* Are you kidding me NBC with that announcer – guy couldn’t work in a library

* Crowd was dead

* What did Lucic score on the Wonderlic – don’t let him touch the puck in his own end

* Did Pierre really call Seguin a sniper?

* Bruins set a record on icings

* Is Tim Thomas bumming or building a bunker?

* Rask has a nice job handling the puck

* Seguin poked checked – can not beat anyone one on one

* Is that Jagr or Milt Schmidt?

* Thornton 12 shifts

* Hot day in Boston meant puck bouncing and on edge

* Best hands Marchand has shown in a while (even before goal)

* Every shot inside five feet should be lifted or player fined

* Save by Danny Giradi with 22 seconds left in regulation on Seguin shot was insane

* Boychuck hits post at buzzer/ Jagr hit post in OT/ Boychuck post overtime

* Great game by Chara – 38:02

* Great power play in overtime

* Crowd should stand the whole game in playoffs

* Young legs on defense helped

* Bruins 14 shots in overtime to Rangers 5 (how come I kept thinking that they were dominating but Rangers would score off a skate)

2. Red Sox:

* Matt Joyce has to knock that ball down in the gap for Tampa Bay

* Game time 3:43

3. Bruins 1972 run to Stanley Cup:

* Team was 12-3

* Orr and Esposito combined for 48 points in 15 games

* Ken Hodge, Esposito and John Bucyk combined for 27 goals

* Eddie Johnston and Gerry Cheevers split time and each had six wins

4. Stevan Ridley:

Ridley only needs 3,749 yards to be the Patriots all time leading rusher

5. Underrated Celtics Season:

Kevin Gamble, 1990-1991: 15.6 points a game / .587 from the field / 3.3 rebound / 3.1 assists

6. Dwight Evans:

Evans against Joe Niekro, Dwight Gooden, Steve Bedrosian, Roger Clemens, Jerry Koosman, David Wells, Rick Sutcliffe, David McNally and Steve Carlton was 47 for 104 = .452

7. Old School:

Eddie Waitkus of Cambridge and Boston College was the character Roy Hobbs was reportedly based upon. In his rookie year in 1946, he finished 13th in MVP voting hitting .304. He was a two time all star that played in the 1950 World Series for the Phillies

8. Soccer:

Manchester United legends David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson retiring at the same time

9. Alert filler:

1. Natural 2. Bang the Drum Slowly 3. Fields of Dreams 4. Major Leagues 5. Rookie 6. Bull Durham

10. Bruins YouTube:

In honor of the big victory…

© Michael for Sports of Boston, 2013. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, Now!, Top Story, Uncategorized.

The second round of the NHL Playoffs is underway, and it should be fun. Chicago and Detroit face off for the last times in the same division. Boston and the Rangers face each other in the playoffs for the first time in 40 years. The Penguins face a Senators team that just won’t go away. Los Angeles finally hosts four games in a playoff series, but against a well-rested Sharks squad coming off a sweep as the road team.

All of it makes the series pretty difficult to choose, as just one of the series had a unanimous winner as predicted by our panel. No sweeps were predicted in this round, but predictions for how many games each series will last were also quite diverse.

As before, picking the winner of a series is worth two points, while picking how may games each series will last is worth one point.

That all opens the door for some big movement in the standings after the second round, so check below for the second round picks, and come back once the round is complete for all the results.

Previous Results:

• First Round

© John for Sports of Boston, 2013. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, NHL, Now!, Opinion.

What a first round. The only team to sweep an opponent was a #6 seed. The Bruins undertook a comeback for the ages. Pittsburgh was given a run for their money by the Islanders. All of that produced a variety of levels of success for our panel.

The Penguins, Blackhawks and Bruins were all solid choices, and the Sharks weren’t far behind. The rest of the field, difficult to pick, produced mixed results. The length of each series was also hard to choose, further widening the scoring gap between our experts.

So be sure to check the results below to see who’s in the lead, and come back Thursday for the next round’s picks.

Table Legend

• Two-point picks are boldfaced.
• One-point picks are italicized.
• Zero-point picks are crossed out.

© John for Sports of Boston, 2013. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, NHL, Now!, Opinion.

This is why you never leave the party early.

Hope was all but lost and there was no wind left in the sails of any fan sticking around the TD Garden with less than 11 minutes to play in the Bruins’ season and down 4-1 to Toronto. Suddenly, the Bruins threw it into 4th gear. Playing one of the most physical games in recent memory, the Bruins stormed back from three goals down to send it to overtime where they capped off an improbable comeback to win it 5-4 and advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

The game started off on a high note with Boston taking an early 1-0 lead on a Matt Bartkowski goal. Huge physical play in the Toronto zone led to the score and it looked like Leafs goalie James Reimer was facing some game 7 jitters.

Then Toronto showed up. The fast-paced Leafs team we have seen the past two games made themselves known as Cody Franson led the charge with two straight goals including the only goal of the 2nd period to put Toronto up 2-1 heading into the 3rd. That’s when things went from bad to worse.

