Live from Goonblog HQ in Acton, MA! It’s the Canadiens and Flyers! Game three should be a dandy. MOL is at the germ factory, and I am at home enjoying my leftover chicken noodle soup from the Chang An in Concord. It’s delicious. Usually, it’s a little bland, but I doctored it with some salt, pepper, and some red pepper flakes. It’s given it quite a zip. In past times when un-supervised, I would have been at the Gin Mill until it was time to report home and pretend I wasn’t holed up drinking for about 4 hours. Alas, I have given up the sauce, and that’s what brings me to tonight’s game.

The Habs series has a real old time hockey feel going to it, for a couple of reasons.
1. The Flyers are the dirtiest team ever. Always have been.
2. Tom Kostopoulos is a bitch, and threw a sucker punch at a Flyer the other night after the oft suspended team scored.

I do not like either of these teams at all. In fact, I hate them both. As a lifelong Bruins fan both has been a thorn in my side at one point or another. I guess if you made me pick who I want to win, I’d say Philadelphia, but honestly, I just want to see some rough old time playoff hockey. I think we may see that tonight in the “City of Brotherly Love.” It’s all tied up 1-1, and TK’s cheap shot has blood boiling. If I am the Flyers coach, I start Steve Downie, and if I am Montreal’s coach, Kostopoulos has to do his dirty work and have a go right off the hop tonight. If they don’t settle this like men right away, and I am a Flyer, I am running Saku Koivu and Alexi Kovalev all night. Both teams’ websites, here, and here, are hyping the bad blood. Hopefully everyone is all riled up. I’ll be here enjoying my soup and a few Pink Lemonades….stupid no drinking…..

We’d like to apologize for all of the downtime recently, kids. The truth is, the site got hacked worse than that bathroom door at the end of The Shining, and it took a while to get things ship shape and secure. We’ve upgraded the content management software version, changed all of our passwords and put out a hit on whatever 13-year-old Korean miscreant was responsible for making our lives miserable. In case anyone was wondering.

I happened to be searching Google the other day for some enforcer news. What can I say, I have little life. Anyway, I put in Gordie Dwyer, and up popped this article. I thought it a giant stroke of luck that the very day I go looking for enforcer news is the day this article got posted. It’s like Gordie and I are on some weird wave length. I swear, I’m not mental.

I think the part about him opting to play in Europe over the AHL is interesting. I know in speaking to him a few years ago while with the Lockmonsters, he seemed very apathetic about fighting in the “A”, and it seems now he’s content to make more money and play a less physical style in Europe. Honestly, I can’t say I blame him. He’s got two kids and a wife to think about, plus it’s not like he’s some 19 year old kid trying to prove himself. I got a chance to speak to him in Lowell when he came in with Portland this season, and he was commenting on how much he and the family enjoyed it over in Sweden the previous year. His skating ability and willingness to crash the net helps him out overseas as well. Anyway, I thought the article was a good read, and wanted to wish Gordie Continued success in the future. I’d love to see him back in North America, preferably in a Lowell Devils sweater?

Here is a cool brawl from Gordie’s days with Lowell. He can be seen tryingto keep the peace….to no avail….

If you had told me the Bruins were taking Montreal to seven games when the series started, I would have called you a damn dirty liar. Anyone that saw game one would agree. It was so bad; I thought maybe just asking the NHL if they could concede the series then and there wouldn’t have been a bad idea. Hell, they were in a 2-0 hole before 5 minutes had elapsed in the seven game series. For those of you new to hockey and Earth for that matter, that is bad. It didn’t get much better from there. Boston was flat, and looked soundly overmatched. After all, this was Montreal. A team they had lost all eight regular season games to. They weren’t supposed to be in it.

Game two was a bit different. The Bruins had to come out and play a better game than they had in game one. Honestly, short of maybe one of the Bruins having a nervous breakdown and doing a Ned Braden strip tease, game one couldn’t have been worse, so outplaying themselves in game two shouldn’t have been an issue. As it turns out, Boston did play much better, and stayed with the Canadiens. While they lost in overtime, they played a vastly superior one to the egg they laid two nights before. I think maybe if they weren’t in Montreal, and some of the calls that always go Montreal’s way hadn’t been called, maybe things may have been different. Alas, one can’t blame the referees because in the end, the players need to make the plays. The Habs made more, and sent Boston back home up 2-0.

Game three was a do or die situation for the beloved Bruins. I detailed the day here, but I must say again, the mood was electric in Boston. It really felt like hockey was back in Beantown, or at least, thinking of coming back. Boston played very well in game three, especially goaltender Tim Thomas. He saved their bacon a few times, and the boys rewarded him with a big OT win. Had Boston lost that game, it would have been over right then and there. Sure there would have been another game to play, but it wouldn’t have mattered.

With it being a series now, Boston played a very strong game, but lost 1-0 in game four. It was a back and forth affair, and had it not been for some superior goaltending by the very impressive Carey Price, Boston could have made the series 2-2 heading back to Canada. Unfortunately, they didn’t and they headed back up North down 3-1.

