Hitting The Links: Winter Is Coming Edition

by sarahconnors on Dec 21, 2011 9:56 AM EST in Hitting the Links

Santa and Mrs Claus are Bruins fans. Well that explains everything.

The Bruins are on their second of three off-days in a row now, getting set to take on the Panthers on Friday. On their off day yesterday, they took their annual toy-delivery trip to local hospitals to deliver toys to kids. It's a great thing that the organization has done for years, even when they didn't necessarily get a lot of press for it.

Disclaimer: the links are awesome today because Kathryn sent me most of them, so be sure to check them out today. After the jump, toy delivery stuff, one of the refs from Mike Milbury's famous shoe-beating incident dies, something about Blake Wheeler, Tim Thomas drops a medieval times reference, and more...

Bruins News:

Brad Marchand's Christmas list for his teammates is hilarious. [ESPN]
Tim Thomas uses Sir Lancelot as a metaphor for his own playing style. No kidding. [NEHJ]
A stick boy with Down's Syndrome who worked for Adam McQuaid's Bantam AAA team has a great mentor in PEI. Great story here. [The Guardian]
Boston has a hockey team, oh man! Lots of sarcasm in this year-in-review. [Dansville Online]
The Bruins' playing style, despite drawing scrutiny from the NHL, needs to stay the same for the team to succeed. [NESN]
The Bruins visited various hospitals yesterday. [Globe] [Fox Boston]
One of the referees who worked the game where Mike Milbury beat a man with his shoe died. [Globe and Mail]

NHL News:

There are more players than ever in the NHL who worked their way up from the ECHL, and it's good for the league. [ECHL]
If Blake Wheeler shoots, apparently he will score more! For now, he's leading the Jets in assists. [WFP]
The Flyers are dealing with a variety of head injuries, which is scary. [NYT]
Essex native Benn Ferriero is getting another shot at the NHL with Martin Havlat out. [CSN Bay Area]
Aside from the obvious Bruins-winning-the-cup story, this really wasn't a good year for hockey. [CBC]
A Maple Leafs/Marlies player is hiring a lawyer because there were naked pictures of him on the internet. Oops? [Sun]
Did the Ducks' late season surge last year hurt their chances this year? [Merced Star]
Russia beat team USA in a World Juniors pre-competition game in Edmonton last night. [Sun]

Who's missing from World Juniors this year? [Pro Ice Hockey]

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A Maple Leafs/Marlies player is hiring a lawyer because there were naked pictures of him on the internet. Oops?

wait you mean? someone who took nude pics of them self and expected the other person not to show others! no way! I mean who would show some one else haha

don’t want your bits and pieces on the webs for all to see? don’t take a picture of em

or well send it to #IsAnyOneUP?

Follow @Edward_Cash

HOCKEY TEMPER

by Losted125 on Dec 21, 2011 10:12 AM EST reply actions

Love the Game of Thrones reference!

I bet Sir Tank Thomas is a fan given his obvious medieval fetish

by neelyforpres on Dec 21, 2011 10:25 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions

I'm reading clash of kings right now :D

hoping to finish it on the bus/plane tomorrow!

Link ninja/occasional writer of useful things at Stanley Cup of Chowder
Coverin' the bb B's at Something's Bruin
Watch me yell about stuff on the twitters
(also: Let's Go Bluuuuuuuues!)

by sarahconnors on Dec 21, 2011 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

Jealous. I have to wait god knows how long until he writes the next one. Such a good series!

by neelyforpres on Dec 21, 2011 10:54 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

im loving it so far. btw, welcome to commenting! :)

Link ninja/occasional writer of useful things at Stanley Cup of Chowder
Coverin' the bb B's at Something's Bruin
Watch me yell about stuff on the twitters
(also: Let's Go Bluuuuuuuues!)

by sarahconnors on Dec 21, 2011 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

Killer series.

Timmy Tankalot is a weird guy, but I love him.

by dudebro on Dec 22, 2011 9:56 AM EST up reply actions

Who’s missing from World Juniors this year?

New Khok, IMO

•One of the referees who worked the game where Mike Milbury beat a man with his shoe died

When I read this, it did not compute, and I was thinking that one of the refs from last week’s incident died, and I was like, “WTF, that is WEIRD!,” and then I realized it was from the shoe incident, not the adolescent-shaking incident.

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Dec 21, 2011 10:30 AM EST reply actions

koko IS playing in the WJC, afaik!

