Bruins - Caps

Period 1

Only a minute into the game, Chris Clark gets an easy goal as the puck bounces to the open Clark who quickly puts it away. Even with the goal by Washington the Bruins are looking good, out shooting the Capitals 7-1. This is when the penalties began.

Tenkrat - Elbowing
Chara - Hooking
Sturm - double High-Sticking
Kobasew - Hooking

The last hooking call by Kobasew came with two minutes to go in the double minor to Sturm. Forty seconds into the 5 on 3, Clark gets his second goal of the period as he gets a great cross ice feed from Semin right to the side of the net. Relatively good PK so far tonight, minus the 5 on 3 of course. Shots on goal so far 11-11.

Period 2

Continuing of the PP for Washington as Sturm is still in the box on his double minor. Wideman was just high-sticked in the face by Chris Clark and the he was hooked down, but only the high-sticking penalty is called. Nothing doing on that PP and both teams are at full strength. This period s pretty boring, but there are a couple of good games basketball games on. Currently Ohio State is up 25 points on Central Connecticut and Michigan State is beating Marquette by 12. Back to the game and Alberts drops the gloves with Bradley. All right fight, nothing to special maybe a slight edge to Bradley. The Bruins go on the PP as Chara is held, and off the face-off Chris Clark got away on a break away and scored the short-handed hat trick goal.Still on the power play the Bruins set-up a tic-tac-toe play to Sturm at the side of the net for an easy goal. One minute left in the second period and down 3-1, the Capitals give Boston another PP. With 12 seconds left in the period now, and the Capitals commit another penalty, this time high-sticking and it will be 5-3 in the third period. Shots on goal are 24-21 for Boston.

Period 3

The Bruins set-up the 5 on 3 PP well and Chara was making trouble in front of the net while the Savard passed it out front where Bochenski put in the goal. On the 5 on 4 PP the Bruins go right back to work and Savard feeds Bergeron and he one times it to tie the game 3-3. The goal is under review now, we'll have to wait and see why. Oh well it's a goal for sure! Sturm has taken a bad penalty but the PK unit didn't let Washington record a shot on goal. End to end action with a few good scoring chance by the Bruins, with about four minutes left in the third. Nothing much happened and we are going to OT. Shots on goal are 33-31 for Boston.

OT - Shoot-out

Too busy watching NCAA and hockey to actually type. Nothing much happening and it is looking like penalty shots. Semin just had a great chance with Thomas all alone and he hit the post. Wideman just took a stick to the head again! Just over 30 seconds left in the OT period, and Lewis has called a time out to discuss the PP set-up. A billion shots on net by the Bruins and the period is over. Kolzig may have hurt himself as he slow to get up. Kolzig just got back from a MCL injury and hopefully he is OK. Either way its rally hat time!

1) Semin - SAVE!!

2) Sturm – save

3) Laich - SAVE!!

4) Bergeron - SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5) Ovechkin – score

6) Kessel - SCORE!!!!!!!!!!! BRUINS WIN!!!!!!!

3 Stars:

1) Marc Savard (3a)

2) Chris Clark (3g)

3) Phil Kessel (GW)

Steak and Beans

Line-up for tonight's game:

Axelsson-Savard-Murray
Sturm-Bergeron-Bochenski
Reich-Mowers-Donovan
Chistov-Kessel-Tenkrat

Chara-Ward
Alberts-Ference
Allen-Wideman

Period One
The game started off quick with end to end action. As Philly was skating up ice though, one of their players made a bad pass that was intercepted by newcomer Dennis Wideman. Wideman fed a beauty to a charging Mowers, who split the defence and went in untouched to beat Martin Biron. Sturm and Bochenski just went in 2 on 1 but Bochenski couldn't get enough stick on it. Mowers just scored again!! Another great feed, this time from Reich (his first NHL assist), and this time he took the puck and roofed it! This is Mark Mowers first ever 2 goal game, but you would never know it from the way he is playing tonight. Right after the Bruins goal, Reich received a hooking call, and just as the penalty ended Pitkanen went in alone and scored. Savard missed a check just outside the Bruins zone which let Pitkanen get free, and Ward had to go down early to try and block him. A couple of really good saves by Thomas as the defence has been a little too loose tonight so far. The teams are both playing a similar style in that respect as both goalies have had an active period. One minute to go in the period and PJ was just cross checked by someone, he seems to be ok though. Shoots on goal for the period are 14 for both teams. 2-1 Bruins after one period.

