Bruins light up Lightning on Causeway street

The Bruins and Lightning squared off from the TD Banknorth Garden on Tuesday night, and the Bruins took care of business for their fourth straight victory.

The game was a physical battle from the beginning as before the halfway point of the first, captain Zdeno got into it. Evgeny Artyukhin was in the midst of going after Milan Lucic, when Chara stepped in and told him to take on someone his own size. Artyukhin isn't as big as Chara, but is a healthy 6'5, 255. However, Artyukhin was still no match for the massive Slovak.

The Bruins carried the momentum after the fight and it paid off with a Blake Wheeler tally. Wheeler corralled a Marc Savard rebound and backhand slammed it past Tampa Bay goaltender, Mike McKenna.

Into the second it went and the captain was active yet again. This time, Chara scored goal number 17 of the year which matches his career high set last season. Chara took a nice pass from Patrice Bergeron and the B's took a two-goal lead on the Lightning.

The scoring wouldn't end there in the second for Boston as Chuck Kobasew was next to light the lamp. Kobasew's goal gave him 20 on the season, in just his 62nd game. The tally gave Kobasew 40 points, which is a new career high for Chucky.

The Bruins would not go quietly into the locker room, as at the end of the third period, Milan Lucic TKO'd Josef Melichar with two blows. Melichar had caught Lucic high with the elbow and Lucic took exception. Advantage Lucic in a very uneven bout.

In the third period, the Lightning did not quit and were eventually able to beat Manny Fernandez and break up the goaltender's shutout bid. It was number one overall pick in last year's draft, Steve Stamokos beating Fernandez for his 20th of the season.

The Bruins were able to hold off a late Lightning comeback attempt and take two points. The win does not clinch the conference for the Bruins, but it sure does seem like it.

The Bruins now have a nine point lead in the Eastern Conference with just six games to go. The Bruins will next play Thursday night in Boston against Ottawa.

Here are some BruinSpace game notes:

*Phil Kessel missed his third straight game due to injury. Kessel is questionable against Ottawa on Thursday but may return Saturday against the Rangers. Kessel's injury status is unknown.

*Shawn Thornton missed tonight's game with an undisclosed injury. Thornton's status for Thursday's game is unknown.

*Local writers named Bruins center Patrice Bergeron the Boston nominee for the Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Here is an updated look at the standings.

1) Boston: 108 points - (6 games remaining)

2) Washington: 99 points - (6 games remaining)

3) New Jersey: 98 points - (6 games remaining)

4) Philadelphia: 92 points - (7 games remaining)

5) Carolina: 91 points - (5 games remaining)

6) Pittsburgh: 90 points - (6 games remaining)

7) NY Rangers: 89 points - (5 games remaining)

8) Montreal: 88 points - (6 games remaining)

9) Florida: 87 points - (5 games remaining)

Bruins off today, Hunwick to chat Wednesday

Hey all,

It's time for Bruins quick hits, Monday's edition.

*The Bruins had today off and will be back on the ice tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It will be Matt Lashoff and Martin Karsums return to Boston, I know hold your excitement.

*Bruins rookie Matt Hunwick will host a live, online Rinkside Chat, presented by Covidien, from 3:00-4:00 PM ET on Wednesday, April 1.

An updated look at the standings after Monday's games. The Bruins are oh so close to clinching the conference.

1) Boston: 106 points - (7 games remaining)

2) Washington: 99 points - (6 games remaining)
3) New Jersey: 98 points - (6 games remaining)

Practice Notes 3/26/09

Here's your Thursday Bruins practice notes. Yes, I know what a boring week, don't worry only two more days until a game.

As for practice today...

*Byron Bitz, David Krejci, Dennis Wideman, Chuck Kobasew, Manny Fernandez and Tim Thomas were the only players taking place in the skate today.

Kobasew, who had missed the last two days of practice for, "maintenance" was back on the ice today.

The rest of the team put in off-ice workouts.

Tuukka Rask not suspended for meltdown

Here is an update on the Tuukka Rask situation. To all who missed it, let's just say Tuukka lost his mind last week.

