Author: Lizzie37

Boston Pride To Hold All-Star In Boston

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(Photo Credits: Mary Schwalm/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88

Boston is the city of championships and boy are we spoiled here in the Northeast. In the world of professional hockey, the Boston Bruins have a long-storied history and despite the recent string of losses, the team is still leading their Division (although the team is mounting a nice comeback). While the Bruins are looking to continue to add more wins to their game, there is another Boston team that also leads in the standings.

With 13 wins and zero losses under their belt, the Boston Pride (the female counterpart to the B’s) are currently in first place in the league. Today they face the Connecticut Whale in their first game of a back-to back, hoping to remain undefeated. The Pride recently defeated the Buffalo Beauts 4-2 this past Sunday in a physical game that saw it go to overtime:

“We played hard and battled against a very physical team. We had high quality opportunities to score both nights so the chances were there, We had more energy and buzz…we knew it would be a gut–check kind of game. I’m proud of our teams’ effort and heart.

-Pride Captain Jillian Dempsey

The 2020 NWHL All-Star Weekend will be held at the Warrior Ice Arena in Boston, one of the original markets. The All-Star Game will consist of two 25-minute periods of four-on-four play. There will also be an All-Star Skills Challenge which will include the fastest skater and hardest shot competition. Commissioner Dani Rylan has chosen the first eight All-Stars with Dempsey and Kaleigh Fratkin of the Boston Pride being amongst those selected. Dempsey and Madison Packer  (of the Metro Riveters) were chosen as captains.

“This is our way of celebrating eight women who have earned the adulation of fans and respect of their peers for their outstanding play and efforts for our league since day one..they have earned this moment in Boston for our landmark fifth NWHL All-Star Weekend.”

-President Dani Rylan

The celebration is the first one to be played in an existing NWHL market since the first All-Star Game in Buffalo.   The Boston Pride are one of the first four teams of the NWHL, winning the inaugural Isobel Cup (named after the daughter of Lord Stanley and first  known woman to play the game).

(Photo Credit: The Hockey News via NWHL/Twitter)

This past September, the Pride became the league’s first independently operated team when it was purchased by a team of investors. In an effort to grow the sport, the purchase was seen as significant as it would mean better investment for the team.  Plans would include enhancing team/player development, marketing and promotion, hiring a team president and creating more youth hockey initiatives. Salary caps have also increased 50 percent for each team. The league has also partnered with Twitch, who has streamed all of the NWHL games.

Tickets are available to purchase for the upcoming All-Star event by visiting the NWHL website. The event will be held from February 8th-9th and will feature 32 All-Stars: 14 skaters and two goaltenders for each team.

Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 159 that we recorded below! You can find our show on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.

Please subscribe to our new Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube channel! We’d really appreciate the continued support. Click HERE for exciting Black N’ Gold online content!!

Post-Game Report | Boston Bruins Fall to Washington Capitals 3-2

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Image result for boston bruins vs washington capitals(Photo Credits: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88

There was blood, sweat and hurt officials in Washington D.C. as the two best teams in the NHL faced each other tonight in the nation’s capital. No one said it would be easy and sadly for Bruins fans, it would be the Washington Capitals that came out the victor in a hard-fought game.

In The First

In what was promised to be a real physical game, the Boston Bruins came into the Capital One Arena looking to redeem themselves after the embarrassing 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators. The history between the two teams does not swing in Boston’s favor as Washington is now 16-1 in the last 17 meetings. With missed great opportunities from both teams, it would the Bruins who’d light up the lamp first. At 9:36, David Pastrnak would nail a slap shot (and his 26th goal) past Washington’s Braden Holtby. The Capitals would charge back, forcing Boston’s Jaroslav Halak to make multiple saves.

The Bruins would send a flurry of pucks towards the Capitals end and with minutes left in the first, Boston would draw their second power-play of the night. In what would’ve been their second goal of the night (and second in two games by Patrice Bergeron), unfortunately, would be ruled an off-side.  With seconds left in the first, both teams traded multiple high chances.

END OF FIRST: Boston-1, Washington-0

SHOTS ON  GOALS: Boston-8, Washington-7

Second Period

Washington would open up the second period on the power-play left over from the first. Boston’s Brad Marchand had a chance on a short-handed goal but was unable to capitalize. As the Caps ended their power-play, the Bruins would be awarded a power-play shortly after for a “too many men on the ice” infarction.

