Game 36: Thrashers 3, Bruins 2 (SO)

Quick hits

• Andy Brickley harped on it last night during NESN's telecast of the game, but it was good to see the Bruin defenseman jumping up into the play and making smart, aggressive decisions. Everyone from Zdeno Chara down to Steven Kampfer seemed willing to pinch when necessary and lug the puck up ice when necessary, and while it led to the B's getting slightly out of position a couple of times, it also led to a ton of good scoring chances. It's something worth watching as the season progresses, and something the team needs to do more often.
• Where is Nathan Horton? Has anyone seen him? The big winger was supposed to be the pure goal scorer that the B's lacked, but he's been nearly invisible for weeks now. Horton got benched for a large chunk of the third period in the Tampa Bay game, and responded by landing one shot on goal and recording zero points last night. Simply not good enough. For someone who's supposed to be a pure goal scorer, Horton sure had a subpar December: he recorded just six points. I don't think he'll stay slumping forever, but this is the second prolonged slump of the season for a guy who has had his heart and work ethic questioned in the past. Troubling to say the least...
• Good to see a large crowd in Atlanta last night. Surely some of the fans were drawn in by the prospect of pugilism and scrums, but all of the fans were treated to a fantastic hockey game from start to finish. That's two games in a row for the B's that have been filled with fast-paced play and back-and-forth hockey. Considering that both games have been against Southeast Division opponents, and also considering that the Caps call the Southeast home as well, and one could argue that this could be the NHL's most exciting division to watch on a nightly basis.
• I hope Tuukka Rask gets the start tomorrow in Buffalo. Tim Thomas said he was tired after the Tampa Bay game, and Rask hasn't started since the middle of December. Rask played well against Buffalo in last year's playoffs, so I hope Claude Julien gives the youngster the nod on New Year's Day.
• Trying to keep it short today because I'm working on a 2010 highlight/recap piece that I hope to publish later today. Stay tuned, and Happy New Year!
  

Game 34: Bruins 3, Panthers 2 (SO)

The Good

• Tim Thomas, bailout king Tim Thomas wasn't as stellar as he's been at times this season, but his play was probably the only reason why this game made it to a shootout. The B's were sloppy and careless with the puck, and handed the Panthers a number of glittering scoring chances, including two breakaways and a 3-on-1. Thomas stood tall, allowing just the two goals and stopping all three Panther shooters in the shootout. If he hadn't been there to bail his teammates out, this one likely would have ended as a 4-2 loss.
  
• Who's that speedy Russian kid? That would be Evgeny Dadonov, a rookie who joined the Panthers when Radek Dvorak went on IR. Dadonov, who was Florida's third-round pick in 2007, appeared in his 13th NHL game last night (ninth of this season) and was a thorn in the Bruins' side all night. The speedy 21-year-old didn't record a point, but twice victimized Zdeno Chara along the boards, leading to two Panther odd-man rushes. Dadonov was dangerous with the puck all night, and looks like he'll be a good player for the Panthers; he's already recorded eight points in nine games this year.
• Party like it's '08-09! Yes, the Wheeler-Krejci-Ryder line appears to be clicking again, just as they did in 2008-2009. One of Wheeler, Ryder or Krejci was responsible for every goal the B's scored last night: Krejci got both in regulation, while Wheeler notched the lone goal in the shootout. Ryder had two assists and Wheeler had one, while Krejci led the line with six shots and nearly got himself a hat trick. If this line can continue to produce, the B's will have a pretty fearsome top-six to throw at opposing teams.

The Bad

• Merry Christmas from the Bruins! The B's looked like they were still filled with the holiday spirit last night, showering the Panthers with gifts in the form of turnovers and sloppy plays. Steven Kampfer's turnover was the most egregious, as it led directly to Florida's first goal, but he was hardly alone. Everyone on defense, from Chara down to Kampfer, needs to take better care of the puck. Such turnovers won't go unpunished tonight against a team as offensively-talented as Tampa Bay.
• SHOOT THE PUCK! Someone needs to remind Messrs. Savard and Horton that the only way to score goals in hockey is to actually shoot the puck. Horton still looks hesitant to shoot at times, and while Savard is a top-notch playmaker, he needs to shoot the puck when he gets his chances. Last night, he passed up more than one scoring opportunity by passing the puck instead of shooting it. Can't score if you don't shoot, boys.
• No letter for Wides Really, Pete DeBoer? Wides doesn't even have an "A" on his jersey? Wides' jersey should read "CAABDAT" for "Captain, Alternate Captain, Alternate Captain, Best Defenseman of All-Time." Shameful display from Florida.

