Peverley Out 4-6 Weeks

Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli announced Friday that forward Rich Peverley will miss 4-6 weeks with a third-degree MCL sprain in his right knee. Peverley injured his knee in a collision with Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill Wednesday night and returned to Boston for testing Thursday.

God Hal Gill still finds ways to piss me off. I hated him when he was with the Bruins, he is in trade rumors with the Bruins, and now he took out my favorite player onthe Bruins. Die Hal Gill Die.

The Bruins are going to be hurting without Horton and Peverley. This could push them to make some kind of deal for a winger.

Will Bruins Make A Trade?

The NHL trade deadline is Monday, February 27, 2012, and the Bruins have been talking like they are going to make some kind of move. Last year they brought in Kaberle (bust), Peverley, and Kelly. Those Peverley and Kelly were steals and played huge parts in their Cup run. This year the Bruins could be looking to do the same.

There are two rumors going around today. The first one is started because Rick Nash reportedly listed the teams he'd be willing to do to (he has a no trade clause). The list includes the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs. The cost will be high for a guy like this. Blue Jackets are rumored to want "at least one young roster player along with a combination of top prospects and quality draft picks". Nash is only 27 years old, so maybe it would be worth it, but I don't see the Bruins doing it. He is really good, but I don't think the Bruins need to go out and change there team/future this dramatically.

Another name that has come up is 41-year-old Ducks forward Teemu Selanne. When I read this I have to admit I was pumped. I love the older guys I knew as a kid. The thing with Selanne is he is still damn good. He has totaled 18 goals and 33 assists for 51 points this season, which is 4 more points then the Bruins leader (Bergeron). I also think the cost could be lower. He is the face of the Ducks franchise, but he is nearing the end and might be interested in making one more run (like Rechhi). He also has a no-trade clause, so they would have to sell him on the idea. There is no word on what the Ducks might want, but my hope is that they continue to slide in the standing (currently 8 points out of playoff spot) and then will be "forced" to make some kind of move for the future.

If you go by the stats the Bruins actually could be more interested in bringing in another defenseman, because they are actually 1st in the East in goals per game, yet 14th in goals against. Yet, I really like the Bruins defense and if they could make a move to bring in a guy like Selanne to replace a guy like Benoit Pouliot, who I have had just about enough of even though he had a goal last night, I think it could be a huge upgrade. As always it's all about cost, but if they could give up a prospect (Caron, and maybe some kind of pick) I would be very interested.

Bruins @ Canadiens Preivew

The Bruins are just 6-7-1 in their last 14 games, and have been shut out in 3 of their last 6 games. Now the Bruins have to start their season high 6 game road trip against their rival Montreal.

The good thing about the Bruins is that they usually win the game after they lose. It is going to be tough playing on back-to-back tonight, and I would assume Rask will be starting tonight.

The Bruins goaltending hasn't been as good lately, but I am more concerned about the offense. Price is a hell of a goalie, and I think this will be a low scoring game.

The good news is the Bruins have this teams' number. They have won 3 in a row, and I think they pull one out late tonight.

Bruins win 3-2
Player of the Game: Seguin (really needs to show back up)
Game starts at 7:30pm

Bruins Give Boychuk 3 Year Extension

Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk has agreed to a three-year contract extension. The deal is worth an annual average value of $3.36 million.

Let me start by saying I like Boychuk a lot. He is tough, and has the 4th highest +/- on the team. Still, the Bruins really overpaid here in my opinion. Boychuk is replacable, and I don't see anyother team throwing around this kind of money for a middle of the road defenseman. Maybe I am wrong, because I don't have the best handle on what NHL players are worth, but the fact is he is 28 years old and is just now starting to be a full time player. He has (in my opinion) peaked, and is the best he is going to be, and now you're going to pay him 3.36 million/year? Seems high to me.

