Boston stays alive, blanks Carolina 4-0

Well, the Bruins took care of business tonight against the Hurricanes and the series will be extended to a sixth game. Game six will be Tuesday night down in Carolina.This will be the critical game for the Bruins.

Boston plays very well at home, so a win in game six could mean a win in the series. Boston has played terribly in Carolina in their two tries. However, Boston should have the momentum after rolling the 'Canes, 4-0.

Boston controlled the play in game four and really contained the neutral zone. The work along the boards was much improved and the defensive effort was back.

Carolina is a real tough team to take care of at home, so Boston will certainly have their hands full in game six. That being said, Boston took care of business tonight and will live to fight another day.

We'll see what happens Tuesday night Boston. One down, two to go.

Goal Scorers:

Kessel (5,6)

Recchi (2)

Lucic (2)

Shots:

1st 2nd 3rd T

Carolina: 7 4 8 19

Boston: 16 13 11 40

"We want it as bad as you." Do you?

"We want it as bad as you."

That is the quote that has been running underneath Bruins photo's all year long. It hangs on the banner on the outside of the TD Banknorth Garden as you leave the T-stop. Well, my question to the Bruins is, do you?

Boston has been asleep for the majority of the last three games and the consequence is a 3-1 series hole. My message to Boston is to want it, and to come out Sunday night and show the emotion that they have shown for the majority of the 08-09 campaign.

Now, enough from me. Here is what the coach had to say.

"We're certainly not making it hard on Carolina with the way we are playing," said the B's head coach."Our team has probably picked the worst time of the year to play their worst hockey. "That's what's happening right now."There isn't anyone who has played up to their potential," he said.

"Obviously, we're out of sync, you can see the frustration on the players right now and it's certainly getting worse."This is something that has to be resolved before next game and we don't have much time to do that."

"It's got to come from coaches and it's got to come from players." "What we have to do here is win a hockey game and whatever it takes, you've got to do it."

Being down three games to one is not a situation Boston expected to be in. However, it is time to man up and "want it" as bad as we do.

Hnidy in, Ference out. Julien: "Can't go back home down 3-1"

It is almost game time so let's get you caught up.

*Shane Hnidy will suit up for the first time in the series taking the place of Andrew Ference. Ference apparently re-injured himself during game three.

* Blake Wheeler will play tonight. Wheeler skated with David Krejci and Michael Ryder during the morning skate.

Tonight's expected lineup:

Milan Lucic - Marc Savard - Phil Kessel
Blake Wheeler - David Krejci - Michael Ryder
Mark Recchi - Patrice Bergeron - Chuck Kobasew
P.J. Axelsson - Stephane Yelle - Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara - Aaron Ward
Steve Montador - Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart - Shane Hnidy

Tim Thomas
Manny Fernandez


I will leave you with some quotes from the coach and captain tonight. They are talking about the effort needed and overall importance of game four.

"When you're down 2-1 in a series, it's really important that you come to play tonight and that you play your best game possible," said Claude Julien. "Everything becomes more important. We don't want to go back home down 3-1. Those are the consequences we face tonight."

"When we played teams like Montreal or the Rangers, we were more intense and more emotionally involved," Zdeno Chara said. "We have to bring that same level."


I agree with Big Z, it is time to bring the intensity level up as if they were playing a team like New York or Montreal. If Boston doesn't, look for Carolina to continue their dominance.

Boston down, but by no means out

I want to start with a quote from the Boston Bruins head coach to address all of you negativity spreaders out there.

"We're not in trouble," said Julien. "We're in a series, a hard-fought series. What we have to do is get our game going in the right direction, which means a commitment to outworking the other team and a commitment to making better decisions. Again, it's a mindset. We've struggled the last couple games, but there's ups and downs to a season. You win a game, you're Stanley Cup contenders. You lose one, you're in trouble. That's what you have to face every day. We just have to keep our focus on what we have to do, believe in ourselves, and go out and do it. We're very capable of doing that."


This is my message to all of you out there who all of a sudden think the Bruins are done. A week ago, there was Stanley Cup fever in the air, and now? Now, people are saying the Bruins have no chance to advance past round two. Bogus attitudes are apparently contagious in Bruins nation.

Now, I do understand that Boston is down in the series and obviously that is not a position you want to be in. However, a two games to one hole is not a deep one and the Bruins have been down before.

Must I recall every one's attention to March when the Bruins were in the midst of a large skid. They were only three points ahead on the Devils for first place and the bandwagon was getting light. However, Boston rose to the occasion and beat down the Devils 4-1 and went streaking to the finish line.

