Bergeron speaks: Sturm to have surgery, lost for season: Lucic out vs. Hurricanes

A very busy day in the hub of hockey...

*Vladimir Sobotka and Martin St. Pierre have been assigned to Providence.

*Milan Lucic (undisclosed injury) will not play tomorrow.

So this would make the move that was made earlier today of sending Sobotka and St. Pierre to Providence strange. Martins Karsums was called up yesterday on an emergency basis and from what I've seen he hasn't been sent back so I'd expect Karsums to play. We'll see someone else called back to play up front on the fourth line. Vlad Sobotka was a guy you had to expect to be sent down. I don't think Claude Julien has been too impressed with his defensive play.

*Marco Sturm will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. GM Peter Chiarelli said there is a good likelihood that the ACL will need repair too.

Ok people, some people are saying Sturm could come back come playoff time, but forget about it. If there is anything at all wrong with the ACL that is a minimum of six months out of action. So what do the Bruins do?
Peter Chiarelli said he hasn't looked outside of the organization to fit the bill, filling in for Sturm. Would I expect Chiarelli to try and find some help somewhere? Likely. You could sign Brendan Shanahan for less than a million dollars and not lose anyone in the process, just throwing some old rumors out there.

*Milan Lucic and Blake Wheeler will participate in the inaugural rookies vs. sophomores game during the All-Star weekend.

This is always a fun game to see some of the young studs in the league.

*Patrice Bergeron, making his first public appearance since suffering a concussion on Dec. 20 against Carolina, spoke for approximately 15 minutes in the home dressing room at TD Banknorth Garden this morning.

Patrice had this to say about his thoughts on coming back this year. "I'm very confident I'll play this year," said Bergeron. "It's a matter of when. That's why I don't want to put on a date on it and get disappointed like I was last year in the playoffs. I've learned from that. So yes, I do think I'll be back."

*Although both Bruins goalies, Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez, can be unrestricted free agents July 1, the Ottawa Sun reports it is believed Boston will keep both instead of trading one before the trading deadline. Thomas, who is popular in the Bruins dressing room, could then be re-signed to a contract extension before he can hit the market, according to the Sun.

It will be real interesting to see what the Bruins do with the goal tending situation. With Tuuka Rask waiting in the wings, how will it play out? We shall soon see.

Thomas, Chara, Savard, named All-Stars: Karsums recalled, Bergeron to talk to media tomorrow

*Tim Thomas, Zdeno Chara, and Marc Savard will be going to Montreal for the All-Star Game as Eastern Conference reserves.
Now, the first thought is to think, alright three Bruins in the game. However, there were some guys that might have deserved to crack the lineup, like the teams leading goal scorer, Phil Kessel. In not making the team, Kessel, who was certainly deserving of an All-Star selection, will miss out on a $212,500 bonus because he didn't make the roster.
*In a move that was not made until late, thanks to Milan Lucic not being able to go, Martins Karsums was promoted from Providence on emergency recall. Karsums appeared in one game for the big club this season. It just shows how much the Bruins are beat up as Karsums is the third Bruins call up from Providence due to injury. Vladimir Sobotka and Martin St. Pierre have already been called up and were on skating on the fourth line tonight.

*Finally, and most importantly Patrice Bergeron will speak about his concussion suffered on Dec. 20. tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at TD Banknorth Garden. This will be the first time Bergeron will speak to the media since suffering the concussion.

Boston's Strong Third Carries B's over Sens

The Boston Bruins defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-4 Thursday night despite a laundry list of injuries. Shane Hnidy (eye) and Milan Lucic (undisclosed) were the newest Bruins on the shelf for this one. With the win, the Bruins have grabbed their 30th win of the season. Tonight was game number 41, putting the Bruins at the exact half way point of the season sitting atop the NHL with a 30-7-4 record and 64 points.