The Rest

• This one really was a pretty lucky win for the B's. Had Tim Thomas not played as well as he did or had the Panthers been able to bury their scoring chances, the B's would have lost pretty handily. They need to tighten up defensively tonight against Tampa, or it's going to be a long night.
• I'm not the coach, but I probably would've given Tuukka Rask the start in this game, mainly because I'm assuming both goalies were going to play in one of the two games in Florida. Rask got shelled last time he faced the Lightning, while he shutout the Panthers in his last start against them. I know Thomas is the number-one goalie right now, but I would've put Rask between the pipes for this one.

Attaboy: WKRP Line. These guys are showing signs of rekindling their '08-09 magic, bad news for B's opponents.

Providence shuttle: The lack of "CAABDAT" for Wides. Come on, Florida. Come on.

Game 30: Canadiens 4, Bruins 3

Just some quick hits for you today; I've been busy at work and don't have time to write a ton.

• Tough call on that penalty shot at the start of the game. The penalty shot rules require a shot to be awarded if the shooter was denied a reasonable chance to score (rule 24.8). You could argue that one all day; my objection comes with calling a penalty at all. CBC has a great view of the play here (starting at 0:35). I don't see much wrong there. Chara's contact was purely stick on stick, and it looked like Kampfer may have gotten his stick up around Cammalleri's hands, but it could have been on his stick too. I'd be interested to know who the referee called the infraction on. Either way, a bit of a ticky-tack call just a minute into the game. But hey, you know how that call could've been avoided? Milan Lucic could have made a better pass. Just saying.
• Clean but vicious hit on Brad Marchand by P.K. Subban. Subban was going all or nothing on that play; when he hit Marchand, he hit him with his back/backside. If he missed, Marchand was blazing past him for a 2-on-1, but Subban got it all on that one. Stupid play by Gregory Campbell too. I'm all for sticking up for your teammate, but Campbell took a penalty for trying to fight Subban over a clean hit. Marchand will know now to keep his head up. As a result of Campbell's actions, the Habs got a power play at the end of the first period and scored right as the power play expired. Subban's hit energized his team and the crowd and put the B's back on their heels after they had been taking it to the Habs after cutting the deficit to one.
• Good on David Krejci to fight Cammalleri. Krejci was enraged by a number of what he called dirty moves by the Habs, and decided to deal with it with his fists. The fight, in my view, was even or slightly won by Krejci, who cut Cammalleri. Cammalleri got his best punches in with Krejci on his knees. Classy move, Mike. But not really out of line for a guy of your character.
• This game will do nothing to quiet the boneheads clamoring for Claude Julien's termination. The fact that the team comes out flat and can't make plays isn't CJ's fault, it's the players fault. CJ shouldn't have to motivate a team of professional athletes to play in a nationally televised divisional game in Montreal. Give me a break.
• Hopefully the fireworks in this game make for an interesting one the next time these teams meet on Jan. 8. This "rivarly" has been lacking ever since Mike Komisarek and Alex Kovalev departed.
  

Game 27: Bruins 5, Islanders 2

There wasn't really much to this game; it was a gritty, grind-it-out affair that the B's were expected to win, and win they did. I'll try to keep this brief.