Image result for boston bruins vs washington capitals(Photo Credits: Michael Dwyer/AP)

In a chippy second period, Washington went on the power-play from an interference by Boston’s Chris Wagner. T.J. Oshie tied things up at 4:35 with a power-play goal. Minutes later, Oshie notch his second goal of the night, making the score 2-1. The Caps would draw a holding penalty towards the last minute of the second period but were unable to score.

END OF SECOND: Boston-1, Washington-2

SHOTS ON GOAL: Boston-15, Washington-7

FINAL COUNTDOWN

Seconds into the start of the third period, Boston would head to the power-play as Washington’s Tom Wilson was called for interference. With the power-play opportunity gone, Boston’s Sean Kuraly would score off a deflection from a shot by Torey Krug to tie up the game at 2-2. Minutes later, Washington’s John Carlson would score, putting the Caps ahead 3-2.  Despite last-minute pressure from the Boston team (who had a man advantage), the B’s were unable to make a comeback.

Tremendous plays by both goalies and for Boston, Jaroslav Halak kept the team within a  one-goal reach as the Bruins fall 3-2 in regulation.

FINAL SCORE: 3-2

TOTAL SHOTS ON GOAL: Boston-32, Washington-25

Boston went 0-for-5 on the power-play while the Caps went 1-for-3. Halak made 22 saves. The Bruins are now 20-6-6, with three regulation losses in a row, while the Caps improve to 23-5-5.

WHAT’S NEXT: Boston Bruins face the Tampa Bay Lightning at the BB&T Center tomorrow night with puck drop at 7:00 PM.

Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 157 that we recorded on 12-8-19 below! You can find our show on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.

Please subscribe to our new Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube channel! We’d really appreciate the continued support. Click HERE for exciting Black N’ Gold online content

Post-Game Notes: Boston Bruins vs. Colorado Avalanche 12/7/2019

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Image result for boston bruins vs colorado avalanche(Photo Credits: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88

The Boston Bruins closed out their five-game homestead on a sour note and were handed their first regulation loss at the TD Garden this season.  Boston would face a tough Avalanche team, who are second in the Central Division and unlike Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, the B’s were unable to turn things around.

GAME BREAKDOWN

In the first period, Boston had their legs going, knowing full well Colorado would come out with guns blazing ready to extend their own winning streak. The Bruins are 3-0-1 in their first four games at home this week. Boston had multiple chances on the net with good zone time down Colorado’s end while the Avs had no problem throwing their weight and speed towards the Boston net. At 13:14, Bruins’ Chris Wagner opened up the scoring in the first with a quick tip-in shot past Philip Grubauer.

Colorado would get on board with minutes left in the first period when Valeri Nichushkin scored with a backhand that slipped behind Jaroslav Halak. With what appeared to be some sort of muscle/groin pull, Grubauer would be replaced by Pavel Francouz after gingerly skating off the ice.

With the second-period underway, Boston found themselves spending more time down their own end. The defense started to break down and Colorado’s Ian Cole would slap one past Halak, making the score 2-1. The Bruins would again push towards Colorado’s net, taking advantage of tough turnovers by the Avs. Despite intense pressure from Boston, Colorado’s Pavel Burakovsky would score off a wrist shot, putting the Avalanche up 3-1.

Image result for boston bruins vs colorado avalanche(Photo Credits: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Boston again found itself trailing at the start of the third period. Trying to keep their frustration in check, the Bruins were looking to stage a comeback (much like the recent bout against Chicago).  In a relatively clean game, Boston would draw the first penalty of the night, however, they were unable to capitalize as Brad Marchand would be called on a hooking penalty. With 1:35 left on the Colorado power-play, the Bruins would also go on the power-play on a high-stick to Zdeno Chara.

UNABLE TO CLOSE THE GAP

The third period continued to wind down and with minutes left, the Bruins would bombard the Avs net with a cascade of missed shots.  David Pastrnak would draw a penalty late in the third, giving Boston one last push to staging a miraculous comeback.  On a 6-4 in Boston’s favor, the Bruins were unable to connect. In the last few seconds, the Colorado Avalanche would net an empty-netter, making the final score 4-1.