Rangers @ Bruins Preview

Big game for the Bruins tonight, as they take on the Rangers at the Garden. The Rangers are in first place in the East, leading the Bruins by 7 points. These teams were only separated by a point or two for awhile, until the Bruins hit a recent rough patch.

Bruins haven't won back to back in over a month, they have a chance to do so tonight, and send a message to the rest of the league that they are not starting to fall off. The Rangers have won three in a row at Boston, and Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has owned the Bruins in his career going 17-5-2 with a 1.51 GAA and five shutouts.

I am hoping Thomas is in net tonight, but there is no official word yet (will update when there is). I wish I could say I have a good feeling about this game, but the Bruins just haven't looked very good, and going against a hot goalie isn't going to help. One thing no one seems to be talking about is how much Seguin has fallen off. In his last 6 games he has 1 point. You have to wonder if he is losing his legs. He didn't have to play much last year, and has had to log some serious ice time this year. It is not talked about much in hockey, but you have to wonder if he has hit the wall at all.

Rangers win 2-1 (OT)
Player of the Game: Henrik Lundqvist
Game starts at 7pm

Nathan Horton Has Major Setback

We wrote earlier that Horton was getting closer to making a comeback. He was able to ride a bike, and had even gotten a little time of the ice...

"He's been pulled back," Julien said. "He's got some symptoms, so we pulled him back. That's why I said as far as for me to come out every and [say there's a] step forward, a step backward. He's back to square one and we're giving him some time here. Those symptoms, once he got back on the ice, came back."

Terrible news, but that's what happens with these concussion, which we know all to well with what happened to Savard. There is obviously no timetable now, and to be honest I would be shocked if we saw him again this season. Once again, this is something the NHL has to figure out how to control. You'll never stop it, but this is happening too much, to too many good players.

This Tim Thomas Story Is Getting Annoying

Tim Thomas is at it again, this time he is doing it through his Facebook page...

“I Stand with the Catholics in the fight for Religious Freedom.

‘In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up."

-- by Martin Niemöller, prominent German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor, best known as the author of the poem First they came....’”

He seems to have something on his mind, but when reports ask him about it he says "That's my personal life,” he said. “I won't be talking about that. It has absolutely nothing to do with the game of hockey.” Of course he is right, and it really sounded like what the Bruins wanted him to say. I can actually picture Neely going to him and saying, "Listen, you can believe whatever you want, but keep it out of the locker room".

The problem here is that once again he has to know how this is going to go with the media. His teammates are now going to be asked about him everyday the rest of the year. Very little of that will have to do with his play. It'll be what do you think of this view and that view. Once again, he has the right to do this, but if you're asking me what's best for the team, I don't think this is it.

On top of that it's really never a good idea to compare things to the Holocaust. America is not turning into Nazi Germany. I will admit my bias here, because religion in general pisses me off when it has anything to do with government, and in general I hate everything about the bible belt.

Thomas has the right to do this. I have less of a problem with this (other then stupidly comparing this to the Holocaust) then I had with him ditching the team at the White House appearance. It's his Facebook page, he can right whatever he'd like, but as a team leader he should know what comes next, and this is just a stupid distraction and in my opinion again is a selfish act. I am sick of having to talk about his politics and how if affects the team, and their poor play of late isn't going to make this story go away any faster.

Sabres 6 Bruins 0

I found it odd that Rask started this game with the success Thomas has had against Buffalo, and that feeling didn't go away as Rask let up 3 goals on 10 shots and was pulled (dropped to 0-3-1 in his past four games allowing 13 goals). Thomas wasn't great either letting up 3 goals on 19 shots, but you can't really blame him for that since he really didn't think he would be playing tonight.

Ryan Miller made 36 saves to earn his third shutout of the season and second in three games. He is on fire right now, and you just knew he would play the Bruins tough after the incident with Lucic earlier in the year. What did surprise me is the Sabres came out fighting, and for the first time all year the Bruins really didn't find a spark from it. Usually the second the gloves drop, from that point on the Bruins are in high gear.

