Rask shuts out Oilers, Bruins win 2-0

The Bruins were coming off of a hard fought loss to New Jersey on Thursday night and turned in another stellar effort against Edmonton.

Tuukka Rask shut down the Edmonton attack, and Vladimir Sobotka was today's offensive star as the Bruins took the match, 2-0.

The game had an extremely fast pace from the start, as Boston and Edmonton went back and forth. The line of Blake Wheeler, Daniel Paille and Sobotka was a cycling machine, with Paille and Sobotka controlling the boards against the Edmonton players.

The defensive pairs were also playing effectively. The Edmonton forwards were having a hard time finding quality scoring chances, and the pairs were also chipping in with some offensive pressure.

The second period started the same way that the first period ended for Boston, with all four lines providing a spark.

The fourth line had a great flurry, with Shawn Thornton, Byron Bitz and Steve Begin swarming the net, but they came up empty.

The energy level rose to another level midway through the second period when Steve Begin jacked up Zack Stortini at the Edmonton blue line. The hitting really picked up from that point, as both teams were not afraid to throw their weight around.

Boston continued to pressure the Oiler zone, and with about seven minutes to go in the second, Zdeno Chara teed up a slapper that went off Nikolai Khabibulin's mask.

After a storm of pressure from Edmonton, Boston came ever so close to taking a one goal lead into the intermission. Sobotka found the back of the net, however, it was a second or two after the buzzer had sounded and the teams went to the locker room scoreless after two.

The third period began with Boston missing on a couple of quality chances, however, fortunately for the Bruins the trend did not continue. Sobotka did a great job along the boards, battling with Theo Peckham. Sobotka won the battle down the wall, and fed a streaking Wheeler for the goal.

The roles were reversed, just over four minutes later as this time it was Wheeler who found Sobotka on a two-on-one rush. Wheeler put a pass over a defenders stick and onto the tape of Sobotka who was able to beat Khabibulin.

The two teams played out the string and Boston hung on for a 2-0 victory. Tuuka Rask stopped 19 shots in shutting out the Oilers, while Sobotka and Wheeler each had a goal and an assist in the win.

Games Three Stars

1) Sobotka

2) Rask

3) Wheeler

Zubrus' late goal lifts Devils over Bruins, 2-1

In typical Bruins vs. Devils fashion, Boston and New Jersey played a nail biter at the TD Garden. This time it was New Jersey who edged the Bruins, with a goal in the final 90 seconds to escape Boston victorious.

The game started with Boston on the offensive, as the Bruins took the play to the Devils for the first third of the period. Boston had their chances to take the early lead, but those chances, unfortunately for Boston, went by the boards.

The teams continued with their chances, and after a brief New Jersey swell, it looked as if Boston was taking back the momentum. However, a mistake at the offensive blue line by Shawn Thornton led to a Devils odd-man rush and New Jersey's first goal.

Niclas Bergfors took the puck along the left wing boards and came in on a two-on-one rush with David Clarkson. Tim Thomas made the initial stop on Bergfors, but the puck trickled behind Thomas and Clarkson was there to pot the rebound. The teams finished the period with New Jersey ahead, 1-0.

At the start of the second period, Boston received an early power play chance. The Bruins were not able to take advantage on the PP, but were able to take advantage of some poor New Jersey positioning just seconds later.

Zdeno Chara received the puck at the right side point and then unloaded a bomb of a shot that broke Johnny Oduya's stick. The rebound went to Marco Sturm, who's shot ricocheted off of a couple of players and right to Patrice Bergeron who deposited the puck into the vacated goal.

The two teams continued to battle, and trade blows. Mark Fraser and Byron Bitz were hollering at one another, with Thornton getting in on the fun. Also, Vladimir Sobotka and Daniel Paille were throwing their weight around on Devils defenseman, both playing the role of agitator.

The second period came and went, with the teams square at one. The third period commenced and play continued just as it had the previous two periods, with a rapid pace.

In the final minutes it was looking like the Bruins were heading for their third straight overtime tilt with the score still knotted at one. However, Dainius Zubrus had other ideas.

Zach Parise and Zubrus crashed the Boston goal, and after Parise's tip trickled through the crease, Zubrus was there to crashes the net the game winner.

Boston pulled Thomas and tried for magic in a bottle again, and had a golden opportunity. Dennis Wideman let go a shot from the blue line that knuckled toward the goal. The puck hit the ice before reaching the crease, and bounced over the shoulder of New Jersey goalie, Yann Danis and off the crossbar.

The crowd at the TD Garden watched as the time ran off the clock, and Boston fell to New Jersey, 2-1. With the loss Boston falls to 3-4 on home ice.

The Bruins will be in action next on Saturday afternoon against the Edmonton Oilers. Hopefully the ghouls will be out early and will help reek havoc on the visitors.

Lefebvre assigned to P-Bruins

Guillaume Lefebvre has been assigned to Providence. The move was expected now that Shawn Thornton seems to be healthy. Boston still will have an extra forward up with the big club.

Lefebvre has only played in one game this season for Boston, and will continue his roller coaster ride up and down between Boston and Providence.

Bruins show fight in late comback win in Ottawa

The Boston Bruins rallied from two goals down for a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.

Boston trailed with under two minutes to go in the game and pulled goaltender, Tim Thomas for the extra attacker.

Mark Recchi, playing in game number 1,500 of his NHL career scored to make is 3-2 Boston with 1:28 to play. David Krejci, then potted his first goal of the season on a great feed from Derek Morris with just 22 ticks left.

