Stanley Cup of Chowder - Edmonton Oilers visit Boston Bruins - Complete CoverageDavid Pastrnak is legend.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/11233/stanley-fave.jpg2017-01-06T09:18:35-05:00http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/rss/stream/139407132017-01-06T09:18:35-05:002017-01-06T09:18:35-05:00Recap: Bruins fall to Oilers at home, 4-3
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<figcaption>Milt Schmidt’s tribute did little to stir the Bruins out of their slump. | Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>On the night we paid tribute to Milt Schmidt, the Bruins cave in the third period.</p> <h2 id="5kjKZu">Milt Schmidt: The Ultimate Bruin</h2>
<p id="phJ7ew">The Bruins opened tonight’s ceremonies with a moving tribute to Milt Schmidt, a - nay, THE - Bruins legend who passed away this week at 98 years old. From a successful playing career, to coach, to GM, to ambassador - the man was the epitome of a professional and made a significant impact at every level in 81 years of involvement with the organization. Rather than a moment of silence for the Bruins legend, the Garden requested a moment of celebration - and the Garden did not dissapoint.</p>
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<p id="WzLdxz">The Bruins will honor Schmidt the rest of the season with 15 painted behind both nets on the ice and a #15 on their chest. <a href="http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/5/14178116/bruins-tribute-milt-schmidt-mr-bruin-video-kraut-line">Watch the tribute here.</a></p>
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<h3 id="1hHJrL"><strong>First Period</strong></h3>
<p id="LmC3MA">This started just... ugly. With their first possessions, the Bruins failed to gain the offensive zone, and on one of the first counter-breakouts for Connor McDavid’s line, the Wunderkind rushed the puck through the circle to the left of Tuukka Rask and chipped a flubby backhand “pass” through the space above the crease directly to Patrick Maroon, who escaped Brandon Carlo attention and buried it for his 12th goal and McDavid’s 30th assist on the season.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brandon Carlo loses Patrick Maroon, and Connor McDavid finds him for the tap in just 1:08 into the game<a href="https://t.co/mLtMvCgFM4">https://t.co/mLtMvCgFM4</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/817163027715866625">January 6, 2017</a>
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<p id="NeTnVx">Bruins coach Claude Julien woke his boys up quick, and began some line <s>magic</s> shuffling, demoting Carlo for his lack of preparedness and working his matchups. The Bruins began their first of several offensive-zone parades, cycling the puck and sending a few point shots on net. Captain Zdeno Chara, not satisfied with less than 100 scalps, tried to remove Maroon’s head with a couple shots to his left ear. Chara clearly knew there needed to be some kind of wake-up call for this game.</p>
<p id="xhRx6S">On one of these strong cycles by the Bruins, Colin Miller unleashed a slapshot that snuck through Oilers goalie Cam Talbot, and barely got beyond his reach. A horrifying flashback to Marchand’s attempt in the New Jersey game, the puck did cross the goal line <em>just enough </em>to count.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Colin Miller gets just enough of the puck past the goal line (read: all of it) to tie the game at 1!<a href="https://t.co/H3JSdv5CiL">https://t.co/H3JSdv5CiL</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/817167189195296773">January 6, 2017</a>
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<p id="v4fxTY">With about 8:20 to go in the period, McDavid tries to outrun defensive wizard Patrice Bergeron, who manages to keep up with McDavid before reaching for the puck and crashing into Rask. All of the Garden faithful held their collective breath for a few seconds while Rask and McDavid untangled, unscathed.</p>
<p id="Jn9wNJ">With two minutes to go, things started to get a bit chippy; Anton Blidh gets a piece of Kris Russell in the offensive corner, and Edmonton forward Jordan Eberle took exception. The referees took exception to his exception and stopped any extracurricular, and the period fizzled with a couple failed dump-ins from both teams.</p>
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<h3 id="vl7g9B">Second Period</h3>
