Bruins Claw Their Way Out of Carolina

Special teams made the difference in this game. The Bruins killed all 6 of Carolina's power plays, and scored a shorthanded goal. The B's also scored 2 on their own power play (although 1 was an empty-netter). Zdeno Chara's power play goal wasn't scored by a scheme, it was scored by a talented player who did something creative

Was it me or did the puck seem extra bouncy? Both teams struggled to settle it. And almost every pass was just a bit off target. Puck possession was difficult for both teams to maintain. So I'm just going to forgive and forget all the times the Bruins turned the puck over.

Nathan Horton's goal was a beautiful thing to behold. He's going to become the keystone player on this team in the playoffs. Without the unique combination of scoring and physicality that he brings, that Krejci line will be ineffective. And we saw what can happen when that line is effective.

We've been spoiled by goalies in Boston. Rask and Thomas have alternated between back-up and starter, and both have been good enough to start. Now we have Anton Khudobin. He's talented, but inexperienced. He doesn't read the play very well. So his role on the team should be much more limited than we're accustomed to.

The B's host the Devils tonight.

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Gerry Broome

Peyton Manning's Diary: Pro Bowl Time!

Aloha, diary!

I love Hawaii. And I love the Pro Bowl. Hawaii is such a fun place, even though it's hard to spell. When me and all the other players got off the plane in Honolulu (what a fun word to say!), the guys started joking around with me. One of the pretty hula girls put those flower necklaces around my neck. J.J. Watt made everyone laugh when he said "Hey, Peyton finally got laid." I didn't get it, but I smiled. I like when people laugh with me. It makes me happy.

People like me. And that's fun.

The game was fun, too. Coach Fox came along. I like Coach Fox for two reasons:

#1: His name reminds me of Coach Hayden Fox from Coach. I loved that show. Especially Dauber. He was silly. I wanted to play football at Minnesota State, but Pa made me go to Tennessee.

#2: His name also reminds me of one of my favorite movies when I was a teenager: The Fox and the Hound.

Every day at practice, I sniff my way up to Coach Fox, then howl. I want him to say "I'm a fox!" He just shakes his head, though. Oh well!

I still like him. He's not as nice as Coach Tony, but he's still nice.

Some of my old friends were at the Pro Bowl. Reggie was there. And so was Jeff! And my little "bro" Eli!!!

They let Jeff snap the ball to me one last time. It was nice. It's nice when TV and the League do nice things for me. They like me.

I told my old joke to Jeff that I used to tell him when we played together, that since he plays football he should change his name to Sunday! We chuckled. Jeff used to carry me through airport terminals if the walk from the plane to the bus was too long.

We lost the game, but I'm used to losing the last game of the year. People still gave me all sorts of compliments. Like they usually do.

Jeff and I went out for pizza. We invited Reggie, but all he did was send us a text saying "I'm too old for Chuckie Cheese."

We had a Hawaiian pizza, but it was yucky. So we sent it back and got pepperoni! And Jeff let me have the last slice.

I miss Hawaii already.

Pro Bowl Drinking Game

It's Pro Bowl Sunday. The Pro Bowl is probably the least interesting of the major sports' all-star games. Which is saying something because they're all kind of lame. Here's a drinking game to play while you subject yourself to the least interesting game of football of the year.

Anytime a commentator says...
"Aloha" = take 1 drink from your beer
Anything Hawaiian = 1 drink
"Harbaugh" = 1 drink
"Harbowl" = vomit, then 1 drink
"first-time" = 1 drink
"ballot" = 1 drink
"vote-getter" = 1 drink
"replace"/"replaced"/"replacing" = 1 drink
"Ed Hochuli" = 1 drink
"fullback" = 1 drink
"Patriots" = 1 drink


Anytime this is on screen...
Someone wearing a Hawaiian shirt = 1 drink for each shirt on screen
Someone wearing a lei around their neck = 1 drink for each lei on screen
Someone wearing a hula skirt = 1 drink for each skirt
Someone wearing a coconut as clothing = 1 drink for each half coconut
Someone doing the hula = 1 drink
Someone doing something Hawaiian = 1 drink
Palm trees = 1 drink per tree
Any graphic, image, or clip with Hawaiian music being played = drink until the music stops
A beach = 1 drink
A surfer = 1 drink per surfer
A pig with an apple in its mouth = 1 whole beer per pig
Manti Te'o = drink an entire invisible beer


Anytime this happens...
Ed Hochuli explains something = drink during the entire explanation
A defensive player blitzes = drink 30 cans of beer
Something interesting happens = 1 whole beer, 1 shot
You rewind your DVR to re-watch a play = 1 whole beer, 1 shot
You rewind your DVR to watch a hot girl in a bikini = 1 drink
You change the channel = 1 shot
You look to see what else is on TV = 1 drink
You wish it were Puppy Bowl Sunday = 1 drink
You question your life because you're watching the Pro Bowl = 1 drink

