Bruins Focus on More Offense

Posted by NHL.com June 23, 2008 at 2:54 am OTTAWA -- After two seasons in which they finished out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Boston Bruins bounced back last year under new head coach Claude Julien. Playing a much more aggressive style, the Bruins qualified for the playoffs with a 41-...

Ward Back In The Mix

Posted by Craig Kolodny May 20, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Bruins blueliner Aaron Ward will be back in black and gold for the next couple of seasons. The veteran defensemen re-signing with the Bruins today. Here’s the press release from the organization.

Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has signed defenseman Aaron Ward to a multi-year contract extension. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Ward, a three-time Stanley Cup Champion, appeared in 65 regular season games for the Bruins last year and registered five goals, eight assists and a career high +9 plus/minus rating. The veteran blueliner led the team in blocked shots with 119 and finished third in hits with 143. Of his five goals, three were game-winners, including two in overtime. He played in six of the Bruins playoff games last season and had one assist.

The 35-year-old native of Ottawa, Ontario was originally drafted fifth overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets and was traded from Winnipeg to Detroit on June 11, 1993 along with a fourth round pick for Paul Ysebaert and future considerations. Ward made his NHL debut with Detroit on October 5, 1993 and would play seven seasons for the Red Wings. He won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Detroit during the 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 campaigns.

On July 9, 2001 Ward was traded to Carolina for a second round pick and he won his third Stanley Cup in 2005-2006 with the Hurricanes. Ward had his best season statistically during Carolina’s championship season, as he notched career bests in goals (6), assists (19) and points (25). He then signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent following the ‘05-’06 season before being traded to the Bruins on February 27, 2007 in exchange for Paul Mara.

The 13-year NHL veteran has seen action in 697 regular season games in his career, tallying 40-88-128 totals and 630 penalty minutes. In 84 postseason contests, he recorded 3-6-9 totals and 71 penalty minutes.

Boston Bruins Assign Forwards Vladimir Sobotka and Petteri Nokelainen To Providence

Posted by Boston Bruins April 24, 2008 at 9:10 am BOSTON, MA - Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has assigned forwards Vladimir Sobotka and Petteri Nokelainen to the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL).  Both players will join Provi...

Kid Shows Courage

Posted by Mike Giardi April 18, 2008 at 9:52 am

We finally saw Phil Kessel become an NHL player last night. After nearly two seasons of floating across the Garden ice doing his best Dmitri Kvartalnov impression (the mere typing of his name made me curse), Kessel finally manned up, playing with emotion, grit and a touch of courage sprinkled in there. Who knew it would take getting benched in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the light to finally go on in Kessel’s head?

His second period goal locked the B’s in a 1-1 tie with Montreal and set the stages for perhaps the Black and Gold’s single best stanza of the season, a four-goal eruption in the game’s final 20 minutes. Just a couple hours after looking like golf season was here, the Bruins now have a chance - slim - but a chance nonetheless, down 3-2 in their series with the top-seeded Habs.

Kessel has the requisite skill set to be a big-time player in this league. I mean, when you see him in space, he really does have the ability to make your jaw hit the floor. But in the NHL, 4-on-4 hockey is only saved for overtime, and shootouts don’t separate the men from the boys.

Kessel may have learned that lesson as lesser talents like Sobotka and Nokelainen and Schaeffer showed up for this postseason while Phil got to watch from the 9th floor. Not exactly becoming of a top-5 draft pick, now is it? Makes you understand why the B’s were shopping him at the trade deadline, while saying publicly that they weren’t. Kessel’s bosses were wondering if he would ever show the want - the desire -to take the next step in his development. Quite frankly, its been hard to tell when watching the 20-year old, be it in practice or come game-time. But for one night, at least, Kessel has answered those questions, and now has the B’s looking forward to a Game 6 back here in Boston Saturday night.

Canadiens Escape

Posted by Mike Giardi April 15, 2008 at 9:36 pm

That, my friends, was a killer for the Boston Bruins. They had chances, especially early in this hockey game. But whether it was Glen Murray not being able to pick a corner, or Marco Sturm misfiring on a breakaway, or the inability to bury any of a number of loose pucks in front of the net - the B’s get blanked by the Canadiens, losing Game 4, 1-0, and falling behind 3 games to 1 in the series.

I shouldn’t be totally surprised. The Black and Gold are a bruising bunch, but there isn’t a sniper in the bunch, especially now that Murray’s game has deteriorated over the past couple of seasons. Phil Kessel may one day be that guy, but he’s been a healthy scratch the last 3 games because of his - well, let’s just call it a lack of grit.

Now its back to Montreal. The Canadiens won’t lose two of the next three there. It just won’t happen. And I know, recent history with Boston sports teams tells us anything is possible, but not now, not for this bunch.

