I left out #11 in the last post. Ran out of time this morning. So here's that recap with another from late this afternoon.
November 5, 1995 Bruins @ Blackhawks
The action started early as Kevin Stevens got to work hammering Joe Murphy and rendering him useless for 3 games. (The game just gives J. Murphy when the injury occured. I had to go check to make sure it wasn't our goateed friend from the infamous Montreal Radio Show incident at Sully's during the playoffs.) A great first period ensued with many chances for both teams. The B's cashed in first with Dave Reid netting his first of the year, from Leach and Potvin, half way through the first.
Bernie Nicholls then struck for the Hawks to tie it up (unassisted) early in the 2nd period. Bob Probert then bit off a little more than he could chew when Marc Potvin eeked out the win in a looooong long bout. (P.S. haven't lost a fight yet in this game). B's then proceed to get a powerplay, not sure who or how, but of course proceed to blow it by letting in a shorty from Steve Smith. Tony Amonte then extended the Hawks lead to 3-1 unassited with just 47 seconds left in the 2nd.
To open the third, Lacher continued his leaky ways by allowing a Sergei Krivokrasv slapper by to make it a 4-1 Chicago lead. A minute and a half later the checking line had seen enough. Dave Reid produces again with a backhander to beat Eddie Belfour, from Rohloff and Zombo. 40 seconds later Todd Elik chips in to slim the lead to one (assisted by Oates). Oates then ties it up at 4, returning the favor on the assist was Mr. Elik. In a strange sequnence Alexei Kasatonov and Don Sweeney both injure Tony Amonte and Steve Smith for 3 games respectively. Three Hawks gone for three games by three different Bruins. With just 1:45 remaining the Bruins conjure up some more 3rd line magic as Marc Potvin drills the go ahead goal past Belfour. However 40 seconds later Chris Chelios ties up the game for good. An uneventful overtime leads to the first Bruins tie of the season. Oates, Reid, and Potvin are the three stars. Outshot one more time 48-30.
League News: St. Louis trades Pat Jablonski to Montreal for J.J. Daigneault.
November 7, 1995 Senators @ Bruins
So I figured Blaine Lacher has played 19 games in a row at this point and his last two games he's let in 9 goals. Not like the typical Lacher we've seen so far, unless the game knows how the wheels come off in reality. So playing a 3-12-2 team at home I decided to give Lacher a rest and go with good ol' Vincent Riendeau. Two early goals from Don Sweeney and Ray Bourque made it look like this was going to be a piece of cake. More like a piece of caked dog crap. The Sens crawled back into this one with a penalty shot goal and a beautiful one timer from Tom Chorske and Sean Hill respectively. Kevin Stevens got his record to 10-0 in the mean time by defeating Stan Neckar in easy fashion. The boys came back in the third with Bourque's second and a Stevens tally to squeeze out the 4-2 win. Bourque, Stevens and Chorske are the stars.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
11 Straight Unbeaten For The Black and Gold
October 29, 1995
The B's swept into Buffalo looking to continue the streak to 9 wins in a row. With a Ray Bourque one-timer from Don Sweeney in the first 43 seconds, we had a pretty good idea how this one would play out. Two goals from Joe Mullen, and one each from Todd Elik, Adam Oates, Ted Donato, and Shawn McEachern ensured the victory in a very comfortable fashion. Of course Kevin Stevens continued his dominance in the ring thumping Jason Dawe in the second period. Blaine Lacher made 44 saves in this one. Mullen, Oates, Elik are the three stars.
League News: St. Louis acquired a 3rd round pick from New Jersey for forward Esa Tikkanen.
Also, Calgary acquired Claude Lapointe from the Avadiques (COL/QUE) for a 7th round choice. (That 7th round choice turned out to be Sami Pahlsson by the way)
November 3, 1995 Bruins @ Penguins.
