penaltykill.net» Boston Bruins http://penaltykill.net/blogs "Where we're always playing short handed" Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:12:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 en Fighting = Wins? http://penaltykill.net/blogs/fighting-wins/ http://penaltykill.net/blogs/fighting-wins/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:21:03 +0000 meane http://penaltykill.net/blogs/?p=1573 The B’s haven’t fought in two weeks. So what, you say. I’ll tell you what.

When GM Peter Chiarelli came in and changed the face of the franchise, he stated over and over that he wanted the Bruins to be “tough to play against”. When Claude Julien was hired, he reiterated these sentiments. In 2006-2007 the Bruins had only 29 fighting majors all year with Dave Lewis at the helm and were not “tough to play against”. Last season the Bruins had 52 fights in Claude’s first year and the Bruins once again became “tough to play against”, sneaking into the playoffs. This season the Bruins have 30 fights to date and are 22-9-4 when there are no fighting majors in the game, a good record by all accounts. However, when the Bruins have at least one fighting major in a game they are almost unbeatable, with a record of 18-1-4.

The Bruins have not been “tough to play against” of late, and it shows in the wins and losses column, where the B’s are only 3-2-2. There have been teams running their goalies and taking liberties with their skilled guys, and no one has stepped up to send a message. The Bruins need to play with EMOTION, FINISH CHECKS, and FIGHT when necessary. Chara stepped up against Carolina at the end of the first and let Larose know that if he kept up his cheep hits on Axy, Yelle and others, he was gonna get a beat down. After the chat, Larose did not run anyone in the 2nd and 3rd periods. The numbers don’t lie, the Bruins fight, the Bruins are “tough to play against”, the Bruins win!

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]]> http://penaltykill.net/blogs/fighting-wins/feed/ Don’t Retire vs. B’s http://penaltykill.net/blogs/dont-retire-vs-bs/ http://penaltykill.net/blogs/dont-retire-vs-bs/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:43:40 +0000 meane http://penaltykill.net/blogs/?p=1566 The Blackhawk’s retirement of No. 3 in honor of Pierre Pilote and the late Keith Magnuson on November 12th ended with the Bruins winning 2-1 in a shoot out. On November 22nd, the Canadiens hosted Patrick Roy night; the Bruins spoiled the party with a 3-2 shootout win. Last evening the Canes hoisted Glenn Wesley’s number 2 to the rafters of the RBC center, only to have the Bruins break out of their 4-game losing streak and paste the Canes with 5 unanswered goals. The night started off well for the home team with Matt Cullen scoring the first goal of the game, as it looked like the 37-minute ceremony affected the Bruins skating legs a little more than the Canes. The Bruins got on the board in the first period with a much needed power play goal by rookie Blake Wheeler. Sheriff Shane Hnidy got a cheepy in the second period on a wrister from the point that had eyes. The game remained tight until just under 4 minutes left in the third when David Krejci scored while shorthanded with a nice backhand flip on a partial break away. Exactly one minute later the Bruins power play put the game out of reach with a Chuck Kobasew tip in of a Big Z slapper from the point. Down 4-1 and on the power play again, Carolina pulled Cam Ward for a six on four advantage. However, Patrice Bergeron, who has played better the last few games, jumped on a deflected clear and slid the puck into the empty net. The moral of the story is that if you are planning to retire a jersey to the rafters, pick another opponent other than the Bruins, as the likelihood of coming away with a win to cap off the celebration is slim.

MeanE

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]]> http://penaltykill.net/blogs/dont-retire-vs-bs/feed/ Bad Beat http://penaltykill.net/blogs/bad-beat/ http://penaltykill.net/blogs/bad-beat/#comments Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:41:33 +0000 meane http://penaltykill.net/blogs/?p=1541 The B’s loss to the New Jersey Devils last night reminds me of my bad beat at the poker table at Foxwoods Casino. I had Big Slick diamond suited. My first playable hand of the day. I was short stack and decided to go all in when the flop came up with 2 diamonds and 10 was the high card. I got one guy out of the 10 to call. He had paired the 10’s. I had 13 outs and was a heavy favorite going into the turn and river. Unfortunately no Kings, Aces, or Diamonds hit. Game over, fight another day. The Bruins outshot the Devils 31-18 last night and lost on the weakest goal that Timmy Thomas has given up all year. The Bruins played like they had Big Slick, but got beat by a goal equivalent to a pair of Deuces. Game over, fight another day. Bruins nation is getting a little nervous with the B’s on their first 3 game losing streak of the year. However, their deck was short an Ace and a King last night in Michael Ryder and Chuck Kobesew, and a goalie that played well, resulting in a Bad Beat. Unlike me who won’t have a shot to redeem my Bad Beat until Thursday’s poker night, the Bruins will get their shot tonight against the Preds in Nashville as they play game 2 of this 5 game roady while Disney on Ice calls the Garden home. They will still play without Ryder and Kobesew again, but I look for Kessel to pot his first goal this evening since coming back from mono. Fear not Bruins fans, all teams go through a rough patch, even the team with the most points in the NHL.

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]]> http://penaltykill.net/blogs/bad-beat/feed/ Bruins Concussed? http://penaltykill.net/blogs/bruins-concussed/ http://penaltykill.net/blogs/bruins-concussed/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:29:40 +0000 meane http://penaltykill.net/blogs/?p=1527 Quick-Who is the 3rd highest paid player on the Bruins roster? Most know Chara is 1st at 7.5 million and Marc Savard is 2nd at 5 million. Is it Kessel, Sturm, Ryder? No, it is Patrice Bergeron at 4.75 million against the cap. I hate to complain about a young player that suffered a debilitating concussion last season, but in today’s NHL salary cap era, 4.75 million is close to 9% of your total cap number. For that kind of money, a GM wants more than 39 games played out of 55 possible with 4 goals 17 assists for 21 points, with a plus/minus rating of -1. The most glaring statistic to me is the -1, on a team that has 6 players at 24 or better and a rookie in Blake Wheeler at +32. Now Patrice Bergeron did not ask to be hit from behind by Randy Jones of the Flyers, but Bruins Management must wonder if they will ever see again, the player they had signed to contract through 2010-2011. Peter Chiarelli must have concussion-like symptoms trying to figure out how he is going to sign his free agents like Phil Kessel, David Krejci, Matt Hunwick, Tim Thomas, and Manny Fernandez, all except Hunwick deserving more than the 4.75 that Bergeron is under contract for. Now I am not a GM or a Capologist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night and if I was Peter Chiarelli, I would be looking to move Bergeron to a team that has their own under performing 4 - 5 million dollar center, like the Florida Panthers Nathan Horton. Maybe a change of scenery for both players would get them back to the level of play that got them the big contract in the first place. It’s a long shot, and maybe I’m concussed thinking another GM would pick up what seems to be damaged goods, but anything is possible.

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]]> http://penaltykill.net/blogs/bruins-concussed/feed/ MeanE Blogs The Boston Bruins http://penaltykill.net/blogs/meane-blogs-the-boston-bruins/ http://penaltykill.net/blogs/meane-blogs-the-boston-bruins/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:41:00 +0000 admin http://penaltykill.net/blogs/?p=1530 Admin IconThe ‘Net is happy to announce MeanE has joined us and has brought his Boston Bruins into our world! Welcome MeanE!

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