The fifth game of the series was when the black and gold faithful really started to believe the Bruins had a chance in the series. At least I did. These guys just wouldn’t go away. Boston outplayed Montreal soundly, and got timely scoring for a change. Phil Kessel’s tally off the rebound was a dandy, and proof to Coach Julien that he got the message from the three game rest. The previously unflappable Carey Price looked rattled, and showed a chink in the armor. Boston had avoided the reaper’s grasp and would come home for game six at the Garden.

How to describe game six to someone that wasn’t there? Imagine if you will its Christmas, and you really want the Millennium Falcon. Before you can get to that though, you get a new bike, a wicked cool Atari system, some really cool Legos, and then finally the Falcon. That’s game six. It was the best hockey game I have ever been to in my life. Boston just wouldn’t go away. They kept coming, and we all believed. When Marco Sturm scored the fifth goal to win it on a beautiful wait-wait-wait play the Garden went CRAZY. I have never heard sound like that before. Pure unbridled joy for the 17,000 faithful.

All of these games had me believing Boston would win it all last night, and for the first 30 minutes of the game, I thought for sure they would. With the exception of the misdirected goal Montreal scored, Boston controlled that game. They were buzzing and making plays all over the ice. Again Carey Price was superb and kept them at bay. In the end, Boston ran out of steam, and Montreal’s superior talent took over. The 5-0 is not a good gauge of how Boston played, but the scoreboard doesn’t say 5-0* the other team played really well.

So the Bruins season is over. While I am sad, I must say, I really enjoyed this year. Marc Savard is so fun to watch. He is a magician when passing the puck. Phil Kessel really improved this season. Shawn Thornton had a superb second half in the fight department. After a slow start, he had some great bouts after the All Star break. And how about Milan Lucic? Who saw this kid coming? He is a God in Boston right now, and will continue to be a fan favorite for years to come.

Some final notes on the series.

1. The NHL has to do something about the amount of diving penalties Montreal took. Maybe make diving a non releasable 2 minute minor? It was getting re god damned diculos after a while.

2. The Habs fans chanting “Go Habs, Go!” during the National Anthem last night should be ashamed of themselves. I know you are passionate about your team and all, but that was a fucking disgrace. Try to act like a normal human being and show some respect for three minutes. I think their disrespect made me want them to lose even more.

3. This Boston team is a couple of pieces away from being really good.

Another Bruins season in the books. It was better than some prior years, and I think they’ll be good next season too. All I can say now, is Go Pens, GO!

Now. We are in it. Thursday night, Boston looked over matched, and very out played. Last night, while flipping between the BC game, and the Bruins, I noticed the Black and Gold had a lot more life. In spite of the overtime loss, they were still in the contest. After returning from the Garden tonight, I think these boys have a chance.

The evening started with the “Dave” special at the Fours. I had a Miller High Life, while George had a Michelob Ultra. We then moved on to the poppers and wings, followed by the Bobby Orr for George, and the Bambino (a ¼ hot dog) for me. Tasty buddy. Causeway Street, and all the surrounding bars, looked like St. Catherine’s St. as there was a shit load (actual attendance number) of Habs fans on the streets. George and I were seated between a group of four Canadiens fans on our right, and another two on our left. Both groups were really cool. The guys on our right had been at Fenway earlier, and the guys on our left had just arrived via car. The left guys were headed back to Canada tonight for work tomorrow, only to return for Tuesday’s tilt back in Boston. That is a hockey fan. I don’t even like driving to Lowell for Devils games, and these guys are going between two countries for their team. Both groups were a fun bunch, and it made it hard for me to want to punch them out.

After we killed a few beers and snacks, it was into the Garden for warm up. I have never seen as many fans in the building for the skate around, and to say the mood was electric was an understatement. Chants of GO HABS GO! and LET’S GO BRUINS!, cropped up everywhere. George and I were seated in section 12 row 7 seats 17 and 18 so we were close enough to see the intensity in everyone’s eyes. Shawn Thornton was at the redline trying to stare everyone down, and Marc Savard flipped about 10 pucks to kids. Milan Lucic has his own cheering section, much like old number 42 PJ Stock did. It was electric in the building, and it was only warm up.

The puck dropped, and it was clear the Bruins were not going to be beaten outright in their own building. They had an intensity and purpose about them that was matched by their old foes from the North. It was an up and down game filled with intensity and desire on both sides of the ice. When Milan scored at 6:57 the place went crazy! His goal was a real goal score4rs goal, and the Bruins faithful couldn’t have asked for a better person to score. Like I said, he is a God in Boston. At the end of the first, “Sheriff” Shane Hnidy, and Guillaume Latendresse had a big disagreement that led to a fight. It wasn’t much of a scrap, as neither landed many of the punches thrown, but I must say Latendresse is a pussy for not taking of the shielded helmet before engaging with Hnidy.