Period Two
Philly is taking it to the Bruins with two minutes gone in the second. Timmy is standing up though and literally taking pucks in the head to stop them. Chara got a penalty and a minute into the penalty Umberger tapped in an easy rebound as the Bruins were just standing around. Savard set up Wideman for a one timer and he just missed. Shots are 8-1 for Philly after only seven minutes of the second! And Boston has another penalty, this time a hooking call against Tenkrat. Good aggressive penalty kill for the Bruins as it looked more like a power play. Thomas just made a sick save! Thomas made an initial stop and while down on the ice still had the presence of mind to put his stick out and stop the puck on the goal line. I will need to find a video of this one tomorrow as my words do not do it justice. Philly got a penalty right after, but they scored a shorthanded goal on a excellent 2 on 1 set-up.

Another give away and Thomas had to make another great save to keep the Philly lead to just one goal. Another penalty called against the Flyers and they are now down two players. Chara a couple seconds later in front of the net gets his 10th goal of the season. All tied up now at 3 a piece and the Bruins are still on the man advantage. They just announced that Thomas has faced 33 shots on goal already with five minutes remaining in the second period. NESN has already called the save of the game on the one I described above. Truly amazing. Gauthier took another cheap shot on Marc Savard, this time Marc was checked from behind and Boston is on the power play. Pretty lousy power play so far as the Bruins can't keep it in the Flyer zone. That's it for the period and the Flyers are out shooting Boston 35-24!! 3-3 after two periods.

Period Three
Kessel has been put on the number one line with Savard and Murray for the beginning of the third. Pitkanen with an obvious interference penalty but no call was made, so Bergeron at the stoppage in play decided to respond to the hit by roughing Pitkanen up. Tenkrat just got a great scoring chance short handed, but Biron stopped the break away chance. Good pressure by the Bruins this period as the they got another good shot on net. Sturm received a hooking call and on the penalty kill, Tenkrat had another steal that lead to a wicked good scoring chance. Scottie Upshall has been assessed a hooking penalty bringing the Philly power play to an end. Thomas now has a season high 46 saves, one away from his career best of 47. Axlesson and Mowers on a 2 on 1 almost scored; this game is looking like overtime. Another shorthanded opportunity but nothing doing! We are gong to OT!

OT
Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Breakaway with 10 seconds left, score...I hate you Upshall.

Well there is nothing good about this outcome, well one thing I guess; 51 saves by Thomas! Other than that it blew.

My 3 stars:
1) Scottie Upshall (Game Winner)
2) Tim Thomas (stopped 51 of 55 shots)
3) Martin Biron (stopped 34 of 37 shots)

Bruins @ Flyers - 19/02/07

Changes for tonight include York being replaced in the line-up by Mark Stuart. Patrice Bergeron is still out with his "lower body injury" and Ales Kotalik will be out 4-6 weeks with a knee injury after he was hit by Ference in their last game.

The lines for the game tonight were:

Axelsson-Savard-Murray
Sturm-Kessel-Bochenski
Reich-Mowers-Donovan
Tenkrat-Boyes-Chistov

Allen-Chara
Alberts-Ference
Stuart-Mara

Tim Thomas got the start again tonight, even though this would've been the best opportunity for a Toivonen to play. I missed most of the first period but I can say that Sturm scored from Savard and Kessel on the power play. Now the second; in the first minute Philadelphia's Scottie Upshall scored and then seven minutes later, Jeff Carter made it 2-1 Philly. Boston answered back less than a minute later, as Axelsson scored a bullet over Nittymaki's shoulder.

Next came a goal by Tenkrat, a fight and then another goal by Tenkrat! The fight was between Paul Mara and Mike Richards. The two of them were lining up 20 feet from each other after Tenkrat's first goal, and both of them threw down their gloves and helmets to go at it. Really great fight, with a good number of punches thrown by both but there was no clear winner. The second Tenkrat goal was all Kessel. He started the play by stealing the puck from some Philly player in the Boston end and then skated into the Philly zone and threw a shot on goal. Kessel didn't beat Nittymaki, but Tenkrat was there to clean up the garbage for him. Rounding out the six goal, second period outburst was Kyle Calder less than a minute after Tenkrat's second marker. Neither Nittymaki nor Thomas has been playing great so far. I'm not trying to say that Thomas is totally to blame on these goals, the pucks just have eyes tonight. 4-3 for Boston after two periods.