Shots on goal were even at 20-a-piece and both teams were unable to score on the power-play with the Bruins going 0-for-3 while Colorado went 0-for-1. The Avs continue their win streak this season and completed their season-series sweep against Boston. Colorado previously beat the Bruins 4-2 on October 10th. Boston’s record is now 20-4-6 while the Avalanches are 19-8-2, winning six in a row.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Bruins will face the Ottawa Senators on Monday, November 9th for the first of a four-game road trip.

Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 156 that we recorded below! You can find our show on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.

 

Please subscribe to our new Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube channel! We’d really appreciate the continued support. Click HERE for exciting Black N’ Gold online content!!

.

 

Post-Game: Bruins Defeat Senators 2-1

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Image result for boston bruins vs ottawa senators(Photo Credits: Sean Kilpatrick/AP)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88

In the second game of a back-to-back, the Boston Bruins finished their trip up north on a positive note. After Wednesday’s throttle win over the Montreal Canadiens, Boston was going for broke and have now won five in a row. Despite the slow start, turn-overs, and giveaways (on both ends), the team managed to win from behind if not for the stellar performance of Tuukka Rask.

RECAP

Boston would come out in the first looking a bit tired and slow on their legs while Ottawa had more bite to their game.  At times, the Bruins team found themselves chasing the puck and were unable to clear their own zone. In an effort to get things going, Coach Bruce Cassidy juggled the lines around. While the team looked to get their game going, Tuukka Rask made the saves that kept the score 0-0 through two periods.

The Bruins looked more cohesive in the second with multiple chances to score, however, they could not manage to get the puck past Ottawa’s Anders Nilsson. Boston had been outshot 10 to 24 by the end of the second.  Both Ottawa and Boston went 0-2 on the power-play tonight.

With the third period underway, the Senators Tomas Chabot would score off a wrist-shot 41 seconds into the period, getting Ottawa on board.  Minutes later, Bruins’ Brad Marchand would get Boston on board at 05:15 with his fifth goal in four games. He would score his 18th goal of the season off a pass from Anders Bjork as he slipped one between  Nilson’s pads.

With the game tied at 1-1, momentum would shift in Boston’s favor. At 08:45 in the third,  Bruins Captain Zdeno Chara would score his fifth goal of the season with a hard slap shot from a pass by Brendan Gaunce. The 25-year-old Gaunce (making his Bruins debut) would make the play in the slot to feed the pass to Chara, who would score the game-winning goal.

Ottawa had several close chances to score but Boston’s Rask denied their efforts. The Senators were unable to capitalize early on while on the power-play as Boston held on to win 2-1. The boys in  Black and Gold are now 6-0-3 in their last few games and have improved to 17-3-5. Rask made 33 saves on 34 shots to post his fifth straight win of the season. He improves to 12-2-0 this season. Anders Nilsson made 19 saves and the Senators have lost their last two games in regulation for the first time since October.

TEAM NOTES

Connor Clifton had the night off and Steven Kampfer would slide up next to Matt Grzelcyk. Gaunce made his debut on the second line, centering with Jake DeBrusk and Charlie Coyle. News came out from the Boston camp of the multi-year contract extension of Coyle and Chris Wagner.

With the loss, Senators’ goaltender Anders Nilson is now 7-5-1 as he minds the net while Craig Anderson nurses a minor injury sustained during Monday night’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

Tuukka Rask-BOSTON

Zdeno CHara-BOSTON

Tyler Ennis-OTTAWA

TOTAL SHOTS ON GOALS: BOS: 21; OTT: 34

Boston will once again face Ottawa for the third time this season on December 9th with the Bruins leading the series 2-0. The B’s will head back for a game-day matinee at the TD Garden when they face the New York Rangers.

WHEN TO WATCH:  Friday, November 29th with puck drop at 1:00 PM

WHERE TO WATCH: NBC

Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 155 that we recorded below! You can find our show on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.

 

Please subscribe to our new Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube channel! We’d really appreciate the continued support. Click HERE for exciting Black N’ Gold online content!!

 

 

Game Day Preview | Boston vs. Montreal 11/26/19

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Image result for boston bruins vs montreal canadiens(Photo Credits: NBC Sports)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88

The Boston Bruins head up north for the first of a back-to-back and they’ll do it without some familiar faces, the biggest one being Patrice Bergeron. The team announced yesterday that the 34-year-old top center is still nursing a lower-body injury, meaning he won’t be available for the trip.