Link ninja/occasional writer of useful things at Stanley Cup of Chowder
Coverin' the bb B's at Something's Bruin
Watch me yell about stuff on the twitters
(also: Let's Go Bluuuuuuuues!)

by sarahconnors on Dec 21, 2011 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

And beat Jack Campbell for a goal, along with everybody else on Russia ha

by neelyforpres on Dec 21, 2011 10:56 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

hmmmm

the last list I looked at didn’t include him!

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Dec 21, 2011 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

k, now he is. nhl.com didn’t have him listed a couple weeks ago.

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Dec 21, 2011 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

a couple weeks ago, the players from the CHL weren’t on the official list yet. Nail Yakupov wasn’t on there a few weeks ago, either.

Link ninja/occasional writer of useful things at Stanley Cup of Chowder
Coverin' the bb B's at Something's Bruin
Watch me yell about stuff on the twitters
(also: Let's Go Bluuuuuuuues!)

by sarahconnors on Dec 21, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

lol love the Tainted Stanley Cup post on the CBC site

pretty sure the NHL if it was rigged wouldnt Have the B’s Winning the cup

Follow @Edward_Cash

HOCKEY TEMPER

by Losted125 on Dec 21, 2011 10:37 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

“blah blah blah blah the cup belongs in canada, blah blah blah blah”

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Dec 21, 2011 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

how can some people be so stupid. Its crazy

by Mikol on Dec 21, 2011 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

Aaron Ward still totally owns as a person, as it turns out.

Not that that’s a surprise, of course.

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

Hockey Blog Adventure is my blog but I'm way more active on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 21, 2011 10:51 AM EST reply actions

Ferrerio is apparently waiver eligible after this callup.

The Havlat injury was kind of hilarious, too.

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

Hockey Blog Adventure is my blog but I'm way more active on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 21, 2011 10:52 AM EST reply actions

I love how Milan Lucic is the Poster Boy for NESN’s article on Boston’s borderline goonsih play. :P

by Miss Muse on Dec 21, 2011 11:19 AM EST reply actions

Oh boo-hoo...

Other teams fans don’t like the way we play. :’( Waaaa….

Seriously though, goonish play? I can’t remember many goons scoring 30 goals and 20+ goals in a season. Yes. Lucic plays on the edge, as well as some others, but what are we to do, turn into Montreal Divers, I mean Canadiens.

I agree, there are goons in the NHL, just look at Zenon Konopka from OTT, or teams that trudge out their fighters for their fight of the night, but calling the Bruins goons or anything close to that because they play hard is not fair. As for having 4 players near the top 10 of the NHL in PIM’s, well, other teams go after our guys, they have some people to answer to. Also, let’s not forget the following: Chicago 113 goals for, Philadelphia 112 goals for, BRUINS 111 goals for…if this was a goon squad, there is no way we would be 3rd in the NHL in goals scored.

Other teams fans are jealous and many hate Boston, just because it is Boston. It does not matter if it is the Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics or Patriots….there is a lot of hate out there for us. I dislike the fact that every time a Bruin touches a puck, there is cry for a suspension. Or Penalty at the least.

Anyway, Thank You Miss Muse, none of by rant was aimed at you, I hope you understand that…. :) Go B’s!

PS. I bet there are 31 other NHL teams who would LOVE (LOVE) to have Milan Lucic on their team…

by Unbeliever on Dec 21, 2011 1:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Also, footnote

63, that is the number of goals the Bruins have given up. The Fewest in the NHL!

by Unbeliever on Dec 21, 2011 1:24 PM EST up reply actions

Konopka has redeeming traits though… he is typically one of the best faceoff men in the league and plays respectable minutes. If you want wastes of roster spots, look at the likes of John Scott, Colton Orr and Jody Shelley

by BobbyOrrsBastard on Dec 21, 2011 1:34 PM EST up reply actions

Okay, that is true...

Konopka is a great faceoff man, I will give him that.

You are right about Colton Orr and Jody Shelley…not sure about John Scott…

by Unbeliever on Dec 21, 2011 1:43 PM EST up reply actions

1-4-5 in 128 career games, plays 8 minutes a night as a defenseman.

Useless.

by BobbyOrrsBastard on Dec 21, 2011 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

not sure about John Scott…

Not sure that he’s an NHL player or not sure that he’s useless?

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

Hockey Blog Adventure is my blog but I'm way more active on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 21, 2011 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

The useless...

But as BobbyOrrsBastard pointed out 1-4-5, that is pretty useless. Plus, only playing 8 minutes a night as a defenseman, that is pretty bad. Thank you both for the info. :)

by Unbeliever on Dec 21, 2011 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

Hockey-Reference is a beautiful thing…

by BobbyOrrsBastard on Dec 21, 2011 4:05 PM EST up reply actions

if he were a 4th-line forward he might be better but as a defenseman that’s like real real bad.

