AT      

Fresh off of their first win of the season, the Bruins skated into Anaheim to take on the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Ducks. This was the Ducks home opener, so all of the ceremony and celebration took place prior to the game. Perhaps this young Bruins team got a taste of what success is like, and they now have a celebration of their own to strive for. The Bruins were coming of####ood win against the Coyotes, and were looking to build some momentum against an established Western Conference power.

Tim Thomas was given the starting nod again, playing in consecutive games after recording 36 saves against Phoenix. He played fairly well, as the first Anaheim goal was on a great individual effort by Ryan Getzlaf, and the winning goal was scored on a deflection, which is always a hard play to fault the goalie on.

Chuck Kobasew scored the Bruins only goal, on a great deke and shot combo, beating Ilya Bryzgalov just 1:05 seconds into the first period. It was a great way to start the game for the B's as it helped to silence the crowd and get the team started out on the right foot. The young team held their own against the physical Ducks in the first period, and had some good scoring chances. However, it seemed like as soon as the Ducks tied the score, the Bruins fell into their old habit of playing "shell shocked", not attacking the offensive zone and getting sloppy in their defensive zone. Against a team like Phoenix, they may have been able to get away with a period of playing this way, but not against the Ducks. Anaheim essentially shut down the Bruins attack, and left them simply trying to shovel the puck out of their own zone, not leaving much time to think about offense. Anaheim kept up the pressure, and was finally able to break through with 6:25 left to go in the 3rd period. The Bruins had a few chances to tie, but not nearly enough. They got the goalie pulled, but couldn't set up any offensive plays and ended up falling, 2-1.

The Bruins put in a good effort in this game, but it wasn't a 60 minute effort. This is something the team fell into last year, rarely playing a complete game and often seeming overwhelmed whenever they gave up a lead. Claude Julien won't let this happen to this team, as he stresses playing the full 60, and always keeping composure. I did like the somewhat increased physical presence of the Bruins, throwing their weight around against a team that had a reputation for being the toughest in the league last year. However, they do need to increase the offensive output, dramatically. 19 shots on goal isn't going to win many games in the National Hockey League, especially not against the defending champs. More offense needs to come, and hopefully Julien will push the team to play harder and work harder in the offensive zone.

GOALS:

>Anaheim: Ryan Getzlaf (3), Francois Beauchemin (1)

Boston: Chuck Kobasew (2)

SAVES:

A
naheim: Ilya Bryzgalov, 18 saves on 19 shots

Boston: Tim Thomas, 28 saves on 30 shots

NEXT GAME: Friday, October 12 @ Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 PM EST

                   
                 AT

Coming off of an opening game where one of the only bright spots was "at least it was better than last year" (referring to last season's opening night(mare) 8-3 drubbing at the hands of the Florida Panthers), the Bruins were seeking another repeat of last year, looking for a bounce back performance in game number two of the 82 game campaign. Last season, the Bruins came out strong and took home a win on the road against a tough Tampa Bay team. This year, they rolled into Phoenix to face what is the consensus weakest team in the NHL. The Coyotes are extremely young, and are looking to improve this season, but this game was as close to a must-win game as one can get this early in the season.

As expected, Tim Thomas got the start in net. I was happy about this, because I think Claude Julien needs to let the two goalies duke it out early in the season, and play a goalie until he loses or needs a rest. This may not sit well with Manny Fernandez, but until he earns it, he should have to fight for the spot.