The Bruins then received a shoot out goal by Patrice Bergeron, and Tim Thomas stopped Alex Kovalev, Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza for a Boston victory.
The other goal scorers in the game were, Milan Michalek, Mike Fisher and Daniel Alfredsson for the Senators, and Blake Wheeler for the Bruins.

The Bruins have acquired five points out of a possible six over their last three games without Milan Lucic and Marc Savard, and have to be happy with that number.

That being said, there were a lot of break downs in the game that Boston will need to work on, with four straight off days coming up.

One major area for improvement will be the Bruins power play. The power play was 0-4 against Ottawa, and is clicking at less than a 17% rate. It will be a tall task to get the man advantage team back on track with Savard, likely being out through November.

Boston's passes have been dangerous on the power play so far this season, and because of this have given up three short handed goals.

Alfredsson opened the scoring midway through the second with a short-handed goal tonight on a Boston power play. Mike Fisher took the puck from the side boards and found Alfredsson, who beat Thomas top shelf to give Ottawa an early lead.

Luckily for Boston it did not come back to bite them in the end, but work needs to be put in on the power play so the Bruins are no longer victimized like they were by Ottawa.

The star of the game was Tim Thomas, who made some fantastic saves. Thomas made 27 saves on 30 Senator shots.

Another player who deserves a great deal of credit for the Bruins comeback win is Derek Morris. Morris assisted on both of the final two Bruin goals which came in the last 1:28.

That leads us into my games three stars.

3) Mark Recchi - He was playing in game number 1,500 of his NHL career and scored the Bruin's second goal. This was the goal that gave the Bruins the idea that they could win the game.

2) Derek Morris - He assisted on Boston's last two goals and played an overall solid game. Morris made a great slap pass to David Krejci through the seam to assist on the game tying goal with just 22 seconds remaining.

1) Tim Thomas - Thomas made a great save to rob Alfredsson tonight and was a wall in net for Boston. Thomas made some key saves to keep Boston in the game and put them in the position to make a comeback.

The Bruins will return to Boston for a brief two game home stand, where they will play New Jersey on Thursday and Edmonton on Saturday. afternoon.

Bruins and Senators lineups; Thornton returns, Thomas starts

The Boston Bruins are in Ottawa to play the Senators tonight for the first time this season. The rivalry will be renewed, and it has always been a chippy one.

Shawn Thornton will be back in the lineup tonight for Boston and you have to wonder if he will tangle with Chris Neil tonight.

The lineups are in for tonight's game.

For the Senators...

Michalek-Spezza-Cheechoo

Kovalev-Fisher-Alfredsson

Foligno-Regin-Neil

Ruutu-Kelly-Shannon

Phillips-Volchenkov

Campoli-Karlsson

Picard-Carkner

Elliott

Leclaire

Now, for the Bruins...

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Michael Ryder

Marco Sturm - David Krejci - Mark Recchi

Daniel Paille - Trent Whitfield - Blake Wheeler

Shawn Thornton - Steve Begin - Byron Bitz

Zdeno Chara-Derek Morris

Matt Hunwick-Dennis Wideman

Mark Stuart-Andrew Ference

Tim Thomas

Tuukka Rask

So, as you can see Tim Thomas will start in goal for Boston as Tuukka Rask got the nod Thursday night in Philadelphia.

Mark Recchi will play in his 1,500Th career game tonight.

Thornton ready to go for Saturday night

The Bruins arrived in Ottawa early this morning and only four Bruins participated in their optional practice.

Tim Thomas, Shawn Thornton, Johnny Boychuk, and Guillaume Lefebvre were the brave few.

Speaking of Thornton, he likely will be in back in the lineup tomorrow night when the Bruins take the ice to play the Senators. Thornton, of course has been out the last two games because of an undisclosed injury.

Bruins battle, but fall to Flyers in shootout

Claude Giroux scored on a backhand-to-forehand move in a shootout, which proved to be the game winner for Philadelphia. The Flyers defeated the Bruins, 4-3.

The Flyers out shot the Boston, 39-26 and they controlled the puck in Boston's end much more than would make Bruins fans comfortable.

One factor in the puck possession win for Philadelphia is rest. The Flyers were playing for only the second time in 12 days due to a scheduling quirk, while Boston was coming off of an intense battle in Boston the night before.

Nevertheless, Boston secured a point in the game thanks to Tuukka Rask. The Flyers Jeff Carter's short-handed breakaway attempt was stopped by Rask after Derek Morris coughed up the puck at the offensive blue line.

The Bruins played their second straight game without both Milan Lucic, Marc Savard and Shawn Thornton. In their absence the offense looked solid, thanks to Boston's depth. Morris, Matt Hunwick and Steve Begin were the Bruin goal scorers.

Boston now will head to Ottawa to play the first place Senators. The Senators lost to Nashville tonight, 6-5 in overtime. Ottawa of course is the new home for old Bruin nemesis, Alex Kovalev and add the fact that the Sens are a division rival, and you've got a big tilt Saturday night.

Recchi appointed to NHLPA committee to overview Kelly firing

Mark Recchi has been appointed a member of a four-player committee set to conduct an investigation of the union's internal operations.

In addition to Recchi, Chris Chelios, Rob Blake and Nicklas Lidstrom are also on the investigative committee. These players are all senior members of the NHL, with the youngest (Blake, and Lidstrom) being 39.