Hitting the Links: Gutless/Weekend Edition

by Scott Frano on Nov 13, 2011 10:03 AM EST in Hitting the Links

The Bruins made it five in a row last night with a dominant 6-2 win over Northeast rival Buffalo. The Sabres did some flashy free-agent spending this summer making Pegulaville all nice and shiny, but it didn't seem to matter last night. Then again, no matter how much you pay Ville Leino, it doesn't make him worth it.

The big story of the game was Milan Lucic running into Ryan Miller in the first period and knocking Miller's helmet off, with Miller swinging his stick around after but missing Lucic. The Sabres players on the ice weren't exactly the right guys for a fight compared to the Bruins on the ice, and Lucic got out of it with just a charging minor. After the game, Miller stuck around just to rant a little about Lucic and the hit and call Lucic "gutless." Lucic said his team would've taken care of business in that situation, "But we're a different team than they are." The next three games in the season series are unfortunately in Buffalo, but they should be fun games nonetheless.

After the jump, a guy turns broken sticks into canes, more Lucic-Miller talk, and a nice occasion for a guy from my hometown.

Bruins News

Tim Thomas says that goalies don't really expect to be hit in that situation. As a goalie, I agree. Tim's walking a fine line here, trying to defend his teammate but also Miller too as a fellow goalie and Olympic teammate. [WEEI]
The Bruins did a really nice thing for Military Appreciation Night, bringing out Darren and Lori Jacobs of my hometown of Pembroke to be reunited with their son Charlie who was overseas. My Dad has played with Darren for a long time now, really nice guy and a great job by the Bruins to set this up. Watch the ceremony if you haven't already. [NHL]
It looked like the Bruins got it going after Lucic hit Miller. [ESPN]
Linemates that party together, score together. [ESPN]
Bruins prospect Zach McKelvie, a West Point grad and former Army lieutenant, feels people should remember the military more often. Well said. [ProJo]
Puck Daddy's coverage of the Lucic-Miller incident. Beware: the comments are the usual crap. [Puck Daddy]
Lucic's full quote from last night. [Pro Hockey Talk]

NHL News

Someone alert Jack Edwards! There is a purpose for broken sticks! [Puck Daddy]
All is not well in Winnipeg. [NHL]
Who gets the blame for all the stalling talk? It should be noted that the Blues beat Tampa 3-1 last night, without playing ridiculous mind games. It's not impossible people. [Pro Hockey Talk]
Leafs lose to the Sens. They really miss Reimer. [TSN]
Kerry Fraser on head-butting during fights. [TSN]

November 23rd is the next time the Bruins and Sabres meet. It is, of course, in Buffalo. Should be fun.

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shit

Miller called him a piece of shit. It was hilarious and I’m bummed so many media outlets, even ones that don’t have to, bleeped it.

Did everyone see the Leafs own goal last night?

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 13, 2011 11:39 AM EST reply actions

Did everyone see the Leafs own goal last night?

I did, and it was beautiful.

We all knew the Leafs would fall from grace, I wasn’t sure it would be so quick, though!

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Nov 13, 2011 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

so awesome. couldn’t help but think of Bergy against Carolina saving that off the goal line in a similar scenario.

by TomServo42 on Nov 13, 2011 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

November 23rd is the next time the Bruins and Sabres meet. It is, of course, in Buffalo. Should be fun.

I can’t wait, it’s gonna be such a fun one to watch.

Viewing party, anybody? ;)

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Nov 13, 2011 12:41 PM EST reply actions

Funny part is that these teams the B’s are steamrolling are taking it real bad afterwords. Ottawa – 6 game win steak coming to us, 5 game losing streak after. Toronto – #1 team in the east before, lost 3/4 and fallen to 3rd since. Oilers dropped the game after and did so without scoring a single goal. I think we really hurt the morale. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Buffalo drop a few in the next week – especially since their response to the rough stuff was to wait until the game was over and whine to the media.