NAGGING INJURIES

With the team taking a cautious approach when it comes to Bergeron’s health, Boston will once again need to overcome the challenge. The organization also announced that Brett Ritchie is out due to an infection and Par Lindhom will return to the line-up.

Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney also announced that the team has recalled Providence’s Brendan Guance and Jack Studnicka. Both players have done well down in Providence: Gaunce has netted six goals and five assists so far. Studnicka, who is making his NHL debut tonight, leads the team with nine goals and nine assists.

LITTLE BALL OF STATS

After hitting a rough patch earlier in the month, the Bruins are looking to end November on a strong note. Boston have won their last three games with a wild comeback win over the Minnesota Wild this past Saturday night.

The team saw the return of defenseman Torey Krug, who netted the game winning over-time goal. Brad Marchand, who for the second time was named NHL First Star Of The Week, is having quite the start to his season.

Image result for boston bruins vs montreal canadiens(Photo Credits: USA Today)

The 31-year-old winger leads the team with 39 points and 23 assists. He has nine points with five goals in his last five games. Marchand is also tied for first in the league in Plus-Minus (17) and is third for points. Fellow line-mate David Pastrnak leads the league with 20 goals and power-play goals (11).

With the recent wins, Boston has improved to 15-3-5 and still  leads the Atlantic Division, They are now only second in the league behind the Washington Capitals. In the last 10 games, Boston is 5-2-3. Expect Jaroslav Halak (4-1-3)  in net for the Bruins.  The last time these two teams met, the Habs ended the Bruins winning streak, defeating them 5-4, amidst a controversial offside call.

BLEU, BLANC, ROUGE

Montreal’s Tomas Tatar leads the team in points (20) and in assists (13). Right-winger Brendan Gallagher leads the team with nine goals. The Canadiens are looking to rebound after losing 6-5 to the New York Rangers this past Saturday.

After having a 4-0 lead in the second period, the Rangers stormed back to score three goals. Montreal scored in the third making it 5-3, however, New York netted three more, defeating the Habs.

Image result for boston bruins vs montreal canadiens(Photo Credits: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Canadiens (11-7-5) are currently in third place in the Atlantic Division. Expect Carey Price (10-6-0) in net for the Habs. In their last 10 games, Montreal is 4-3-3. Left-winger Phillip Danault  has six points in his last five games with Nick Suzuki having three goals in his last five games.

PROJECTED LINES BOSTON:

Marchand – Krejci – Pastrnak

DeBrusk – Studnicka – Coyle

Bjork – Kuraly – Heinen

Nordstrom – Lindholm – Wagner (Gaunce)

DEFENSE

Chara – McAvoy

Krug – Carlo

Grzelcyk – Clifton

Moore – Kampfer

Rask

Halak

 

PROJECTED LINES MONTREAL:

Tatar – Danault – Gallagher

Lehkonen – Domi – Suzuki

Hudon – Kotkaniemi – Armia

Cousins – Thompson – Weal

DEFENSE

Chiarot – Weber

Mete – Petry

Reilly – Fleury

Kulak – Folin

Price

Kinkaid

 

WHERE TO WATCH:  ESPN+, NESN

WHEN TO WATCH: Tonight with puck drop at 7:00 PM, Centre Bell- Montreal, Quebec

 

Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 155 that we recorded below! You can find our show on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.

Please subscribe to our new Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube channel! We’d really appreciate the continued support. Click HERE for exciting Black N’ Gold online content!!

 

Bruins Welcome Ovechkin & Co. | Game Preview-11/16

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Image result for boston bruins vs washington capitals

(Photo Credits: NBC Sports)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88

In their second game of a back-to-back, the Boston Bruins flew back home late last night as they ready themselves to face one of the league’s best teams. After snapping a four-game losing slump, the B’s are gearing up for a tough match-up when they play the Washington Capitals at the TD Garden.

Call it what you may, the Caps have been the Bruins kryptonite for a while now with Boston finally slaying that dragon when they narrowly defeated them 1-0 this past February. In the last 20 games played between these two teams,  the Bruins have only won four games. Today’s match-up will undoubtedly be a test for both teams as they each look to place another “W” in the win column.

Post-Game Notes

Washington will be traveling to Boston after losing to the Montreal Canadiens last night at home 5-2. Prior to the game, the Capitals had a 13-game point streak and much like the Bruins will be looking to start a fresh new one tonight. The loss against Montreal was the team’s first in regulation in over a month (their last loss was to the Colorado Avalanche on October 14th).  They are 7-1-1 when facing an Eastern Conference opponent this season so far.