This game had it all. We kicked it off with Alexei Kasatonov scoring on Blaine Lacher, totally my bad but I'm still not as bad at this game as Mark Mowers is at real hockey. (We've had this blog a month and I can't believe that was my first Mark Mowers joke.) Kasatonov rebounds and threads a sweet pass to Ted Donato a few seconds later to tie her up at 1. It was a real back and forth game for the next period and a half. Stevens takes out Sergei Zubov for the game, then Luc Robitaille gets the Pens up 2-1. B's fire right back, Jozef Stumpel rockets one from the top of the circle from Rob Zombie, I mean, Rick Zombo. Todd Elik then makes it 3-2 B's from Oates and Don Sweeney. Then a 4-2 lead provided by Kevin Stevens who banked a rebound left by Tom Barrasso after a Bourque blast. John Rohloff then takes his golden gloves record to 3-0 by walloping Francois Leroux in a no contest bout. A weird sequence at the end of the second saw a delayed penalty on Oates for a trip, the Pens score (MacIver) and Oates still goes to the box. Then on the ensuing powerplay Mikko Makela drops in to tie the game at 4. All Bruins from here on out. Joe Mullen nets a pair for the 2nd game in a row. Neely and Donato (his second) also had goals late. Mullen, Donato, Stumpel are the three stars. B's outshot again 49-34.
Another post coming tonight. Maybe the best game of the year.....
The B's swept into Buffalo looking to continue the streak to 9 wins in a row. With a Ray Bourque one-timer from Don Sweeney in the first 43 seconds, we had a pretty good idea how this one would play out. Two goals from Joe Mullen, and one each from Todd Elik, Adam Oates, Ted Donato, and Shawn McEachern ensured the victory in a very comfortable fashion. Of course Kevin Stevens continued his dominance in the ring thumping Jason Dawe in the second period. Blaine Lacher made 44 saves in this one. Mullen, Oates, Elik are the three stars.
League News: St. Louis acquired a 3rd round pick from New Jersey for forward Esa Tikkanen.
Also, Calgary acquired Claude Lapointe from the Avadiques (COL/QUE) for a 7th round choice. (That 7th round choice turned out to be Sami Pahlsson by the way)
November 3, 1995 Bruins @ Penguins.
This game had it all. We kicked it off with Alexei Kasatonov scoring on Blaine Lacher, totally my bad but I'm still not as bad at this game as Mark Mowers is at real hockey. (We've had this blog a month and I can't believe that was my first Mark Mowers joke.) Kasatonov rebounds and threads a sweet pass to Ted Donato a few seconds later to tie her up at 1. It was a real back and forth game for the next period and a half. Stevens takes out Sergei Zubov for the game, then Luc Robitaille gets the Pens up 2-1. B's fire right back, Jozef Stumpel rockets one from the top of the circle from Rob Zombie, I mean, Rick Zombo. Todd Elik then makes it 3-2 B's from Oates and Don Sweeney. Then a 4-2 lead provided by Kevin Stevens who banked a rebound left by Tom Barrasso after a Bourque blast. John Rohloff then takes his golden gloves record to 3-0 by walloping Francois Leroux in a no contest bout. A weird sequence at the end of the second saw a delayed penalty on Oates for a trip, the Pens score (MacIver) and Oates still goes to the box. Then on the ensuing powerplay Mikko Makela drops in to tie the game at 4. All Bruins from here on out. Joe Mullen nets a pair for the 2nd game in a row. Neely and Donato (his second) also had goals late. Mullen, Donato, Stumpel are the three stars. B's outshot again 49-34.
Another post coming tonight. Maybe the best game of the year.....
Monday, July 27, 2009
Boston Makes It 8 In A Row
October 22, 1995 Flames @ Bruins
Let's hear it one more time (because we're so used to it at this point), nothing happens in the first period. I think I've figured out that if I don't play for awhile it takes about one period for me to get used to the game again. Then the flood gates open in the second and third. Actually we had a little injury action as Alexei Kasatonov gets railed by Trent Yawney and we lose him for the period. Now I've seen someone injured for multiple games yet it hasn't happened to our boys yet (fingers crossed).
