Bruins continue road trip with stop in Atlanta

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 30, 2010 9:00 AM EST in Game Previews

The Bruins will be looking for their fourth straight win when they take the ice at Phillips Arena tonight to take on the Atlanta Thrashers. The Bruins and Thrashers have met twice this season with both contests resulting in 4-1 result. Atlanta downed the B's 4-1 back on November 28th and the Bruins cruised to a 4-1 win over the Thrashers in a hard-fought contest last Thursday night.

Emotions could still be running high on both sides after last week's game that featured a line brawl late in the third period after a borderline high hit by Thrasher's defenseman Freddy Meyer on Milan Lucic erupted a 5-on-5 donnybrook. Lucic was given a match penalty for punching Meyer as the linesmen were trying to break up the scrum, but escaped without a suspension.

The Thrashers enter tonight's game on a 4-game skid (0-3-1) after dropping a 6-3 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Consol Energy Center on Tuesday night.

The Thrashers could be without emerging star Evander Kane (arm) and lanky centerman Nik Antropov (hip). Both players are considered questionable.

Notes:

- Milan Lucic will want to keep his head on a swivel tonight. It appears that noted head hunter Patrice Cormier has been called up from the Chicago Wolves. In case you missed it, this is what Cormier is best known for:

- Good news! If you got crap you didn't want this Christmas, you can trade it in for 2 tickets to an Atlanta Thrashers game! While you are watching hockey for free, you can enjoy $1 hot dogs, sodas, and pretzels. The Thrashers are becoming the NHL's pathetic neighbor kid who nobody wants to hang out, but happens to have a pool, a go-cart, and a hot mom.

- This makes me feel old: The Thrashers have 4 players on their active NHL roster who were born in the 90's.

- Tim Thomas took time out on Wednesday to speak on the phone with U.S. Navy sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The aircraft carrier is currently out at sea in Southwest Asia. Lincoln sailors have spoken with several sports figures with Boston ties recently including Ray Allen, Bill Belichick, Wes Welker, and Terry Francona.

- The Bruins currently own first place in the Northeast Division, while the Thrashers are 5 points behind the Washington Capitals and 3 points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning in the closely-contested Southeast Division.

- Claude Julien is hoping that the benching of Nathan Horton and Marc Savard late in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning will help motivate them.

- Tim Thomas talked about feeling fatigued during Tuesday's game. Will we see Tuukka Rask get a start tonight?

- Hidden Key to the Game: Let the Thrashers score first. Atlanta has the league's worst win percentage when scoring the game's first goal (.478).

- After two 7:30 start times, we are back to a 7:00 puck drop. The Public Skate open thread gets going at 6:30 PM ET.

- Tonight's game will air on NESN and The Sports Hub.

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Good news! If you got crap you didn’t want this Christmas, you can trade it in for 2 tickets to an Atlanta Thrashers game! While you are watching hockey for free, you can enjoy $1 hot dogs, sodas, and pretzels. The Thrashers are becoming the NHL’s pathetic neighbor kid who nobody wants to hang out, but happens to have a pool, a go-cart, and a hot mom.

Let’s see if the Thrashers blog has another tantrum.

by 13_Legion on Dec 30, 2010 9:21 AM EST reply actions

I checked over at the Thrashers’ blog (sorry, boss), and they said the Thrashers are trying to get a second round pick for Nik Bergfors. If that’s true, I’d do that deal in a heartbeat. The kid is 23 years old, and is an offensively-gifted right wing. No, he’s not much on defense, but right wing is an area where the B’s are organizationally weak, and are looking at perhaps losing Ryder and Wheeler this offseason (yes, I know Wheeler can play any line spot, and is not limited to RW).

Bergfors has a 3.6 GVT so far this year, which is pretty good for just 28 games. By comparison, that would place him 7th on the B’s, tied with Bergeron, just behind Chara, and ahead of Ryder, Wheeler and others.

Free Brad Marchand!

by Phunwin on Dec 30, 2010 9:46 AM EST reply actions

+1 here. Move The Dish out and we have the cap space, if not the roster spot

by TomServo42 on Dec 30, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

That would rule.

Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Matt Kalman: Have you no sense of decency, sir? (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 30, 2010 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

That Cormier video

Is scary stuff. How can the NHL allow a player like that in the league.
Oh yeah. It’s the NHL.

In Lax We Trust -
Offical Pro Lacrosse Blog of SBN

by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 30, 2010 10:00 AM EST reply actions

that was one vicious head hunt. Targeted and tracked him all the way across the neutral zone

by TomServo42 on Dec 30, 2010 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

If he was banned from the Juniors in Quebec, was he able to continue on in the OHL or WHL? Or did he just get picked up by the Wolves?

It does seem amazing that he was able to get picked up. Guess people still feel like there is room for the dangerous goons.

by 13_Legion on Dec 30, 2010 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

hypothetically, the AHL would abide by the suspension of the Junior leagues… presumably the OHL and WHL would do the same.

He was free to join the AHL after the Huskies season ended – his suspension was for the season, so only extended as far as they got in the playoffs. Wolves/ATL already had his rights

by TomServo42 on Dec 30, 2010 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

Try to control yourself if Savard is on the ice at the same time as Cormier.

by 13_Legion on Dec 30, 2010 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

There is just no place

for that kind of hitting in hockey, and it seems to only be recent. I have strong feelings for head injuries and concussions, and the fact the NHL lets it continue on bothers me.

In Lax We Trust -
Offical Pro Lacrosse Blog of SBN

by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 30, 2010 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

What a cheap shot! Even the following video’s show this clown skating around with his elbow up. As if we needed another reason to watch this game.

by SkateHitShoot on Dec 30, 2010 12:20 PM EST up reply actions

This guy

is the next Chris Pronger in that aspect.

In Lax We Trust -
Offical Pro Lacrosse Blog of SBN

by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 30, 2010 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

Not saying I disagree.

Just stating ahead of time, we get your point that you are concerned. :)

by 13_Legion on Dec 30, 2010 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

More about the direction the league is going in

This is turning into slapshot.

In Lax We Trust -
Offical Pro Lacrosse Blog of SBN

by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 30, 2010 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

The kid was 18 years old and he laid a dirty hit on someone. He isn’t a murder. He sat out the rest of the season. That should affect his entire future.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 30, 2010 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

*should not

Think about the dumb shit you did when you were 18.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 30, 2010 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

Um…..

In Lax We Trust -
Offical Pro Lacrosse Blog of SBN

by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 30, 2010 4:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

OK, think of the dumb shit you will do when you are 18.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 30, 2010 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

Slightly OT, but a good time killer

NHL.com in 1996. It’s eXtrEmE!!!

by Arenacale on Dec 30, 2010 12:14 PM EST reply actions

Rob Dimaio, Steve Staios from Adam Oates!

by SkateHitShoot on Dec 30, 2010 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

Haha that is awesome! I forgot what the internet used to be like. I’m actually kind of impressed with the rotating flash logos up near the bannner.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 30, 2010 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

I love graphic design from that era. Log onto the NHL website, watch turn on the X Games, and zone out to the Sneaker Pimps.

by Arenacale on Dec 30, 2010 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

ah, Flash was but a glint in Macromedia’s eye at the time. Them thar’s good ol’ animated gifs. Loving the frames setup, as well as the ’secrets of the Panthers success" article on the front page.

by TomServo42 on Dec 30, 2010 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry, my web design skills and knowledge are pretty limited.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 30, 2010 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

well now we know where Horton went the other night. I applaud the move and hope it helps get the point across, he needs to show up every game.

by SkateHitShoot on Dec 30, 2010 12:22 PM EST reply actions

I really hope Milan Lucic caves Patrice Comier's face in tonight.

Rooting for a player to get hurt is usually disgusting, but this is the one case where I make an exception. This kid is literally the scum of the earth. He goes around not only trying to end their hockey careers, but trying to do damage to them for life. He hasn’t learned from any of his past mistakes and literally has no respect for anyone else on the ice. I would gladly take a Lucic suspension to keep this kid out of the game we all love, because there is no way he deserves another shot after his three disgusting elbows.

Time for someone to take care of this kid, before he actually kills someone on the ice.

by totheights on Dec 30, 2010 12:40 PM EST reply actions 1 recs