After a scoreless first period, the Canadiens got on board, blanking out the Caps 4-0 at the end of the second period. Washington came up short on their comeback as they netted two goals in the third but never fully recovered. The Caps are now 11-1-2 in their past 14 games played.

Image result for boston bruins vs washington capitals(Photo Credits: Nick Wass/AP Photo)

Despite the four-game losing streak that halted a 10-game point streak for the Bruins, the team is currently the only one in the NHL that has not lost in regulation at home.  After getting the B’s onboard last night against the Toronto Maple Leafs,  forward Charlie Coyle has four points with one goal and three assists. Brad Marchand had quite the night in his 700th NHL career game as he notched two goals, which were the difference makers in a much-needed win for the team.

Quick Stats

The Bruins and the Capitals lead their respective Divisions with Washington having played two more games than Boston. With the loss, the Capitals are now 14-3-4 in 21 games while the Bruins are 12-3-4 in 19 games. Marchand is on pace to break his previous 100-point season. He has now leapfrogged over teammate David Pastrnak in the NHL leader-board with 32 points (third in the league).  Pastrnak still leads the league with 16 goals.

Marchand is fourth in the league with 19 assists; Zdeno Chara is tied for second in the league in plus-minus at 13. Washington goaltender Braden Holtby is tied for second in the league for wins (nine), while Tuukka Rask is tied for ninth with eight wins. John Carlson leads the Capitals team with 31 points and 23 assists. Alex Ovechkin leads with 14 goals.

In the last five games, John Carlson has notched eight points with seven assists. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov has four goals. For the Bruins’ last five games, David Krejci has five points and four assists while Marchand has three goals. Expect Tuukka Rask (8-2-2) in net for the Bruins. The 32-year-old goaltender now has a 2.14 goals-against-average with a .927 save percentage. For Washington, expect Brayden Holtby (9-1-3) in net.  The 30-year-old now has a 3.06 goals-against-average with a .903 save percentage.

There was no morning skate for the Boston Bruins. Here are tonight’s projected lineups:

BOSTON BRUINS:

Marchand–Bergeron–Pastrnak

Bjork–Krejci–Coyle

Frederic–Lindholm–Heinen

Nordstrom– Kuraly–Wagner

Chara– McAvoy

Grzelcyk–Carlo

Vaakanainen– Clifton

Rask

WASHINGTON CAPITALS:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie

Vrana-Kuznetsov-Wilson

Stephenson-Eller-Hathaway

Leipsic-Boyd-Panik

Kempny-Carlson

Orlov-Gudas

Siegenthaler-Jensen

Holtby

 

WHEN TO WATCH: Tonight with puck drop at 7:00PM

WHERE TO WATCH: NESN, ESPN+

Check out our new Black N’ Gold Prospect Podcast episode 5 that we recorded on November 13th, 2019! Our BNG Prospects Pod can be found on the same RSS Feed as our original Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast, which can be found on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.

Please subscribe to our new Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube channel! We’d really appreciate the continued support. Click HERE for exciting Black N’ Gold online content!!

Game Preview: Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers 11/10/19

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Image result for boston bruins vs philadelphia flyers(Photo Credits: Getty Images/NBC Sports)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88

After being fed a full plate of humble pie this past Friday in Detroit, the Boston Bruins are back home as they face the Philadelphia Flyers at the TD Garden. Boston has lost its last two games and will be looking to get back on track.

TEAM UPDATES

Knowing full well they played a lackluster game against Detroit, the boys in Black and Gold were back to work this morning at the Warrior Arena. Both Joakim Nordstrom and Par Lindholm, who have been nursing injuries and infections are back in the lineup tonight. Peter Cehlarik, who has been filling in, will be sent back down to Providence. Steven Kampfer will be a healthy scratch. John Moore was also seen skating in a red non-contact jersey. Brett Ritchie was not seen skating this morning, while Jake DeBrusk continues to be out, as he is nursing a lower-body injury. Charlie Coyle will be playing wing alongside David Krejci.

 

HARD STATS

Despite dropping their last two games, the Bruins currently lead the Atlantic Division with an 11-3-2 record, while the Flyers are 9-5-2. In their last 10 games, Boston is 6-2-2 while Philadelphia is 7-2-1. The loss to Detroit marks the first time that the Bruins have lost consecutive games in regulation this season so far. David Pastrnak saw his 13-game point streak end Friday night after having an assist removed from his record.