GAME NOTES

Scorers - BOSTON

Aaron Ward (1) Assists: David Krejci (28) & Michael Ryder (14)

Chuck Kobasew (7) Assists: Dennis Wideman (19) & Phil Kessel (17) Michael Ryder (15) Assists: Blake Wheeler (12) & Marc Savard (37)

David Krejci (15) - Unassisted

Marc Savard (14) Assists: Chuck Kobasew (12)

P.J. Axelsson (3) Assists: Marc Savard (38)

Scorers - OTTAWA

Chris Phillips (3) Assists: Jason Spezza (16) & Dany Heatley (21)

Chris Kelly (5) Assists: Antoine Vermette (8) & Jesse Winchester (6) Brendan Bell (3) Assists: Dean McAmmond (3) & Chris Neil (2)

Antoine Vermette (4) Assists: Chris Kelly (6) & Jesse Winchester (7)

The Bruins will next face off against the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday afternoon at the Garden. Shane Hnidy is expected to be back in the lineup, but we'll keep you posted on Lucic.

Backstrom Baffles Bruins 1-0

The Bruins had just won 14 straight games at the Garden prior to Saturday afternoon. So tonight was supposed to be the bounce back, especially with Manny Fernandez in goal, who was unblemished at home. Key word, was.

The Bruins fell to the Minnesota Wild 1-0 Tuesday night and with the loss the Bruins have now lost two in a row after a 10 game win streak.

The Bruins came out early in this game looking to get on the board before there opponent. However, as would be a theme Niklas Backstrom was up to the challenge and turned away the Bruins chances.

The best chance of the period came with one minute remaining when Michael Ryder took a quick shot from the hash marks, forcing Backstrom to make a nice right pad save.

A few minutes into the second period Shane Hnidy took a shot off the face and had to go to the room. At that point you thought the B's were in big trouble losing another defensemen. However, Hnidy shook off the pain and came back to help out the wounded Boston blue liners.

A few minutes later the Wild found themselves on the power play and were able to take advantage of it. With Andrew Brunette camped in front of Manny Fernandez, Marek Zidlicky was able to find some daylight and pot what would be the games only goal.

Just before the end of the second period the Bruins had a chance to knot the score but Michael Ryder's shot hit the post. The third period was a back and forth period with the Bruins trying desperately to tie the score. The Bruins had a few good chances in the final minutes but were not able to beat Backstrom.

With the loss, the Bruins second straight and a Washington victory the Bruins now sit just five points ahead of the Capitals for Conference supremacy.

The Bruins will next face off with the Senators on Thursday night looking to break their miniature skid.

News and Notes 1/5: Ward, and Ference Close to Return

Aaron Ward--Still listed as day-to-day. He will skate in tomorrow's morning skate and could be available tomorrow vs. the Wild. Claude Julien said that Ward was doing better and his range of motion is "pretty good.''

Marco Sturm--Expected to have surgery soon, perhaps this week. There will be no time table on Sturm even though it is likely that knee surgery would keep him out for the remainder of the season.

Andrew Ference--Ference was on the ice as one of seven Bruins defensemen (Lashoff in, Ward out). The Bruins may be targeting a Saturday return for Ference against the Hurricanes. I would expect Ferrence back by no later than next Tuesday against the Habs. Ference did leave the workout early today, however, Julien said it was a ''precautionary measure", but nothing more.

Patrice Bergeron--Nothing on Bergeron yet, and there probably won't be anytime soon.Claude Julien had this to say on Bergeron, "He's feeling better and every day I talk to him it seems to be going to the positive side," added Julien. "I'm just a little cautious, because sometimes there are setbacks and we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves."

REPORT: Marco Sturm out for the year, surgery required

I have been hearing reports out there that Marco Sturm is going to have surgery on his knee. All indications are that he will miss 4-6 months with this injury and may very well be done for the year.

This quote came from the Boston Herald..

“He’s going to have surgery,” Chiarelli said. “It’s just a question of when. It’s a matter of letting it settle down and getting some strength back in before they do it. We’ll let you know more (next week).” . . .

AARON WARD--

As far as Aaron Ward goes he is day-to-day and is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Wild with what is being called a 'Charley horse'.