The Bruins began the period on the penalty kill but had no problems killing off the remainder of Ference's tripping penalty. Just over two minutes in, Bochenski scores on a lazer over Nittymaki's right shoulder on a set up by Axelsson. Beautiful goal! Murray has been on the bench for the past two shifts and Tenkrat has taken his place with Savard and Axelsson.

Thomas just made two saves on Jeff Carter, the first was kicked out and the rebound was snapped down with his glove. The Bruins are on the penalty kill as Donovan committed a holding penalty, and Thomas just made another brilliant glove save, this time off a slapper by Simon Gagne. The Flyers are totally outplaying the Bruins so far in the third period, but as of yet they've nothing to show for it. Thomas just made a brilliant save on a 2 on 1 passing play as he slid across the goal to stop the shot with his leg. There is definitely something going on with Murray as he has only had one shift so far in the period; Chistov has not played at all (probably benched though). One minute left in the game and the Flyers have pulled Nittymaki from the net. Off the face-off Donovan tried to score from his own zone but it went off the post for an icing. Savard though took the puck off the next face-off and sealed the win for Boston. 6-3 final for Boston.

Three Stars
1) Petr Tenkrat (2 goals + GW)
2) Tim Thomas (30 saves, amazing 3rd period)
3) Kyle Calder/Marc Savard (both 1g, 2 a)

Buffalo @ Boston - 01/02/2007

The starting lineup for tonight's game is:

Sturm - Savard - Murray
Allen - York
Thomas

Period 1

Excellent period with a lot of energy and hitting. This is the aggression I mentioned they lacked last game. Three minutes into the game the intensity paid off with a great feed from Murray and Savard to set up a score by Marco Sturm. The aggression is having the natural side affect of two penalties thus far but they are worth it. Thomas and the defence have been playing well with multiple hits coming from the defencmen. The biggest hit came from, of all people, PJ Axelesson on Paille. Axelsson has just gotten an interference call for "knocking" over the goalie Biron. Biron though embellished the act by falling over dramatically. The referees have decided to give Biron a diving call as well to even it up. Not much else going on in the period, pretty much back and forth action. Final shots for period one are Buffalo 12, Boston 8.

Period 2

Thirty seconds into the second pressure by the Bruins forces Tallinder to get a holding call. Nothing doing on that penalty and soon after Savard was picked by Lydman with no call and Drury walked out front and scored on Thomas. Blatant missed call. On the other end of the ice Kalina got a hooking penalty after slowing down Primeau as he drove out front to the net. Mara just checked Briere with a great hit, unfortunately they both fell down. Sounds normal but Mara was given a holding call because Briere was holding his arm on the way up!?! On the power play Chris Drury scored, check that, Brad Stuart scored. The puck was passed out front and it hit Stuart's skate and went in. Boyes is squaring off with Toni Lydman. Boyes got in a few good shots and then got Lydman's jersey up over his head, and just pummeled him until the refs came in. Boyes sliced his finger on Lydman's visor and Lydman went to his dressing room for an unknown (smashed face) injury. Nice to see Boyes kick Lydman's ass. He has been playing well in his 4th line roll tonight, showing a lot of energy. It's really unfortunate that Buffalo is winning this game because Boston has controlled the tempo of this game. Some pretty bad officiating and an unlucky bounce. Great setup by Bergeron for Kessel but Biron stopped it. Paille as received a penalty with less than a minute left in the second and will have 1:05 left to serve when the third starts. Shots after two periods are Boston 22, Buffalo 18. 2-1 Buffalo

Period 3

Well I missed the opening of the period due to "The Office" I take it nothing happened as it is still 2-1 for Buffalo. Mair hit Murray into the boards and went immediately to the dressing room. Off a face-off with 14 minutes left in the third, a quick pass from the draw to Pominville and he scores on a bullet shot past Thomas. Another quick shot off the face-off but Thomas was able to stop this one. End to end action with two great chances by Boston just after Tenkrat got out of the penalty box and Biron had to make two greats saves. Seven minutes left in he game and the Bruins are running out of time. They need to get a quick one to even have a chance of taking this to OT. Thomas just came up big on a point blank Pominville shot off a Briere set-up. Primeau has just gone off with four minutes left in the third for hooking, and 10 seconds in Drury evens things up with a hooking call of his own. After the short PP ended for the Bruins Murray received another penalty and then 20 seconds later Paetsch even it up. The Bruins pulled Thomas for the extra attacker but to no avail as Buffalo holds on to win 3-1. Final shot totals are Boston 34, Buffalo 28.