Boston found themselves on the power play to begin the second because Latendresse was given an extra two for roughing plus the five for fighting, but they couldn’t score. Much like the first stanza, it was an up and down affair punctuated by a Tom Kostopoulos goal in which he was damn near killed by a Bruin while tapping in a puck from his side. TK scored a playoff goal, and by that I mean a goal in which he had to fight for all the space given. I hate his guts, and I hate the Canadiens, but I must give props for the goal, and their resilience.

Period three was another back and forth number. Naturally, any shaky call went in Montreal’s favor, and the Bruins could only take it. Scoring chances were a plenty, and Tim Thomas held the fort for the hometown club, per usual. I haven’t been a big fan of his over the years, but this season, he’s really pulled them out of the fire on several occasions. The Hab fan I was seated next to commented as such, and I told him it was the SOP for the Bruins. Get in trouble. Timmy bails us out. Speaking of the Hab fan, that guy was a good guy. We talked a little hockey; and both agreed Carey Price has a great glove. It’s a shame he got a beer thrown on him. I got a little on me too. Here’s what happened. Bruins won, someone threw a half empty brew. Could have hit anyone. It hit him….and a little on me. Oh well.

The OT was awesome, and I want to thank Marc Savard for slamming home the slapper he unleashed on Price. Boston is back alive in this series thanks to him, and I could not think of a better way to spend a Sunday evening. George is working on seats for Tuesday. Hopefully I am the good luck charm, and don’t think I won’t go to Montreal for game seven if I have to. As it was said on the way out by “Sully” or whatever his name was, “I’ve never had a job I couldn’t get fired from for a game seven in Montreal!” Well said “Sully”. Well said.

On paper, I’ll give it to you - the Boston and Montreal series should be over before it begins. Montreal has owned Boston this season winning all 8 times they played. I think the only good game the Bruins mustered was the last meeting in which they got a valuable point by forcing the shootout. There is also a little bit of history between these two teams going back to the beginning of NHL hockey, and the past hasn’t been kind to Boston. Montreal has taken their lunch several times in the playoffs, and I hate them for it. This series looks like the Boston Massacre part Deux. On paper.

Let’s set aside for a second that I think one of the two teams involved in this series is winning the Cup. Hint: They don’t wear black and gold. We’ll just shelf that for a second. I think this series has the making of a decent series for a couple of reasons.

1. It’s April. Playoff hockey is different than regular season hockey for obvious reasons. After slogging through six months of games, they finally get to the heart of the matter, and the intensity goes up. It matters not Boston is 0-8 against the Habs from October to April. Right now, it’s 0-0.

2. The Bergie factor. Boston forward Patrice Bergeron has been cleared to play by team doctors. While he won’t play in game 1, I’d be willing to bet my house if they lose, he’ll play game 2. The time is neigh to pull out all the stops, and pulling 37 out will give the boys a huge lift.

3. They aren’t supposed to win this series. No one, but no one is giving the Boston Bruins a chance in this one. What’s that? The ’08 Patriots, ’01 Rams, and the 1980 Russians are all on the line…they want to talk to the Canadiens? Counting a team out before it’s begun is a very dangerous thing, especially in a game like hockey.

In the end, I think it will in fact be Montreal that is moving on. There is just something about them I really like. I mean, I hate their guts, but I saw quite a few of their games this season and I think they are a pretty good club. I want the beloved Bruins to kick them back to the motherland. Sadly, I just don’t think it’ll happen.

Happy Birthday to Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe. The man with the sharpest elbows to ever play the game turns 80 today and Gonnblog is proud to wish him good health, and many more to come. This is a man that played hockey at the highest level until he was 52 years old. I will be in a home, drooling, and ranting about how I’ve never seen the Bruins win the Cup when I’m 52, and this guy was still playing hockey. Simply amazing. To celebrate the occasion, please enjoy the video of Boston Bruin 7th player award winner, Milan Lucic scoring a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick.” I love the fact that Milan got his first NHL goal in a game when he had an assist, and a wicked scrap. What a fitting tribute from a kid that is a Gordie Howe prototype, to pot his first goal like he did.

Meantime, things have been crazy over here at Goonblog HQ. We’ve had a lot to do MOL and me, and I haven’t been paying enough attention to this blog. I tell you what; this hockey season has been a great one so far. The beloved Bruins are keeping us entertained enough to keep watching and I think Jack Edwards may have a stroke on air this season.

For those of you not in New England, Jack Edwards is the NESN announcer, and to say he is a homer is an insult to homer announcers everywhere. This guy LOVES the Bruins, and he LOVES the fights, which makes him number one in my book. I can’t decide what I like better. Edwards going mental over a “bad” call or the fact that his partner, Andy Brickley, pays him zero mind when he gets fired up. I want the Bruins to win the cup this season for a couple of reasons, and one of them is to see just how emotional Jack Edwards gets when Zdeno Chara gets handed Lord Stanley’s Cup. Of course it won’t happen, but I can dream.