Rich Peverley Goals

I also miss Rich Peverley very much. A while ago I compiled pretty much all the videos of him I could find on youtube. It's short but beautiful.

So You're Rooting for the Bruins...Playoff Guide! (with The Bear & The Jacket)

This time last year, I created a 6-part guide on my Tumblr called So, your favorite team didn’t make the playoffs this year and you’ve selected the Boston Bruins as your adopted team: The Complete Guide. Since it was fun to make, and it clearly played a pivotal role in the Bruins winning the Cup, I am going to do it again this season to ensure I do all that I can individually to help the Bruins win the Cup again. Don't be fooled, I am still superstitious as hell, so I am knocking on wood as I write this. But it's really fun to look at what I wrote last year, knowing they would go on to win the Cup, and how different things are this year. I will be writing this years version and posting it sometime before the playoffs start! Maybe even before the season ends. We'll see.

Right now I am very inspired to get a start on it, actually. I do some reminiscing below, including The Bear ads and the magnificent of Mark Recchi and THE JACKET.

The Bear, The Gang, and the Good Ol' Bruins Are Back

It's fitting that Thornton's goal broke a 38-game goalless streak and Seidenberg's goal broke a 28-something-game goalless streak on a night that the Bruins proved they had finally broken a collective losing streak that sucked the life out of them from January through the early weeks of March.

I was extremely uncertain coming into tonight's game about what to expect from the Bruins. I hoped, obviously, that they would continue to improve and play great hockey that they are capable of. They seem to be on that road, with each passing game in the past week or two another step in the direction of playing in playoff mode. Tonight certainly seemed to have a playoff-like intensity to it, at least in the 3rd period. I had forgotten what it was like to see them play so well, and be successful. I don't want to jump the gun and say they're gonna keep it up and steamroll into the playoffs, but they are showing that they are on the right track.

Which is why I was hesitant to expect a win tonight. Tampa was so devastating the past two games they played against the Bruins, and the Bruins in general have been awful against the Southeast Division. But the 4-game season series ends at 2-2, with the home team winning every game. Playing well at home was something important they needed to re-establish before the end of the season; they had proven that they could play well on the road during the California road trip. But their shot totals had been down, and they still had some kinks in their game. Tonight, it's great to see they continue to iron out those kinks in their game.

This game was a huge relief, and Love That Dirty Water playing over the Garden sound system after the game ended almost gave me déjà vu from last years playoffs wins at home. You can't blame me since this was against the Lightning, like in the Conference Finals: things like Roloson in net playing great hockey and the recent resurgence of The Bear, who we hadn't seen since Tampa fans got unreasonably offended and outraged over the Bruins brilliant marketing scheme from last year's playoffs; after Tampa fans bombarded the Bruins marketing staff with personal threats, The Bear was no more.

He made his triumphant return yesterday in another genius marketing bit, The Bear and the Gang, and you can't help but think the Bruins debuted this on purpose at this perfect time. To put a cherry on top of how trolly and brilliant this is, check out the banner hanging on the wall in the background of the basement set of the show:

That is unmistakably the same poster. Genius. Anyway, let's look more at tonight's game!

Since it is so insanely fun to bask in wins like this, I'm going to talk about why this game was great, and why they are finally turning it around.

Crying into Peverley Jersey..

Here is a preview of the game tonight.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRADE THAT SENT WHEELER AND STUART TO ATLANTA IN EXCHANGE FOR PEVERLEY AND SOME OTHER GUY. Like all great anniversaries, and in my cast, birthdays (yesterday), consider jumping off a bridge with me.

Now let's all hold hands and cry about the Peverley news.

The injury: 3rd degree sprain of the MCL in the right knee.

What does that even mean?: MCL is Medial Collateral Ligament; 3rd degree is a COMPLETE tear of the ligament. This type of injury may never quite heal, although it is the most comment ligament sprain of the 4 major ligaments in the knee. Read more in detail about confusing physiological medical stuff here.

This hit from Hal Gill did not even get reviewed by Shanahan. Cause knee on knee hits aren't dangerous at all...they don't end the careers of like, Cam Neely or anyone important.

Cause, of course, this hit wasn't dirty at all. Oh wait, have you seen this?

Don't forget - AT LEAST 4-6 weeks is the projected time Peverley will miss. But like I said, and the many google results for the search of MCL sprains, 3rd degree is pretty serious and can damage other parts of the knee (such as ACL and the meniscus). The stability of the knee will forever be weakened.

As I panic, I question if Peverley will be able to skate as fast as he can. 

At least we can rest knowing Hal Gill will forever suck.

Also, for reference, here are some clips of similar - if not exactly the same - knee-on-knee cheap shots (including 2 Ovechkins, several Matt Cookes, and I didn't even search for either of those players - also includes Ulf Samulesson hit on Neely).

My Game on 2/14 and other Recent Bruins Thoughts

(from bostonbruins.com)

As part of this previously established log of the games I have attended thus far this season, I will reflect upon the Valentine's Day game against the Rangers...ahh what a shit show. (Boxscore)

My Valentine/guest was my friend Cassie, who had never been to a game before. She was very excited, so I was very sad she did not even get to experience a goal. But she still seemed to have a great time, and I hope to bring her to a game again soon, hopefully a win...

She wore my Bergeron jersey, and then afterwards, bought me this teeny tiny shot glass mug for a birthday present (my birthday was yesterday)

19 Assists for Bergeron & Peverley; NHL-Best 22 Wins; and in case you didn't know: the Bruins have depth

Peverley is a genius.

Bergeron is a genius too

The charts I posted the other night about the scoring distribution among the Bruins forwards was displayed perfectly in the game last night. The 1st line even scored - without Lucic. My favorite part is that both Peverley and Bergeron made important and great plays leading directly to goals, and that resulted in both Peverley and Bergeron reaching assists number 19. They are also both tied with 6 goals apiece (and therefore 25 points apiece; they are tied for 2nd on the team in assists and first in point).