Trent Whitfield to the Rescue

"Say 'allo to...Trent Whitfield"

In response to the diagnosis of Savard's knee (out 2-3 weeks with a strain), Cload has called in the big gun from Providence: Trent Whitfield.

Trent Whitfield is an NHL veteran of 184 games, with 11-17-28 totals and 102 PIM. At 5'-11" and 204lbs, he is sure to be an equal replacement for Savard during even-strength and power play situations. So all you "nattering nabobs of negativism" out there who think that the Bruins are finished, I urge you to reconsider based on the hefty resume of Whitfield.

Deal with Satan

The Bruins were outclassed last night by the Blackhawks and lost, 5-2. Goals by Satan (result of a hustling forecheck by Wheels) and Wheels. Cload pulled Timmy in the 2nd period after he let in a floater from the blue line. After then, Chicago just laid back and toyed with the Bruins. Last night we witnessed the cold efficiency of what is probably this year's Stanley Cup champ.
Marc Savard, on his first shift, just 28 seconds into the game, hurt his knee. MRI is being conducted this morning, but it can't be good.
random crap

• We're not totally sure, but we're sure enough, that Row 10 (who left early again) loudly expressed his wish for Wheels to get AIDS. Now Wheels has been the object of 311's ire the past few months, but we've never gone as far as wishing for him to get sick.
• Hunwick was HORRIBLE. He was fighting himself and fighting the puck.
• Andy McQuaid was out of his element, he needs to get back down to Providence soon.
• Compare with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook - arguably the league's top defense pair. Both were +4 last night.
  
• Byfuglien ("BUFF-lin") and Toews ("TAVES")? 311 hasn't encountered messed up names like this since Stan Neckar (NETS-cash) back in the late 90's.
  

Nice Win.

"Worship Satan" noted one brave View from 311 commenter. Perhaps we should get our pentagram tattoos ready and listen to some Slayer. In his Bruins debut, called into action earlier than expected due to Bergeron's broken thumb (out for 2 weeks), Miroslav Satan was a +2 in 14:06 of ice time. Perhaps Satan's presence had an effect on Wheels, who scored 2 goals and had an assist. Thomas was solid in net.
Also, Team USA beat Canada yesterday twice: in the Under-17 tournament (2-1 win over Canada in Timmins, ON), and in the World Juniors (6-5 OT win in Saskatoon, SK). Hey Canada, at least you still have curling. For now.

ARRRGH!!

"Skate!!"

So yet again, the Bruins manage to sleepwalk thru another game. There was a glimmer of hope, as the B's tied it up late in the 3rd period on a Blake Wheeler (!) goal. But for the remainder of the game, they played for the tie, and got burned by ex-Hab Christopher Higgins. So they lost, 3-2. Other goal was by Hunwick. Also, to add to the suckage of last night's game, Bergeron took a shot off the hand and is out for tonight's game vs. Ottawa. He's probably got a broken finger and gone for 4 weeks, knowing our luck. Cload was pretty pissed about their lackluster performance, according to this morning's Globe, so maybe they'll respond tonight.

B's Sign Satan

Bruins signed 35-year old Miroslav Satan to a prorated contract of $700K ($350K cap hit). Clearly, this means bench time for Bitz/Ryder/Wheels/Sobotka. According to what KPD has written, Satan & Chara (both Slovaks) are BFFs.

Quick, non-expert analysis: a proven power play scorer, hopefully he will give a little spark to the team. He doesn't seem to get injured a lot, and took getting demoted last year in Pittsburgh pretty well. This isn't the 1999 version of Satan, so I'm not expecting too much. He played for a bit with the Islanders, look for Mike Milbury to have something to say about this.

Winter Classic, etc.

Bobby Clarke and Bobby Orr meet up at center ice before the game.

Phew! Who isn't hockeyed out after the past few days' events, huh?

So in case you haven't heard, a few hockey games were played at Fenway. The first one was the Winter Classic, where the Bruins pulled it together in the final minutes to eke out a 2-1 OT win. Then Saturday featured the Legends Classic where Jay Miller displayed his nascent sniper abilities and scored a hat trick. Not occuring at Fenway, but equally entertaining has been the World Junior Championships - USA losing to the Hosers 5-4 in a shootout on New Year's Eve, then USA beating the Finns, then last night beating the Swedes. If you like fast, crazy-skilled hockey, check out the World Juniors. USA plays Canada for the gold tomorrow night at 8pm on the NHL Network.
Winter Classic random crap

• TOO MANY FLYERS FANS. What a bunch of rubes. I was half-expecting them to throw batteries on the ice when the B's scored.
  
• SCOTT HARTNELL. This guy is right up there with Avery as far as being an on-ice punk. His hair is obnoxious, he looks like Carrot Top out there. Lootch needs to come back so the B's won't get pushed around anymore.
• SHUT UP, we know that "it's like being a kid again" after seeing the footage/hype of the previous outdoor games.
• I can't believe they played "Sweet Caroline", the whole tradition at Sox games blows my mind, but there are those who say it galvanized the Bruins into scoring the goal, so my new fear is that they'll play this at the FleetGarden after Lootch beatdowns instead of "Seek & Destroy".
• That B-2 Stealth flyover was something else. You expect flyovers to be all loud and stuff, and this thing was quiet as a mouse. Definitely a "holy shit" moment.
• You call that "hot chocolate"???? Dude, it was brown water. HORRIBLE.
  

Legends Classic random crap

• How nice was it to see Cam Neely skating again?
• Charlie Jacobs scored a goal. As you would expect, the guy's 145lbs soaking wet, holding an anvil, so it's no surprise that Tom Werner (yes, that Tom Werner) beat him down in a "fight".
• Cload was out there, playing "defense".
• Middleton was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked down. He beat Peter Farrelly five-hole.
• Farrelly was actually pretty good in net. Not just a connoisseur of dick 'n fart jokes, that Farrelly. He got the MVP of the game.
• The attendance for this event was pretty good. The bleachers were kind of empty, but the Field Boxes & Grandstands were decently packed.
• Jack Edwards and some other guy did the play-by-play, which was broadcast over the Fenway PA.