<p id="eqOodj">For some reason, there’s not much to be said for this period. A penalty for each team, a goal for each team, and some mounting frustration from each team. Neither could enter the zone very effectively, and when they did, they lost possession pretty quickly. </p>
<p id="PWyLEC">On Bergie’s go-ahead goal, David Pastrnak took advantage of Milan Lucic covering on defense, and though Looch played him well, Pastrnak got off a clean centering pass to Patrice, who had just gained the zone, and with that kind of time and space...</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bergeron keeps working on raising his shooting percentage to a normal level, scores his 8th goal on 130+ shots<a href="https://t.co/eFxcAq9H1Y">https://t.co/eFxcAq9H1Y</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/817182589438066689">January 6, 2017</a>
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<p id="C3TD8p">Maroon’s 2nd goal was some garbage cleanup, with Tuukka struggling to find the rebound a bit. Edmonton barely sustained a cycle, and so far, both goals they’ve scored are the product of jitters - Carlo not being fully prepared on his first shift, and a sloppy defensive zone turnover shortly following Bergeron’s goal.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Patrick Maroon buries his second of the game, and we're back to being tied<a href="https://t.co/Td3ghF6RGN">https://t.co/Td3ghF6RGN</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/817183178607783937">January 6, 2017</a>
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<p id="CyzlFC">The Bruins were a bit better at controlling the puck and made a late push for a second goal in the period, to no avail.</p>
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<h3 id="VXLEjA">Third Period</h3>
<p id="Jzr4X7">If the game started ugly, this third period was a room full of grayscale holiday sweaters. 14 seconds in, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the go-ahead goal to make the score 3-2.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">RNH 14 seconds into the third makes it 3-2 Edmonton. Bruins have to dig deep here<a href="https://t.co/OZhW5zu5PQ">https://t.co/OZhW5zu5PQ</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/817191141024169984">January 6, 2017</a>
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<p id="sbr6wm">Edmonton followed this goal with their first burst of attack on the Bruins since midway through the second, and the new pressure on Boston caused a turnover. Newly-minted Bruins killer Pat Maroon gets his third, and though the play was challenged as offsides, this counted, and he had his first hat trick in the NHL.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">BOSTON THREE PARTY! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EDMvsBOS?src=hash">#EDMvsBOS</a> <a href="https://t.co/pyFR9og2bw">pic.twitter.com/pyFR9og2bw</a></p>— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/817196398089277441">January 6, 2017</a>
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<p id="ACQRCm">Eric Gryba made a nasty knee-on-knee hit on Pastrnak, followed by a penalty to former Bruin Benoit Pouliot, but Pasta was on for the ensuing power plays so looks like he’s generally okay.</p>
<p id="Y2rs1h">Krejci tallied one just before the 5-on-3 expires, bringing the B’s to within one with another minute of PP time still remaining.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pastrnak gets the D moving, some things happen, and Krejci puts it behind Talbot<a href="https://t.co/4DohPdZDdY">https://t.co/4DohPdZDdY</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/817200674924621825">January 6, 2017</a>
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<p id="5WK88e">Unfortunately, that would do it. While the Bruins had several additional chances on the power play, and even carried momentum back to 5v5 once it ended, it was just not enough.</p>
<h3 id="XNcUPf">Observations</h3>
<p id="w2qK3u">The Bruins got scored on early, and recovered quickly. It looked as though the team woke up after the first Edmonton goal and stayed awake through the entire first period and into the second. What happened?</p>
<p id="cDcC2F">Once again, despite ample opportunities and a dominant possession performance against Edmonton, the Bruins just couldn’t put enough pucks past Cam Talbot. This is easy to say from the top of the Garden, but late in the game, it looked like rather than closing on loose pucks with their bodies and controlling them, the Bruins were trying to make quick, cute plays and this caused the damning turnovers that led to the final Edmonton goal and several squandered opportunities in the final minutes. Edmonton didn’t even ATTEMPT a shot in the last ten minutes of the third (OK, fine, three minutes of PK hampers that ability).</p>