It’s in general to slot in your will-get-punched-in-the-face-and-not-much-else guy as a defenseman anyhow – it’s a numbers game, really. There are 4 lines of forwards and 3 of defensemen.

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

Hockey Blog Adventure is my blog but I'm way more active on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 21, 2011 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

31, eh?

They expanded AGAIN?!

by BobbyOrrsBastard on Dec 21, 2011 1:34 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry, it should have said 29....got my sports

crossed. 32 NFL teams and 30 NHL teams… sorry… and thanks for catching that.. :)

by Unbeliever on Dec 21, 2011 1:45 PM EST up reply actions

Figured as much… just giving you a hard time.

by BobbyOrrsBastard on Dec 21, 2011 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

No problem. :)

by Unbeliever on Dec 21, 2011 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

Okay...now that I have started, it is a little hard to stop:

PK Subban Slew Footed James Neal, James Neal on his way down smacked Subban on his head with his stick, as far as I know, James Neal was the only one fined/suspended. Nothing for Subban, but 1 game for Neal.

Lucic hit Miller, yeah, goalies are not suppose to be hit, but they are not suppose to be out in the faceoff circle either. Miller takes a vicious slash at Lucic, but fails to connect. Punishment for Miller, nothing! Meanwhile Lucic and the Bruins are destroyed by the media as being goons/dirty. In fact, Miller has stated he never had a concussion, a sore neck yes, but not a concussion. Also the reason they went verbal with the allegation was to get the NHL to suspend Lucic.

Penguins people started to wonder aloud that Krejci gave Crosby his latest concussion, from an accidental elbow when Crosby came up behind him. No mention of Crosby colliding with Kunitz in that fantasy by Penguins writers.

Brian Gionta hit/concussed James Reimer of Toronto, NHL said nothing! Erik Cole hit Jones Enroth in the Sabres next game after the Lucic/Miller incident. NHL said nothing. Erik Cole recently threw an elbow at someone, again the NHL said nothing. In fact, not only did the NHL not punish the Canadiens, but hockey writers did not say a peep. However, if those three incidents had been done by the Bruins, you can bet they would crying for BLOOD!

McQuaid hit on Foligno, foolish play by McQuaid, but a real stretch to say it was intentional. Plus, McQuaid had never been involved in any disciplinary incident with the NHL prior…clean record

Marchand slew footed someone, got fined and got into a fight because of it.

Lucic was suspended one game for his hit on Rinaldi (or whatever his name is), who incidently was so hurt, he got into a fight before Lucic made his way to the dressing room.

Last year, Lucic hit Spacek who then proceeded to lie/sit on the ice until the refs came over and threw Lucic out of the game. Spacek himself, I believe did not miss a shift.

The image has been put forth by other teams writers that we are a dirty/goon squad, even though that is far from the truth. However, if they can push that image, then it is easier for the NHL to suspend Bruin players, and if you can’t beat them on the ice, by suspending them, you thus weaken them.

by Unbeliever on Dec 21, 2011 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I love your rants, and I agree. Habs fans especially are a one-way street when it comes to calling for other players to be suspended. From what I’ve seen, the vast majority of B’s fans didn’t really care about Looch’s suspension, or at least realized that it was more a “you may not have done anything particularly horrible, but you really need to cut the shit” kind of thing than anything else.

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Dec 21, 2011 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

Thank you...

With the Lucic suspension, I tend to agree with the latter, as you said “cut the shit”…

by Unbeliever on Dec 21, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

In regards to Neal being suspended, a player is responsible for his stick at all times, regardless of situation. Its why PM Bouchard got two games for an opposing player hitting PM’s stick into his own face.

The Miller thing, the league never suspends misses and they are largely ignored. I disagree with it but its the way it is. To me, an intentional elbow (or whatever) that misses is worse than an unintentional one that connects. (check out Malkin’s attempt to elbow Giroux and the lack of uproar over it)

by BobbyOrrsBastard on Dec 21, 2011 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

or, Torres’ flying elbow that luckily missed Boychuk in the finals.

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Dec 21, 2011 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

Precisely. That was a nasty play that everyone just ignored because he didn’t connect. Clear intent should matter far more than accidental contact.

by BobbyOrrsBastard on Dec 21, 2011 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

That is true...

Torres elbow was vicious…I forgot about that one.

by Unbeliever on Dec 21, 2011 4:05 PM EST up reply actions

Ha ha…no worries, I was smirking when I wrote my original comment. People are always going to find something, SOME THING to support their ridiculous conspiracy theories.