Rask, who had a meltdown after last Friday's AHL game against the Albany River Rats, will not be suspended for his stick-smashing, crate-tossing tantrum, the Providence Journal reported Tuesday.

Bruins coach Rob Murray said the AHL office has notified the club that no suspension was forthcoming, adding that he did not know if Rask had been fined, according to the Journal.

Here's a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yshV_P4qB8w

Chucky misses second straight practice for some "maintenance"

Your Wednesday update.

*Chuck Kobasew was the only Bruins player missing from practice this morning.

This is Kobasew's second straight day not participating in practice. Both Kobasew and David Krejci missed practice yesterday, however, Krejci was back today.

*According to Claude Julien, Kobasew will be back at practice tomorrow and has been given back to back "maintenance days."

Below is a video of Claude Julien after practice.
http://bruins.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=660&id=37683

Rask Gone Wild: The future has anger issues

For those of you who haven't seen it, Tuuka Rask was a bit angry last night after a 1-0 loss. Well, angry may be an under statement as Rask slammed his stick against the glass, and then through it across the ice. Not only did Rask throw a stick, but he found a milk crate in the hallway to the locker room and threw that also. Check out the video below.

Now, I don't know about you all but I would like to see some of this emotion travel up 95 to Boston. The Bruins have been lifeless lately and needless to say Rask has a bit of emotion running through his system.

Boston fans like to see their Bruins play with emotion and passion. Well, when Rask is with the big club next year you can expect him to become a fan favorite with this kind of fight.

Here are some quotes about the incident.

Here's a quote from Rask,“He went backwards and stopped the play and waited three seconds and then shot it,” Rask said. “I guess the guy didn’t believe it either because he stopped and then took the shot. As long as the ref doesn’t blow the whistle, it’s game on I guess.”

P-Bruins head coach Rob Murray also weighed in on the call.

“He said that the puck was always in motion and never stopped. But I can’t find it in the rulebook,” Murray said. “It says that the puck has to keep in continuous motion to the goal line. But it doesn’t say anything about a guy over skating the puck and literally … I have no answer. He said it was because the puck was still in motion.”

“I was celebrating when he lost the puck. I mean, I was off the bench. I couldn’t believe that he counted it.”

Want to see Rask's antics, click here,


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yshV_P4qB8w&feature=player_embedded

Bruins and Devils tomorrow at Garden

The Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils will face-off tomorrow in a battle of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. The Devils come in having won eight of their last ten, while the Bruins have only won three out of their last ten games.

The Bruins prepped with a tough practice today. Today's practice emphasized battle drills and races for pucks.

Mark Recchi got a little bit of veteran privelege yesterday as he was given a maintenance day. Today, Recchi was back at practice and particapted in full.


Here is an updated look at the standings,


1) Boston: 100 points (10 games remaining)
2) New Jersey: 97 points (11 games remaining)
3) Washington: 96 points (9 games remaining)

Bruins pick up 100th point in OT heart breaker

The Boston Bruins picked up point number 100 tonight against the Los Angeles Kings tonight. However, they blew a golden opportunity to also pick up point number 101.

With the competition charging, the Bruins needed to take two points against a Los Angeles team who sits 13th in the Western Conference standings. But the Bruins blew a two goal, third period lead and two points turned into one.

Dustin Brown was the player to drive the stake through Bruins fans hearts, with just 34 seconds remaining in overtime. Brown's 24th was netted off of a rebound. Again, like with the Kings tying goal, the Bruins were unable to control the front of the net.

Controlling the front of the net and not scoring on the power play are what did the Bruins in tonight and is something that will need to be corrected by Sunday. All three of Los Angeles' goals came on second chances and the Bruins power play was a ghost yet again, going scoreless (0/3).

The Washington Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, 5-2 and are now second place in the Eastern Conference, four points behind Boston.

Here are the updated standings for the top three teams.

1 Boston: 100 points (10 games remaining)
2 Washington: 96 points (9 games remaining)
3 New Jersey: 95 points (12 games remaining)

We know these teams will be the top three, but in what order will they finish?


The Bruins goal scorers:
Mark Recchi (17)
Matt Hunwick (6)