Jumping to the second period, off the face off to open the second, Kevin Stevens gets into his comfort zone by pounding the bejesus out of Gary Roberts. Thank the good lord there is no instigator rule in the game, Stevens is pretty hot right now. The game does 4 on 4 for matching fighting penalties, which baffles me to no end. Also I believe this is some of the reason Neely doesn't produce more. Neely is a right winger and when it's 4 on 4 they send the left winger and the center for all lines. Makes no sense, and pisses me off a little. Might just have to play Cam at left for a while. After some 4 on 4, Marc Potvin checks in with a tally from Stevens fresh out of the box and Lacher. Potvin in his 3rd game of the season now has 2 goals and a fight, not bad for the worst rated player on the team. Exactly one minute later Stevens continues the hot streak with a goal assisted by Bourque and Lacher. (Another thing that grinds my gears. The game doesn't tally goalie's points. I'm fairly certain Lacher would be the points leader if this were so.) Two minutes after that score, the B's get another big opportunity. Theo Fluery decides to trip Todd Elik whilst on a breakaway. This game with it's affection for the penalty shot gives Elik the chance and he burys the thing on Tabbaraci. My first penalty shot goal, I was thrilled to say the least.
Defensive hockey from here on out for the B's. However it broke down and we blew the shutout again as Gary Roberts netted one at 7:55 of the 3rd. The B's closed out the 3-1 win with Stevens, Roberts and Potvin as your three stars. Outshot again 39-34 by the Flames.
League News:
Detroit traded Ray Sheppard to the San Jose Sharks for Igor Larionov and a conditional pick.
Also, Quebec (Colorado) traded Owen Nolan to the Sharks for defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh.
October 27, 1995 Bruins @ Montreal
The B's kick off a 4 game road trip for the first time it seems like in forever. We visit the Habs for some revenge from that 1-0 home opening loss. The first period provided some results this time at 5:20 in Todd Elik, who seems to be on a little hot streak of his own, drills one home assisted by McEachern and Kasatonov. Exactly nine seconds later Steve Leach gets on the board for the first time this season assisted by Jozef Stumpel.
Not much from the second period this time, only Lyle Odelein being Lyle Odelein. John Rohloff decided enough was enough I guess. Rohloff tuned up Odelein in a long bout. Odelein is a monumental d-bag but I will give him credit for his ability to take a punch.
More defensive minded hockey for the B's in the 3rd period. Teddy Donato did extend the lead to three late in the third with an unassisted blast from the blue line. The boys held onto this shutout for Blaine who made 42 saves in the contest. Donato, Elik and Leach are you stars of the game.
On a real Bruins note I'd just like to add that I personally am going to miss the hell out of P.J. Axelsson. Never an All-Star, never an award for the guy. But dammit he was reliable, consistent, and a first class gentleman. I hope he does very well in his home country and maybe we'll get to see him come Olympics time. That'll probably be the last guy we'll ever see begin and end his NHL career with the Bruins and I'm thrilled that I got to see him play. (P.S. Derek Morris, wtf?)
Let's hear it one more time (because we're so used to it at this point), nothing happens in the first period. I think I've figured out that if I don't play for awhile it takes about one period for me to get used to the game again. Then the flood gates open in the second and third. Actually we had a little injury action as Alexei Kasatonov gets railed by Trent Yawney and we lose him for the period. Now I've seen someone injured for multiple games yet it hasn't happened to our boys yet (fingers crossed).
Jumping to the second period, off the face off to open the second, Kevin Stevens gets into his comfort zone by pounding the bejesus out of Gary Roberts. Thank the good lord there is no instigator rule in the game, Stevens is pretty hot right now. The game does 4 on 4 for matching fighting penalties, which baffles me to no end. Also I believe this is some of the reason Neely doesn't produce more. Neely is a right winger and when it's 4 on 4 they send the left winger and the center for all lines. Makes no sense, and pisses me off a little. Might just have to play Cam at left for a while. After some 4 on 4, Marc Potvin checks in with a tally from Stevens fresh out of the box and Lacher. Potvin in his 3rd game of the season now has 2 goals and a fight, not bad for the worst rated player on the team. Exactly one minute later Stevens continues the hot streak with a goal assisted by Bourque and Lacher. (Another thing that grinds my gears. The game doesn't tally goalie's points. I'm fairly certain Lacher would be the points leader if this were so.) Two minutes after that score, the B's get another big opportunity. Theo Fluery decides to trip Todd Elik whilst on a breakaway. This game with it's affection for the penalty shot gives Elik the chance and he burys the thing on Tabbaraci. My first penalty shot goal, I was thrilled to say the least.
