BRUINS BLOW 2 GOAL LEAD IN NEW YORK

A shootout loss on the road to the team with the 2nd best record in the NHL isn't a bad result. Unless, of course, you were up 2-0 with 6 minutes left in the 3rd.

Then again, the last 6 minutes of the 3rd was the first stretch of bad hockey the Bruins have played in over a week. And if Patrice Bergeron's post-hitting shot in round 4 of the shooutout had gone in, the B's may have left MSG with maximum points.

Not surprisingly, the New York media selected three Rangers for the three stars of the game. And who can blame them, they're still high from the Jets' Super Bowl victory Thursday night.

Wait a minute...

Bruins start a homestand against the Maple Leafs Monday night.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II (sweet name)

UNFORTUNATE

It's a shame to waste such a valiant comeback. It's a shame to be forced to comeback so valiantly against a team like the Jets. It's a shame that all the football talk until Sunday will involve Brett The Swashbuckling Gunslinging Ninja River Boat Gambler Pirate Favre, and Eric Mangenius.



It's a shame that Mike Vrabel was flagged for defensive holding, on a call that would have made Bill Polian say "THAT was holding!?!" It's a shame that the Jets won the coin toss. It's a shame the Pats couldn't stop them on 3rd and 15. It's a shame that kickoff return coverage has sucked the past few games. It's a shame the Jets were 9 of 16 on 3rd downs and the Pats were 4 of 14. It's a shame Matt Cassel led the team in rushing. It's a shame Ben Watson put the ball on the ground.

It's NOT a shame that the Pats rallied from 18 down and tied it, despite the efforts of the officials. It isn't a shame that Matt Cassel was 30/51 for 400 yards, 3 scores, and rushed for 62 yards. It's not a shame that Wes Welker had 10 grabs. It's not a shame that Watson and Jabbar Gaffney had their best games of the season. It's not a shame that Jerod Mayo had 20 tackles (16 solo), and Pierre Woods looked good filling in for Adalius.



This loss hurt like the Colts loss, but the Pats were just one play here or there away from victory. And that defensive holding call on Vrabel shouldn't be forgotten. That gave the Jets 3 downs which they used to put up 7, instead of kicking a field goal. The Pats also used up 2 timeouts on plays following the penalty.

A completely bullshit call.

Pats go down to Miami for a game on the 23rd. I remember a certain team from New England having an historical game in Miami on a November 23rd a few years ago. It's also my birthday. And Jonathan Papelbon's.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Winslow Townson
AP Photo/Stephan Savoia

THANK YOU, BRUINS

The Bruins' 6-1 pounding of the Canadiens made the Patrtiots' loss a little more bearable.

The B's hadn't beaten Montreal in 12 straight regular season meetings. The Bruins arrived in Boston at 3:00 AM Thursday after a hard fought 2-1 shootout win in Chicago. The Bruins didn't have much of an advantage coming into the game.

But that didn't matter. The 4th line of Shawn Thornton, Stephan Yelle, and Chuck Kobasew combined for 3 goals and 7 points. Manny Fernandez stopped 27 of 28 shots. Marco Sturm broke out with 2 goals. Patrice Bergeron had an assist and pancaked Saku Koivu in the open ice. Milan Lucic fell an assist shy of a Gordie How hat trick by scoring a goal and beating the crap out of Mike Komisarek.



Last year as a fan, I'd dread games against Montreal because the Bruins would find some way to mess it up. They'd get too emotional, fall behind early, and lose 5-1. Or they'd play too physical, rack up penalties, and give up shorthanded goals. Or they wouldn't be physical enough and the Habs would outlast them. But this season, the Bruins have handled Montreal as if they were any other team.



The Bruins are in 1st place and on pace for 118 points. They've won 5 straight and 8 of 9. They've beaten good teams like Chicago, Buffalo, and Montreal in this streak. The goaltending has been outstanding from Thomas and Fernandez. They're scoring goals in abundance. They're playing smart and physical hockey.

It's what we've been waiting for, Bruins fans.

They face another challenge Saturday night as they go down to Manhattan to face the 1st place Rangers.

