GoonBlog.com

Hockey fight blog with humorous, blow-by-blow commentary on goons, enforcers and donnybrooks

Hockey fight blog with humorous, blow-by-blow commentary on goons, enforcers and donnybrooks.

Milan Lucic

Teetering


in Chris, Goons, GoonSquad, Milan Lucic

I am at a crossroads. I need help. I’m reaching out to you, dear reader. Please help me and guide me. I admit I am powerless.ooops, wrong meeting.

I am a firm believer in the theory that one should never wear another man’s uniform. I do not buy team jerseys, of any team, because I think I can show support for my team by being in the building, following them on television and in the newspapers, and devoting much of this blog to their existence. I am not a meatslapper by any stretch of the imagination. I have no problem with people that do wear jerseys, and seek autographs for said jersey, it just isn’t my scene. Or is it?

The Boston Bruins unveiled their new third jersey today, and I gotta tell you, I’m really teetering. I find the jersey to be very sharp. I like the simplicity of the design, and it’s got me very seriously considering buying one. Now, the question is three fold.

1. Does it make me a meatslapper?
2. If I do buy one, is it wrong I would get Lucic 17 on the back?
3. Is it OK if I buy one, and get no name and number?

I will see the new uni’s in action this weekend as Friday I am in my regular seats, and Saturday George got us up in the Sports Deck. I guess I could see them really up close and decide from there. I really need help. Please goons and goonettes; I am guided by you on this one. What say you Goonblog?

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Unsupervised Thoughts


in Brad Staubitz, Chris, Dallas Stars, Goons, GoonSquad, Jarkko Ruutu, Jody Shelley, Joe Thornton, Jordin Tootoo, Mike Komisarek, Milan Lucic, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Petteri Nokelainen, San Jose Sharks, Shawn Thornton, Steve Ott, Tom Kostopoulos, Toronto Maple Leafs

MOL is in Connecticut visiting our new nephew, leaving me at home by myself to watch the Bruins. Not a bad deal really. I saw the little guy yesterday, and he’s super cute. He does a lot of baby things like sleep, and look around like he’s lost. It’s pretty cool. MOL gets to hang with him tonight, so I have done all my laundry, ate left over Chinese and yelled at Shawn Thornton for having a crappy fight with Toronto’s Jamal Mayers. Like I said, not a bad deal. I’ve been super busy over the last few weeks. I’ll spare you the gory details, but I have made three observations in this young NHL season. They are, in no particular order.

1. I grossly under estimated how good the Bruins are. I mean, when I wrote the piece about the sneaking suspicion I had about their suckatude, I couldn’t have been more off base. Milan Lucic has turned his game around so drastically it’s hard to explain. He’s gone from zero to hero in no time, and I am pretty sure if he ran for Governor of the Commonwealth he’d win in a land slide. Not only is he responsible for a hit that will be played on every jumbotron in every arena in the NHL (well, maybe except for Toronto) for the next 20 years, he’s started scoring and piling up assists at a furious pace. Oh, and don’t forget his first fight of the year last Thursday. In a battle that had Jack Edwards near a stroke, he beat Mike Komisarek like he stole something in a 6-1 thrashing at Boston last Thursday.

On top of Lucic’s improved play, they have the ability to roll four very solid lines. In fact, one could argue the line of Shawn Thornton, Stephan Yelle, and Chuck Kobasew (now that he’s back. The real loser in all of this is Petteri Nokelainen who finds himself the odd man out since Koba’s return) has been the Bruins best and most consistent line. They have been super fun to watch all year, and I have been having the time of my life as a season ticket holder so far.