Defensive hockey from here on out for the B's. However it broke down and we blew the shutout again as Gary Roberts netted one at 7:55 of the 3rd. The B's closed out the 3-1 win with Stevens, Roberts and Potvin as your three stars. Outshot again 39-34 by the Flames.
League News:
Detroit traded Ray Sheppard to the San Jose Sharks for Igor Larionov and a conditional pick.
Also, Quebec (Colorado) traded Owen Nolan to the Sharks for defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh.
October 27, 1995 Bruins @ Montreal
The B's kick off a 4 game road trip for the first time it seems like in forever. We visit the Habs for some revenge from that 1-0 home opening loss. The first period provided some results this time at 5:20 in Todd Elik, who seems to be on a little hot streak of his own, drills one home assisted by McEachern and Kasatonov. Exactly nine seconds later Steve Leach gets on the board for the first time this season assisted by Jozef Stumpel.
Not much from the second period this time, only Lyle Odelein being Lyle Odelein. John Rohloff decided enough was enough I guess. Rohloff tuned up Odelein in a long bout. Odelein is a monumental d-bag but I will give him credit for his ability to take a punch.
More defensive minded hockey for the B's in the 3rd period. Teddy Donato did extend the lead to three late in the third with an unassisted blast from the blue line. The boys held onto this shutout for Blaine who made 42 saves in the contest. Donato, Elik and Leach are you stars of the game.
On a real Bruins note I'd just like to add that I personally am going to miss the hell out of P.J. Axelsson. Never an All-Star, never an award for the guy. But dammit he was reliable, consistent, and a first class gentleman. I hope he does very well in his home country and maybe we'll get to see him come Olympics time. That'll probably be the last guy we'll ever see begin and end his NHL career with the Bruins and I'm thrilled that I got to see him play. (P.S. Derek Morris, wtf?)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
'95-'96 Bruins Beatdown Western Conference Foes
Sorry I haven't updated in a few days, been kinda busy, work, weddings, road trips and stuff. So here's just a snapshot at what happened earlier this week (kinda short recaps as it is not fresh in my mind).
Oct 15th Kings @ Bruins
Gretzky and Co. stopped by the Fleet looking to take first place in the Pacific division. Unfortunately for the Kings, Cam Neely is healthy. That's all the B's needed. Weird side note, Kevin Stevens of course got into it, but this time with an opponent that will later be come very familiar. Rick Tocchet didn't stand a chance, but we'll see if they meet again sometime.
1st Period
BOS- 4:20 Cam Neely unassisted
2nd Period
LA-1:30 Granato assisted by Kurri and Hrudey
BOS- 2:37 John Rohloff assisted by Heinze
Fight- 2:47 Stevens def. Tocchet
BOS- 3:09 Shawn McEachern unassisted
BOS- 7:20 Joe Mullen unassisted
3rd Period
BOS- 4:35 Neely assisted by Kasatonov and Lacher
BOS- 9:26 Neely assisted by Gruden and Lacher
Neely, Mullen, and McEachern are the three stars in the 6-1 win.
October 17th The Washington Capitals trade Defenseman Igor Ulanov for a 3rd round draft pick from the Chicago Blackhawks.
October 19th Canucks @ Bruins
The Pacific division leading Cauncks were next to face the Bruins wrath and it was a pretty good back and forth hockey game.
1st Period
VAN- 1:22 Jeff Brown assisted by Bure
BOS- 3:45 Ray Bourque assisted by Stevens (Sweet give and go play)
2nd Period
BOS- 1:43 Shawn McEachern unassisted.
BOS- 5:07 Bourque assisted by Neely and Stevens
3rd Period
BOS- 0:39 Adam Oates assisted by Lacher
Fight- Stevens def. Dan Murzyn (WHO???)