Even though they lost it was a great effort and a pretty good game. They showed a lot more heart and intensity than the last five games combined.

Ottawa @ Boston **Live**

Period 1

Well I forgot to start writing while watching the game, so I will play some catch up. The Bruins started the game by receiving a PP thanks to Kelly getting a holding penalty. The PP was horrible though and the Bruins didn't register a shot on goals. A few minutes later the Senators went on a PP of their own as Savard tripped a player. Ottawa got a few shots on net and Hannu was great as they killed off the penalty. Hannu has been making a few great saves already, and he seems really sharp. Just as I type that though Phillips scores on a wide open net for Ottawa. A deflection off a Bruins went right to Phillips and Hannu was helpless. With just over a minute left in the period Sturm has committed an interference penalty. Toivonen made a great save with his glove on the PP saving a sure goal as the period ends, and Ottawa remains on the PP going into the second. 1-0 for Ottawa after one period, and the Bruins are being severely out played. Ottawa is out shooting the Bruins 15-5!

Period 2

The Bruins killed off the remaining penalty no problem and a couple minutes later an Ottawa player rang a bullet of the post. The deflection though gave the Bruins a 2 on 1 and Kelly hooked a player to give the Bruins their second PP of the game. Still nothing going on though for Boston on the PP. They just can't seem to get set-up, and just like that the penalty is over. Mara is kicking the crap out of Schubert because he hit Mara into the boards from behind. It was a very dangerous play by Schubert and Mara was the only player throwing punches. Not sure what will be called. Ottawa will be going on the PP for 2 minutes as they gave Mara a 10 minute misconduct, 5 minutes for fighting and 2 minutes for instigating. Schubert meanwhile received 5 for boarding. The B's killed of the PP but the Senators are still controlling the majority of the play. Tenkrat and company though just had a great shift with two definite scoring chances. The NESN guys just mentioned that Mara now has two instigator penalties this season so if he gets one more he will receive a suspension.

The Bruins got called for 'too many men on the ice' but the refs just missed the same penalty on Ottawa one minute earlier, as one the Senators was hit by the puck as he got off the ice. The Bruins killed of that penalty but Alberts received a penalty for hooking and on the first rush Heatley scores. Hannu stopped it initially on a good save, but like last game he didn't hold onto it and it was put in behind him. The play-by-play guy thought Alberts got another hooking penalty but they gave it to Schubert for bad acting (diving) instead. The Bruins are 0 for 4 on the PP tonight with only 2 shots on goal. Alberts just got a boarding major and a game misconduct penalty and then I think Savard is going to get a 2 minute unsportsmanlike. Well Alberts has sucked so far but it still sucks that he will be gone for the remainder of the game (it will save Lewis from having to bench him). Toivonen is saving the team so far on this two man advantage but the PP will remain going into the third period though. Shots on goal after two periods are 24-12 for Ottawa, and penalties are currently 42-13 minutes for Boston.

Period 3

One minute into the third Ottawa has been called for 'too many men on the ice' which will kill off most of the remaining major penalty to Alberts. A lot of pressure from the Bruins during the 4 on 4 but everyone is shooting wide. Great period so far for Boston with lots of pressure. 2-0 is not an insurmountable lead. Hannu just made an amazing stop on a 2 on 1 from Alfredsson and Heatley and then another breakaway by Ottawa forces Boston to take a penalty. Another 2 man advantage as Chara, a minute into the first penalty, gets called for hooking. Toivonen is being peppered with shots, and they are all quality chances too. The first penalty is over and Mara has come back out on the ice. Mara stole the puck and instead of dumping into the Ottawa zone carried it behind the net and drew a holding penalty. Not much happening, some end to end action mainly from the Senators and that's it. Four minutes to go and the Bruins are still down by two goals. They are running out of time for any sort of comeback. Lewis has called a time-out with 2:16 left in the third period and Redden is going off for tripping. Lewis has decide to take out Toivonen now to gain the two man advantage. Even though nothing came out of pulling the goalie (except a empty netter) it was a gutsy move and the right call. Bruins lose 3-0 and the final shots on goal are 38-18 for Ottawa.

