Author: senatorevan007

Bruins Highlight NHL Fan Choice Awards

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IMG_6030(Photo Credit: NHL.com)

By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael

Voting for the NHL Fan Choice Awards is now live and the Boston Bruins have some great memories and moments to choose from. Dare I say, they’re well-suited for the accolades, just like David Pastrnak.

Speaking of Pasta, he’s up for Best Dressed for his always stylish (and loud) looks both pre- and post-game.  Here’s a sampling of styles to help convince you how winning this award will fit him perfectly:

And who could forget Tuukka Rask’s truly miraculous blocker save that still gets saved by social media stalwarts the hockey world over even to this day! The @NHLBruins Twitter account certainly wants to ensure “Two U’s, Two K’s, Two Points” gets a lot more than two votes for his Save of the Year nominee:

Then there’s the Best Mascot category with “Blades” right at the top — and not just because of the alphabetical listing. Anyone who knows the Bruins, volunteers in the community or visits the TD Garden can often see “Blades” cheering up the kids around the arena, donating his time, energy and efforts to worthy charities and causes, and supporting players and personnel alike with fun behind-the-scenes content!

 

Rounding out the B’s representation in the fan voting is the TD Garden itself for Best Building in the league (even if the owners are not on anyone’s “support list” at the moment — and rightfully so). Love it or hate it — I’ll always be partial to the old Boston Garden myself. Or, as my late grandfather called it, The “Gahhhhhhhhhden.” Nevertheless, I still have many fond memories at TD, particularly the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, so I can support a sentimental vote here.

And you can show YOUR support for not only the B’s nominees (who are the bee’s knees) mentioned above, but also your Black N’ Gold hockey team by visiting our pages and clicking on the links below!

Check out the latest BN’G Podcast sponsored by BetOnline.AG:

And don’t forget to follow and support our BN’G Youtube content here:

Broadcasting Bobby: Bruins Celebrate Orr’s Cup-Winning Goal 50 Years Later!

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Superman on skates: The aura of Bobby Orr | CBC Sports(Photo Credit: CBC.ca)

By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael

“Cleared, but not out. Bobby Orr… behind the net to Sanderson — ORR! BOBBY ORR! SCORES! And the Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup!”

When heralded hockey broadcaster Dan Kelly made that famous call on May 10th, 1970 (not to take anything away from the brilliant voice of B’s broadcast legend Fred Cusick), little did Kelly or anyone else know just how memorable or iconic it would become.

Now, fifty years to the day later, the Boston Bruins organization is celebrating it — and the team’s epic Stanley Cup-winning ’69-’70 season altogether — by asking fans to recreate how they would’ve voiced “The Goal.”

The clever and creative social media campaign began on the B’s Instagram page but has quickly flown (just like Bobby after scoring that unforgettable OT winner) over to Twitter, Facebook and beyond.

In case you’d like to hear “The Call” in its entirety… look no further than another great online resource: Youtube!

 

As for this lifelong Bruins fan and former sports broadcaster, This Date in Bruins History will always be a special one for me… even if I didn’t get to experience it live and in person. It was the moment my dad and grandfather chose to introduce me to B’s fandom. It was how I learned to bleed BLACK N’ GOLD for the first time — by watching Orr score over and over and over.

And with so many fellow fans and Boston buddies doing the same thing right now, it’s as if Orr’s moment in history has once again becoming living history…

… As lifelike as the stunning statue soaring high above the ground outside TD Garden itself!

Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 177 that we recorded below on 5-3-20!

And please subscribe to our new Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube channel! We’d really appreciate the continued support.

Click HERE for exciting new Black N’ Gold online content!!

 

On This Day In Bruins History: A Large Helping Of Pasta!

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Image(Photo Credit: NHL.com)

By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael

Who’s hungry for a historical helping of PASTA this April 14th for OTDIBH?

