Deja Vu For the B's

Photo Credit Google Images hockeyindependent.com

Tim Thomas stopped 52 shots tonight, including 22 in the third period and 46 straight after the Flyers jumped out to a 2-0 lead within their first six shots.

The second best player on the ice tonight (behind Timmy of course) was James van Reimsdyk, who tallied both of the Flyers goals tonight, to push his post-season total to eight. 

Philly came out flying as they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead.  The Bruins, with no panic, battled back with two goals in a 1:35 span.  Chris Kelly notched the first one on a rebound put-back.  The key to this goal was the traffic in front of the net.  Michael Ryder, who has been criticized like no other, stood only inches in front of Brian Boucher, enabling Kelly to sneak the puck past him to cut the lead to one.

Only a minute and a half later, Patrice Bergeron made a beautiful pass to rookie Brad Marchand, who whistled a wrist shot by Boucher to knot the game at two.

The third period was completely dominated by the Flyers as they out-shot the B's 22-7.  Nobody was bigger than our unconventional goalie Tim Thomas.  Thomas made spectacular save after spectacular save, allowing his team to reach the overtime period.

With about six seconds left in regulation, the Flyers had an offensive zone face-off.  The puck hopped to the stick of Flyer winger who back-handed it on net.  Timmy made a right pad save but let up a rebound to Danny Briere who had a wide open net.  The puck was on edge, and Briere fanned, sending the game into overtime. 

This overtime period was one of the best I've ever seen.  Back and forth, up and down the ice they went.  Both teams had ample opportunities to end this game, but both goaltenders (and posts and crossbars), helped keep this game tied.

At the 14 minute mark of the overtime period, David Krecji took a beautiful feed from Nathan Horton who had just came off the bench.  All in one motion, Krecji one-time the puck top-shelf to give the Bruins a 2-0 series lead.  

An unorthodox end to tonights game, as the referee initially waved off the Krecji game-winner, only to overturn his call upon further review.

I liked all three of our top lines tonight.  The Bergeron and Peverley lines have been playing great all playoffs long.  With Krecji's line coming on strong, the B's can be a force to be reckon with in these Stanley Cup playoffs.  

On a more sour note, defenseman Adam McQuaid was sent to a local hospital after whiffing on a check and slamming his head into the boards.  I have no report as of yet, but hopefully its nothing serious because this kid has been a rock all year on defense for the black and gold.

With the series at 2-0 in favor of the B's, the series shifts back to Boston where the Bruins look to grab a strangle hold on this series.  

Game 3 will be played Wednesday at 7:00 et in Boston.....and you know the fahkin' Gahden will be rockin'.

Oh, did I mention how fucking huge Timmy was tonight!

WOOOO!!!!

Pats At It Again

Photo Credit Google Images giantsgab.com



And with the 17th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select....some big goofy white dude from Colorado.

Per usual, the Pats drafted somebody who was on nobody's radar but their own.  Trade talks were swirling around yesterday in New York.  Many people thought the Pats would try and trade up this year to draft a perennial pass rusher.  Instead, they stayed put.  It seemed to work out perfect.  Two of the most talked about DE's were still on the board at 17, in Cameron Jordan and DeQuan Bowers.  Here it is.  It is time.  Time for the Patriots to make a splash.  Nope.  The left tackle from Colorado's name is called, and Patriots fans around New England are left puzzled.

Alright, second chance.  The 28th pick.  Let's go Bill. Make it happen.  At 28, Bowers was still on the board, as well as Heisman Trophy winning running back Mark Ingram. 

And with the 28th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints select running back from Alabama, Mark Ingram.  Wait what?  The Patriots traded down again?

This is my take.

Tom Brady has what, five years left, give or take.  This was the draft to take a chance.  Swing for the fences.  Try and get that player that other teams have to scheme for.  Try and get that player that puts the fear in the eyes of the other teams.

Bill Belichick has done a tremendous job here in New England.  He drafts players that fit his system.  Players who are versatile.  Players with a high level of intelligence.  It works.  Its what he does.  Thats why he is one of the greatest coaches ever.  A pure genius in my eyes.

One time Bill.  Swing for the fences.  Come on.

Now I'm not knocking Solder.  I am almost certain that he will be a solid player.  With Matt Light on his way out of New England, Solder will be the one to replace him.  Solder will most likely provide solid play and probably be a rock at left tackle for the Pats for years to come. 

The Pats will kick off the second round with the first pick, and 33rd overall.  I know its crazy of me, but I have a hunch that Bill and the Pats might, just might, trade this pick.  Who knows.

BRUINS WIN BRUINS WIN

Photo Credit Google Images boston.cbslocal.com

With the puck in the corner in overtime, Adam McQuaid pinched down and kept the puck in the corner.  Milan Lucic scraped it out of the pile, found a wide open Nathan Horton at the blue line.  Horton, with open ice in front of him, stepped into a slap shot that found its way behind Carey Price for the game winning goal in overtime.  

The Bruins took both the game and series, 4-3.

Boston took the lead only minutes into the game as Johnny Boychuck, ripped an absolute missile past Price.  Minutes later, the ageless Mark Recchi found himself wide open and whistled a wrist shot top shelf to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead.  

The Canadiens then took their timeout to try to regain their composure.  It proved to be a critical timeout, as the Habs controlled the flow of play for the majority of the next 25 minutes.

Special teams proved to be critical once again, as both the penalty kill and powerplay let the Bruins down.  With Danielle Paille's stick 15 feet away from him, the Habs had a defacto five on three powerplay and took full advantage of it as Yannick Weber lifted a wrist shot over Tim Thomas's glove.