The Good

• Brad Marchand Marchand has been a pleasant surprise this year (as has been the play of the entire fourth line, really). The B's resident pest is now tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals with three, and has been providing energy, hustle and grit every time he steps on the ice for the B's. Marchand is emerging (in my opinion) as an early 7th Player Award candidate.
• DiPi! DiPi! If not for the Isles' dreadful team overall, Rick DiPietro would be emerging as a nice story right now. The Massachusetts native has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, and this season is the first time in what seems like a decade that he's been healthy for this long. He played very well last night, making 32 saves and serving as the reason the B's weren't up 4-0 after the first period. His numbers aren't great, but that's to be expected when he's playing behind this borderline-AHL bunch from Long Island. Wouldn't be surprised to see DiPietro get the Masterton nomination from the Islanders. (By the way, the "DiPi!" in the title refers to a time a couple of season ago when the Islanders were decent and they were playing the then-woeful Dave Lewis era Bruins at the Garden. My brother and I were at the game, surrounded by Islanders fans who made the trip, and pretty much every time he made a save, they'd stand up and start chanting "DiPi! DiPi! DiPi!" Needless to say, that game wasn't a ton of fun to be at.)
• Lucic scores again (and again) Milan Lucic is emerging as the B's best player (right now, anyways). Lucic now leads the team is both goals (15) and points (25) and is now tied for seventh in the league in goals scored (with Vancouver's Daniel Sedin). He is skating much better and is much more of a threat out there on the ice now than he was at any point last season, which just goes to show how hobbled he was by that high ankle sprain. Looch looks like he'll be a force to be reckoned with this season, good news for B's fans.

The Bad

• Will someone save the Isles? This is pathetic. One can't help but feel bad for players on the Islanders, as they seem to be playing for an owner who simply doesn't care about winning anymore. It's tough to see a bright young talent like John Tavares toil away in obscurity because the Isles management doesn't seem to care anymore. I think that if not for the team's storied past, they'd be first on the list for relocation right now. Their attendance is brutal, the team isn't looking better any time soon and there are two other pro teams within miles of the Nassau Coliseum. Something's gotta be done, because the team is in utter disrepair.
• The Islanders Yes, again.

The Rest

• Zdeno Chara's kill count reached two last night, as he sent two Islanders limping to the bench in pain after felling them with his ferocious slapshot. The first victim was Radek Martinek, who took a slapper off of the wrist-area. He returned to the game later on. The second victim was Tavares, who looked like he caught the shot in the bicep/elbow area. He didn't return to the game, but according to Katie Strang of Newsday, x-rays were negative. Chara should start collecting the helmets of the players he takes out, Brad Pitt-style.
• The B's are quietly hitting their stride here. I don't think the team has been playing all that well for entire games lately; instead, they've been playing well for a period here or there, then taking another period off. But they're finding ways to win, and that's what counts. The B's are now 4-0-1 in December, and they'll need to keep playing their best to survive the month. Here's a look at the B's upcoming schedule, through the rest of 2010: vs. Philly, @ Buffalo, @ Montreal, vs. Washington, vs. Anaheim, vs. Atlanta, @ Florida, @ Tampa, and @ Atlanta. Only three of those teams (FLA, ANA and BUF) are currently out of playoff position. (And Buffalo and Florida are eighth and ninth in the East, respectively). The rest of this months should show fans what the B's are made of.

Attaboy: Marchand. Providing the spark the B's need throughout the year, and potting a few goals hasn't hurt either.

Providence shuttle: The Islanders' ownership/management. On second thought, don't send them to Providence. They might find a way to run the P-B's into the ground too.

Game 26: Bruins 3, Sabres 2 (OT)

The Good

• Life from the power play The B's sluggish power play has been a problem all year, but it showed signs of life last night. The B's finished the evening 1-for-4 on the man advantage, with the one strike being the game-winner. However, the power play was a real weapon late in the game, with the B's looking to take the lead with Steve Montador off for high-sticking. Though they didn't score, the B's built up a significant amount of momentum with crisp passing, good decision-making and smart plays with the puck. Though they didn't score, they were able to build off of that momentum and ultimately get one with the man advantage in overtime.
• As goes Lucic, so go the Bruins I've posted this on my Twitter account a couple of times, but I think it's a pretty interesting stat: the B's have yet to lose a game this season in which Milan Lucic scores a goal. It may be a coincidence, but I think it shows how important having a healthy Lucic is to this team. He already has more points this year than he did all of last year, but in 24 fewer games. Lucic was good again last night, and though his goal was arguably a lucky one and he finished the night at minus-1, he did have five shots on goal and a couple of good scoring chances.