Well, that’s exactly what the fine folks in the NHL’s Public Relations social media suite are doing for dinner today, per their appetizingly awesome tweet that Bruins fans should need no reminder of:

THIS DATE (April 14th) IN 2018:
@pastrnak96
(21 years, 324 days) of the
@NHLBruins
became the youngest in NHL history to record 6 points in a playoff game in a 7-3 W vs. TOR. He bested the previous mark held by Wayne Gretzky (22 years, 81 days). #NHLStats

Wow, did David Pastrnak ever serve up a record-setting performance two years go in game two! Anytime you can best The Great One in any hockey capacity, especially in the playoffs, then you’re a special (perhaps even generational) player. And with it being against the Leafs — Boston’s seemingly perennial first-round playoff opponent — it was all the more deliciously satisfying.

 

Add a side of “Hat Trick” to the order just before closing time and you’ve got a complete playoff meal courtesy of perhaps the most electric player in the game (especially in Black N’ Gold) over the past few seasons — one worthy of the franchise record company kept with the likes of Espo & Nifty as outlined below.

Let’s just hope the 2019-2020 second season picks up sometime this Summer because what Pasta and his Bruins teammates have done thus far is nothing short of fulfilling, indeed!  

 

Here’s hoping they’ll all be having a nightcap right out of the STANLEY CUP soon to wash down (and celebrate) all that Pasta!

Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 174 that we recorded below on 4-12-20! 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!!

On This Day In Bruins History: Birthday Boy Bernie Parent!

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Bernie Parent Gallery | The Trading Card Database

( Photo Credit: Trading Card Database )

By: Evan Michael  |  Follow Me On Twitter @00EvanMichael

“It’s been a beautiful ride. It’s just awesome. You have to remember to be grateful.”

That’s how Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender (class of ’84) Bernie Parent described his award-winning — and Cup-winning — career during the NHL Awards ceremony in 2017 — a career that began in Boston when he debuted for the Bruins way back during the 1965-66 season.

And on April 3rd, 1966, during the last game of his rookie season, Parent led the B’s to victory over the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. In doing so, Parent became the first EVER Bruins goaltender to win a game –as a rookie– on his birthday.

And with today being April 3rd, members of the Parent family have been celebrating Bernie’s B-day week with some wonderful posts and pictures online from his B-spoked and storied playing past, making this both a momentous and celebratory OTDIBH feature!

Of course, Parent would go on to celebrate an even bigger milestone years later as one of the best goaltenders in Philadelphia Flyers history (not to mention NHL history where he’s ranked No. 63 on the “All-Time” list according to the Hockey News): winning the Stanley Cup.

And he did it against his former club in Black N’ Gold. From an article written for Philadelphia Magazine in 2008:

It’s May 19, 1974, game six of his first Stanley Cup finals, and he’s nine seconds away from shutting out the Boston Bruins at the Spectrum. Nine seconds away from Philadelphia’s first hockey championship and his own immortality. There’s a face-off at the opposite end of the ice from Parent’s net, leaving Boston almost no hope of breaking the 1-0 shutout and forcing overtime — until the puck ends up on the stick of Bobby Orr, the Bruins’ fearsome sniper. Parent didn’t see Orr blast a shot the length of the rink, just wide of the Flyers goal, because Parent was staring up at the clock, watching time run out (SEE BELOW).

“I didn’t know where the puck was, man!” he says. “If his shot is on net, it’s a goal. Who knows what happens then. Maybe we don’t win a championship. It just shows you how the universe works — you believe, you believe, you believe! The question is, is there a power that takes over? My answer is, absolutely yes!”

                                         Philadelphia Magazine – “Legends: Bernie Parent Has A Secret”

How’s this for a powerful takeaway: all great careers have to start somewhere. And the Bruins can be quite historically happy and proud that hockey legend Bernie Parent’s began in Boston!

Stay tuned to the Black N’ Gold blog for more OTDIBH (On This Day In Bruins History) articles as our break from hockey continues into the Spring — but hopefully not all Summer!