<p id="NSuXVf">END THIS STUPID OFFSIDES REVIEW. Linesmen were getting the calls right most (I SAID MOST) of the time and the challenge by Claude was a waste of a timeout we could’ve used after Krejci’s goal.</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">¯\_(ツ)_/¯ <a href="https://t.co/fzBvg4IpQH">pic.twitter.com/fzBvg4IpQH</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/817198600539213824">January 6, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">2015: This is the most frustrating team ever.<br><br>2016: This is the most frustrating team ever.<br><br>2017: This is the most frustrating team ever.</p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/817203423493885952">January 6, 2017</a>
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https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/6/14184508/milt-schmidt-tribute-bruins-lose-oilers-chara-fights-maroonAdam Denhard2017-01-05T22:04:06-05:002017-01-05T22:04:06-05:00RANK ‘EM: Bruins lose to Oilers at home, 4-3
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<figcaption>Patrick Maroon haunted the Bruins tonight, scoring three goals. | Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A sloppy 3rd period leaves much to be desired.</p> <div id="CeU6wb">
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https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/5/14185744/ranker-bruins-oilers-maroon-mcdavidAdam Denhard2017-01-05T18:00:00-05:002017-01-05T18:00:00-05:00Gamethread: Oilers at Bruins
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<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Chat about the game here.</p> <p id="2RnhZz">Excited for this matchup?</p>
<p id="xdlMXP">What would YOU want off the Edmonton roster in exchange for Colin Miller?</p>
<p id="9K9EL6">Is YOUR New Year’s Hangover gone yet?</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/5/14178178/gamethread-oilers-at-bruins-mcdavid-lucic-rask-mcintyreAdam Denhard2017-01-05T14:02:50-05:002017-01-05T14:02:50-05:00Khudobin clears waivers
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<figcaption>A pending demotion should do Dobby some good. | Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>...and a path for Zane McIntyre to get called up again.</p> <p id="RyzFPF">Per Ty Anderson’s Twitter, backup goalie Anton Khudobin has cleared waivers.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big Bad Blog >> Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin clears waivers <a href="https://t.co/b2CNmngU5A">https://t.co/b2CNmngU5A</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/WEEI">@WEEI</a></p>— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) <a href="https://twitter.com/_TyAnderson/status/817067952746983424">January 5, 2017</a>
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<p id="92Vriu">Should only be a matter of time before Dobby goes down to Providence, and Zane McIntyre comes back to the NHL. He’s been lighting it up in the minors and has earned his next call-up, <a href="http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/5/14172246/time-for-zane-mcintyre-to-show-his-improvement-bruins-backup-goaltending-boston-nhl-ahl-pbruins">which should happen very soon</a>.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/5/14180002/khudobin-clears-waivers-zane-mcintyre-moments-awayAdam Denhard2017-01-05T13:50:58-05:002017-01-05T13:50:58-05:00UPDATE: David Backes continues to recover from concussion
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<figcaption>Backes is not yet ready to play. | Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Look for Vatrano to keep his spot on Krejci’s right.</p> <p id="c9QDcr">One less-than-favorable update following this morning’s practice is that David Backes, who seems to be close to recovered from a concussion, is not yet cleared to play in tonight’s game vs. the Oilers.</p>
<p id="RbAvI0">Check out this update and more from Caryn Switaj on Bruins’ Beat:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLBruins?src=hash">#NHLBruins</a> will be without David Backes when they host the Edmonton Oilers tonight at <a href="https://twitter.com/tdgarden">@tdgarden</a>.<br><br>Watch Bruins Beat: <a href="https://t.co/66sXq16RUr">pic.twitter.com/66sXq16RUr</a></p>— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/817075268124753920">January 5, 2017</a>