The Bruins will have a chance to get their legs and mojo back as they face a Flyers team, who are trying to extend their winning streak to four games. Boston’s Pastrnak is tied for first in the league with 30 points; he also leads in goals (15) and in power-play goals (9). Brad Marchand is third in the league with 18 assists, while Captain Zdeno Chara is also third in the league for plus-minus at 13.

Goaltender Tuukka Rask is now third in the league for goals-against-average (1.99) and is tied at third with a 0.933 save percentage. Expect Jaroslav Halak in net for the Bruins tonight. The 34-year-old goaltender is 4-1-1 with a 2.83 goals-against average and a 0.917 save percentage. This will be the first meeting between the two teams. Expect Carter Hart in net for the Flyers. Hart has a 2-0 record against Boston and is 5-3-1 with a 2.82 goals-against-average and has a 0.889 save percentage.

Image result for boston bruins vs philadelphia flyers(Photo Credits: Getty Images)

Boston is still first in the league on the power-play, however, Philly is slightly better at the penalty kill and is ninth in the league, compared to the Bruins 12th position. Flyers’s Sean Couturier has six points in the last six games, while Boston’s Patrice Bergeron has nine-points in six games. Defenseman Torey Krug has points in his last five games while Brad Marchand has 28 points in his last 15 games.

The Flyers Travis Konecny leads the team with 17 points and assists (10), while Oskar Lindblom leads the team with eight goals. Pastrnak leads the Boston teams in goals (15) and in points (30); Marchand leads the team with 18 assists.

PROJECTED LINEUPS-BOSTON

Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak

Heinen – Krejci – Coyle

Bjork – Lindholm – Senyshyn

Nordstrom – Kuraly – Wagner

 

Chara – Clifton

Krug – Carlo

Grzelcyk – McAvoy

 

Halak

Rask

 

PROJECTED LINEUPS -PHILADELPHIA

Riemsdyk —  Giroux —  Farabee

Lindblom — Couturier — Konecny

Twarynski –Hayes –Voracek

Andreoff –Raffl — Pitlick

 

Provorov –Niskanen

Gostisbehere — Braun

Sanheim — Myers

 

Carter Hart

Brian Elliott

 

WHEN TO WATCH: Tonight with puck drop at 7:00 PM, TD Garden

WHERE TO WATCH: NESN, ESPN+, NBCSP

 

 

Postgame Recap, November 5th | Montreal Defeats Boston 5-4

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Image result for boston bruins vs montreal canadiens(Photo Credits: SF Gate)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter:  @pastagrl88

Old rivalries die hard and tonight things got heated at the Bell Centre as Boston played the second of their back-to-back. The Bruins were looking to carry over their momentum from the previous win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, however lady luck would not be on their side as they played North of the border.

Game Recap

Montreal opened the first period up as Victor Mete got the Habs on board with a wrist shot at 1:13. However, with five minutes left in the first,  the Bruins would tie things up as David Pastrnak slapped his 15th goal of the season past Carey Price.  As defensive skills were breaking down  Boston’s end, Tomas Tatar would net a wrist shot in the Bruins goal, making the score 2-1. Boston would try to continue to find their legs, but the Habs took advantage as Paul Byron cushioned the lead late in the first, making the score 3-1.

With the second period underway, the boys in Black and Gold would mount a comeback when Connor Clifton sent a wrister in the Habs net. Boston would later tie in the second as Anders Bjork netted one in after a pass from Charlie McAvoy. Unfortunately, seconds later Victor Mete would score his second of the night, putting Montreal back in the lead 4-3.

Things started to shift for the Bruins as they opened up in the third period. Sean Kuraly would tie the game 4-4  when he sent a wrist shot in the back of the Habs net. With momentum swinging back and forth, Boston looked to have taken the lead when Charlie Coyle jammed one in, however, the goal was reversed for being offside after a coach’s challenge.

With the score still tied at 4-4, Montreal would once again gain the lead when Ben Chiarot sent one sailing in Boston’s net. The Bruins made one final push, only to close the game with a final score of 5-4. Tonight’s loss marks their second regulation loss of the season as Montreal ended their six-game win streak.