CHECK OUT THE LATEST BN’G PODCAST BELOW:

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On This Day In Bruins History: Jacques Plante!

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A Look at the Bruins in the Hockey Hall of Fame(Photo Credit: NHL.com)

By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael

It’s not too often a legendary Montreal Canadiens goaltender can also share the spotlight in Boston Bruins history. Even if only for a minute.

That’s exactly what happened when NHL Hall of Famer Jacques Plante was traded to the B’s in the twilight of his hockey career in early 1973. And on this day — March 28th — he won his final game in the NHL, leading the Bruins to victory over the Rangers 6-3.

Plante was 44 years old at the time of the victory making him the oldest Bruins goalie to win an NHL game. In another fun historical fact, he’s one year younger than the man who owns the record as the oldest ever NHL goalie: Maurice “Moe” Roberts. And way  back when in 1925 at the ripe age of 19, Roberts made his professional hockey debut for… you guessed it… the Boston Bruins!

I couldn’t have Plante-d a better nugget of B’s history as we March towards April. Stay tuned to the Black N’ Gold blog for more OTDIBH (On This Day In Bruins History) articles as our break from hockey continues into the Spring — but hopefully not all Summer!

CHECK OUT THE LATEST BN’G PODCAST BELOW:

And follow, like and share our Bruins-related YouTube videos here, including fun and fan-friendly behind-the-scenes podcast content:

 

 

On This Day In Bruins History: The Kraut Line!

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Image result for bruins kraut line(Photo Credit: Bruins Pinterest)

By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael

Since so many of us hockey and Bruins fans are keeping our social distance during our current COVID-19 crisis, let’s take a look back at the “distant” past of our favorite franchise with a new feature series: “On This Day In Bruins History”!

Thanks to heralded hockey scribe Mike Commito, here’s the ideal way to drop the puck on these celebrated stories of B’s history — with a St. Patrick’s Day emphasis on some ‘Kraut, a perfectly palatable delicatessen for such an occasion.

And of course, that means deliciously writing about the famously formidable KRAUT LINE of Milt Schmidt, Bobby Bauer and Woody Dumart who, on March 17th eighty years ago, ended the NHL season as the top three scorers in all of hockey.

Our modern-day version of Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak — nicely nicknamed The Perfection Line — could definitely appreciate the perfect scoring skill of The Krauts, all of whom helped lead the Bruins to two Stanley Cups in three years — 1939 and 1941, respectively.

Not only were these three remarkable B’s players admired and championed by their teammates, but also by their most heated opponents — The Montreal Canadiens.

In February of 1942, only days before Schmidt, Bauer and Dumart were scheduled to join the Royal Canadian Airforce and serve their country during World War II, their fellow countrymen from North of the Border did this after the B’s beat the Canadiens 8-1 at the Boston Garden:

 

Talk about a brilliant Black N’ Gold tribute from the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge! Stay tuned for even more historical tributes to the B’s as we continue to update this blog with even more “On This Day In Bruins History” feature stories as we await the restart of our favorite game.

Check out our Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube page by clicking on the link above!

And please like, support and share our latest BN’G Podcast below:

Bruins Superfan Jill Murphy Recognized By Upper Deck Hockey

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(Photo Credit: @jmurphx11)

By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael

“I’m going to think of you yelling at me on TV when I turn the puck over.”

That’s what Bruins superstar Brad Marchand said to his superfan Jillian “Jill” Murphy after visiting her at Boston Children’s Hospital last March. And as the rest of the season — and now a full year — unfolded, so too did their relationship, both in person and on Twitter, as documented by B’s writer Eric Russo in a heartwarming and entertaining feature story he shared with the Black N’ Gold fanbase.

Now, Murphy needs more than just Marchy to help her earn an even more prestigious recognition: Upper Deck’s #UltimateMVP award!

That’s right, she needs YOU — the fans of the Boston Bruins, and hockey in general — to show her some love just like he did AND like she does on a daily basis for the B’s:

Speaking of likes… that’s what it will take to make her UD’s top fan! People need to click on the tweet she shared from @UpperDeckHockey, LIKE IT by clicking on the “heart” button and then telling others via shares and comments to do the same!