2. Someone is going to get killed if something isn’t done about the hitting from behind problem. Forget the headshots, I think the biggest disciplinary issue facing the NHL, is guys hitting each other from behind. Tom Kostopoulos’s hit on poor Mike Van Ryan, best known this year as the guy that Milan Lucic almost put into the second row in Boston with his glass shattering hit, and the guy that almost got paralyzed by some asshole with no respect for the other guys on the ice, should have been suspended for at least 5 games. The first thing you are taught when learning how to body check, is don’t hit someone when you can see their numbers. I have heard all the rational that Van Ryan turned at the last minute and the like, but it’s bull shit. Van Ryan fully had his back to Kostopoulos, and the only thing he turns is his head from looking right at the glass, to looking left over his shoulder to see if TK is going to slow up. Guess what? He’s not. Ding Dong. I’ll get it. Oh, and to the announcers out there. All of them. Can we stop defending people that are doing these heinous things on the ice please? Why is there any blame being laid on Mike Van Ryan? Tom Kostopoulos could have pulled up, and shouldn’t have hit him. Sorry or not about it, he had a choice on the ice, and he made the wrong one.

3. This game needs policing. This is NOT your father’s NHL. If it were, they’d still be trying to break up the fight that would have erupted after Tom Kostopoulos hit Mike Van Ryan. There seems to be a lot more punks in the league than ever before. Jarkko Ruutu was running around like a punk earlier tonight against New York, and wouldn’t fight when Aaron Voros tried to fight him. Steve Ott was ringing the bell all over the ice in Boston a few weeks ago, and never would answer the bell. When he slew footed Nokelainen at the end of the first, he should have been held accountable as soon as the second period started, but he never was made to answer the bell. If something isn’t done soon, i.e. removal of the instigator penalty, and guys having more respect for one another on the ice someone is going to get really hurt out there.

So, that’s what I’ve been seeing. Right now I’m watching the third period of the Sharks and Nashville. Jody Shelley just had a nice go with Greg De Vries. Shelley landed a wicked upper cut to win the fight. It was the last of three fights in a row. Nice to see Brad Staubitz get in a dust up with Jordin Tootoo as well. Big Joe Thornton was in the first one. Not much of a fight really. I love the Center Ice Package for this very reason. Anyway, I’d love to hear your opinions on the first quarter of the season so far. Don’t leave me out to dry here goons and goonettes. You know what to do, and as Dave says Stay Gooney!

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Not Breaking News


in Andrew Ference, Chris, Dallas Stars, Goons, GoonSquad, Krys Barch, Milan Lucic, Old Time Hockey, Petteri Nokelainen, Sean Avery, Shane Hnidy, Shawn Thornton, Steve Ott

Sean Avery, and Steve Ott are punks. This is not breaking news. I wanted to get it out on the table. Last night was a bit of Old Time Hockey at the Boston Garden, and Steve Ott and Sean Avery were the chief punks on the Dallas Stars. As an aside, when did Ott turn into such a punk? I don’t remember him being the type of player I saw last night. Is it Avery’s influence that has turned him into a total punk?

Anyway, here is a great video recap of what happened in Boston last night. It was a bit of Old Time Hockey, but I can’t help but wonder. If this were Old Time Hockey, would it have taken as long as it did for the line brawl to erupt? Also, why is Krys Barch doing Steve Ott’s heavy lifting? I am thinking back in the old days after the slew foot by Ott at the end of the first on Petteri Nokelainen (not seen on this video) Ott would have had to answer the bell at the start of the second. He wouldn’t have been able to run and hide like a punk, instead, he’d have to fight like a man. Kudos to both Shawn Thornton and Sheriff Shane Hnidy for trying to get Ott to be accountable for his actions. It isn’t their fault he is a pussy.

I am very glad Andrew Ferrence laid Steve Ott out, and I am not surprised Sean Avery came to his defense. He’s a big man finally picking his spot to fight against Ferrence. Pussy. Go read some more Vogue. I am very proud of the way the Bruins all stood up for one another last night, and I am man enough to admit, I might have been wrong about this bunch.