Five minutes into the second period, the Bruins were again short-handed.  Dennis Seidenberg then made a sloppy play in the neutral zone, only to be picked up by Tomas Plekanec who snapped a wrist shot by Thomas on a break-a-way.  The flow of play was dominated by the Canadiens for the rest of the second period, but Timmy Thomas held his ground, and the two bitter rivals went into the third knotted at two.

The Bruins got back on top of their game in the third and took a 3-2 lead at 9:44 of the third on a rebound put-back by Chris Kelly.  This play opened up because of a check Kelly put on a Canadien defenseman.  The defenseman, I forget who the flopper was, laid there on the ice like there was a sniper in section 814 of the balcony.  The B's then had transition, and Andrew Ference got a wrist shot through to the net.  Kelly scooped up the rebound, and backhanded the puck into the back of the net to give the black and gold a 3-2 advantage.  

The Bruins kept up their intense flow of play and had multiple scoring chances, only to be stoned by Carey Price.  Patrice Bergeron got his stick up near the face of a Canadien defenseman with only three minutes left in the game, and the Habs once again had the man-advantage.

The dangerous Montreal power play took the ice trying to send this game to overtime.  With crisp passing and phenomenal puck movement, the Habs got the shot they were looking for; a one-timer from their talented young (cough pussy cough) defenseman, PK Subban.  Subban ripped the shot past Thomas, tying the game, and sending it into overtime. 

Up and down, back and forth.  This is how overtime started as both teams had great opportunities, but the netminders stepped up and held their ground.  Five minutes and forty three seconds into overtime, Nathan Horton ripped the slapper by Carey Price to send the Bruins into the next round.

What a fantastic series.  What a fucking great game. Holy shit.

Time to enjoy this one for a few days, but then its back to business.  A first round win is just a step in the right direction, and the Bruins as well as the fans are not satisfied......but it does feel good to be the ones to knock Montreal out!

Lock of the Day

Tampa Bay Lightning (+110) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (-130)


Here it is; another game seven.  In my pre-playoff picks, I had the Penguins advancing in this one, but I'm going in the other direction here.  I like the way the Lightning are playing.  The Penguins are showing signs of missing the best player in the NHL, Sidney Crosby.  Decimated with injuries all year, the Penguins have had a tremendous year, but I think it comes to an end here.  I expect the Lightning to come out fired up and take down the mighty Penguins.

Lock of the Day - Tampa Bay Lightning (+110)

Game 7 in Beantown

Photo Credit Google Images daysofyorr.com

Game Seven.  The two greatest words in sports.  Boston Montreal, the two biggest rivals in hockey.  This is it.  This is what they play the season for.  It's do or die.  Win or go home.  Game seven!

The Montreal Canadiens forced a game seven by beating the Boston Bruins 2-1 last night at the sold-out Bell Center.  The two teams will face off tonight to decide who goes home, and who moves on.  This is the eighth game seven between the two teams, with the Habs taking five out of the seven.  

The Habs scored twice last night, both on a two-man-advantage.  Once again, the special teams had a huge impact on a game this series.  The Bruins could barely get a shot on net on their ample power play opportunities, while the Habs grabbed both their tallies on the man-advantage.  The B's are still sporting a goose egg in the PPG column.  The last team to win a playoff series without scoring a power play goal was the Anaheim Ducks in 2001.  You see how rare it is to win with such a terrible power play, and that is exactly what Boston's man-advantage is...terrible.  

The Bruins played better last night in 5-on-5 situations.  Tonight, they will need to be physical, yet discipline, to win this game.  The Montreal power play is deadly, with the likes of Brian Gionta and Mike Cammalleri.  Tim Thomas has bounced back from a shaky first couple of games, playing up to his potential the previous four games.  

The Bruins need to score first.  They need to lay some big hits, and get on the score-board first.  Doing this will get the crowd in the game, and when the Garden is rockin', it's unlike any other arena.

With all that being said, I still like the Bruins to prevail.  I think they have the better goalie and are just a better team.  But do not expect this to be an easy game.  This game will be a classic.  You do NOT want to miss it.

Lets go B's WOOOOO

Lock of the Day

First day of the NBA playoffs, and I've got three locks for tonights games.

Atlanta Hawks/Orlando Magic O/U 181

Portland Trailblazers/Dallas Mavericks O/U 186

Portland Trailblazers +5 @ Dallas Mavericks

The Hawks and Magic face off tonight in game one of their best of seven series.  I like the Magic to win this game, and more importantly, I look for some scoring.  I do not see this game reaching the 100's, but anything in the 90's will get us over the number here.  Look for a game in the 90's and the total to go over.

The Mavs host the Blazers in game one of their series tonight as well.  I picked the Blazers to win the series and I think it starts with game one.  The Mavs drew a tough matchup here.  The Blazers have an abundance of talent, with probably their best player, Brandon Roy, coming off the bench.  The addition of Gerald Wallace was huge for Portland, and all-star snub, Lamarcus Aldridge is having a phenominal season.  It will be tough to slow down Dirk, but I like the young guns of Portland.  I expect this one to come down to the last possession, so take the Blazers with the points.  Again, I expect another game in the 90's and I'd roll with the over here also.

Lock of the Day - Atlanta Hawks/Orlando Magic OVER 181

                                  Portland Trailblazers/Dallas Mavericks OVER 186

                                  Portland Trailbazers +5 @ Dallas Mavericks

Lock of the Day

St. Louis Cardinals (-105) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (-105)

Jon Garland will be making his first start of the season for the Dodgers.  The Cardinals have registered at least 16 hits in three straight games.  They will have Kyle Lohse on the bump tonight.  Lohse has been solid for the red birds this year logging a 1-1 record so far.  Lance Berkman seems to be resurecting his career in St. Louis behind Pujols and Holliday.  I like the Cards here.

Lock of the Day - St. Louis Cardinals (-105)