My 3 stars:
Hannu Toivonen
Ray Emery
Dany Heatley

Sabres @ Bruins - Live

Here is today's lineup:

Axelsson-Savards-Murray
Sturm-Bergeron-Donovan
Mowers-Primeau-Chistov
Tenkrat-Boyes-Kessel

Mara-Chara
Stuart-Alberts
Lashoff-Jurcina

Boyes is demoted and Donovan is promoted. Not to drastic, but I would have liked to see Chistov move up to the second line instead. Thomas got nailed by Jurcina after he was pushed by Kotalik. Tim Thomas just made two amazing stops! The second came as he was inside his net.

Period 1
Murray came on the ice for his first sift and committed a hooking penalty. On the Buffalo PP Sturm got a breakaway and was interfered with, canceling the PP. The Bruins are pressuring on the power play and Savard has scored!! They were buzzing all around with chances from Sturm as well. Chara and Bergeron assisted on Savard's goal. A nice pass by Paille off a Brad Stuart giveway, to set up Roy and they score from the side of the net. It might be 1-1 but the Bruins are really taking it to Buffalo, with a lot of action in the Sabre's end. Just as I write these encouraging words Johan Hecht scored to make it is 2-1 Buffalo. Hecht from behind the net threw it out front and as Thomas went to save it it went in off him. Sturm is on fire in the 1st period with three great chances, but nothing to show for it. Right now shots are 12-6 in favour of Boston with four minutes left in the period. Savard was hauled down and the Bruins are going on the PP for the second time in the game. Not much control and the Bruins never really set up on the man advantage. Bruins are applying some major pressure right now with an amazing shot from Brad Stuart that was blocked by Miller. Still in the final minute of the period and with .7 seconds left in the period the Bruins score!! It is being announced that Axelsson has scored it, but it looks like it may have gone in off of Brad Stuart. I will check back later and let you know if anything changes. 2-2 with a 19-8 shot advantage by Boston.

Period 2
Over two minutes in and not much happening on either side of the ice. There has been a holding call made on Tenkrat with two and half minutes gone in the second. Briere just got nailed by Brad Stuart along the boards and then immediately elbowed by Sturm, no call. Twelve minutes to go and still not much action. The Bruins are being out shot 7-2 but no real scoring chances by Buffalo. The Bruins are going on the PP after Lydman held a Bruin player. Nice centering pass by Sturm...but nobody was in front to except the pass. With 13 seconds left int he PP, Paille gets a delay of game penalty to make it a 5 on 3. Three straight bad PP's for the Bruins, with little action. Only five shots so far on all the power plays, and also neb would like me to inform you that Mara is the only Bruin in the positive range (+1). Alberts and Peters just went at it after Alberts nailed Novotny. A few good shots from Alberts before he fell down but I will give the decision to Peters. AN AMAZING SAVE BY MILLER! Flying across the crease in midair he stops an open shot with his stick. After two periods the score is still 2-2 with the shots 26-19 for the Bruins.

Period 3
Wayne Primeau has not returned after leaving late in the second period. Axelsson though is picking up the slack and is the top forward with over 15 minutes of ice time. Thomas was just run over by Jurcina after being pushed by Kotalik. A minute later and Thomas has just made 3 amazing saves, especially the second off Vanek off his back and in his net! NESN is reporting that scoring chances are 17-14 for Boston with 10 minutes to go in the game. Miller just made a great save on Savard to keep it deadlocked at 2 all. This one might be going to OT but I hopefully the Bruins will continue to play well and be rewarded. Under four minutes to go and it is end to end action with few stoppages in play. Another save by Thomas robbing Roy of a sure game winner. Fifty seconds to go in regulation. And that is it for the third, we are going to OT!

Overtime
Sudden death time... Great save by Miller on a 2 on 1 and shot by Murray and then on the other end a great save stopping a 2 on 1 for the Sabres. All he Bruins are tired. Lots of opportunities for the Bruins but nobody has the strength to put it in. Another save by Miller off of Sturm with thirty seconds left in OT, and Buffalo calls a timeout. Faceoff in the Sabres zone and the play comes down to the Bruins end with two scoring chances by Buffalo with six seconds to go. That is it, shoot-out!

Shoot-out
34 saves by Thomas, and 35 by Miller. The rally caps are on backwards as they always are for the Bruins this year in the shoot-out. Buffalo to shoot first.
Briere - Save!
Sturm - Score, right Shoulder!!
Kotalik - SAVE!!
Murray - Save!!

Bruins win 3-2!!