Sources:
ESPN.com
BostonBruins.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Charles Krupa

CHICAGO SHOOTOUT

The Blackhawks came into this game riding a 4 game win streak. The Bruins had won 3 straight and 6 of 7. Not surprisingly, it was a close contest that wasn't decided until the 3rd round of a shootout.

Tim Thomas and Nikolai Khabibulin were beyond amazing. In a game that saw 13 power plays, 71 total shots, and a penalty shot; only 2 pucks crossed the goal line. Both Thomas and Khabibulin made highlight reel saves. Thomas stopped a penalty shot in OT, and Khabibulin was a wall during an overtime penalty kill, robbing Marc Savard and Phil Kessel.



The surprise of the night was PJ Axelsson. Coach Claude Julien selected him to be 3rd in the shootout. Axelsson is 0 for 3 lifetime in shootouts, and hasn't scored a goal all season. Then he beats Khabibulin by faking a wrist shot, forcing the big Russian to commit, then lifts the puck along the side of the net and in for a Bruins victory.

The TV gods seem to hate the Bruins. They were up against a 103-102 Celtics/Hawks game tonight, and will be up against the Pats/Jets Thursday night.

But I suggest you flip back and forth, because Montreal is in town.



Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

BCS WHAT IFS

I'm bored, so here are some scenarios for top ranked teams to get to the National Championship. Basically, what has to happen for teams in the hunt to make it to the big game.

1. Alabama

This is pretty simple: win = in. If Bama beats Mississippi State, Auburn, and #4 Florida, they're in the title game. If they lose to MSU or Auburn, they can still make it in by beating Florida. However, losing to Florida might knock them out, as it would probably put Florida into the title game. Unless, of course, Florida loses one of its remaining regular season games beforehand. So maybe it isn't so simple. Alabama is one of the few teams that controls its destiny. It's also one of the few teams that can lose and still make the title game.

2. Texas Tech
Same deal as Bama, win = in. But they also have a tough game ahead. Oklahoma hasn't lost in Norman since September 3, 2005. That's good for a 23 game home winning streak. But if Tech beats them (and Baylor), they might be able to lose the Big XII Championship Game and still make the National Championship. Of course, if they win their conference title game, they're shoe-ins for a title shot. If they lose to Oklahoma, things get complicated. BCS rankings would be used to break the three-way tie in the Big XII South, which would probably give Texas or Oklahoma the edge. They'd likely go on to play in the conference title game, and barring disaster, the national title game, as well.

3. Texas

Texas needs some help. They need Texas Tech to lose. The computers have Texas #3, but the USA Today has them at #5. If Texas Tech loses, Oklahoma would likely leapfrog Texas in every poll. Then again, the computers might push Texas forward. It's unlikely the BCS would choose two teams from the same conference for the National Championship Game, so the help Texas needs would have to come from within the Big XII. Texas loses in tie to Texas Tech, so they need the Red Raiders to lose twice OR for there to be a three way tie in the Big XII South so the BCS can be used as a tie-breaker.

4. Florida

The Gators will probably get in if they win out. It won't be easy with #25 South Carolina, #19 FSU, and #1 Alabama left on their schedule. But if they win the SEC with 1 loss, they'll be in the title game. Then again, the BCS might select a pair of Big XII teams. Florida cannot get into the big game if they lose.

5. Oklahoma
The Sooners might be in better shape than their #5 ranking would suggest. In fact, they might not need any help at all. If they beat Texas Tech, then Oklahoma State, they'd likely force a three way tie in the Big XII South. The BCS would be utilized as a tie-breaker, and with those quality wins, they'd likely receive the divisional title. A win over the Big XII North winner would make them Champions of the toughest conference in football, and the most likely selection for the National Championship Game. They also have one major advantage of Texas and TTU (should they beat TTU, of course): their loss came earliest. The pollsters have had more time to forget their defeat.

6. USC

The Trojans need a great deal of help. They need Oregon State to lose in order to claim the Pac-10 title. Then they need Alabama to lose twice AND Florida to lose. Or, they need all three of the top Big XII teams to finish the season with 2 losses. Even then, they might not get in. The computer ranks them 8th, their 35-3 win over OSU is a distant memory, they lack numerous big wins over top teams, they lost to Oregon State.