The Bad

• Thanks Mike! Really, really, REALLY bad turnover from Mike Weber on Nathan Horton's goal. Most players seem to know that it's a bad idea to try to clear the puck through the middle of the zone, and most don't do it unless they're 100% sure it'll work. Weber probably never even saw Horton coming, but I bet he saw the dirty look Lindy Ruff gave him when he got back to the bench.
• The B's breakout continues to suck Well "suck" might be a little harsh, but the B's continue to have a whale of a time trying to get consistent clean breakouts. Sure, every now and then you'll see a nice two-pass breakout: defenseman to defenseman, then defenseman to forward at the blue line and away we go. But for every solid breakout, it seems like there are two or three hair-raising ones. I don't know if it's the system, the absence of a puck moving defenseman or just bad plays, but it needs to stop.
• Really ref? Really? Not quite sure how the referees missed that goal last night. I saw it clearly on TV when it happened live, and the ref was only about 15 feet from the net; I was more like six miles. They ultimately got it right, but that one didn't even seem close.
• Roy blows it Derek Roy had a golden opportunity to end the game in overtime when he found himself all alone with the puck right in front of Tim Thomas. How "all alone" was he? Roy was able to collect the pass, do a couple of dekes and throw a head fake or two and he STILL didn't score. Big-time blown chance for a talented goal-scorer there.

The Rest

• USA! USA! USA! Last night's game featured arguably the two best American goalies in the game right now in Ryan Miller and Tim Thomas. It's interesting to look at the stats, however, and see that American netminders are doing pretty well for themselves this season. There are four Americans in the top-ten in the NHL in save percentage and four in the top-eight in GAA. It's especially interesting when one notices that there is only one American in the top-15 in the NHL in scoring (Dustin Byfuglien) and only two in the top-25 (Byfuglien and former teammate Patrick Kane). Somewhere, Uncle Sam is wearing a goalie mask and cheering.
• Weird moment last night when Zdeno Chara and Jason Pominville got stuck together in the second period last night. The two were battling for the puck in one of the corners and somehow got tied together. It looked like Chara's skatelace got stuck somewhere on one of Pominville's skates, but they couldn't get it apart until after a whistle. I think Zdeno Chara is one of the last people I'd ever want to be in a three-legged race with; he'd probably tear my leg from my body just by taking a few strides. Yikes.

Attaboy: Mark Recchi gets the nod for tipping in the game-winner. Recchi made his living in the NHL in front of the opposing net, and continues to be productive at the age of 42.

Providence shuttle: Weber. Sorry Mike, but that turnover was a killer for your team.

Game 24: Bruins 8, Lightning 1

Boy, that one was fun, wasn't it? Too bad they all can't be that entertaining.

The Good

• Ho hum, Thomas again It's really getting to be rather ridiculous how well Tim Thomas is playing. His record is now a remarkable 13-2-1. His save percentage is .956 and his GAA is 1.44. Yowza, those are some gaudy numbers. Thomas didn't have to make as many top-notch saves last night as he did against Philly, but he was stellar again overall.
• Attack, attack, attack Maybe it was just me, but I felt like the Bruins were more aggressive last night than I've seen them in a while. Whether it was Michael Ryder attacking passing lanes on the forecheck to force turnovers or Big Money Seids throwing the puck on goal from the neutral zone, the B's seemed to play a lot more up-tempo last night, and it worked: eight goals tell no lies.
  
• Speaking of Ryder... He's having a somewhat under-the-radar good season. In 24 games, Ryder has 17 points (7 G, 10 A). He finished last season with 33 points in 82 games, meaning he's already more than halfway to eclipsing last year's total in just a quarter of the season. He's currently got a nice little three-game point streak going, during which he's notched four points (1 G, 3 A). Ryder's been a notoriously good producer in contract years, but it's also likely that he's been spurred by rumors of a demotion to Providence. Threats of long, bumpy bus rides will light a fire under any player, but in my opinion, Ryder's been great so far.
• He's baaaaaaack No, he didn't score, but seeing #91 in black and gold skating around the ice was enough to make this observer happy. Savard didn't look all that rusty either, and while he didn't record a point, he certainly made a few good plays out there. With time, the points will come.

