Hitting the Links: Knucklepucks and Knuckleheads Weekend Edition
by Scott Frano on Dec 4, 2011 10:38 AM EST
in Hitting the Links
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PrintWell they didn't hit the six goal quota, but there's really not much else to complain about right now with the Bruins. The 4-1 win over Toronto, their fourth over the Leafs this season already, vaulted them into 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. They're three points back of the Penguins, who they will face in Pittsburgh in a big game Monday night, with three games in hand.
David Krejci was a force again last night, posting a goal and an assist. It's a good sign that he's producing again, especially after signing a big contract. Sometimes the pressure of a big contract can affect a player, but if anything it's making Krejci play better. Chris Kelly scored, again, giving him 10 goals on the year. That has him on pace for at least 30 (30!!) this season. He's going to demand a lot of money this offseason, and it looks like he's playing his way out of the Bs price range.
After the jump, Tuukka pulls a Goldberg, Jordin Tootoo runs Ryan Miller in his first game back, and Andrei Markov is out even longer with another surgery.
Bruins News
- He's not shooting a knucklepuck, but after morning skates recently Tuukka Rask has shot a puck into an empty net for kicks and giggles, I guess. It seems to be a big hit. [WEEI]
- A look at the Bruins' cap situation in the next few years. [WEEI]
- It must be really tough as a coach to find faults with your team when they're unbeaten in regulation for 14 games, but Claude is trying! [Globe]
- Tim Thomas is so good that sometimes his teammates don't even realize how amazing he actually is. [ESPN]
- Some interesting numbers from the ESPN Stats Dept. on the Bruins' November streak. Sadly no follicle count on Timmy's stache. [ESPN]
- Trent Whitfield is back in the lineup for the Baby B's after a concussion in October. [Projo]
NHL News
- Controversy in Nashville last night, as Preds pest Jordin Tootoo took a run at Ryan Miller in his first game back from the Lucic incident. To me, this is much worse. Tootoo pretty much leaps right into Miller; it doesn't look like he's even trying to avoid him. Tootoo got a game misconduct and now Brendan Shanahan has a tough call. And only Lindy Ruff could sound so freakin' annoying in a situation where he probably has a decent point. Nice to see the Sabres respond well, though. [Puck Daddy]
- Not sure why Puck Daddy decided to name their Top 5 goalies. They should've just done a 2-5 list instead and save everyone the trouble. [Puck Daddy]
- Andrei Markov is having more surgery and will be out another few weeks, but who the hell really knows anymore. This really hurts the struggling Habs, who were looking forward to having him back very soon. I also need him on my fantasy team, and he's starting to really annoy me with the random surgeries. [Pro Hockey Talk]
- Kris Versteeg does not approve of the lack of Shanaban for Canes defenseman Derek Joslin. [Pro Hockey Talk]
- Carey Price with a sweet diving stick save off a crazy glass bounce. I know he's a Hab and kind of a douche but I can't help but like the guy. [NHL]
- The Caps beat the Senators last night in OT for their first win under the Dale Hunter regime. [TSN]
So, three games for Tootoo? Does that sound about right? You can bet that whatever happens, there's going to be a lot of bitching because Lucic didn't get suspended. Shanahan really can't win either way.
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Markov is a corpse. It’s a weekend at bernie’s thing. Trade him for a living defenseman.
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 4, 2011 11:49 AM EST reply actions
That stiff is on the Habs cap for another two years after this at $5.75M per.
Seeing that reminds me of the Denis Learry bit about the smokers finding Jim Fixx’s body:
Hey, is that Jim Fixx?
Wow, what a fuckin’ tragedy, let’s go buy some butts.
Andrei Markov buyout from CapGeek.com
2012-13: $1,916,667
2013-14: $1,916,667
2014-15: $1,916,667
2015-16: $1,916,667
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 5, 2011 9:02 AM EST up reply actions
Best part of this disaster?
They can’t even bank on the new CBA coming with a one-time free buyout for bad contracts like the last one did since they would have to use it on Gomez
by BobbyOrrsBastard on Dec 5, 2011 9:27 AM EST up reply actions
Actually
Scott Gomez buyout from CapGeek.com
2012-13: $3,523,810
2013-14: $4,523,810
2014-15: $1,666,667
2015-16: $1,666,667
After the first 2 years the Markov buyout would be worse. Of course then you’re wasting 2 years of Price/Subban/whoever since you’ve got 3.5 or 4.5 million in cap penalties.