I worry the Bruins have hit a wall. They don't seem to be playing with the same speed and accuracy they had earlier in the year (5-6-1 in their past 12 games). I have said it many times that it is really tough for a team to play this many games in a year after going to the Cup. The Bruins legs might just be tired, but they are going to need to find a way to get over that before the playoffs.

The Bruins are off until Saturday with they play Nashville.

Bruins @ Sabres Preview (UPDATED)

The Bruins are just 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, and are running into a Buffalo team that has a red hot goalie right now. Miller has won three of his last four starts with a 1.18 goals-against average and one shutout. He should have all the fire he will need tonight, as this will be the first time he is back in net since Lucic knocked him out on Nov. 12.

The good news is that I think Thomas will be back in net tonight, as he seems like he is starting to roll again. Thomas has won four of his last five starts, and is -0-2 in his last six meetings with the Sabres.

Boston was going to hit some kind of wall at some point. You can't play this many games over the course of a year and not hit it. I hope they can pull this game out tonight, but I am pretty worried that this is kind of a trap game. Buffalo is going to be all fired up for this game, and I hope the Bruins are too. I actually think the dumbest thing the Sabres can do is come out and start a fight early, because that seems to light a fire under the Bruins. Either way, it's gonna be a close one.

Bruins win 3-2 (OT)
Player of the Game: Seguin
Game starts at 7:30pm

***UPDATE***

Rask is in net. Don't have a good feeling at all anymore.

Bruins lose 3-2.

Nathan Horton Finally Getting Better

We have been waiting to hear when Horton will be able to return the Bruins from his most recent concussion. The latest report says that he is back on the ice skating, but there isn't an exact timetable.

"He's starting to skate," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "The next time you see him with full equipment practicing on ice is when you'll know he's made the next step after that. That's basically it. He's starting to skate, which is another step in the right direction. It's all the protocol of the league. He needs to be symptom-free of the headaches, and then you go from the bike, to the ice, and to contact."

I wouldn't expect him back with the team for another month, but that's really nothing more then a guess. You just never know if the symptoms around going to come back. I worry about Horton. He wasn't the same player when he came back this year, and I just worry about he will be after his 2nd. We saw Savard retire over this, and Bergeron it took a good 2 years for him to get back to being the player he was. I hope that it doesn't take that long for Horton.

Hurricanes @ Bruins Preview

There are very few teams in the NHL that can say they "own" the Bruins, Carolina is one of those few. The Hurricanes are 3-0 against the Bruins this year, but Carolina is going to have to hope that stays true, because the rest of the stats point to a Bruins win.

Boston is 5-2-2 on home ice since the end of October, while the Hurricanes have dropped 17 of 20 on the road since a 4-1 victory over Boston on Oct. 18. Carolina also right now is the worst team in the Eastern Conference, while the Bruins are just 3 points out of 1st.

I do think this game will be close though. Rask will most likely be in net, which I actually think could be a good thing (Rask is 8-0-2 with a 1.46 GAA in 10 home starts since losing to the Hurricanes on Oct. 18), because Thomas hasn't been playing up to his high standards lately. Also, the Bruins in general haven't been as good consistently. It was bound to happen, you can just streak all season. Still, they should come out angry tonight after going 0-3 vs this team, so I expect them to win the game. Plus, having Ference back can't hurt.

Bruins win 3-1
Player of the Game: Rask (if he plays), if not then Marchand
Game starts at 7pm

Bruins' Horton Not Getting Better

"Bruins coach Claude Julien said after the team's morning skate Thursday that forward Nathan Horton has not progressed this week in his recovery from his latest concussion, and still is not riding the stationary bike.

"He's still where he was a few days ago," Julien said. "Feeling better, but not well enough right now to get to that stage of working out."

Horton suffered the injury on Jan. 22, when he was hit by Flyers forward Tom Sestito (WEEI)."