The Bad

• I'm not sure I really have any complaints. Maybe at the linesman for throwing Savard out of his first faceoff after the pivot got a standing ovation from the crowd? That ref clearly has no sense of pageantry. Come on!

The Rest

• It'll be interesting to see if Tyler Seguin hears any boos on Saturday night when he plays in Toronto against the Leafs for the first time. Seguin, an Ontario native, scored against the Leafs at the Garden earlier this season, prompting a "thank you, Kessel" chant from the Garden crowd. Some Leaf fans on HFBoards were miffed that B's fans were booing Kessel, and Damien Cox of the Toronto Star went so far as to suggest that the Leafs fans boo Seguin when the B's come to town. Not sure how the two are related, seeing as Kessel didn't want to play in Boston and Seguin hasn't done a thing to Toronto fans, but hey, I'm all for a little bad blood.
• The Leafs are pretty much in a free-fall right now. All Leafs (and Bruins fans) know in the back of their minds that the B's own the Leafs first-round pick again this year, so B's fans are rooting for the Leafs to finish as low as possible. Right now, the Leafs are in 28th place in the league, meaning that if the season ended today, the B's would get another top-3 pick in the draft. It's still early, but the B's want to keep the Leafs down. A win over a good Bruins club would likely provide a lift to this suffering Leafs team, something the B's don't want to provide. The Leafs are down now, and the B's and their fans would like nothing more than to see them down and out completely.

Attaboy: I'll give it to Savard in his first game back. Welcome back, Marc.

Providence shuttle: That linesman. Come on!

Game 23: Bruins 3, Flyers 0

The Good

• Thomas is a brick wall again This one got off to an ominous start: Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara had a botched exchange behind the net in the game's first 20 seconds, leading to a sterling Philly scoring chance. Fortunately for Thomas and the B's, the Flyers failed to capitalize; unfortunately for the Flyers, that's about as close as they would get. Thomas was excellent tonight, and I think it was his strongest outing of the season. He made plenty of grade-A saves, controlled his rebounds well and bailed his teammates out when they made mistakes. Also, he got two penalty minutes to punching Scott Hartnell in the head. An all around great night for Thomas.
• Nice hands from Seguin Tyler Seguin's goal in the second period was a thing of beauty. A great pass from Michael Ryder followed by a sublime wrister from Seguin, who roofed the puck in the blink of an eye. I didn't think Seguin would have enough time/space to get the shot off, but that just goes to show why he's the second-overall pick and I'm a lowly blogger, right?
• Big game from Big Z Thought it might not show up on the stat sheet, Zdeno Chara had a great game last night. He was physical and had an active stick, poking the puck away from Flyer players with regularity. He also had a couple of key blocked shots, including one that left the big man hunched over in pain. Great display from the Captain last night.

The Bad

• Roller-coaster ride Yes, the Bruins won, but the Flyers really took it to them for portions of the second and third periods. One had to expect that the Flyers would turn up the intensity, but there were parts of the game where the B's struggled mightily to make a play out of their own zone. If it wasn't for the excellent play of Thomas, this game may have had a different result.
• 3-0 leads The team could hold onto one now, but not last May? Come on, guys...

The Rest

• Where's that Phamous Philly crowd? I missed the beginning of the game on TV (caught it on radio), but I didn't hear many chants or derision from the crowd. A 3-0 collapse in the playoffs is perfect fodder for chants, taunts and heckles, but I didn't hear any of that from the crowd last night. It could have been that it just wasn't audible on TV, but it was a bit disappointing. I expected better from the Philly fans.
• The B's are right back in action on Thursday against Tampa. The Lightning really took it to the B's last time, so I hope the B's show up ready to play this time.