After publicly calling out Milan Lucic, and the rest of the team, they responded by scorning a Hat Trick (Lucic) to win an uneven affair at home, and playing 8 superb periods (the 2nd in Calgary being the blemish) on the road. Last night’s game really can be the type that cements a dressing room. The boys all stood up for one another, and gave the home crowd something to cheer, and talk about. MOL and I were completely entertained, and agreed it was the best game we’d been to in years. So, I apologize to the black and gold. Keep up the good work boys.

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Step out of the Car


in Chris, Georges Laraque, Goons, GoonSquad, Milan Lucic, Shawn Thornton

Have you ever been driving along, minding your own business, when a police car pulls out behind you? The mind starts to go through every scenario. Was I speeding? Did I roll through the stop sign? Is it legal to be on the sidewalk? There is a sinking feeling of impending doom. Watching the Bruins so far this season, I have had that feeling all along.

They had a good start in Colorado. Soundly outplayed for most of the game, they gutted out a big win while getting contributions from new comer Blake Wheeler, and Phil Kessel, who has been on fire to start the year. The loss in Minnesota was easy to take because they showed some real gumption to stay in the game. Under Dave Lewis, the score would have been 5-0 easy. Maybe more. Montreal was a fantastic first period including the first fight of the year from Shawn Thornton. I still think he beat Georges Laraque, but I am getting e-mails about my dependency on crack. The boys got themselves in a hole, and came back to get a valuable point. Again, showing a never say die attitude. Ottawa was the best game of the year so far. They played like a unit, and really took it to the Senators.

This brings us to the last three games. I think the home opener Monday was a flat affair from Boston. They had been on the road for some time, and needed some home cooking. What they got was a shootout loss. Buffalo was a maddening game. They were up 2-0 and let Buffalo back in. Instead of going on the attack, they were trapping so bad I thought they were the Boston Devils. Dennis "Riverboat Gambler" Wideman (Because he gambles every time he has the puck) got beat like a rented defenseman by Drew Stafford, and Manny Fernandez went down early Monday night to stop the shot Stafford put on him Tuesday evening. The end result was another shootout loss.

Thursday made me sick, puke like that, Blaaaah! The Bruins were all over the Leafs, going up 2-0. There were several monster hits, including the one that Milan Lucic (who has looked bad to terrible) laid on Mike Van Ryan. After this hit, the Bruins went to sleep. They were trapping again, and generating no offense at all. There is no way the worst team in the division should come into your own barn and beat you by 2 goals if you are putting up an honest effort. The last three tilts, I don’t see that honest effort. I know it’s early in the year, but I feel as if the blues are about to come on.

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I Assure you, I want it More.


in Andrew Alberts, Chris, Colorado Avalanche, Goons, GoonSquad, Jeremy Reich, Milan Lucic, Shawn Thornton, Zdeno Chara

It’s finally here. The long hot summer is finally over. Bring on the long cold winter. That’s right, the Boys of Winter are back tonight against the Colorado Avalanche. The new slogan, We want it as bad as you remains to be seen, but I must say I am encouraged by the 2008-2009 Bruins chances.

While I was bummed to see Jeremy Reich sent down, it made sense. Milan Lucic, and Shawn Thornton both play the agitator, and Blake Wheeler played his way right onto the roster. Reicher will be back though, as I would imagine he’ll be the first called from the Baby B’s should they need a little grit, and honest effort. Speaking of Wheels. My word is this kid impressive early on. He has size, and good body position in front of the net, and I love he’s wearing 42. If he can drop the mitts and go, I think I might drop one in my pants. If Phil Kessel can have a go in pre season, anything is possible.

My big concern for the Bruins is, and always has been, goaltending and defense. They are anchored by the most over rated player in the NHL (Zdeno Chara) a scary presence in Dennis Wideman, a question mark in Andrew Alberts, and other piece parts. They need a true puck mover, and a skilled stay at homer. The Bruins don’t score a lot, so it’s going to be up to this group to help keep pucks out of the net.

