Game 37: Bruins 9, Flames 0

The Good

• Spread the wealth Getting nine goals is great, but the fact that the B's spread the scoring around was even better. I believe that depth will always win out over individual talent, especially in a playoff series. Last night, the B's got points from 66% of their skaters, and got nine goals from seven different players. Some nights, the stars are on for the B's; other nights, it's the secondary scorers who get things done. The B's are beating opponents in a variety of ways right now, and it's fun to watch.
• Two U's, Two K's, no goals Tuukka Rask was good again last night. Let's be honest: he didn't have to be spectacular, considering he only faced 23 shots. However, he stopped 'em all, and earned his 11th career shutout in the process. Rask has been stellar as of late, winning eight of his last eleven games and allowing just one goal in his last five games.
• Pretty much everything else Black and Gold Yup. Another night of good feelings and hugs and fuzziness at the Garden.
  

The Bad

• Everything Calgary Just terrible.
• Minus-17 I don't want to pick on just three players, but: Chris Butler, Mikael Backlund, and Jay Bouwmeester went a combined minus-17 last night. MINUS-17!!! They were led by Butler's minus-7. Yikes.
• Throw away game? I said this last night on Twitter, but I'll repeat it: I think Calgary head coach Brent Sutter essentially declared this game a loss before it even started. I know they play the Wild tomorrow and that it's a divisional game, but why, why, WHY would you start Leland Irving, he of the three prior NHL starts, against the best offensive team in the league? Just a curious (and really, really BAD) decision from sutter.
  

What went right:

• Everything. Literally. Nine goals, no one got hurt...the only bad part was that Zach Hamill still didn't score.
  

Attaboy: Bergeron. He's been on fire lately, and kept it going last night.

Providence shuttle: Sutter. I know it's just one game, but he essentially threw it away before it even started. Weak.

Game 60: Bruins 3, Flames 1

The Good

• Tim Thomas was sharp Jack Edwards made sure we understood that Tim Thomas was well-rested last night, but it did show. Thomas appeared sharper than he's been in a while, and one can't help but wonder if two straight starts by Tuukka Rask had anything to do with it (the answer is probably "yes"). If nothing else, a start like this shows that Rask is still as important as ever to the B's. They'll need him to step up and spell Thomas to give him a few breaks down the stretch.
• Milan Lucic was a beast A huge game last night for Lucic; maybe it's something about being back in Western Canada that brings out the monster in him. Lucic was a force on the first goal, driving to the net with complete disregard for the Calgary defender trying to stop him. He also created a number of other scoring chances last night and was the most effective Bruin on the ice.
• Kaberle was selfless A big but overlooked play by Tomas Kaberle at the end of this one. With the goalie pulled, the Flames dumped the puck in. Kaberle went back to retrieve it and took a big hit to move the puck along the wall where Mark Recchi sent it out and Lucic eventually slid it into the empty net. If Kaberle doesn't take the hit to make the play there, that entire possession changes. A great play from Kaberle.
• Breakouts were smooth The B's had a ton of very crisp, tape-to-tape breakouts last night, something fans surely aren't accustomed to seeing this year. Maybe it all stems from the influence of Kaberle, but last night's breakouts were often perfect.
• Faceoffs were won I remember hearing a stat on NESN late in the third period that the B's had won 11-of-12 faceoffs in that period; that's precisely why Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley were brought here: they can win faceoffs and they play responsibly.

The Bad

• Calgary fans or Habs fans? The Flames fans in attendance sounded like Habs fans last night, booing every time a Flame was hit or fell to the ice. What's up with that?
• More PK issues I don't really have much to complain about after this game, but the PK remains an issue. The B's had a huge penalty kill leading 2-0 in the third period, and allowed a goal that let the Flames back into the game. I'm not sure what it is, but something's wrong with this PK unit, a group that was among the NHL's best for most of the season.

The Rest

• All in all, a good debut for Peverley. He didn't do much (all three shots he attempted were blocked), but he played sound hockey and made a couple of good plays. He also showed off his speed a couple of times last night, an asset that the B's don't possess much of. He and Kelly showed signs of "gelling" with Michael Ryder last night, so let's hope that continues.
• Tyler Seguin played his best all-around game in a while last night. He was backchecking hard, winning 1-on-1 battles and making smart, responsible plays with the puck. Seguin looks like he'll be "relegated" to fourth-line minutes for the rest of the season (barring an injury) and Daniel Paille will be the odd-man out. With his performance as of late, Seguin deserves to play, and if he keeps performing like he did last night he should see his minutes increase as well.

Attaboy: Lucic. He was the engine behind the B's last night, and seemed to have an extra jump in his step from the opening faceoff.

Providence Shuttle: The booing. STOP BOOING, FLAMES FANS. YOU ARE NOT HABS FANS.

Double Dose of Winter Wonderland?

ESPN.com and TSN.ca are both reporting that the NHL may hold a second Winter Classic on New Year's Day 2010. The Bruins, rumored yet not officially announced as hosts of the Classic, are supposedly slated to play either the Washington Capitals or the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park on New Year's day.