It only took 2:09 into the 3rd for Toronto to continue the onslaught as former Bruin, Phil Kessel, netted his 4th goal of the playoffs to make it 3-1, bad guys. As if you needed to see another cutaway to the Leafs fans in Toronto, Nazem Kadri threw more dirt on the coffin of Boston’s season to increase the lead to 4-1 in the 3rd. At this point, fans were flooding their Facebook feeds with anti-Bruins tirades and demanding Claude Julien be fired. Admit it, you all gave up. Thank God the Bruins didn’t

Maybe it was Tuukka Rask making a huge save on the breakaway. Perhaps it was the memory of being knocked out of the playoffs in game 7 last season against Washington. Then again, it could have just been the B’s seeing James van Riemsdyk fall down one too many times. Whatever it was, the Bruins started their comeback.

Nathan Horton got the rally going at 9:18 of the 3rd to cut the deficit to 4-2. It was at that moment, you couldn’t help but think “How dare they give us hope?”. Everyone held their breath at the TD Garden as Julien pulled Tuukka with two minutes left to give the B’s the extra man. Amazingly, it worked! With just 1:22 left in the 3rd, Milan Lucic snuck one past James Reimer and Boston was only down by one goal.

Before you could have a moment of doubt as to whether or not they could pull off this miracle, Patrice Bergeron tied it at 4-4 just 31 seconds later to send the Garden into a frenzy and send the game into OT.

The comeback was completed at just over six minutes into extra time as once again, Patrice Bergeron was there to save the day and score his 3rd goal of the series, but more importantly, win the game 5-4 and send Toronto home.

The Bruins will advance to the 2nd round to face the New York Rangers who also won this evening in their own game 7 as they crushed Washington, 5-0.

Game Notes

• Tuuka Rask: 24 saves. Stopped breakaway shot in 3rd period to prevent Leafs from going up 5-1.
• Bruins are first team in NHL history to win a game 7 after trailing by three goals in the 3rd period.
• Bruins: 0-2 on power play.

© Pete Rampino for Sports of Boston, 2013. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, Top Story.

David Krejci hat trick goal in overtime gave the Boston Bruins a 4-3 win and a 3-1 series lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tuukka Rask was terrific in net for the Bruins, making 45 saves for the second straight game including 11 in overtime. Captain Zdeno Chara assisted on all four Bruins goals.

After falling behind 2-0 on goals by Toronto’s Joffrey Lupul and Cody Franson in a first period that the Bruins dominated for the most part, the B’s came out strong in the second period.

Patrice Bergeron scored his first goal of the series on the powerplay 32 seconds into the period. Later in the period, Krejci crashed the net and shouldered in a goal for his first of the night. Just under four minutes later and with the man advantage, Krejci wristed home a one timer to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead. But the lead was short lived when Leafs winger Clarke MacArthur scored his first of the playoffs 44 seconds later.

After a scoreless third period, overtime began and turned out to be one of the best overtime periods in the playoffs so far. After 13 minutes of end to end hockey, Krejci skated down the left side on a two on one and beat Leafs goalie James Reimer under the glove arm. Krejci showed great patience to hold the shot long enough to make Reimer and the Toronto crowd antsy. Krejci now has five goals and five assists in the series.

The Bruins will look to close out the series tonight in Game 5 against the Leafs at the TD Garden. Puck drops at 7 PM.

© Jeff Miller for Sports of Boston, 2013. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured.

The Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 in a must win Game 3. The Bruins exhibited their playoff experience by bouncing back from their ugly Game 2 loss to score five goals in front of a sold out and very loud Air Canada Centre. David Krejci had two assists and added an empty net goal while Tuukka Rask was dominate in net, making 45 saves.

The Bruins got on the board first when Adam McQuaid’s slap shot from the point found a hole and beat Toronto net minder James Reimer 13:42 into the first period. His first career playoff goal, was set up off a face off win by Krejci and a pass by Milan Lucic.

The B’s doubled their lead 5:57 into the second period when Jaromir Jagr stole the puck behind the Leafs net and fed Rich Peverley all alone for his first goal of the playoffs. Jagr, who played arguably his best game as a Bruin, seemed to have the puck on his stick like a yo-yo in the Toronto zone and had six shots on net.

Toronto answered 13:45 into the second with a goal of their own when a Jake Gardiner wrist shot found the back of the net to make it 2-1. The Bruins were scrambling in their zone and failed to clear the puck twice. But Nathan Horton got the goal right back 50 seconds later when Milan Lucic beat the Maple Leafs defense with a deke move and fed Horton in front of the net for his third goal of the series. Two minutes later while on the penalty kill, Daniel Paille stole a pass from Phil Kessel at the blue line and deked Reimer on the breakaway to make it 4-1.

The Maple Leafs came out desperate and hungry in the third period, out shooting the Bruins 18-6 including a Phil Kessel goal 47 seconds into the period on the powerplay. The Bruins failed to clear the puck which led to Kessel scoring his second goal of the series on a rebound with Rask way out of the net. The Bruins have now given up four powerplay goals during their 12 short handed opportunities.