As Russo pointed out in his feature piece on Murphy, she suffers from a genetic connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which limits her mobility and requires the use of a wheelchair. And it was Marchand who sent her plenty of hearts when he invited the Murphy’s to not only experience the B’s up close and personal on TD Garden Ice, but also in the locker room post game one year ago this week:

Now, with the calendar flipped to 2020, Murphy has her sights set on another goal (and perhaps Marchand, too, if he can stop “the turnovers” she so comically chirped him about online): becoming OUR Boston Bruins MVP online! And as you can see from her very inspiring and supportive Twitter account, she’s definitely more than qualified for the job.

So, what say you Black N’ Gold brethren? Can we help Murph MARCH to the top of the #MyMVP competition at Upper Deck Hockey? I most certainly think we can. After all, the puck stops here!

Image(Photo Credit: Upper Deck Hockey)

Check out our latest Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast!

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Bergeron Joins Elite Bruins Company

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Image result for patrice bergeron bruins goal(Photo Credit: YouTube)

By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael

“Patrice Bergeron. That’s it. That’s the tweet.”

Or, in this case, story. And further adding to his storied Spoked-B career, No. 37 for the Black N’Gold just joined an ELITE group of Bruins scorers.

Because Bergeron accomplishes so much so often, it’s easy to forget just how amazing some of his milestone moments truly are (New England community & league leadership notwithstanding) — from the overall number of games played to the oftentimes player of the game status. But his most recent accolade BEARS some highlighting and not just for the illustrious company he now keeps with names like Neely & McNab, Espo, The Chief and Nifty.

It’s for the workmanlike — dare I say, yeoman-like — way Bergeron has earned his sixth 30-goal season that we should tip our caps (or should I say helmets). Without the above tweet, I don’t think many of us would have even blinked an eye when we heard it. And that’s because Bergy is ALWAYS at his consistent best, whether he’s scoring goals, setting up others or shutting down his fellow forwards.

 

Here are the five previous seasons where No. 37 eclipsed the coveted 30-goal plateau:

PATRICE BERGERON SEASON GOAL TOTALS:

2005-2006 – 31 goals

2013-2014 – 30 goals

2015-2016 – 32 goals

2017-2018 – 30 goals

2018-2019 – 32 goals

And notice the near-decade gap in between season’s one and two of his historic marker! Lest we all forget that Bergeron began his Bruins career as a babe — only 18 years old. And then had nearly three playing seasons combined taken off his tally sheet due to injury and concussion concerns over the next few years.  So LONGEVITY goes hand-in-hand with consistency when it comes to the courageous B’s co-captain.

Speaking of consistency, Bergeron is only a “hat trick” away from accomplishing yet another career achievement — most goals in a season. And “B”-lieve you me, when he’s putting up goals AND assists, then watch out competition.

This is exactly how he hopes to reward the B’s — and in turn how his teammates hope to reward him… by producing on the ice and hoisting up ONE MORE CUP to round out an incredible decade of two-way dominance!

Check out our latest Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast!

And follow us on YouTube for all the latest Bruins related content both in Boston and Providence!

 

Bruins Champion 8-Spoked Salute!

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8Spoke(Photo Credit: Boston Bruins)

By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael

Giving appreciation to our military heroes and veterans is something the Boston Bruins organization not only takes pride in, but also champions year after year and season after season. And for the remainder of the 2019-2020 season, the franchise is looking to recognize local and New England-area Armed Forces members –Active Duty, Guard or Reserve — who are exactly those champions!