Game four will be pivotal for Boston and they will need to put forth a much better effort than they did in game three. Claude Julien has promised line changes so I'd say that Blake Wheeler will be out and Byron Bitz in. Also, look for the sheriff to be back in the lineup as well.


* Andrew Ference is questionable for tomorrow's game as he may have re-aggravated his lower-body injury last night.

*Blake Wheeler was still hurting today after he was hit by a Carolina shot.


Keep the faith Boston and we'll see how things shake out tomorrow night.

Bruins head to Carolina, Kobasew misses practice with flu-like symptoms

OK Bruins fans, it is one more day until game three between Boston and Carolina from Raleigh. The B's were at Ristuccia Arena today getting in their final full length practice before tomorrow night's game.

The practice was really same old same old, but the biggest note may have been who was back on the ice today. Marco Sturm was on the ice before practice skating with Matt Hunwick. Yes, Sturm who has been out for most of the year was back on the ice.

Now, let's not get over dramatic Sturm is still about a month away from being game ready at the earliest. That would put the playoffs at the Stanley cup final mark. Even if the best case scenario occurs, don't expect to see Sturm even if Boston makes the finals, as his conditioning would be nowhere near ready.

The Bruins depth would make it a silly decision to see Sturm for the rest of the way no matter what. However, it was good seeing Marco's mug back at Ristuccia.

*Chuck Kobasew missed practice today with "flu-like symptoms," according to Claude Julien.
Kobasew is likely to be ready to go tomorrow night against the 'Canes.

Another Bruins note today, that will not effect the big club in the post season.

*The Providence Bruins signed prospect Jamie Arniel to an amateur tryout contract. The 19-year-old forward recently completed his junior season with Sarnia, scoring 32 goals and 36 assists in 63 games. Arniel was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 draft.

Kessel ready to go, Bruins must continue to contain Staal

It is game day Bruins fans and here is what you should see tonight when the black and gold hit the ice.

Milan Lucic Marc Savard Phil Kessel

Mark Recchi Patrice Bergeron Chuck Kobasew

Blake Wheeler David Krejci Michael Ryder

P.J. Axelsson Stephane Yelle Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara Aaron Ward

Andrew Ference Dennis Wideman

Mark Stuart Steve Montador

Tim Thomas

Manny Fernandez

Today's practice note:
Phil Kessel was on the ice for the morning skate. Kessel sat out yesterday's practice because of a swollen left elbow.

It was an optional skate this morning, however, Kessel and hit line mates (Savard, Lucic) took part in the skate to get their timing down.

The Bruins are one for one in shutting down Eric Staal in the series. No easy task, as Mark Recchi will tell you.

"You are just trying to limit as much as possible, said Recchi. He's too good a player to stop him. You just try to control him and hope he doesn't take over the game."

Staal has not recorded a point in five games this season against Boston.

Bruins practice without Kessel

The black and gold were back to work today after last night's, 4-1 win over Carolina. There was however, one member of the B's who was missing in action.

*The only player missing was Phil Kessel. Byron Bitz skated in Kessel's spot on the first line with Marc Savard and Milan Lucic.Kessel sat out practice today because of a swollen left elbow that he fell on last night, but finished the game. Claude Julien said Kessel should be 100 percent tomorrow, and will play in game two.

You could clearly see Kessel wince as he was getting off the ice right before Marc Savard scored the Bruins' second goal. However, it is not serious and Kessel will be back on the ice flying around tomorrow.

*Tomorrow's match will air exclusively on Versus, which has exclusive rights to Game 2. NESN will resume coverage next Wednesday for Game 3 in Raleigh. Carolina play-by-play man John Forslund and NESN analyst Andy Brickley will be the Versus duo tomorrow.

Bruins show no rust, roll in Game 1

The Boston Bruins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-1 last night and took a one game to none series lead.

The topic going into the game was whether or not the Bruins would be rusty after a long layoff. Well, the answer was no as Boston grabbed the lead just 94 seconds into the game.

The Bruins dominated the walls in the tilt and were able to capitalize on Carolina's defensive zone lapses.

The matchups being spotlighted in the series were all in Boston's favor last night. Espcially, the Zdeno Chara and Eric Staal matchup. Chara dominated Staal and gave Stall no room to set up and create.

If Boston continues to dominate the way they did last night, look for Boston to finish up Carolina as quickly they did Montreal.

It was a great game one for the Bruins and hopefully they can carry their momentum into game two.