The NHL really has to find a way to limit these concussions. We have already seen it with Savard, now we are seeing it with Horton, and arguably the best player in the league Crosby. Better helmets, new rules, I don't know what it will take, but they have to find a way because they are getting out of control.

Horton wasn't the same player he was last year, and even if he does make it back I don't see him having a major impact, which is really just too bad. Thank God the Bruins have built a deep team.

Senators @ Bruins Preview

First game back for the Bruins tonight as they take on the Senators. They have beat this team both times they have played them this season, and the fact the Bruins are 14-2-2 at TD Garden since Nov. 1 makes me pretty damn confident they will come out with a win tonight.

The Bruins need to get back on track. They seems to slip a bit going into the All-Star break (3-3-1). Before the season started I worried about the middle of the season, because of how many games they played last year. Some people think that this is fall out from Tim Thomas not going to the White House. I don't think it is at all, I think it's that these legs are getting tired. Another people weren't looking at is that 3-3-1 record game during just 11 game span. That's a lot of games to be playing in a short time.

Look for the Bruins to crush this team tonight, since they will have fresher legs, and are just a better team.

Bruins win 5-2
Player of the Game: Bergeron (should've been an All-Star)
Game starts at 7pm

Peter Chiarelli Puts The Kibosh To Tim Thomas Trade Rumors

"Not trading him," Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said in an email to ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun. "I have not talked to anyone and I don't plan to."

I was so sick of hearing these stupid rumors from ESPN insider I think I was starting to bold. Yes, the ownership of the Bruins were not a fan of him skipping the White House, because it took away from the team. It did, it became a story about Tim Thomas, but it doesn't change the fact that Tim Thomas is the best goaltender in the league and it's going anywhere.

Yes, I was one of the people who didn't like that he did it. I thought it was disrespectful, and I was worried (and it turned out rightfully so) that the whole event would end up being about Tim Thomas instead of being about a team winning a Stanley Cup. In the end thought, it's over and done with and I don't think it's something that is going to divide the locker room. Even if it did, ask any hockey player, and they will tell you goalies are just fucking weird. It's ALWAYS the case. They go do their own thing, it's almost like a kicker on a football team except 1,000 times more important.

This is a dead issue, and I love that Chiarelli came out and said this because these ludicrous trade rumors needed to stop.

Bruins @ Capitals Preview (UPDATED)

The Bruins will be staying in Washington DC tonight after their celebration at the White House. Much like that event, the game tonight will be missing a superstar as Alex Ovechkin is serving a 3 game suspension.

On top of the Capitals being without Ovechkin, they are also missing Nicklas Backstrom (concussion), and defenseman Mike Green (abdominal surgery). Those are some huge blows.

The Bruins will be playing without Ference (as Rob talked about earlier), and Horton. I am a little worried about Horton, because he is dealing with another concussion and we all just have to hope he isn't going down the same road as Savard. Currently he is listed as day-to-day.

As for this game I expect the Bruins to crush them. Thomas has been lights out against these guys (-4-2 with a 2.49 goals-against average in 20 career games versus Washington).

Bruins win 5-1
Player of the Game: Marchand
Game starts at 7pm

***UPDATED***

Rask is in net tonight.

Tim Thomas Says F Off Obama

So everyone is up in arms about Tim Thomas not going to the White House. Our own BMack said, "Never thought I'd say this, but I lost some respect for Tim Thomas today". A lot of people on twitter also have the share the same feelings too. Why would you lose respect for a guy who did what he wanted to?

I have said many times, I don't care about politics. I don't vote and assume things will turn out the way I want to. I'm not knowledgeable enough to have a credible opinion, so I feel I shouldn't vote. It would be the same thing as me voting on the NHL All-Star game.

A couple athletes haven't gone to the White House and they include Ozzie Guillen and James Harrison. Given that the are both crazy and James Harrison didn't go because he said, "This is how I feel -- if you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, invite us when we don't win the Super Bowl. As far as I'm concerned, [Obama] would've invited Arizona if they had won."