Bruins' Line-up:

Schaefer-Savard-Koba
sew
Sturm-Bergeron-Murray
Axelsson-Krejci-Kessel
Lucic-Metropolit-Thornton

Chara-Ward
Alberts-Ference
Stuart-Wideman

Thomas

The B's came out flying in this one, setting a fast pace early and pressuring the young Coyotes team into ill-advised plays and passes. They had good pressure early, and immediately capitalized on their first power play opportunity, with Patrice Bergeron scoring his second goal (and second power play goal) of the season at 4:09 when he slipped a shot past Mikael Tellqvist after a great shot fake. After the ensuing faceoff, Peter Schaefer took an interference penalty when he crashed into Tellqvist , giving Phoenix a power play. However, the B's PK unit turned up the heat on the 'Yotes, and forced a turnover near their own blue line that led to 2 on 1 rush by Chuck Kobasew and Peter Schaefer. The B's took a 2-0 lead when Kobasew elected to shoot instead of pass, and snapped one under Tellqvist for the team's first shorthanded goal of the season.

The Bruins seemed well in control of the game throughout, thanks in part to the play of Tim Thomas. He may not have made many of his trademark tumbling saves, but he was solid in net, and was beaten by a somewhat fluky goal that deflected in off of a skate. But a goal is a goal, and despite seeming firmly in control, the B's only had a 2-1 lead going into the third. Phoenix may have gotten a little momentum with that goal, and the Bruins lost some serious steam when Marc Savard had to leave the game with a "core injury" (Today it is being called a mild groin strain, and Savard is listed as day-to-day. According to Fluto Shinzawa of the Globe, he will be re-evaluated tomorrow.). However, even with out Savard, the Bruins put the game essentially out of reach with a power play strike halfway through the third from Marco Sturm. The goal was Sturm's first of the season, but, perhaps more importantly, was assisted by David Krejci, who recorded his first NHL point.

The B's nearly scored a fourth goal in the empty net, but still secured their first victory of the young season. I was pleased by a lot of things in this game, especially the power play unit. Phoenix had 3 penalties, and the Bruins scored on two of them. The game was pretty physical again, as Julien has stressed again and again that he wants the Bruins to be a tough team to play against. One of my favorite moments of last night's game came again courtesy of 19 year old Milan Lucic, who was bringing the puck down the boards and saw a Coyote coming to deliver a big hit. The youngster not only perfectly absorbed the hit, but sent it right back from where it came, knocking the Phoenix player on the ice and maintaining possession. It's exactly the kind of tough, gritty play the Bruins need.

As for Wednesday night's game against the Ducks, it is, in all likelihood, going to take more effort than last night to get a win. The Ducks haven't been spectacular thus far, but they remain a fearsome team and, until June 2008, the Stanley Cup champions. They are a physical group, and it will be interesting to see if the B's can match them hit-wise. I'd like to see Tim Thomas, who was named the game's first star last night, start again, and possibly see Brandon Bochenski get some ice time after being a healthy scratch for the first two games. Phil Kessel and Patrice Bergeron continued their strong play last night, and need to keep it up in order to drive the offense if Marc Savard is out for any extended period of time.

Stay tuned for game number 3 on Wednesday, and until then, enjoy the Patriots' fifth straight win and the Red Sox' ALDS sweep.

GOALS (Season Total in parentheses):

Phoenix- Niko Kapanen (1)

Boston- Patrice Bergeron (2), Chuck Kobasew (1), Marco Sturm (1)

SAVES:

Phoenix- Mikael Tellqvist, 21 saves on 24 shots

Boston- Tim Thomas, 36 saves on 37 shots

NEXT GAME:  Wednesday, Oct. 10 @ Anaheim Ducks, 10:00 PM EST

After going 8 for 8 in the first round (though I will concede I made those picks with a late start), it's time for the predictions and thoughts for the second round of what have already been great games in the NHL Playoffs. The first round is always the easiest to pick, as the higher seed won all but 2 series (San Jose and New York Rangers). The second round match-ups should be great ones, and if the first round is any indication, hockey fans are in for as good a playoffs as we saw last season.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Buffalo Sabres vs 6. New York Rangers (Season series: Buffalo, 3-1)- Buffalo took care of business in the first round, dispatching the Islanders in 5 games. As the 1 seed, this isn't much of an accomplishment, more like the fulfillment of an expectation. Either way, the Sabres looked strong in the first round, and it appears certain that their 113 point season was no fluke. The Rangers, on the other hand, are coming off an impressive sweep of the Southeast Conference champion Atlanta Thrashers, including a 7-0 beating in game 3. The series win helped the Rangers get the #### off their back of having not won a playoff series since 1997, and certainly cemented the confidence of the team. This should be a great match-up, and it's hard to pick which way it will go. It'll be interesting to see if Sean Avery makes good on his promise to "hurt" the Sabres, or if it just further motivates the talented Buffalo group. For whatever reason, I feel like the Rangers may have the edge in this series, and may be on enough of a rule to sneak past the Sabres. Rangers in 6.

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2. New Jersey Devils vs 4. Ottawa Senators (Season series: New Jersey, 3-1)- Ottawa disappointed the national media in dismissing the Penguins, and in doing so sending home the biggest star in the league, but Pittsburgh was simply too young and Ottawa too talented for that series to go any other way. The Devils came back strong to beat the Lightning, winning in 6 after falling behind 2-1. An area of concern for Devils fans is, surprisingly enough, goaltending, as Brodeur has at times been inconsistent this postseason. After watching game 6 however, I think it's safe to say he may be back. He turned back shot after shot in Tampa's last gasp rush at the end of the 3rd, and looked like the goaltender he really is. Also, Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta and Patrik Elias began to produce near the end of the series, which is a big bonus for the Devils. Ray Emery has played well for the Sens, and they need him to keep playing well to have the best chance to win. It'll be close, but I think the Senators will expose the Devils and take the series. Senators in 7.

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WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit Red Wings vs 5. San Jose Sharks (Season series: San Jose, 3-1)- This should be a fantastic series, even if the seedings make it seem a little uneven. Detroit took care of their "number 1 seed" business in the first round, holding off the Flames after a late charge by Calgary. The Sharks impressively dispatched the Predators in 5 games, and looked good doing it. Evgeni Nabokov continues to play well in the playoffs, and Dominik Hasek was a little unsteady against Calgary. I'd give the goaltending advantage to San Jose, but the offensive firepower is pretty even. Detroit is under a lot of pressure, or should be anyways, after a few disappointing playoffs in a row, especially considering last season's series defeat at the hands of Edmonton. Even with the home ice advantage, Detroit won't be able to hold off San Jose's offensive onslaught and will be sent home early again his summer. San Jose in 6.

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2. Anaheim Ducks vs 3. Vancouver Canucks (Season series: Anaheim, 3-1)- These two teams are coming off two completely different series. Anaheim easily sent Minnesota home, winning their series in 5 games. Vancouver, on the other hand, finally beat the Stars in a marathon of a series, especially considering the length of the first game of that series. Anaheim has been a Cup favorite since the beginning of the season, and they have done little to show that they don't deserve such recognition. They are a force to be reckoned with, and will give the Canucks more than they can handle. Even with the way Roberto Luongo has been playing, the Ducks will be able to outlast the Canucks. I think it will go 7, but the Ducks will prevail in the end. Ducks in 7.

So there you have it. These picks are a lot less confident than my first round selections, but we'll have to wait and see. Feel free to leave any comments or your picks too.

Thanks for stopping by, hockey fans.

I still think that the NHL has the best playoffs out of any major sport, with baseball probably being close behind. I'm sure I'll be ripped by fans of the NFL and NBA who claim that their playoffs are just as good, if not better. The NFL does sometimes hold my interest when the Patriots aren't involved, but I just cannot get into an NBA playoff game unless the Celtics are playing. With the NHL, I can watch every game, even without a vested interest in either side, and still be very entertained. Last year's Stanley Cup Finals was once of the best series I have ever seen in any playoffs, and most of the other series didn't disappoint either.

 I know at least a little bit about all of the teams in this year's playoffs, and know a lot about some of them too. I don't really have a favorite team this year, but there are some teams that I guess I "wouldn't mind" seeing hoist Lord Stanley in June.