Tuukka Rask held the fort down the rest of the way and Krejci would add an empty net goal to ice it. Krejci now has two goals and five assists in the series. The Krejci-Lucic-Horton line finished the night with two goals and six assists, and has five goals and 12 assists in the series.

The Bruins will look to make it 3-1 before returning home for Game 5. Puck drop for Game 4 is Wednesday night at 7:00 PM.

© Jeff Miller for Sports of Boston, 2013. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, Top Story.

(Photo from WEEI)

I think we have finally found the city to host the burial of Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Anyone agree?

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2013. | Permalink | 3 comments
Filed under: Bruins, Now!.

Did you miss out on getting tickets to the hottest show this year, the Boston Strong Benefit Concert at TD Garden? You still have a chance to go to the concert, which is being held on May 30 to benefit those affected most by the Boston Marathon bombings.

NetRaffle.org is holding a raffle for Bruins forward Milan Lucic’s personal TD Garden suite (14 concert tickets), including appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages. The winner will also receive $698.25 to mitigate the tax liability.

Scheduled performers include Aerosmith, Jason Aldean, Boston, Jimmy Buffett, Dane Cook, Extreme, J Geils Band, Godsmack, Carole King, New Kids on the Block, James Taylor, Steven Wright and other special guests.

The entry deadline is 11 a.m. on May 29. The drawing will be held later that day.

Raffle tickets cost just $2, but you need to purchase a minimum of five tickets.

Click here to enter!

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2013. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Charity, Now!.

The Boston Bruins dominated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 in game 1 in front of a very loud TD Garden. The Bruins swarming and uptempo attack was too much to handle for the Leafs who were out shot 40-20. David Krejci led the way for the Bruins with a goal and two assists.

Toronto’s James van Riemsdyk opened the scoring early with a power-play goal 1:54 into the game. Van Riemsdyk also rang a post later on and was by far the best Leaf on the ice. Phil Kessel managed only one shot on goal in just under 14 minutes of ice time.

With momentum heavily shifted in Boston’s favor, Wade Redden slapped a shot from above the face off circle that trickled past Toronto goalie James Reimer. The goal was Redden’s first career playoff goal. Minutes later, with 12 seconds left in the 1st period and on the powerplay, Redden’s shot from the point tipped off Nathan Horton’s stick and beat Reimer to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead heading into the break.

Krejci scored 10:25 into the second period to extend the lead to 3-1. After back to back great Boston shifts in the Toronto zone and forcing a neutral zone turnover, Krejci skated in on a 3 on 2 but his pass hit a Leafs skate. He than found the puck and beat an unsuspecting Reimer five hole. Later on in the period on another odd man rush, Krejci skated into the offensive zone and made a great pass back to the point finding Johnny Boychuck who buried a rocket from the point to make it 4-1.

The Bruins nearly had two more tallies in the goal column. Tyler Seguin hit the crossbar on a 2 on 1 and Patrice Bergeron also had a goal called back after video review showed the play was dead before he punch in a puck under Reimer’s pads.

Tuukka Rask made 19 saves and improved his career playoff record to 8-6. Rask had a relatively easy night in net, but did make a great pad save on a second period breakaway by Toronto’s Tyler Bozak.

Though the stat sheet does not show it, the Bruins’ Bergeron-Seguin-Marchand line was this best line of the game. They were swarming all over the Maple Leafs defense throughout the game while recording 14 shots on net (Seguin 7, Marchand 4, Bergeron 3), two posts ( Seguin and Marchand), and a goal called back (Bergeron). If they can continue to play like this for the remainder of the playoffs, the Bruins are in very good shape.

The Merlot Line (Campbell, Paille, Thornton) also played a very aggressive and uptempo game. They recorded 10 combined hits and changed the momentum of the hockey game early on.

NOTES

Rich Peverley, Dougie Hamilton, and Carl Soderberg were all healthy scratches

Game 2 will be Saturday night at the TD Garden. Puck drops at 7 PM.

© Jeff Miller for Sports of Boston, 2013. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, Top Story.

The playoffs are upon us, and there are plenty of good match-ups. Boston backed into the postseason and faces Toronto, who you don’t usually see in May. The Blackhawks and Penguins easily solidified their positions. Ottawa barely avoided Pittsburgh in the first round, while Minnesota is just happy to be in, winning a tiebreaker over Columbus.

All of that mix made for some interesting choices for our expert panel. Aside from the two #1/#8 series, only Boston and Toronto had a unanimous winner in all pick sets. And whoever got the nod in their series, St Louis and Los Angeles look to be the most fun to watch, with everyone but one choosing the series to go a full seven games.

As usual, correctly guessing the winner of a series is worth two points, while guessing how many games a series will last is worth one point.

So now that everything is underway, be sure to check below for everyone’s picks, and check back for the results after the first round is complete.

© John for Sports of Boston, 2013. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, NHL, Now!, Opinion.