And *YOU can nominate them by doing the following, per the Bruins website:

The Bruins and the Massachusetts State Lottery are proud to salute the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. At select games throughout the 2019-20 season, a member or members of the Armed Forces [Active Duty, Guard or Reserve] will receive the 8-Spoked Salute for their service to our country. Selected winners will receive four (4) complimentary tickets to a Bruins home game and a live welcome on Garden HDX (video scoreboard). If you would like to nominate a Service Member of the Community, fill out the form below. Entries for selection must include a valid reason as to why an individual should be selected for this honor. Last year, the Lottery gave back over $1.1 billion to the Commonwealth, providing essential local aid for all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.

The B’s and the MA Lottery have partnered up before to salute our nation’s heroes, with the Black N’ Gold tipping their helmets to those who wear navy, green, tan, camouflage and of course red, white & blue! The video below shows just how up-close-and-personal our service members can get to the players during such games as Military Appreciation Night and the 8-Spoked Salute:

 

The Bruins’ organization also has a proud history during the 8-Spoked-Salute games of honoring those service members we’ve lost while fighting for our freedoms. The team has even surprised military families with reunions on TD Garden ice:

It’s one of those occasions where sport and sacrifice intertwine to form a bond that is honored by all — no matter your politics, passions or pursuits. And, in the case of the Bruins, that intertwining involves 8 spokes, bringing even more value, sentiment and meaning to the beloved and bespoked B’s!

*Again, YOU can send in your nominations here: https://www.nhl.com/bruins/community/8-spoked-salute   

Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 168 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 “Leap” Into Franchise History Books!

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Image result for boston bruins sean kuraly(Photo Credit: NBC4)

By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael

While the “Kura-leap” by Boston Bruins forward Sean Kuraly can be experienced often (as pictured above), the B’s experiencing an actual LEAP DAY game is few and far between.

However, their February 29th, 2020 tilt against the New York Islanders on the road at the venerable Nassau Coliseum (well, that’s what it used to be called anyway) proved to be as entertaining as it was memorable; as enjoyable as it was historic; and as engaging as it was important.

That’s because the Bruins — for the first time in franchise history — won a game on Leap Year’s extra day while away from Boston. Their impressive 4-0 road win improved their overall Leap Day record to a now winning 5-4-1.

I had this game Marked On My Bruins Calendar since the Fall for exactly this fun reason: could the B’s end February — and in turn jump start their Spring playoff push — with a big W on a calendar-quirky day that rarely ever falls in line with their schedule. To wit:

BOSTON BRUINS LEAP YEAR HISTORY:

1940 – W, 4-2 over Montreal

1944 – L, 7-3 @ Toronto

1948 – L, 5-1 @ Chicago Blackhawks

1956 – L, 4-2 @ New York Rangers

1964 – W, 2-1 over Detroit Red Wings

1968 – W, 4-1 over Toronto Maple Leafs

1976 – W, 5-3 over Vancouver Canucks

1992 – T, 5-5 with Washington Capitals

2000 – L, 5-1 to Ottawa Senators

2020 – W, 4-0 over New York Islanders

Only ten Leap Day games since 1940 have lined up with the Bruins battling it out on the 29th of February. But for today’s historic happenings, it was well worth it. Multiple point games from Torey Krug and Long Island homecoming king Charlie McAvoy (well, that’s how the crowd cheered for him every time he touched the puck), as well as the 49th shutout of Tuukka Rask’s career highlighted only some of the successful on-ice work the B’s brought to the isle.

Now it’s time for Boston to focus on adding some extra hardware to their trophy case as the team gears up for a huge final few weeks of the regular season. The only thing extra they’ll need now is energy and rest because when it comes to the rest of the schedule, they may just want to leap forward over it.

The Lightning strike twice during the first week of March followed by some big Original Six divisional match-ups against the always pesky Red Wings and potential playoff partners (again?) the Maple Leafs. Then there’s that whole West Coast Kick road trip through California!

But if making history is any indicator of how well the B’s are performing this season, then expect a final stretch of hockey that could set the Black N’ Gold up for the ultimate historical payback: returning to the Stanley Cup finals and winning one year removed from losing — something even rarer than a Leap Day “W”.

I’d jump for that!

Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 167 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!!