BOS- 6:01 Todd Elik assisted by Kasatonov
Bourque, Stevens and Jeff Brown are the three stars, B's win 5-1. Better game than the score represents.
October 21st Oilers @ Bruins.
The Oilers came to town next with high hopes, but were just lucky to get out alive. A weird sequence in the second half in the first had Bourque, Stevens, and Neely all get double minors for roughing in the same minute. A 5-3 on three penalty until very late in the 1st allowed me Oates, Sweeney, Kasatonov, and Gruden for the kill. This almost feels like redemption for the Stanley Cup Finals losses. Hey, I said almost, I haven't really lost my mind.
1st Period
BOS- 1:27 Adam Oates assisted by Stevens and D. Sweeney
BOS- 4:03 Ray Bourque assited by Lacher
2nd Period
BOS- 6:03 Oates unassisted.
Fight- 6:13 John Rohloff defeats Jason Arnott
BOS- 6:50 Marc Potvin assisted by Lacher
BOS- 8:35 Todd Elik from Kasatonov and Lacher
BOS- 8:56 Shawn McEachern from Lacher
3rd Period
BOS- 1:04 Oates unassisted (Hat Trick)
BOS- 4:45 Joe Mullen from Lacher and Zombo
BOS- 5:06 Don Sweeney from Stevens
EDM- 8:48 Oliver unassisted
Oates, Sweeney, Stevens are your three stars in the 9-1 Bruins win. Funny story, I was outshot again 40-33.
League Update through 10 games (Bruins 8-2).
Division Leaders: Pacific- Vancouver, Central- Detroit, Atlantic- Washington, Northeast- Boston
Goals- 9 Paul Coffey DET. Tied for 3rd are Oates and McEachern with 7 each.
Assists- 14 Michael Pivonka WAS.
Points- 20 Paul Coffey DET.
GAA- 1.00 Mike Vernon DET. Lacher in 4th with a 1.40.
Oct 15th Kings @ Bruins
Gretzky and Co. stopped by the Fleet looking to take first place in the Pacific division. Unfortunately for the Kings, Cam Neely is healthy. That's all the B's needed. Weird side note, Kevin Stevens of course got into it, but this time with an opponent that will later be come very familiar. Rick Tocchet didn't stand a chance, but we'll see if they meet again sometime.
1st Period
BOS- 4:20 Cam Neely unassisted
2nd Period
LA-1:30 Granato assisted by Kurri and Hrudey
BOS- 2:37 John Rohloff assisted by Heinze
Fight- 2:47 Stevens def. Tocchet
BOS- 3:09 Shawn McEachern unassisted
BOS- 7:20 Joe Mullen unassisted
3rd Period
BOS- 4:35 Neely assisted by Kasatonov and Lacher
BOS- 9:26 Neely assisted by Gruden and Lacher
Neely, Mullen, and McEachern are the three stars in the 6-1 win.
October 17th The Washington Capitals trade Defenseman Igor Ulanov for a 3rd round draft pick from the Chicago Blackhawks.
October 19th Canucks @ Bruins
The Pacific division leading Cauncks were next to face the Bruins wrath and it was a pretty good back and forth hockey game.
1st Period
VAN- 1:22 Jeff Brown assisted by Bure
BOS- 3:45 Ray Bourque assisted by Stevens (Sweet give and go play)
2nd Period
BOS- 1:43 Shawn McEachern unassisted.
BOS- 5:07 Bourque assisted by Neely and Stevens
3rd Period
BOS- 0:39 Adam Oates assisted by Lacher
Fight- Stevens def. Dan Murzyn (WHO???)
BOS- 6:01 Todd Elik assisted by Kasatonov
Bourque, Stevens and Jeff Brown are the three stars, B's win 5-1. Better game than the score represents.
October 21st Oilers @ Bruins.
The Oilers came to town next with high hopes, but were just lucky to get out alive. A weird sequence in the second half in the first had Bourque, Stevens, and Neely all get double minors for roughing in the same minute. A 5-3 on three penalty until very late in the 1st allowed me Oates, Sweeney, Kasatonov, and Gruden for the kill. This almost feels like redemption for the Stanley Cup Finals losses. Hey, I said almost, I haven't really lost my mind.