Game Stats

The Bruins are still first in the Atlantic Division with an 11-2-2 record with Montreal improving to an 8-5 record, fifth in the Atlantic Division. David Pastrnak continues to sizzle as he extended his game streak to 13 games. Tuukka Rask made 26 saves while Montreal’s Carey Price made 21 saves. Boston had 25 shots on goal while Montreal had 31.

History In Montreal

Bruins Captian Zdeno Chara hit a historical milestone as he played his 1,500 game tonight,  becoming the 21st player and sixth defenseman in NHL history to play that many games. Chara made his NHL debut in 1997 when he suited up for the New York Islanders.

Image result for boston bruins vs montreal canadiens zdeno chara(Photo Credits: Harry How/Getty Images)

The 42-year-old  Slovakian-native is in good company; he joins Hall of Famers Ray Bourque, Chris Chelios, Scott Stevens, Larry Murphy, and Nicklas Lidstrom as the only defensemen to hit 1,500 games. Chara is one of the very few active players to hit that benchmark. He is also the third player not born in North America to reach that record (Jaromir Jagr and Nicklas Lidstrom being the other two).

“It’s very humbling. It’s something that I will cherish and remember for the rest of my life. Obviously very proud of it too…I have so many people that I should be thanking – obviously starting with my parents. They did such a great job of raising me and so much sacrifice for me to be able to play hockey.

“My family, my wife, my children – there are so many people. I’ve been very lucky. Very grateful that I’ve been able to be in the right place at the right time and get to know some very special people along the way.

“All of my teammates, coaches…they’ve been tremendously helpful, and I wouldn’t be playing the game without them. It’s a special, special night.”

Boston will have a few days off as they travel to face the Detroit Red Wings this Friday at the Little Ceasars Arena.

WHEN TO WATCH: Friday, November 8th with puck drop at 7:30 PM

WHERE TO WATCH: NESN, NHLN, FS-O

 

 

 

Boston Bruins Defeat New York Rangers 7-4 | Game Recap

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Image result for boston bruins vs new york rangers(Photo Credits: Mary Altaffer/ Boston Herald)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88

It was a Sunday night match-up between two Original-Six teams and each was coming into tonight’s game on a high note, as both the Rangers and Bruins won their last games.  However, it would be Boston who would come out the victor as they defeated New York on their home ice.

GAME RECAP

With the puck drop at Madison Square Garden, the Bruins would start the first period on a power-play after Patrice Bergeron was tripped by Rangers Brady Skjei.  As both teams continued their physical play and Boston having missed chances on Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist, it would be New York that would strike first. In what would be Mike Haley’s first career goal with the Rangers, he would get a backhand off a rebound at 10:19 to give the Blueshirts a 1-0 lead.

After a tough collision with Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, Rangers center Mika Zibanejad suffered an upper-body injury and did not return for the remainder of the game. Eleven seconds into the second period, Patrice Bergeron would grab the rebound after David Pastrnak was tripped into Lundqvist.

With the puck loose in the crease, Bergeron would tap one in net. Amid the confusion, the goal would be upheld as officials reviewed the play. With the ruling on the ice standing, Boston would be tied at 1-1 and the game would subsequently shift into the Bruins’ favor.

In what would prove to be a frustrating second period for the Rangers,   Brad Marchand would find enough space to squeeze in a backhander past Lundqvist, giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead at 1:08 in the second.  Playing with speed around the net, Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy would send a feed to Charlie Coyle who nailed a quick wrist shot in the Rangers’ net. With seven minutes left in the period, Marchand would snipe a wrist shot on the glove side of Lundqvist, making the score 4-1.

Goaltender Alexander Georgiev would take over Lundqvist in net for the Rangers at the start of the third period. Bruins’ Par Lindholm did not return to the game. In the first few moments in the third, Captain Zdeno Chara would send a rocket past Georgiev, making the score 5-1.

As both teams traded hits and giveaways, New York would battle back and with a beautiful set-up by Artemis Panarin, the Rangers would get on board as Pavel Buchnevich tucked one by Halak.

Boston would strike again as Bergeron sent one in net after a feed from linemate Brad Marchand, making the score 6-2. With the Bruins once again on the penalty kill, the Rangers’ Chris Kreider would find the loose puck to send it past Halak.