Is it me or are like 50% comments on sports sites trolling? My trollometer is usually fairly fine-tuned but I refuse to think that so many people have such…biased takes. Please tell me it’s just a process of ‘Rival bad! Team I like good!’ Please?

Also, Jack Edwards was losing it last night. I’m still giggling that all the highlights include him gushing over Horton’s goal. “Can you feel the heartbeat? Ba-boom” Hahah.

by Sinnach on Nov 13, 2011 1:40 PM EST reply actions

Is it me or are like 50% comments on sports sites trolling? My trollometer is usually fairly fine-tuned but I refuse to think that so many people have such…biased takes. Please tell me it’s just a process of ‘Rival bad! Team I like good!’ Please?

It depends on which site it is. Some are more than 50%

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 14, 2011 9:18 AM EST up reply actions

Tuukka to the Blue Jackets?

The Globe had a quick blurb that Columbus is inquiring about Tuukka. Is there anyone on that roster other than Nash who would interest the B’s enough? Maybe the possibility to draft Nail?

by Black Bird on Nov 13, 2011 2:11 PM EST reply actions

nash would be the only acceptable return.

by BlueNGoldBomber on Nov 13, 2011 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

I’d take Johansen straight up for Rask. I think a pretty good package could also be based up on Savard as well.

by Bourque77 on Nov 13, 2011 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

put down the bong. in no circumstances would i trade a 24 year old franchise goalie in waiting for a 19 year old unproven prospect. thats the type of shit that gets gm’s fired.

by BlueNGoldBomber on Nov 13, 2011 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

The incremental value from one goalie to the next just isn’t that big. You have your exceptional 2 or 3 like a Tim Thomas, but after that, there is a huge bunch that really doesn’t make that big of a difference.

And Johansen is already being a productive player in the NHL at 19. That’s rare. He’s demonstrating already that he’s likely to be a solid 1st line player.

Toss in the extra years of cost control on Johansen, and I’d happily take him. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if the Bruins are able to get that much for Rask this offseason when my guess is that they’ll have to trade him.

by Bourque77 on Nov 14, 2011 1:06 PM EST up reply actions

Savard is on IR and therefore untradeable, last I checked.

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 14, 2011 9:18 AM EST up reply actions

I didn’t know David Savard was on IR – he was just sent down to AHL a week or so ago.

by Bourque77 on Nov 14, 2011 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

Aha, I assumed you meant we would package Marc Savard away. I guess that’s what happens when a player plays for Columbus.

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 14, 2011 9:54 AM EST up reply actions

i’d rather not take that contract for that long. that’ll be an albatross very quickly

by TomServo42 on Nov 13, 2011 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

i concur, didnt realize he was making that much for that long. we would have to package some other guys in order to afford him, and there arent really any contracts we have right now that i hate

by BlueNGoldBomber on Nov 13, 2011 7:12 PM EST up reply actions

There is absolutely no way I would trade Tuukka Rask for anything short of Nash and a first. That guy has proven to be a stud goaltender, and we have one, maybe two more years of solid play from Thomas left. Unless we’re getting return that can help us win both now and in the future, there’s no chance I’m trading Rask. None.

I can't seriously be asked to summarize my sports fandom in a short blurb for all to see, can I?

by Johnny Appleseed on Nov 13, 2011 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

I don't want to trade him,

but if I did trade him, it would have to be something big, like packaging Tuukka and Hamill for Nash and Nail or something like that.

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Nov 13, 2011 8:20 PM EST up reply actions

that’s some HF boards shit right there

by TomServo42 on Nov 13, 2011 8:48 PM EST up reply actions

It is, haha

I really wouldn’t want to move him, though… although I can’t imagine that he’s happy being a backup with all that talent, especially after spending a season as the #1.

The question is, I guess, how much time do we have an effective Timmy for? Goalies can last a pretty long time (health being an obvious determinant, but it works that way for any player), but I wonder how much time he’s got in his prime. Of course, he doesn’t look like he’s lost a step, so we’ll see.

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Nov 13, 2011 8:54 PM EST up reply actions