This brings us to the goaltenders. Tim Thomas has always scared me, and I am really not sure about Manny Fernandez. I know Tuukka Raask isn’t ready, so I dread the thought of having to bring him up. Over all, I think this team is improved over last year, and I am excited for the season to start. I have them losing to Washington in the second round. I want it more than them.

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Time Stands Still


in AHL, Chris, Georges Laraque, Goons, GoonSquad, Hamilton Bulldogs, Jeremy Reich, Milan Lucic, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ryan Flinn, Shawn Thornton, Zdeno Chara

I’m sitting at my desk today around three, and I’m thinking I need some food. What to do? What to do? I’m trying to not be on the see food diet anymore, so I have a choice of pistachios, apricots, or some grapes. Grapes involve standing up, so that’s right out. Now it’s down to pistachios or apricots, when it hits me. I need a Tsongas Arena burger. As soon as I thought it, I could smell it, and taste it. Visually I could see the ketchup oozing out the side. A quick look to my calendar confirmed it, its mid July. DAMMIT! What makes this fantasy even stranger is that the Paul has the worst rink food ever. Seriously, one thing the Lowell Devils are lacking, other than fans in general, is good food. The burgers are the most edible thing. Taz will attest to this. Think high school hamburger. Kind of grayish, not really hot all the way throughoh man, I’m getting aroused here again. It makes me think of hockey season all over again. Stupid baseball.

Speaking of hockey, I am pumped Montreal signed Georges Laraque, and Ryan Flinn. Man, if ever there was a reason to keep the current schedule format, this is it. When was the last time the Boston/Montreal rivalry featured two legitimate heavyweights? 90’s? Has to be right? This rivalry is more watered down than the cocktails MOL makes me when I’ve had one too many. These two guys will bring some big time toughness to the Habs roster, and I hope Milan Lucic, and Shawn Thornton is ready for them. I would hazard to guess Flinner will be down in Hamilton, but the brass will be glad he’s only a phone call away.

Part of the reason I was watching the Penguins over the last year and a half (OK, a big part) was to watch Georges Laraque. I was at the game this season when he fought Zdeno Chara twice. While both fights sucked (they actually were assessed only 1 fighting majors each for two dust ups. I know. Laughable) it was great to see him ask Jeremy Reich to go, and get turned down no fewer than 5 times. Lucic wanted no part of him either, and come to think of it, neither did Thornton. Maybe seeing the Habs 87 times in the regular season will fan some distaste for each other. Here’s hoping they have a nice 400 PIM game while I eat a crappy Garden dog in my Hungry for Hockey seats eh?

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Who’s Hungry?


in Chris, Goons, GoonSquad, Mike Commodore, Milan Lucic, Shawn Thornton

I am a Boston Bruins season ticket holder as of Monday afternoon. My buddy George and I were talking at game 3 of the Montreal series this season about how many games we’d been to throughout the season. It seemed to us that the games we had been to, the other was there as well, and the games one of us had missed, the other was there. We got to thinking; perhaps getting a season ticket package might be a more economical way to go. We did some math, and we estimate we were at 20-25 games last season, and it could have easily been more if not for a lack of tickets. Well, we talked it over and it did in fact seem like a good idea, but truth be told, good seats at the Garden are expensive, and I couldn’t justify paying that much money for the seats. In the end, I decided it wasn’t in my best interest.

All of that changed Monday when George presented me with the Hungry for Hockey promo the Bruins ran. The promo is Sections 327, and 328, rows 2-15. What you get is the ticket, all you can eat hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and a bottomless cup of soda (probably remain un used) for $39.00 a game. George e-mailed me in a panic.Do we want to do this?! Seats are going fast! Well shit. $1700.00 for the season in pretty good, not great, but pretty good seats. Heck yes. Sign me up. So, if you want to meet George or myself, we’ll be in Section 328, Row 2, Seats 1 and 2.