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 5, 2011 10:04 AM EST up reply actions
No, NO!
We don’t want the Habs to improve, silly!
Kick his ass, Seabass!
by phonymahoney on Dec 5, 2011 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
I mean for his fantasy team
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 5, 2011 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
ah!
Apparently I didn’t read that whole thing! Haha!
Kick his ass, Seabass!
by phonymahoney on Dec 5, 2011 10:50 AM EST up reply actions
The whole thing is a mystery to me. I heard he’d be back in the next few days and now he’s having more surgery.
For Horton!
Habs fans must be so completely agitated with the whole lolGomez thing and Markov’s broken body.
Kick his ass, Seabass!
by phonymahoney on Dec 5, 2011 10:28 AM EST up reply actions
Favorite play of the game last night....
was the pass by pevs over to Chris Kelly for the tap in. When they signed pevs I was happy but I thought the price tag was a lil steep but he just keeps impressing me more and more. Quickly becoming one of my favorite players.
They did it for Savy, they did it for Horton, they did it for each other, they did it for us. I give you the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions....The Boston Bruins!!
He’s really got the moves; I love watching Pevs.
Kick his ass, Seabass!
by phonymahoney on Dec 5, 2011 10:28 AM EST up reply actions
..so Tootoo runs Miller and gets a 5 minute major and a game misconduct and one of the thing Lindy Ruff complains about is the length of the powerplay they got out of it. What did he want, the elusive double-major penalty?
I agree that it was a bad hit but bitching about powerplay time after it just seems so petty.
The more a coach whines, the more the league pays attention. Every good coach tries to find the bad in a situation, and turn it to his benefit. I’ve got no problem with what Ruff is doing, even though he’s nails-on-the-chalkboard annoying.
Oh, I have no problem with every other aspect of his rant. Complaints about the caliber or nature of the player doing the hit, about the timing and incredulous nature of the hit, about the apparent target sign on Miller’s chest, about the leagues inaction – those are all valid, understandable criticisms (even if you disagree with them).
Complaints about the length of powerplay time you benefited from when a major penalty was assessed and your player broke his hand punching a guy at the bottom of a pile are not serious, appropriate comments. I understand why he’s doing it but it still remains an objectionable attempt to work the refs.
I hope like hell that Chris Kelly plays his way out of Boston’s price range. Career third liners do not magically become 30 goal scorers at age 31. He’s having a wonderful run, but it’s a fluke.
As for Markov, it’s a shame, or at least as much of a shame as it can be for the Canadiens to get screwed, but he is what he is: a defenseman with the skill of a poor man’s Nik Lidstrom and the health of a poor man’s Andrew Ference.
the health of a poor man’s Andrew Ference.
ouch.
Kick his ass, Seabass!
by phonymahoney on Dec 5, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed
But Kelly could be one of the guys whos willing to take a discount to stay with a winner seeing that he is 31. I dont think even he can understand how is name is associated with all of those points so far.
They did it for Savy, they did it for Horton, they did it for each other, they did it for us. I give you the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions....The Boston Bruins!!
I wish Matthew Stafford was Drew Brees. (This is what happens when you back your team and they lose),
Oh, and I would wager that any NHL fan that doesn’t have their head lodged firmly inside their alimentary canal will be able to discern the difference between the Tootoo and Lucic hits.
Honestly, I am confused by the Tootoo hit… where was he supposed to go? He was driving the net, had it pokechecked away and then could either hit Miller or the net.
by BobbyOrrsBastard on Dec 4, 2011 3:58 PM EST reply actions
As of last Friday, Bruins will no longer be giving autographs at Ristuccia due to "safety concerns".
A round of applause to all batshit crazy Seguin fangirls and autograph hounds jumping the barrier after every practice and swarming the players’ cars. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us who know how to behave ourselves in public. Next thing you know they’ll close practice to the public completely.
For the record I don’t go to practice to get autographs, I’m way too shy and it really just doesn’t interest me that much. I just like to hang. But I know a lot of people bring their kids for the purpose of meeting their favorite players and they won’t be able to do that anymore because too many people have boundary issues.
FWIW
WooSharks look pretty damn good. Haven’t seen the PB’s in a while, but I’m interested to see if they’ve improved any when we go in a couple of weeks.
In Memoriam: Dan Wheldon 1978-2011
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