Photo by Lisa Poole/AP
I am happy to report that my power is back on. Now you get to read my uninspired game preview before the puck drops.
The Bruins' tour of the Southeast Division continues this weekend as the B's will try to bounce back from a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday with a pair of games against the Atlanta Thrashers.
Just who are these Thrashers that you speak of?
Atlanta Thrashers 9-14-4; 22 pts (4th in Southeast, 13th in East)
Leading Goal Scorers
Vyacheslav Kozlov: 12 Goals (12-11-23)
Bryan Little: 11 Goals (11-11-22)
Ilya Kovalchuk 10 Goals (10-17-27)
Goaltending
Johan Hedberg: 12 GP 5-4-2; 3.55 GAA .890 Sv%
Kari Lehtonen (Injured): 9 GP 2-5-2; 3.44 GAA .903 Sv%
Ondrej Pavelec: 8 GP 2-5-0; 3.17 GAA .899 Sv%
Guys Who Like to Drop the Gloves
Eric Boulton: 5 Fighting Majors
Garnet Exelby: 3 Fighting Majors
Chris Thorburn: 3 Fighting Majors
6 Players with 1 Fighting Major
'08-'09 Season Series
Bruins Record vs. Atlanta: 1-0-0
10/25 vs. ATL 5-4 W
Injury Report
Boston
LW Marco Sturm: Out (Whiplash-like Symptoms)
D Aaron Ward: Game-time Decision (Leg)
D Andrew Ference: IR (Broken Tibia)
Atlanta
D Mathieu Schneider: Out (Shoulder)
C Erik Christensen: Out (Shoulder)
G Kari Lehtonen: IR (Back)
D Zach Bogosian: Out Indefinitely (Broken Tibia)
Notes:
- Who is the schedule maker that thought a home and home between the Atlanta Thrashers and Boston Bruins was a good idea?
1. They are separated by 1,100 miles
2. They aren't division rivals. A home & home with the Habs or Leafs would be fun, but the Atlanta Thrashers?
3. Is anyone really excited to see the Thrashers play two nights in a row?
- How long can Ilya Kovalchuk stand to stay in Atlanta?
- Aaron Ward will be a game-time decision tonight and could be in the lineup for the first time in 4 games.
- Tim Thomas gets the start in goal tonight.
- The Thrashers called up Mark Stuart's older brother Colin Stuart. If Colin Stuart is in the lineup tonight, it will be his season debut.
- The B's should take advantage of their opportunities with the man advantage. The Thrashers own the league's worst Penalty Kill (73%).
- The B's should apply a lot of offensive pressure and test the Thrasher's goaltender. Atlanta ranks #29 in GAA (3.56).
Today's Obligatory Embarrassing YouTube Fan Video