 My favorite teams in this year's playoffs are:

-San Jose Sharks:  I've always liked the Sharks, for reasons that I don't really remember. It probably began when I just liked their cool logo back when they were an expansion team. Now, they have an exciting team, and also have some former Bruins with a guy named Joe and Kyle McLaren. They also have one of the better scorers in the league in Jonathan Cheechoo, an exciting young rookie in Milan Michalek, and a formidable goalie tandem in Evgeni Nabokov and Vesa Toskala. They will be strong contenders for the Cup, but they do face a strong first round opponent in the 110 point-Nashville Predators.

 -Calgary Flames: I also don't know why I'm a fan of the Flames. I'm interested in seeing how Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart perform. Also, I loved the passion shown by the Calgary fans in the '03-'04 Stanley Cup Finals loss in seven games to the Lightning. I don't know what it is, but Calgary would be a cool winner, especially because they are an 8-seed out West, and I'm always a fan of the underdog.

-Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks are what I wish the Bruins would be, mainly because of their physical style of play that seems to almost be the norm out West. They have a very strong defensive corps, led by Francois Beauchemin, Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer. They also have good offensive weapons in Ryan Getzlaf, Chris Kunitz and Rob Niedermayer. Like the Sharks, they also have a strong two-pronged goalie duo with Ilya Bryzgalov and Jean-Sebastien Giguere. They are going to be very tough to beat out West.

I don't think it's any coincidence that no teams from the East are among my favorites, simply because they are all frequent opponents of the Bruins. I'd jump on the Pittsburgh bandwagon, because a Stanley Cup victory by Sidney Crosby's Penguins would be a huge marketing boost for the NHL, but I think that enough of the national sports media has climbed on the bandwagon, and it might be a little full.

Let's take a look at each series in the first round, with the predictions for each at the end in bold. Since I'm writing this after all of the series are in full swing, the current series records are in parentheses after the team names.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

 1. Buffalo Sabres vs 8. New York Islanders (Series tied 1-1)- This seems like it would be a completely one-sided series, since the Sabres have been amongst the best teams in the league all year. I wouldn't mind seeing the Sabres go down, mainly because Daniel Briere is my least favorite player in the league. The Islanders entered the playoffs in probably the coolest way possible (and eliminated the hated Leafs in the process) by winning a shootout against the New Jersey Devils. They have been riding the hot hand of Wade Dubielewicz, and got a solid performance from Rick DiPietro in his first game back in game 2. However, even with my overall distaste for the Sabres, I can't deny the amount of weapons they have as a team, and think they will prevail in the end. Sabres in 6 games.

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2. New Jersey Devils vs 7. Tampa Bay Lightning (Series tied 1-1)- This is a great match-up, with two of the league's top five scorers in Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis of the Lightning facing off against one of the greatest goalies in history in Martin Brodeur. The Devils have been playing really well all year, and even made a run at the Sabres for best record in the East towards the end of the year. I can't pick against solid goaltending, so I think the Devils will come out on top. Devils in 6 games.

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3. Atlanta Thrashers vs 6. New York Rangers (Rangers up 2-0)- This seemed like it would be a really close series, with both teams playing really well down the stretch to secure a playoff berth. The Rangers were on the verge of being out of it, then went on a tear and moved all the way up to sixth place. The Thrashers seemed rejuvenated with the arrival of Keith Tkachuk and Alexei Zhitnik. However, after the first 2 games, the Rangers seem like they have the series under control. They took the first two games on the road in Atlanta, and are now firmly in control of the series, and I can't really see them losing control. Atlanta will take one, but the Rangers will take the series. Rangers in 5 games.