PATRICE BERGERON--

Patrice Bergeron is going to be out for a while. The Bruins have essentially tipped their hand that you at the minimum won't be seeing him until after the All-Star Break. The Bruins might even be keeping Bergeron on the shelf through February. The Bruins however, are confident Bergeron can return this season.

Boston's streak ends at 10

The Bruins came in to today's matinee with the Sabres looking for win number 15 in a row at the Garden. At the end of the day, the steak ended at 14.

Just over three minutes into the game the Sabres did what a lot of teams have done to the Bruins this year, get ahead early (Fifth straight game other team has scored first). Matt Ellis was the goal scorer, knocking a loose puck by Tim Thomas.

With Matt Hunwick in the box for tripping, Thomas Vanek tipped a shot past Thomas. The power play goal gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead.

About half way through the period Marc Savard was at it again finding Phil Kessel who fired through a Lucic screen to cut the Buffalo lead in half.
The period played out with a lot of hits by both sides and the horn sounded with the Sabres leading by one.

Just like the first period, it was Ellis three minutes in who picked up a loose puck in front and dragged the puck around a grounded Thomas and netted his second goal of the afternoon.

Just before the mid-way point of the second period the Bruins tough guy, Shawn Thornton took a pass from Martin St. Pierre and connected thanks to a great shot just under the crossbar. Miller had no chance to corral the shot by Thornton, and the Bruins again were within one.

Just a few minutes later Buffalo padded the lead to two once again as a shot headed toward the net and went off Shane Hnidy's leg and past Thomas.

The 4-2 Sabres lead ended up being the final in this one. The third period was a good one for the Bruins. They had their chances but couldn't put any rubber behind Ryan Miller and the streak was over.

GAME NOTE:The major point of the third period was that Aaron Ward wasn't on the ice for the entirety of the period. There was no indication on what the injury was but we'll keep you posed.

Bruins Ring in New Year With 14th Straight Win at Garden

The Boston Bruins are hot people. Let's make that 14 in a row at the Garden and 10 in a row over all. The Bruins took care of the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 tonight at the Garden, moving the Bruins to 62 points, the highest mark in the NHL.

For a team as dominant as the Bruins they sure do fall behind early a lot. It was no different in this one as the Penguins got on the board first thanks to a Dustin Jefferey goal.

The Bruins however, were resilient and knotted the score at one just over a minute later. David Krejci was the beneficiary of a nice pace from Blake Wheeler and tapped in his 14th of the season. Krejci now has a 10 game point streak.

Just before the half way point of the period the Bruins took the lead for good as PJ Axelsson knocked in his first of the season. Marc Savard threw the puck in front of the goal and Ax was able to knock the puck out of the air and into the Pittsburgh goal.

Even with Pittsburgh controlling the shot lead, Boston was controlling puck possession and with that possession took a 3-1 lead. Milan Lucic picked up the puck in the slot and fired a wrister past Dany Sabourin, give the assists to Stephane Yelle and Chuck Kobasew.

The Bruins took a 3-1 lead into the third period, but the Penguins refused to quit. With 13:40 remaining in the period, Ruslan Fedotenko controlled a juicy rebound off his own shot and beat Manny Fernandez under the pads and cut the Boston lead to one.

Just over a minute later Vladimir Sobotka reminded the Penguins that this is the Bruins house, and no visitors would go unpunished. Sobotka laid out Jordan Staal at the Boston blue line and the Garden erupted.

With just over five minutes remaining Marc Savard was sent to the box on a holding call and the Bruins needed to dig deep for a late kill in a one goal game. The Bruins and Manny Fernandez stood tall and Boston kept the lead into the final minutes.

With the Penguins attacking in the final seconds, with their goal empty and the extra attacker on the ice, Savard was able to get the puck along the left wing and fire a shot from the neutral zone into the empty Pittsburgh goal.

The 4-2 final over the Pens gave the Bruins a double digit win steak and the sell out crowd of 17,565 couldn't have been happier. The Bruins are in the midst of a six game home stand and will next face-off against the Buffalo Sabres Saturday afternoon.