team in the NHL is an embarrassment.

New guys are in, along with Muzz and Tenkrat

Glen Murray and Petr Tenkrat (he dropped an e because it was slowing him down) will be back in the lineup tonight, along with new guys Ward (wearing #44) and Wideman (wearing the previously cursed #6).

According to the Globe, Wideman will be paired with Bobby Allen, and hopefully he'll get some PP time as well. Ward will be with Chara. I'd rather see Wideman with Chara, or perhaps Ference. We'll see what happens as the new guys get acclimated into the lineup. I just hope that Wideman gets a legit shot here, and not scratched every other game in favor of York.

Expect Biron to get the start tonight for Philly, and be pumped to be a legit #1 again.

Timmay gets the start for Boston. Of course.