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4. Ottawa Senators vs 5. Pittsburgh Penguins (Ottawa up 2-1)- This is the series that everyone is watching. The Senators have been perennial playoff disappointments, and the Penguins have been the league's darlings all year. Everyone wants Sidney Crosby's team to succeed. To his credit, his team has had an amazing turn around, one of the top 5 point turn-arounds season to season in NHL history. They have a great group of players in Crosby, Colby Armstrong, Sergei Gonchar, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, and a great young goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury. The Senators have a strong team as well, with Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, and the always-entertaining Ray Emery in net. This series is going to be a dogfight, but I think the Senators will be able to pull it out. Senators in 7 games.

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WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit Red Wings vs 8. Calgary Flames (Detroit up 2-0)- Detroit has been a quiet success, not receiving much media attention while accumulating 113 points and tying Buffalo for the most wins at 53. Calgary snuck in as the 8 seed, squeezing in ahead of the surging Colorado Avalanche. Detroit still has a ton of talent, and the steady playoff hand of Dominik Hasek in net. Calgary also has talent, with plenty of toughness as well in Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regher. They also have one of the best goalies in the league between the pipes in Miikka Kiprusoff. After losing the first two games in Detroit, I think Calgary will be able to take at least one of the next two at home on the Red Mile. Even so, Detroit is too good to blow this series lead. They have been dominating this series so far, outshooting the Flames 97-35 in the first two games, and will be able to close it out without much of an issue. Detroit in 5 games.

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2. Anaheim Ducks vs 7. Minnesota Wild (Anaheim up 2-0)- When Minnesota came to Boston in early March, I was surprised to hear that they were in solid playoff standing, simply because I hadn't heard much about them. They are a good young team, led by Marian Gaborik and Brian Rolston, and have pretty solid goaltending with Manny Fernandez and Niklas Backstrom. Even so, I don't think there is a chance for the Wild to win this series. They may sneak one in at home in front of those rabid Minnesota hockey fans at the Excel Center, but the Ducks will win the series. Anaheim in 5 games.

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3. Vancouver Canucks vs 6. Dallas Stars (Vancouver up 2-1)- Before even getting into who has the advantage in this series, I have to say that game 1 between these two teams pretty much captured what is so great about playoff hockey. FOUR overtimes! That's nearly 140 minutes of full tilt, pedal to the metal, playoff intensity hockey. Vancouver had 3 players with more than 50 minutes of ice time (Mattias Ohlund, Willie Mitchell and Kevin Bieksa), and Dallas had 2 (Sergei Zubov and Philippe Boucher). Zubov led all players in ice time at 55:08. That's nearly 56 minutes on the ice, which is almost a full game. Roberto Luongo made 72 saves in his first career playoff game. SEVENTY-TWO!!! An amazing game, one that I wish I had been able to watch but couldn't due to Versus not being offered on my dorm's TV. Either way, I read stories and saw highlights, and this game was everything that the playoffs should be. As far as the actual series goes, it should be a good one. Vancouver has been quietly fantastic all year, as has Dallas. Both teams have solid goaltenders in Luongo and the Stars' Marty Turco, and both also have proven scorers in Dallas' Mike Modano and Vancouver's Markus Naslund. This should be a great series, though it may seem like a let-down after such a thriller in game one. I think Roberto Luongo will be the difference maker. If he can continue to play as well as he has (and I think he will), the Canucks will be able to hold of Dallas. This series does have the potential to go the distance, especially after another overtime game in game 3, but Vancouver will prevail. Vancouver in 6 games.

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4. Nashville Predators vs 5. San Jose Sharks (Series Tied 1-1)- This series, when I looked at the seedings, really surprised me. Nashville with 110 points at number 4, and San Jose with 107 points at number 5? Both of these teams are very talented, and are only numbers 4 and 5 respectively because of who else is in their division (Detroit for Nashville and Anaheim for San Jose). This is probably going to be the best series of the playoffs, and it's hard to decide which way to go. In the end, the duo of Toskala and Nabokov could prove too much for Paul Kariya, Peter Forsberg and the Preds. San Jose in 7 games.