I gotta say I’m pretty pumped. MOL was not pissed at all by me doing it, and George already said I could have opening night for me and MOL because he has to take all his kids. That’s a bonus. On top of that, I feel pretty good about the team this year. I love them getting Michael Ryder even if he did have a down year. The Bruins had no one to score other than the top line last year, and Ryder now helps that cause. Metropolit being gone might hurt the chemistry, and the Bruin mold, but that’s what you have Milan Lucic, Shawn Thornton, and Petteri Nokelainen. Those three will chip in points as well, especially Cheech. I like the forwards a lot with Marc Savard, Chuck Kobasew, Phil Kessel (if he doesn’t get dealt), Michael Ryder, a healthy Patrice Bergeron, and Marco Sturm. Plus the unknown of Blake Wheeler? That’s a very under rated signing, and could pay huge dividends for these guys. They got the toughness covered in Lucic, and Thornton. Defense is pretty good too. Hopefully Alberts can be healthy all year. I was hoping Mike Commodore was in their plans, but oh well. Obviously the question mark is in goal, but I think Timmy Thomas had a stellar year last season and can repeat this year. I’m telling you, watch out for this club, and while you’re at it, swing by Section 328 to say hi. Is it September yet?

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Stupid Summer


in AHL, 2008 Playoffs, Chicago Wolves, Chris, Detroit Red Wings, Goons, GoonSquad, Gordie Dwyer, Jon Mirasty, Lowell Devils, Milan Lucic, Pittsburgh Penguins, Shawn Thornton, Trevor Gillies, Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins

To quote John Winger: And then, depression set in. After Screwy and I are done drying our eyes, and the last team member has retired to the dressing room to drink from Lord Stanley that’s when it’s real. I am stuck with stupid baseball until September. Oh and the Celtics are in the finals, which is cool I guess, but I really can’t stand basketball. My Celtics fan friends all want me to pick the Lakers in six, because I had the Penguins in six, so they like the reverse jinx angle. So, there you go. I’m predicting the Lakers in six. They are playing the Lakers right? This really sucks. I am glad I have the NHL Network because the AHL finals are still going. It looks like Chicago is going to handle Wilkes/Barre easily though, and then it’ll all really be over. MOL is happy. I am not.

Overall, I think this hockey season was a good one. I didn’t’ write enough here, and that will change next season. I took a new job at work in October, and that on top of buying the house, figuring out how to be a husband, and my love of being in a gin mill, killed my productivity here. For next season I promise more running diaries of the games, and I recently bought a microphone, so I am going to try a Podcast. I think I am turning into a nerd. So, like I said, the season wasn’t bad. The beloved Bruins surprised me. Milan Lucic is my favorite player EVAH, and Shawn Thornton really had some great bouts in the second half of the season. YouTube continues to be a favorite spot. I love the Gillies/Mirasty tilts out there. It was nice to see Gordie Dwyer on American soil for a little bit. I am telling you, there aren’t many guys as engaging and friendly as him. I’d like the AHL to pay more because Lowell could sure use a guy that can skate and hit like him. Oh, and the Devils? They suck. Bad. Plus they are boring. They could use a guy like Dwyer to add some personality. So that’s it for 07-08. I’m really into birding these days (no kidding) so I’ve got my feeder to keep me occupied. I need some more, and a good bird book to help me identify what I am looking at. So far at my feeder I have seen a squirrel, and a chipmunk. Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, and a bunch of brown birds. Oh, and the fattest Blue Jay since Frank Thomas! HI OH! Congratulations to the Red Wings have a great summer all. I wish it was September.

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Go Penguins


in 2008 Playoffs, Chris, Goons, GoonSquad, Milan Lucic, Montreal Canadiens, Shawn Thornton

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!

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I’m Not Dead Yet


in 2008 Playoffs, Chris, Goons, GoonSquad, Guillaume Latendresse, Milan Lucic, Montreal Canadiens, PJ Stock, Shane Hnidy, Shawn Thornton

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.

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