One of the interesting things about the Classic was the newness of it, and some lustre may be lost if the league holds more than one outdoor game. However, put me in the camp of people who think, "the more the merrier." No, I'm not advocating that every team play an outdoor game each year (though Kings vs. Ducks at Dodger Stadium would be a smash hit!), but why not include another two markets in what has become a huge success for the NHL?

The rumors have it that the Calgary Flames would host the second half of a New Year's Day doubleheader, playing at McMahon Stadium, home of the CFL's Calgary Stampeders, and would play against another Canadian team. A game between two franchises from the Great White North may not be a ratings boon in the United States, but would be huge among Canadian viewers. Besides, NBC is likely to put all of its viewer eggs in the American basket anyways, as Boston is large TV market (as is Philadelphia), and any game featuring Washington's Alexander Ovechkin will draw in other hockey fans, casual viewers and closet hockey fans.

So put me amongst the few who don't think a second classic in 2010 would "take away" from the Bruins' hosting one. A full day of hockey to kick off the New Year sounds good to me. Plus, if nothing else, it will be fascinating to see what the weather is like in Calgary, where January is the coldest month. The average high is 26.96 degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, that's the HIGH. The low, you ask? 4.82 degrees F. Good luck, Jarome Iginla.

Photo Credit: Boston Herald Graphic

Go B's.

League-Wide Playoff Preview

Well, it's been quite a while since my last post here, but thankfully the Bruins didn't take as much time off as I did. I've been doing a lot of writing for the school newspaper (www.suffolkjournal.net) and some for InsideHockey.com as well, but figured I needed to at least do a playoff preview for each conference, as well as some predictions. It won't be that in depth, as I may work on a more in depth B's-Habs preview for one of the aforementioned publications.


EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Boston Bruins vs. (8) Montreal Canadiens
Come on, admit it. It had to come down to this. Same teams, a year later, in opposite roles. If last Thursday's game is any indication, this series will be a barn burner. It's hard to argue that the Bruins aren't better than Montreal in nearly all aspects of the game. The Bruins hold an edge in goaltending, defense, physicality and scoring, while Montreal may hold a slight edge on the power play. If the Bruins play their game and stay out of the box, they'll take this series going away. However, if the B's get complacent and take the Habs lightly, a surprise isn't out of the realm of possibility. Claude Julien isn't likely to let his B's slack off though. Bruins in 5

(2) Washington Capitals vs. (7) New York Rangers
The Rangers played better hockey down the stretch under new coach John Tortorella, but they lack the offensive firepower to compete with the high-scoring Caps over the course of a series. The Rangers definitely have a wide advantage in goaltending though, and if Henrik Lundqvist gets hot, the Rangers have a fighting chance. Jose Theodore can be shaky in goal for the Caps, but they have more than enough power on the other side of the puck with Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green and Alex Semin. Expect the Rangers to put up a good fight in each game, but ultimately fall short. Caps in 5.

(3) New Jersey Devils vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes
This is going to be my first upset pick, and I'm sure hockey pundits would be aghast: how DARE I pick against Martin Brodeur in the playoffs?! Uh, well, simply: I think the Canes are one of the more underrated teams in the Eastern Conference, and are getting stellar play from goalie Cam Ward when they need it most. The Canes went an astounding 10-1-2 in March, proving that the team is coming together just in time for the playoffs. While I expect Brodeur, Zach Parise, Patrik Elias and Co. to play strong hockey, I think the Canes, on the back of Ward, will take this series in the end. Canes in 7.

(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Philadelphia Flyers
This battle of Pennsylvania is sure to be a wild one, with bad blood between the two teams closest to each other in the standings. Sidney Crosby and the Pens have played inspired puck under Dan Bylsma, and are starting to look like real Cup contenders again. They have a playoff-tested roster and a high-powered offense. While the Flyers also have plenty of firepower, I'm not sold on their goalies, Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki. I expect this one to be a close series, but one that the Pens pull out. Penguins in 6.

_________________________________________________

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) San Jose Sharks vs. (8) Anaheim Ducks
Call me crazy, but I feel like this one may be a shocker waiting to happen. The Sharks have been one of the league's elite teams all year, and finished with the league's best record. The hockey experts hae all proclaimed this "their year", the year where the Black and Teal will finally get that playoff-choker monkey off of their back. I just think they're playing one tough group right off the bat. Like the aforementioned Penguins, the Ducks have plenty of playoff tested vets on the roster. They are a cohesive group, and feel that they have a good shot at knocking off Goliath. I won't go so far as to say that they'll do it, but expect a tight one. Sharks in 6.

(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (7) Columbus Blue Jackets
Poor Columbus. The Jackets finally make the playoffs for the first time in the history of the franchise, aaaaaaaand what do we have for them? Only one of the best teams of the past decade. I think Steve Mason is the real deal, but he's facing too much talent against the Wings. If Rick Nash can seriously elevate his play to an otherworldly level, then the Jackets may have a chance, or if Mason can get his game rolling, which isn't out of the realm of possibility. The Wings will take this one, but it sure won't be easy. Wings in 6.