Seconds later and with a little over a minute left, Brady Skjei would find the rebound, sending a quick shot in the Bruins net. With 44.7 seconds left in the third, Patrice Bergeron would nail his third of the night.

FINAL SCORE: 7-4 Boston

SHOTS ON GOAL: 43-BOSTON; 29-NEW YORK

TONIGHT’S STATS

Boston went 0-2 on the power-play and New York went 1-5 on the power-play. Lundqvist made 27 saves on 31 shots before being pulled at the end of the second.  Alexander Georgiev made nine saves on 11 shots. Bruins Jaroslav Halak made 25 saves on 29 shots and is now 3-1 in five games played.

With Bergeron’s hat-trick, the top line had 13 points combined: Marchand had two goals with three assists. Pastrnak had five assists and continued his game point-streak.

The Bruins are now 8-1-2 and have won three straight games. New York is 3-5-1 and is seventh in the Metro Division. Boston is currently second in the Atlantic Division.

BRUINS NEXT GAME: Tuesday, October 29th, BOSTON vs. SAN JOSE SHARKS @ TD GARDEN, puck drop 7:00 PM

RANGERS NEXT GAME: Tuesday, October 29th, NEW YORK vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING @ MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, puck drop 7:30 PM

 

 

 

 

Boston Bruins Vs. New York Rangers In Alumni Game

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Image result for ray bourque boston bruins(Photo Credits: Bennington Banter/Berkshire Eagle/Matthew Sprague)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88

It was announced that this coming Saturday, October 26th former Boston Bruins players will participate in the inaugural “Face-Off For Heroes” Alumni Classic match-up, where they will face the New York Rangers alumni. The event will take place at the Bentley Arena in Waltham, MA at 1:00 PM

The Bruins team will feature Hall of Famers Ray Bourque, Joe Mullen, Brad Park, Jean Ratelle, Brian Leetch and Rod Gilbert as either players or coaches. Along with the group, other players being featured are: Rick Middleton, Reggie Lemelin, Ken Linsmen, Andy Brickley, Bob Beers, Andrew Raycroft, Ken Hodge Jr. and Bob Sweeney.

Other notable players include: Andrew Alberts, Dave Shaw, Bruce Crowder, Frank Simonetti, Mike Mottau , Mark Mowers, Dan LaCouture, Adam Graves, Ron Duguay, Brad Richards, Brian Mullen, Jeff Beukeboom, Stephane Matteau, Jay Wells, Steve Eminger, Colton Orr, Tom Laidlaw, and Steve Valiquette.

Picture(Photo Credits: Bruins Alumni)

Benefits will go the Boston Bruins Foundation, the Navy SEAL Foundation and the Warrior for Life Fund. The Life Fund helps military families of every branch that have to deal with hardships of the effects of war along with helping those coping with challenges with disabilities, combat and extended deployment overseas through hockey.

They’re a sponsor of the Navy SEAL Foundation and support all active duty, retired veterans along with their families. Programs offered aim to provide both venues and infrastructure towards service members and families long-term.

The Fund was originally founded as the Virginia Beach Hockey Club (VBHC) Challenge team in 2012. Its main focus was providing the Hampton Roads military community a place to develop a positive team atmosphere to those that wanted to learn how to play hockey.  One of the other aspects of the VBHC is “promoting camaraderie, competition, and athleticism to those with and without disabilities. The only requirement was a strong work ethic, dedication, and a positive attitude.”

The game itself will have three running time periods and have three-minute intermission in between. The 1st period will be 20 minutes, while both the  2nd and 3rd will be 15 minutes.  Boston Bruins own official anthem singer Todd Angilly will sing prior to the game.

Anyone looking to purchase tickets may do so through the Warrior Fund Website by clicking here. If you’re in the military or first responder, tickets are free. There will also be a raffle that the  NHL Alumni & Boston Bruins Foundation will run. A winner will be picked and they’ll have the opportunity to win some great prizes: a chance to outfit a youth, high school or prep school team of their choice with new CCM hockey equipment and win 4 Suite tickets to a Boston Bruins Game. The game will take place on November 5th in Montreal at the Bell Center and the winner will have a chance to tour the Center.

Raffle Tickets can be purchased directly by clicking here.

The Boston Bruins Alumni is “a non-profit organization made up of past players of the Boston Bruins.  The Alumni actively coordinates Benefit Hockey Games to raise money for various charities and youth groups.  You can check out their schedule for upcoming games.