So there you have it, playoff predictions just a week late...

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No blog post is complete without Bruins news or thoughts, and this one is no excuse. Here are some "quick hits" from the Bruins.

• The Bruins took a lot of grief all year from Toronto and Montreal fans, so one can imagine my happiness as both teams were eliminated from the playoffs in the last two games of the season. So what did these two teams gain by being "this close" to the playoffs? Nothing. They are still taking an extended summer vacation, and are actually worse off than the Bruins are, since they are now picking further down in the draft. Taking joy in others' misfortunes isn't usually an admirable thing do to, but rules are out the window when dealing the Toronto and Montreal.
• In looking at the above playoff predictions, one thing stands out. A lot of the elite teams have 2 dependable goalies, and their success isn't just a coincidence. The Bruins have a wealth of goaltenders in their system, and just need to figure out what their plan is for the future. In talking with my brother the other night about this team, the tough position that this team is in came to light. They showed flashes of excellence this season when Tim Thomas was on his game, and he can be a solid goalie. However, the team is in a bind as to what to do next. Should they bail on Toivonen and bring in a Toskala, Nabokov or Giguere? The sticky situation gets worse when thinking about how young Hannu is, and a team never wants to give up on a young player who has shown so much talent at times. He just needs a little more experience and more development. Also, bringing in a high-caliber goalie would probably delay the NHL arrival of the "Chosen One", Tuukka Rask. Even this has a catch though, as Rask is going to need some time. He is likely going to spend all of next season in Providence, then see where he is headed after that. Should the team really base the next 2 years (at least) on the possibility that Rask will be the goalie of the future? By all accounts, Rask will be great. He is already near the top (if not the number one) goalie prospect in the world, but it's never good to put that much pressure on such a young kid. My opinion? Do nothing. Keep Thomas and Toivonen, let them play 1-2 next year, and let Dave Lewis ride the hot hand in 2007-2008. This team's problem last year was both inconsistence and defense. If the defense can be shored up with a small trade or free-agent signing, that would be the best solution. Toivonen and Thomas can do the job, and if Toivonen steadies his game, Bruins could be looking a Finnish-tandem of Toivonen and Rask a few years down the road.
• In watching "The Bricks", Andy Brickley's end of season awards show for the Bruins that highlighted the best plays of the year, it became apparent that this team's offense really fell apart with the loss of Glen Murray. The flak that this guy gets is puzzling. Sure, he's not that young, but he's also no Chris Chelios. He had 28 goals in 59 games, missing a bulk of the end of the year due to injury. As the show showed highlights of the great goals of the season, the Bruins' power play worked like clockwork at times. Pass from Bergeron to Chara, Chara to Savard, Savard back across to Bergeron, Bergeron across to Murray in the slot, Murray into the back of the net. Bing, ####, boom. This is why the "TRADE MURRAY!" complaints are so puzzling. He is one of the key cogs to this offense, probably second only to Marc Savard's amazing playmaking ability. Sure he may be getting up there, and he does have a pretty large contract, but he's still a pure scorer and a great player.
• Dave Lewis' job has been all but secured for at least the START of next season, and I'm really not disappointed. I think he deserves another shot, considering he was as new with his players as they were with him. If he doesn't start off well next year though, Chiarelli won't hesitate to let him go. If next October is as sluggish as October '06, Dave Lewis will be looking for a new job.
• Please, please, please, please, PLEASE don't trade Patrice Bergeron. This came up in an article by Kevin Paul Dupont in the Boston Globe a few weeks ago. Dupont said that if a trade was to be proposed to San Jose for Nabokov, a Murray/Toivonen package would no longer cut it due to Murray's injury, and Dupont then elaborated, saying that Sharks GM Doug Wilson would probably ask for Patrice Bergeron instead. If this trade happened, it would push me away from the Bruins probably for good. I don't think Chiarelli is this rash or, to put it bluntly, this stupid, but I felt like it needed to be said.