So who cares about reasoning.

Personally I would have gone because it would have been cool to see the White House, but everyone should have no problem with Tim Thomas not going to it. If he didn't want to go, he didn't want to go. People in Boston should care more about him stopping slap shots than his political views.

Bruins @ Devils Preview

The Bruins haven't been playing as well lately. They have dropped 2 of their first 3 on this 4 game roadtrip. They have been having to play a lot, and at times have looked worn down. The good news is that they should have some fresh legs tonight with Marchand and Peverley expected to be back on the ice tonight.

Marchand has been out for 5 games because of a suspension. He is one of the main sparkplugs on this team. He can score (tied for second on the Bruins with 16 goals) but he also gives the Bruins the tenacity that seems to be missing without him. Peverley is a guy I really like. I feel like he makes the players around him better (22 assists), and I love the fact he never seems to stop moving.

Tonight could still be a tough game. The Devils are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, and are riding a 3 game winning streak. Still, the last 2 times these teams have played Bruins have won, including a 6-1 blowout January 4th.

Bruins win 4-3
Player of the Game: Marchand
Game starts at 7pm

Bruins @ Lightning Preview

The Bruins had to go 7 games to beat the Lightning last year in the playoffs, but much like the Canadiens it's been a rough year for the Lightning. Tampa is just 17-23-4 on the year and just 3-6-1 in their last 10 (losing 7 straight one of those in OT). They just can't get the goaltending they had last year, and really the only player that has been good is Stamkos.

The Bruins are going in having to play on back-to-back nights. They had to go to a SO to win last night, but they will have Thomas in net tonight, and when you got the best goalie in the league in net you're probably going to win. I think this game will be kind of close, because the Bruins have had to play a ton lately, but I just can't see them losing.

Bruins are just 1 point out of 1st in the East.

Bruins win 5-3
Player of the Game: Bergeron
Game starts at 7:30pm

Canadiens @ Bruins Preview

Since Horton knocked out the Canadiens of the playoffs in a Game 7, these two franchises have gone in complete different directions. The Bruins went on and won the Stanely Cup, and are once again one of the top teams in the NHL this year. Meanwhile, the Canadiens 16-19-7 on the season which is good enough for 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Canadiens won the first two games against the Bruins, but that's when they stumbled out of the gate, since then the Bruins have beat them twice (though both games have been close). Bruins have just been crushing teams of late, but expect this game to be a bit closer. Neither team this year has beat the other by more then 2 goals, and Carey Price is 2-2-0 with a 1.77 goals-against average in those games.

Thomas should be in net tonight though, and the Bruins will once again win. Here is a quick amazing stat... The Bruins have outscored opponents 60-23 in the 3rd peroid this team.

Bruins win 3-1
Player of the Game: Thomas/Krejci
Game starts at 7pm

Jets @ Bruins Preview

The Bruins will need Pouliot to step up with Marchand suspended for the next 5 games. The good news is he has been playing really well (4 points in last 2 games) and should have plenty of chance to continue to put up points while being on the Seguin/Bergeron line.

Still, losing Marchand's offense will be felt. The hope is that Seguin can step up his game. Seguin has three goals and eight assists with a plus-11 rating in eight games, so he seems to be up for the task.

The reason the Bruins are so good is because they are so deep. They have shown it time and again, and I don't think this game 5 game stretch will be any different. Plus, having 2 of the best goalies in the NHL never hurts.

Winnipeg was outscored 11-3 in the first two games of its four-game trip, but rebounded with a 2-1 overtime victory against Buffalo on Saturday, but the Bruins are just such a better team that I would be surprised if this game is close. The Bruins are going to come out very angry after that loss to the Canucks, and when the Bruins are angry it's never a good thing for the opposing team.

Bruins win 5-1
Player of the Game: Seguin
Game starts at 7pm