Eco-Unfriendly

Guest post written by my buddy Aldo Mays

I’m really big on eco-friendly design which is why that’s one of the main priorities when it comes to buying our next home. I like this place’s character because it’s old and has a lot of charm but there’s a lot to be desired when it comes to its energy efficiency. I loved the windows when we first moved in as the original wavy glass was so cute! But now that we’ve been through two winters here and see how the heat just leaks out right through them I would give anything for new, double paned windows. I’ve been looking online at http://www.electriccompaniesindallas.com/green-electricity.html to find out about some of the green energy providers in the area and I think we’ve got some options. The problem is that a lot of them won’t be able to do much with our house because the systems are so antiquated and we’d have to rip out all the wiring, basically, to bring it up to date. I hate that we’re using so much energy and making such a huge carbon footprint and I’ve tried to do what I can to offset it by planting a garden and composting and taking the shortest showers known to man. But at the end of the day I hate that we get our electricity bill and gasp each month and knowing I’m doing little to help the country’s energy crisis. My husband says I’m a bleeding heart but I really think we all have to wake up and be responsible for what we’re doing to the planet! Our kids are going to have to live here one day and we’ve got to do what we can now to make this planet a better place to be. Knowing we’re causing more harm than we need to and continuing to do it is just a crime if you ask me, and there’s no excuse for that kind of behavior from civilized adults, you know? That’s where we come in.

Pedro Martinez Is Coming Back, and I'm Not Happy About It

I love Pedro. He's my favorite athlete of all-time. I even have a Mets t-shirt because it says "Martinez" on the back. So you'd think the news that he's been appointed by the Red Sox as Special Assistant to the GM would thrill me. But it doesn't.

It reeks of a PR decision, a move to make fans happy. Give a popular former player from happier times a vague job, make all the fans smile, even have the news trend on Twitter.

Call me cynical, call me paranoid. But look at the timing. It's perfect. The Patriots have been eliminated from the NFL playoffs and the aftermath of that has settled down. And wasn't there just a book released recently that kind of made the Red Sox ownership look bad? It's the perfect time to throw a bone to the fans, and give them something to be happy about.

Jason Varitek is already a "Special Assistant" to the GM. How many more Special Assistants from the 2004 Red Sox will be hired? Will Bill Mueller be named Head Groundskeeper? Will Trot Nixon become the team bus driver?

Perhaps they were always going to hire Pedro and they announced it at the best time to maximize good publicity. And that's fine.

However, this ownership has, over the last 5 years, earned nothing but mistrust and skepticism. They acquire players for PR reasons, spend money for the sake of spending it, trash departing players in the media, lie about sellouts, and prioritize appearance over all else. So can you blame me for being skeptical?

I'm glad Pedro is part of the organization. I just wish the organization didn't make me question every single move they make.

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Bruins Grab a Point in MSG

Five points in three games, I'll take that. Especially considering two of those games were against the ridiculously stacked New York Rangers. In this very young season, the B's with their five points are on top of the Eastern Conference.

I am concerned, however. Maybe that's too strong of a word. I'm bothered. That's better. The Bruins made a lot of mistakes last night. They turned pucks over, which resulted in Marian Gaborik's game-winner. They made sloppy clears. You simply cannot do that, especially against a team as opportunistic and talented as the Rangers.

On the bright side, the Power Play finally contributed. It wasn't due to tactics, formations, or strategies. It was pure talent. Dougie Hamilton moved without the puck, made a lane for himself, got the puck, fired a shot toward the net and Brad Marchand tipped it in. Simple talent prevailed.

Also on the bright side, Tuukka Rask played well. I didn't like him in the 2009-2010 season because he wasn't aggressive enough. He retreated into the net and got smaller instead of bigger. But now, he's apparently learned a bit from Tim Thomas, and he's challenging the play.

This team can't make the mistakes it made with the puck last night and expect to beat good teams. It's as simple as that.

The Bruins host the Islanders on Friday.

Photo Credit:
Associated Press

Thankfully the Bruins Are Back

If the NHL were still locked out, then how miserable would this February be? I'm not a big fan of NBA basketball, and don't get into college basketball until March. Without hockey, the next few weeks would totally suck.

The Bruins have won both their games. And in this abbreviated season it's vital for teams to win and accumulate points early. There are only 46 games left. After one long weekend over 4% of the regular season is already over.

The B's look relatively sharp. That's partially because many players went to Europe. But I think it's mostly because this team is not very different from the team that played last year. Players don't need to get used to playing with new teammates. Most of this team has been playing together for a few years.

Tuukka Rask looks smooth. I've never been much of a Rask fan, but he's playing bigger, he's not retreating into the net, he's staying balanced, and moving from side to side with ease. Almost as good as Tim Thomas in his prime.

The Power Play still looks slow and predictable. The coaching staff can scheme up whatever they like, but the Bruins do not have the personnel to make for a truly effective Power Play. Although a healthy Nathan Horton can help change that.

The Bruins are in New York on Wednesday to play the Rangers.

Photo Credit:
Associated Press