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) St. Louis Blues
I love this match-up for the Blues, and I'm not even sure why. There's something about their team that I like, and I think they can take this series. While Roberto Luongo is undoubtedly a stellar goalie, his playoff record isn't as shiny, and I'm not sold on the Canucks as a group, even though their one of my favorite non-Bruins teams. If Luongo plays as well as he is able to, then the Canucks should be able to win, but I think the Blues, led by their enthralling core of youngsters, will shock the NHL and take the series. Blues in 7.

(4) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (5) Calgary Flames
The Flames, who were, as their name suggests, on fire after the trade deadline, have cooled signifcantly, and didn't exactly burst into the postseason in full gallop. The Hawks, led by youngsters Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, are ready for their first taste of late-spring hockey in years, and are primed to make a decent run out West. I think the Flames have plenty of talent, but are going to come up short barring consistently stellar play by Miikka Kiprusoff. Fans in the Windy City will get to enjoy an extended visit to the playoffs this year. Hawks in 6.


So there you have it. According to my predictions, the second round match-ups will be as follows:

Bruins vs. Hurricanes
Capitals vs. Penguins
Sharks vs. Blues
Red Wings vs. Blackhawks

Only time will tell how I do...any comments or predictions are welcome as well, and, as always, Go B's.

On Avery's Suspension...

One of last night's more anticipated games lost a lot of its luster when Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery was suspended for yesterday's game in Calgary vs. the Flames. Avery received an "indefinite" suspension from the league, and had a meeting in New York City with commissioner Gary Bettman today. At issue were the comments made by Avery in this video:

For those who can't access the video, Avery approached the NHL press corps, asked if the cameras were ready, and said:

"I'm really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada. I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about, but enjoy the game tonight."

Avery was referring to his former relationship with "24" actress Elisha Cuthbert, who is currently dating none other than Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf. So what was this on the part of Avery? It seemed like nothing out of the ordinary for the NHL superpest, getting under the skin of his opponent and making waves in advance of a game.

So why did this warrant an indefinite suspension?

There was a huge outcry on the hockey message boards, with women screaming about how disrespectful it was their gender, and how any man who found what Avery said funny was a chauvanistic pig. Others appluaded the suspension, while still others were furious or confused why the league felt the need to take this step.

Put me in the latter category. This suspension screams "unnecessary". Yes, Avery's remarks were out of line. Yes, they were insulting, but also sounded like something many men would say if they encountered the man who is currently dating an ex-girlfriend.

In any case, the real issue here isn't that what he said is unnecessary, most seem to agree it was a stupid thing to say. The issue is how the NHL handled it. Avery has already missed one game, and by all accounts, isn't going to be back anytime soon. However, the NHL recently decided that Randy Jones only deserved a two game suspension for nearly ending the career of Patrice Bergeron. Tom Kostopoulos got 3 games for hitting Toronto's Mike Van Ryn in similar fashion. Darcy Tucker, who has as bad a reputation as Avery, didn't get suspended for supposedly going after the knees of Minnesota's Nick Schultz. This list goes on. Colin Campbell, who dishes out these suspensions, has become a laughingstock.

So why did Avery get so many games? Is the NHL simply tired of his act? It can't be argued that Avery is a pest, but it also can't be argued that he is an effective pest. He was lambasted, and even got a rule implemented immediately after the game, for his "antics" in front of Martin Brodeur last year, but the Rangers scored on that power play.

And like it or not, NHL, people like Avery are good for the game. Everyone needs a villain, and Avery has turned into hockey's version of Bill Laimbeer, a new Claude Lemieux. There were over 1,000 comments on ESPN's story about the suspension, probably one of the first times all season a hockey story has eclipsed that mark.

And for what? Comments that were in poor taste? Some are arguing that it's a good thing Avery got suspended, because Phaneuf would have destroyed him. So...had Avery played, he would have taken a Norris Trophy-candidate defenseman off of his game? Hmm...looks like Avery accomplished his goal again. Others said the NHL wanted to avoid an incident similar to that of Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore, that being one of premeditated violence resulting in criminal charges outside of the sport.

Does anyone REALLY think this is going to stop any on-ice payback Avery had coming? If anything, this is going to make it worse. The Flames visit the Stars in Dallas on February 3, 2009. What, so if Avery is even still on the team at that point, which isn't likely, Phaneuf is just going to say "Oh, he got suspended, I'll let it go." Not likely.

What WILL happen is that the interview in which Avery made the comments will be played over and over and over again in the days leading up to the game, letting the bad blood between Avery and the Flames simmer and simmer until it eventually boils over. The "payback" Avery has coming is going to come regardless. It would have been better for the NHL to let him man-up on the ice last night instead of prolonging the inevitable.

Bad move, NHL.