Sports of Boston » Bruins

Tim Thomas Benched, Capitals Beat Bruins 5-3

KC Downey — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:14:26 +0000

Tim Thomas was first off the ice at practice Tuesday, which usually indicates he would start in net that night.

He did not.

One day after purposely skipping the Bruins’ event at the White House, and on the same day as President Obama’s State of the Union address, Thomas rode the bench.

In his place was Tuukka Rask, who proceeded to allowed four goals on just 22 shots Tuesday night in, of all places, Washington, D.C.. The Caps added an empty-netter to win 5-3.

Rich Peverley, playing on the top line with Nathan Horton out (mild concussion), got the scoring started for the Bruins with his goal in the first period, the only goal in that period for either team.

Then, the teams combined for five goals in the second period, leaving the score locked at 3-3 after 2.

In the third, Mathieu Perreault completed the hat trick after compiling two of his goals in the second, giving the Caps a 4-3 lead.

Former Bruin Dennis Wideman added an empty netter to complete the scoring.

The Bruins next play NEXT Tuesday against the Senators, due to the NHL All-Star festivities this weekend.

Tim Thomas Explains Why He Skipped Obama Event at White House

KC Downey — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:07:49 +0000

Tim Thomas released a statement on his Facebook page why he skipped Monday’s event at the White House as President Obama honored the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins.

“I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.

This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.

Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.”

Cam Neely also released a statement about his goalie’s decision:

“As an organization we were honored by President Obama’s invitation to the White House. It was a great day and a perfect way to cap our team’s achievement from last season. It was a day that none of us will soon forget. We are disappointed that Tim chose not to join us, and his views certainly do not reflect those of the Jacobs family or the Bruins organization. This will be the last public comment from the Bruins organization on this subject.”

Brad Marchand (@BMarch63) Deletes Twitter Account

KC Downey — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:34:51 +0000

Now that his suspension is drawing to a close soon, Brad Marchand has left Twitter just as quickly as he joined it.

Hat tip to Days of Y’Orr for capturing a screenshot of Marchand’s final Tweet (for now):

(Screenshot from the guys at Days of Y'Orr)

Yep, because he’s a bawss.

Bruins to be Honored at White House Jan. 23 for Stanley Cup Win

KC Downey — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 06:03:41 +0000

For the first time, a Boston sports team will be visiting the White House during the Obama administration.

All three Patriots champs, the two Red Sox champs, and the ’08 Celtics all visited the White House during George W. Bush’s eight years in office.

Now, the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins will be honored by President Obama at the White House on Monday, Jan. 23.

According to the Bruins, President Obama will also highlight the Boston Bruins Foundation, “which has raised and donated more than $7 million to various charitable organizations in the six New England states.”

Brad Marchand Now On Twitter: @Bmarch63

KC Downey — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:49:30 +0000

Brad Marchand is still serving his five-game suspension, so he has some time on his hands.

The B’s winger took time to set up his Twitter account. Follow him: @Bmarch63

Bruins Get Lucky, Hold Off Canadiens For 2-1 Win

KC Downey — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:26:22 +0000

For the first time in recent memory, the Bruins and Canadiens played a meaningless game. Why? Well, simply put, the Canadiens suck this season.

Montreal is 12th in the Eastern Conference and has a losing record. They entered the game 16 (!!!) points behind the Bruins in the East. Things are so bad, they traded one of their best players DURING Thursday night’s game against the Bruins.

Another example that things are bad for the Habs? Bruins youngster Jordan Caron scored less than two minutes into the first period after the puck took a strange bounce and rolled in front of the net while Carey Price was trying to retrieve it behind the net.

“It was an unfortunate bounce, but at the same time we have to find a way to rally behind it, bounce back from it,” Price said.

The lucky B’s then held that 1-0 lead all the way until the third period, when Milan Lucic made it 2-0. Credit David Krejci with one of the assists, giving him at least one point in 10 straight games, the longest such streak in the NHL this season.

So, with Krjeci one of the hottest players in the NHL, naturally PK Subban would make a run at him. Subban gave Krejci a semi-nasty elbow to the head midway through the third. When Andrew Ference rushed over to retaliate, Subban turtled on the ice.

Ference was given a 4-minute penalty, and Subban was given a 2-minute penalty, giving Montreal a power play. The Habs actually capitalized when Yannick Weber scored 15 feet from the net on a slapshot as Thomas was screened. That cut the deficit to 2-1, but Montreal was unable to make any more noise after that.

In the end, Thomas finished with 33 saves.

The Bruins, 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, next take on the Hurricanes on Saturday night.

Cammalleri Calls Canadiens “Losers,” Then Gets Traded During Bruins Game

KC Downey — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:49:18 +0000

“I can’t accept that we will display a losing attitude as we’re doing this year…We prepare for our games like losers. We play like losers. So it’s no wonder why we lose.”

With those words earlier in the week, Michael Cammalleri really sealed his fate. After playing the first two periods of Thursday night’s game against the Bruins, Cammalleri was pulled from the ice and ordered to go to the team hotel because he had been traded.

According to reports, Cammalleri was dealt to the Flames in a trade involving Rene Bourque.

Just another reminder not to cross the Bleu, Blanc, et Rouge. They’ll either trade you or call 911!

Seguin, Chara Named 2012 NHL All-Stars

KC Downey — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:29:43 +0000

One of the best teams in the NHL, the Bruins, will be well-represented at the NHL All-Star Game in February.

Joining goalie Tim Thomas, who is set to start in net, will be forward Tyler Seguin and defenseman Zdeno Chara.

In just his second season, Seguin leads the B’s with 17 goals and 38 points (2nd on the team with21 assists). He leads the NHL with a +33 plus/minus rating.

Chara, meanwhile, is having another stellar season. The 6-9 defenseman is fourth in the NHL with a +27 plus/minus. He also has 7 goals and 18 assists.

Perhaps the biggest Bruins snub is center Patrice Bergeron, who has still not made an All-Star game in his career. This year, Bergy has 11 goals, a team-leading 25 assists, and 36 points. Like every other Bruin, his plus/minus is also off the charts: +27.

The Province: Brad Marchand Suspended XXX Games for Sami Salo Hit

KC Downey — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:12:01 +0000

House before Brad Marchand was actually suspended for his hit on Sami Salo, “The Province” inadvertently published an article about Marchand’s XXX-game suspension.

Say what?

(Screenshot from TheProvince.com)

Thanks to the wonderful “print-screen” button, I was able to grab the above screenshot before the errant article was removed from the website.

I work with publishing news stories to websites (for Sports of Boston, of course, and another major publication), and we tend to set up stories ahead of time. So, I completely understand how the error was made. But… it’s still fun to point it out.

Video: Brad Marchand Suspended 5 Games For Hit on Sami Salo

KC Downey — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:46:52 +0000

Bruins winger Brad Marchand was suspended for five games by the NHL on Monday for his low hit on Vancover’s Sami Salo during Saturday afternoon’s Stanley Cup rematch.

“As the video shows, Marchand skates towards Salo along the boards,” Shanahan said in a video posted on the league’s website. “Rather than deliver a shoulder-to-shoulder check, Marchand drops down dangerously low into Salo’s knee area, propelling Salo up and over, causing an injury.”

Does the punishment fit the crime?

You decide:

Shanahan later added that the hit ”was a predatory, low hit delivered intentionally by Marchand in order to flip his opponent over him.”

Predatory may be a strong word, but Shanahan is accurate. It definitely was a suspendable hit. But, is five games fair though? What do you think?