Game 4 Means Something

Posted by Mike Giardi April 13, 2008 at 10:09 pm

Big moment for the Bruins and big moment for their best forward, Marc Savard. On a delayed penalty call in overtime, Dennis Wideman with a nice backhand dish to set up Savard for the game-winner. The reaction from Savvy, his teammates and the GM’s perch was priceless. That’s what playoff hockey is all about, and that makes this a series. Montreal with a 2-1 lead, but that horrific streak - of 13 straight defeats to the Habs - is now over and done with. Game 4 is Tuesday night at the Garden.

Quick Hitters

Posted by Mike Giardi April 12, 2008 at 8:17 pm

If Notre Dame continues to carry the physical play to Boston College, the Eagles will skate away from a third straight title game without the hardware. Its imperative for the Fightin’ Irish to slow BC’s speedy, skilled forwards. Give them space, and they’ll kill you. Not a lot of space for the favorites in that first period.

No sooner do I type this, than Nathan Gerbe nets the ice-breaker for BC. His 34th…and the Eagles lead 1-0. Gerbe leads the entire country in goals scored, and would have been a heck of a selection for the Hobey Baker. He’ll take a team title first anyway.

Gutsy move by Bruins coach Claude Julien to scratch Phil Kessel. The kid has a ton of skill, but sometimes not enough courage. That won’t do in the playoffs, and Julien put him - and everyone else - on notice. No Dennis Wideman tonight either. Wideman wasn’t very good in Game One. Then again, no one else was either. Still, a much better opening period tonight, although somewhat negated by that late goal by Roman Hamrlik, assisted by Smolinski. The ex-Bruin killing them in this series so far.

David Ortiz is currently 3-for-42. Wow! That’s stunning for a hitter who’s as gifted as Big Papi is. And today against the Yankees, Ortiz showing no signs of coming out of it. He hit into a double play in the first, and it was just feeble. Thoose are two words I never thought I’d use in a sentence: “Ortiz” and “feeble.”

It’s Called the Playoffs

Posted by David Green April 10, 2008 at 1:02 am

There’s just something about playoff hockey. Maybe you don’t agree, and maybe that’s because it’s been so long since Bruins fans had a chance to experience any without grabbing a remote. But the wait is almost over, as the puck drops on the B’s and the Canadiens tonight in Montreal.

The Black and Gold have been the ugly stepchild on the Boston sports scene recently. After all, with the Sox, Pats and now the Celtics reigning supreme, it’s hard to crack the headlines. Heck, even the Revs have made it to three championship games. So revel in this return to the postseason, B’s fans. Especially because it might not last long.

The numbers against Les Habitants this season? They’re not pretty. I could go into details, but NECN has a content filter that prevents me from getting too graphic. (Seriously, I tried and was cruelly rebuffed.) The B’s 0-7-1 record against Montreal this season has gotten the most press, but if you look closer at the Canadiens’ offense, that’s what’s really scary. The Habs possess the most potent power play in hockey… and that unit has murdered the Bruins this season to the tune of 29.4 percent. You better believe the goal judge will be ready to light the lamp as soon as any Bruin steps into the box this series.

It might seem like I’m ragging on the Bruins; I’m not. At least I’m not trying to. I’m excited about the B’s return to the playoffs, and hope they can pull off the upset. At the very least, Boston sports fans should take notice of the team and get behind the Bruins.

But even if fans start paying attention (which you should), bear in mind that Boston is not Montreal when it comes to hockey. Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau says about 150 people honk their horns at him in a show of support when he drives to practice every day. If you surveyed 150 people in Boston, how many would even recognize Claude Julien? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Julien, one-time Canadiens fan and coach, has no fear of Montreal

Posted by Bruins & NHL - BostonHerald.com April 9, 2008 at 5:19 pm WILMINGTON - Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien admits he grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan. Now, he just wants to leave Montreal's fans disappointed. "Right...

The Score turns 2 (days old)

Posted by Ted McEnroe April 9, 2008 at 11:40 am

We’re all recovered from yesterday’s Sox home opener, just in time to get ready for the first Sox-Yankees series of the season this weekend. If you look up and right, or just click into this post, you can see where to find more information on a big ticket giveaway for Sunday night’s game. Rules will be up Wednesday afternoon.

We’re also turning back to the teams that have been warming our hearts this cold winter. The Celtics continue to rest their stars, win their games, and prep for the playoffs, and the Bruins are finding ways to get some of their stars back just in time for Game 1 of their playoff series.

And the Revs! The Revs are in Kansas City as they try to forget a 4-0 whitewashing in Chicago.

B.C. is ready to lace ‘em up for the Frozen Four… tomorrow night in Denver against North Dakota, and forward Nathan Gerbe will find out Friday whether he is the winner of the 2008 Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top college hockey player.

And here’s where to go for the contest rules.