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https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/5/14179784/update-david-backes-continues-to-recover-from-concussionAdam Denhard2017-01-05T11:01:12-05:002017-01-05T11:01:12-05:00Oilers at Bruins - Projected Lines
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<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A game-day call-up for the Oilers and Khudobin on waivers gives a little less certainty to tonight’s lineups.</p> <p id="MJ9123">Per this morning’s tweets, here were the Bruins’ line rushes and defense on the ice:</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLBruins?src=hash">#NHLBruins</a> lines in AM skate: <br>Marchand—Bergeron—Pastrnak<br>Spooner—Krejci—Backes<br>Vatrano—Czarnik—Hayes<br>Schaller—Moore—Nash</p>— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/817033316947951616">January 5, 2017</a>
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<p lang="da" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLBruins?src=hash">#NHLBruins</a> defense in AM skate: <br>Chara—Carlo<br>Krug—McQuaid <br>K. Miller—C. Miller</p>— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/817033481553412096">January 5, 2017</a>
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<p id="p6q6t1">Extra info:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Liles, Morrow, Acciari, Blidh also on the ice for AM skate. Goalies: Rask, Khudobin.</p>— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/817033828149690368">January 5, 2017</a>
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<p id="9Je0kM">David Backes drew back into his somewhat-regular spot on Krejci’s right, and Vatrano rushed with the 3rd line. Depending on Backes’ health this morning, Vatrano may stay with Krejci and Ryan Spooner.</p>
<p id="7wMENQ">EDIT:<br></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Don't count on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLBruins?src=hash">#NHLBruins</a>' Backes just yet: AM skate over, he's doing extra skating w/Morrow, Liles, Acciari.</p>— Mike Loftus (@MLoftus_Ledger) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLoftus_Ledger/status/817040498791739392">January 5, 2017</a>
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<p id="VhCzLC"><strong>Confirmed; Backes is out.</strong></p>
<p id="nR7ZJt">We should expect Rask to make the start with a questionable backup in Anton Khudobin still on the roster (waived, though not yet through) and Zane McIntyre has yet to be called up. <a href="http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/5/14172246/time-for-zane-mcintyre-to-show-his-improvement-bruins-backup-goaltending-boston-nhl-ahl-pbruins">Sky says it’s time.</a></p>
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<p id="yojTo1">Per Edmonton’s official page, here were their forward rushes at practice yesterday, with a bit of a change on their right side up front.</p>
<p id="rNPAzb">Maroon - McDavid - Draisaitl</p>
<p id="czHl8n">Lucic - Nugent-Hopkins - Kassian</p>
<p id="SEizgy">Pouliot - Caggiula - Eberle</p>
<p id="0v3Wen">Lander - Letestu - Puljujärvi</p>
<p id="qWJSkU"><br>And, defense... from the Columbus game, expecting something pretty similar.</p>
<p id="Ri4NoW"><span><strong>Oscar Klefbom</strong></span> - <span><strong>Adam Larsson</strong></span></p>
<p id="TyE9xn"><span><strong>Andrej Sekera</strong></span> - <span><strong>Kris Russell</strong></span></p>
<p id="LGrXeq"><span><s><strong>Brandon Davidson</strong></s></span> - <span><strong>Matthew Benning</strong></span></p>
<p id="gKE898"><strong>UPDATE: Davidson is out sick. Look for Oesterle or Eric Gryba.</strong></p>
<p id="YlaDeF">Edmonton called up 24-year-old defenseman Jordan Oesterle this morning. Oesterle has 23 career NHL games over the last two seasons. </p>
<p id="IBKKGu">Going out on a limb and guessing that they play Jonas Gustavsson tonight, after he spent last season with the Bruins. He’s got some insider info on our shooters and schematics.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/5/14177136/bruins-lines-vs-edmonton-bruins-lineup-edmonton-oilers-milan-lucic-bruins-mcdavidAdam Denhard2017-01-05T06:00:01-05:002017-01-05T06:00:01-05:00Preview: Oilers at Bruins, 7:00PM EST