7. Utah

The Utes have next to no chance. All the BCS conference teams ahead of them would have to finish with 3 losses, as would Penn State. Then again, the computer has them ranked 4th.

8. Penn State

The Nittany Lions choked, plain and simple. You can blame the wind, but it was a choke. Teams like Penn State are talented enough to beat teams like Iowa on the moon with no oxygen. How does PSU get to the title game? Like Utah, they'd need everyone to lose 2 or 3 times. Technically, they still have a chance, but not much of one.

Prediction: Oklahoma and Alabama win out, meet each other in the title game. OU wins 20-17.

ADALIUS OUT FOR SEASON

Just when things are looking really good...

It's been reported that Adalius Thomas broke his left forearm in Sunday's win over Buffalo. This injury would likely end his season.

Thomas was tied for the team lead in sacks with 5. And although he hasn't quite met the lofty expectations many had for him in New England, losing him is a major blow to the Patriots' defense. He'll likely be replaced by Pierre "I fucked up that fumble recovery in the Super Bowl" Woods. In a 4-3 scheme, Jerod Mayo can fill-in for Thomas.

It's unfortunate we won't get to see a play like this Thursday night:



Source:
Boston.com

BIGGEST WIN OF THE SEASON... SO FAR

After the disappointing loss to Indy last week, which featured numerous mistakes, miscues, and misplays; the Patriots played one of their most solid games of the season. They didn't put up tons of points, but they moved the ball, dominated time of possession, won the battle for field position, and didn't make mistakes. On the other side of the ball, the defense didn't allow big plays, stopped the Bills 6 out of 11 times on 3rd down, helped win the battle for field position, came up with two vital sacks, and picked Edwards off twice.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis had his first career 100 yard game, rushing for 105 on 26 carries and a score. As a team the Pats rushed for 144 yards, all without Morris and Jordan. This success on the ground was why the Pats held the ball for 37:40.



Cassel's strung together a streak of solid games. He was 23 of 34 for 234 yards. He also rushed for 22 yards and a touchdown. He's not a Pro Bowler, or a fantasy QB, but he seems to have developed into a consistently solid and winning player.



Wes Welker can help make a QB look like that. He had 10 catches for 107 yards. He's the first player in NFL history with 6+ catches in all of the first 9 games of a season. He's on pace for 117 receptions, which would break the franchise record of 112 he set in '07.



The defense made the big plays when necessary. As mentioned above, they were solid on 3rd downs. Seymour's sack on the first drive of the game prevented a 3rd and 3 conversion. Ellis Hobbs' interception set up a field goal. The Bills were driving up the field when Deltha O'Neal grabbed his pick. Ty Warren's sack ended a Buffalo drive in Patriot territory, and also shoved the Bills out of field goal range.



The only mishap was the 84 yard kickoff return with less than 2 minutes left. Apart from that, the Bills didn't have anything. The Patriots had twice as many yards, nearly twice as much possession, and should have won 20-3.

Short turn around for the Jets Thursday night. If the Pats win that, they're in the AFC East driver's seat.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer
AP Photo/Elise Amendola

LOOK WHO'S IN FIRST PLACE

The Bruins' 3-1 victory Saturday night over Buffalo propelled them into 1st place in the Northeastern Division. Chuck Kobasew returned to action from a broken ankle with a goal and an assist. Apparent backup goalie Manny Fernandez stopped 32 of 33 shots despite not playing the past two weeks. Milan Lucic distributed 8 Hits.

The Bruins have won 3 straight by a combined score of 13-3. They've won 6 of the last 7 and are currently tied for the 4th best record in the NHL.

This year's Bruins have grown into a very entertaining team to watch. They've got more offensive firepower than they had last season with guys like Blake Wheeler and Patrice Bergeron making their presence known. Milan Lucic is one of the top hitters in the game. Tim Thomas has been playing out of his mind. It's a crime that he's not even on the All-Star ballot.

Bruins @ Chicago Wednesday night. I hate these 3 and 4 day stretches without a game.

Source:
ESPN.com