1st Period
BOS- 1:27 Adam Oates assisted by Stevens and D. Sweeney
BOS- 4:03 Ray Bourque assited by Lacher
2nd Period
BOS- 6:03 Oates unassisted.
Fight- 6:13 John Rohloff defeats Jason Arnott
BOS- 6:50 Marc Potvin assisted by Lacher
BOS- 8:35 Todd Elik from Kasatonov and Lacher
BOS- 8:56 Shawn McEachern from Lacher
3rd Period
BOS- 1:04 Oates unassisted (Hat Trick)
BOS- 4:45 Joe Mullen from Lacher and Zombo
BOS- 5:06 Don Sweeney from Stevens
EDM- 8:48 Oliver unassisted
Oates, Sweeney, Stevens are your three stars in the 9-1 Bruins win. Funny story, I was outshot again 40-33.
League Update through 10 games (Bruins 8-2).
Division Leaders: Pacific- Vancouver, Central- Detroit, Atlantic- Washington, Northeast- Boston
Goals- 9 Paul Coffey DET. Tied for 3rd are Oates and McEachern with 7 each.
Assists- 14 Michael Pivonka WAS.
Points- 20 Paul Coffey DET.
GAA- 1.00 Mike Vernon DET. Lacher in 4th with a 1.40.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Post-Ward Speculation
First WBCN announces they are shutting down, then Aaron Ward, a WBCN regular, gets shipped out of town as well. Here’s what this does to the cap (at least I think these are the rules according to NHLSCAP.com). The B’s had approximately $2.85M of cap space before this and Aaron Ward’s contract was a $2.5M cap hit. Patrick Eaves has this year at $1.4M and next year at $1.7M remaining on his contract. The B’s would be responsible for a third of this $3.1M spread over four years which is only about $258K per season. The net result of all this is the B’s have $5.1M in cap space and only 5 defenseman plus Johnny Boychuk signed. This makes you think Chiarelli has a trade up his sleeve for a puck-moving defenseman with a good-sized contract. For the sake of argument I looked only at the Western Conference for possible trading partners since I doubt the B’s want to send him to an Eastern Conference rival. Here are the possibilities I came up with:
John Michael Liles (COL) – cap hit $4.2M
Brent Burns (MIN) - $3.55M
Kevin Bieksa (VAN) - $3.75M
Tom Gilbert (EDM) - $4M
Ryan Whitney (ANA) - $4M
Marc-Edouard Vlasic (SJS) - $3.1M
The first four on the list seem most likely as all four of these teams could use help up front. Anaheim and San Jose already have offensive weapons on the roster, but stranger things have happened.
I guess it is also possible they just want to sign Phil, but what would that mean for the Bruins backline. What happens when Ference or anyone else gets injured again? This has got to mean they are looking to acquire someone on defense. Don’t forget they could also sign Phil and trade some other forward for blueline help. I wonder how long they will make us agonize over this one???
John Michael Liles (COL) – cap hit $4.2M
Brent Burns (MIN) - $3.55M
Kevin Bieksa (VAN) - $3.75M
Tom Gilbert (EDM) - $4M
Ryan Whitney (ANA) - $4M
Marc-Edouard Vlasic (SJS) - $3.1M
The first four on the list seem most likely as all four of these teams could use help up front. Anaheim and San Jose already have offensive weapons on the roster, but stranger things have happened.
I guess it is also possible they just want to sign Phil, but what would that mean for the Bruins backline. What happens when Ference or anyone else gets injured again? This has got to mean they are looking to acquire someone on defense. Don’t forget they could also sign Phil and trade some other forward for blueline help. I wonder how long they will make us agonize over this one???
Bye Bye Ward....
You will be missed...On and off ice, you always gave it your all...
http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/extras/bruins_blog/
69 Days...
Until opening night. The Red Sox are falling apart. Lance was just too old to pull off the Tour De France. Yes, I've been watching the Tour De France. Maybe because it's on Vs. and I tune in hoping to see hockey. There's only so many Classic Series I can watch on the NHL Network. Hockey season can't get here fast enough...
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