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<img alt="Boston forward Frank Vatrano rifles a shot at Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MZUASlUhc9Hi2aHbQo7DnZvcny0=/0x50:2908x1989/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52603487/usa-today-8997450.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Boston forward Frank Vatrano rifles a shot at Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot. | Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's the halfway point of the B's season. Can they ruin the reunion with some of their former players and staff?</p> <h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: inherit; font-family: " id="zKklt2">Just the facts:</h3>
<p><span>Who: the Edmonton Oilers (19-13-7, 45 points, 3rd in Pacific Division, 6th overall in West)<br></span>visit the <a style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #e3a228; transition: color 0.1s, background-color 0.1s, fill 0.1s; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; font-weight: 700;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a> (20-16-4, 44 points, 3rd in Atlantic, 8th in East)</p>
<p>What: A hockey game between two middle-of-the-pack teams.</p>
<p id="3rBRWg"><span>Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA: </span><a href="http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/4/14172490/charlie-mcavoy-world-juniors-bruins-prospects-america-live-free-or-die-usa-usa-usa" target="_blank">Home of Charlie McAvoy</a><span>.</span></p>
<p id="f2htLR"><span>When:</span> 7:00 PM (Eastern)</p>
<p id="WIsfEc"><span>How to follow:</span> NESN, TSN, 98.5 The Sports Hub</p>
<h5>Rival SBN Site: <a href="http://www.coppernblue.com/" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Copper and Blue</a>
</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Edmonton Leaders:</h4>
<p>Points: Connor McDavid, 43</p>
<p><span>Goals: McDavid and Leon Draisatl both have 14</span></p>
<p>Assists: McDavid, 29</p>
<p>Shots: McDavid, 114</p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Boston Leaders:</h4>
<p>Points: Brad Marchand, 31</p>
<p><span>Goals: David Pastrnak, 19</span></p>
<p>Assists: Marchand, 21; Torey Krug close behind with 20</p>
<p><span>Shots: Patrice Bergeron, 130</span></p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Boston Notes</h4>
<p>This is the 41st game for Boston this season, and they're dead even at 20-20 if you leave out the loser points. Fortunately, those loser points are keeping them a win ahead of the Lightning and the Leafs, who are both in our Division. Points are now at a premium.</p>
<p>David Backes skated yesterday, and John-Michael Liles is still skating, so we'll have to just wait and see when they make their return. They're both decent at what they do and it'd help out the Bruins offense quite a bit. That's the sad part about the leaderboards above; since my last game coverage, the 12/12 game in Montreal - ELEVEN GAMES AGO - Pastrnak gained just one goal and Marchand tallied 1-4--5. The bottom of the Boston roster has been keeping us afloat, and it's time for the big guns to step up.</p>
<p>Speaking of Top Guns, Bergeron has been pouring shots on net, and in the couple games before the embarrassing loss to New Jersey, he notched a pair of goals. He's gotta be pissed after Monday; look for Bratrice Pastrnak to be buzzing tonight.</p>
<p>The Oilers and Bruins are on pretty much the same trajectory - 8-9 vs. 7-8, respectively since the beginning of December; they're both 2-2 in their last four. That is, to say, treading water just poorly enough to sink a few inches.</p>
<h4>Edmonton Notes</h4>
<p>Chiarelli, Lucic, Ference (injured), and Benning (2012 6th rd pick, 175 overall, not signed) were all tied to Boston in recent membery. Chiarelli snagged one of his draftees off free agency. They'll probably all be in the building, but since Ference isn't playing and you're in the Garden, recycle your cups. Captain America won't tolerate that.</p>
<p>Darnell Nurse, Edmonton's promising young defenseman, was injured on December 1 and underwent surgery in mid-December on his ankle; he'll be out for about two more months (12 weeks total). This has hampered the Oilers' breakouts as they miss his his speed and snap passes through the neutral zone.</p>
<p>Copper and Blue made a case to trade for Colin Miller. What should they be willing to part with? <a href="http://www.coppernblue.com/2016/12/14/13958218/trade-for-this-guy-colin-miller">Don't find out</a> - they didn't pick something, and it doesn't come out in the comments. But, a positive spin on Chiller nonetheless. (Maybe we can come up with something?)</p>
<p>The Oilers had only six players above 50% CF in their last game, against Columbus. They're lucky they had any.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/1/5/14174862/preview-oilers-visit-bruins-lucic-chiarelli-return-to-bostonAdam Denhard