Zdeno Chara is a Gangster

For all you IDIOTS who think Zdeno Chara should lose his captaincy, here are 105.9 reasons why he is an important part of this team going forward.

I will take this guy's slap shot from the point every single day. There is no debate here as to how good this guy is. Like I have said earlier, everyone better start liking Zdeno Chara because hes going to be around for a long time and that is an exciting notion.

"Getting Pinkham Primed for his First B's game of the Season" Bruins First Half Recap

The 2011 NHL All-Star break has arrived. At the 'de-facto' halfway point (50 games), The Bruins sit atop the Northeast Division with a respectable record of 28-15-7 and a total of 63 points. Their position as #3 in the Eastern Conference is by virtue of the rule that division leaders are guaranteed a top-3 spot in the standings (technically the Bruins are 4th best in the conference as 4th place Pittsburgh has more points). There are many reasons for praise, as well as concern with these Bruins just as there are for any team in the NHL.

First up, Timothy "I'm way to old to be this good" Thomas. For real folks, if you told me that Tim Thomas would be the prohibitive Vezina (Best Goalie) favorite and a Hart (league MVP) Trophy candidate after a "miracle" hip surgery, I, along with almost everyone else, would have taken a jab at your hockey IQ. However, I, along with everyone else, am ecstatic over his  impressive 24-5-6 record, his superb 1.81 GAA, and his superhuman .945 save percentage (which means for every 1000 shots, he saves 945). With "Tank" in net, the Bruins have gained at least a point in all but 5 contests. As of right now, the Bruins are Timmy's team. Tuukka Rask is a more than qualified backup and a nice little insurance policy....we hope.

The "Goalie of the Future" for this franchise is Tuukka Rask, no one denies this. A 4-10-1 record is less than desirable but is by no means cause for concern. There are three schools of though as to why Tuukka has only contributed to 9 of Boston's 63 points. (A) Tuukka grossly overachieved during the second half of last year and through the first round of the playoffs. During the second round of the playoffs he hit the "rookie wall" after game three and then ______________(no need to bring it up). (B) Tuukka has not recovered from ________________(again, no need). His confidence has been shaken up and he needs more time to get back to his pre-collapse form. However, opponents have not seemed to find Tim Thomas' "Kryptonite" so he is getting most of the workload right now. (C) The blueliners on the team fall asleep at the wheel and expect Tuukka to bring a Thomas-like performance every night and that is simply too high of an expectation. To say that the defense is hanging Tuukka out to dry is not completely correct but is starting to trend that way.

Although the Bruins are ranked #1 in the league in goals against per game, the defensive corps have been receiving criticism. Yes, much of the credit has to go to the outstanding goal tending, but not all. Zdeno Chara and co. have been playing pretty well in light of the criticism. The D-men are a collective +83 in +/- rating and have combined for 86 points....no complaints here. 7 capable defensemen are vying for 6 spots which should raise the level of play for the bottom half of the group. Rookie standout Steven Kampfer has given many hope with his puck handling and puck moving skills but still has a little more to learn about the defensive scheme that Coach Julien implements. In addition rookie Adam McQuaid has played a solid style of play that has given fans confidence. All in all it could be worse from this group, but as always, it could be a lot better.

On the offensive front, there is a lot to be excited about, but for every positive there is a negative to even itself out. On the plus side, the Bruins are getting unexpected brilliant play from relatively unknown forward Brad Marchand. Starting the season on the fourth line, Marchand's tough style of play has amassed 25 points, a regular shift on the PK, and a promotion to the second line playing alongside the ageless wonder Mark Recchi and solid 2-way player Patrice Bergeron. The Black and Gold has 10 players with 20 points or more, (matched only by Chicago and Detroit). The fourth line is bringing energy to this team when they desperately need it.  Depth is a positive for any playoff team hoping for a cup, but inconsistency is plaguing this team like, well, the plague. Too many lopsided losses mixed in this season has fans worried about the resolve of this team. Along with scoring droughts from the two major off-season acquisitions, Nathan Horton and Tyler Seguin, there is much this group of forwards has to work on.

After returning from post concussion syndrome, Marc Savard played 25 games before being sidelined, maybe for the season, with another concussion suffered on a Matt Hunwick hit in Colorado. Prior to his latest setback, Savvy put up some pretty gruesome numbers (2-8-10 with a -7 rating) but started to show signs of life right before he got hurt again. It will be interesting to see how this team plays without their play-maker for possibly the remainder of the season. Expect to see Dan Paille getting a regular 4th line shift.

All in all, it has been a positive first half of the season for the B's after some thought a let down was in store after a grim (to be positive) ending to the 2010 season. They are on pace for 104 points and home ice advantage in the first round. Regular season success is expected but it remains to be seen how our beloved Bruins will perform in the post season. A drink from Lord Stanley's Cup is a real possibility if this team pulls it together when it counts. GO BRUINS!

Cleveland, Ohio...Land of the Lost.

It was just four years ago, during the year 2007, when Cleveland sports fans were wrapped up in exciting NFL, MLB, and NBA action. "Cleveland?" you ask. Yes, Cleveland is only four years removed from having all three professional sports franchises being relevant to playoff action, including playing for an NBA title. So, how far have they fallen? Let's take a look.

Where They Were in 2007

The Cleveland Browns, one of the most proud NFL franchises, behind QB Derek Anderson and WR Joshua Cribbs put up an astonishing 10-6 record under coach Romeo Crennel. Improving from 4-12 the year before and having strong playoff hopes. Although they did not qualify for playoff action, the Browns seemed destined to end their run of playoff futility.

The Cleveland Indians, a staple franchise in the MLB since 1894, had a stellar year in '07. Winning the AL Central Crown with a record of 96-66. They beat the New York Yankees in the Divisional Round of the playoffs in 4 games. Although eventually losing to the Boston Red Sox in 7 games in the ALCS, they were within 1 victory of heading to the World Series. A successful season by MLB standards (unless you are from Boston or New York).

The Cleveland Cavaliers (Lebrons). Behind NBA superstar Lebron James, the Cavs finished the 2006-2007 in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference with a 50-32 record. After beating Washington, New Jersey, and Detroit in the first three rounds (12-4 record) they found themselves in the NBA finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Although being swept in the finals by a powerful Spurs team, the Cavaliers were on the cusp of greatness and an NBA title seemed imminent.

The City of Cleveland had alot to look forward to in the coming years. Or so they thought.

Where They are Now (2011)

The Browns have gone 5-11 in two straight seasons and have fired coach Eric Mangini. Shocker.

The Indians haven't made the playoffs since 2007 and are struggling to sell 18,000 tickets per game. Double Shocker.

The Cavaliers have lost Lebron James' talents to South Beach, fired coach Mike Brown, own an 8-36 record and have lost 26 of their last 27 games. I almost feel bad.

But hey, at least they have the creepy homeless guy with the million dollar voice.

In conclusion, being a fan of Boston sports teams is a blessing. We can bitch about them all we want but at the end of the day, All four teams are relevant in terms of being legitimate playoff contenders. There will be a time in the future where the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots (Giants), and Bruins do not make the playoffs and I am scared to find out what that life will bring. So enjoy it while it lasts folks.

Bruins vs. Kings 10:30 p.m. @ Staples Center

Coming off a solid effort in Colorado on Saturday, the Bruins head into Los Angeles tonight trying to improve their road record to 16-5-4. Brad Marchand leads the charge after his monster performance vs. the Avalanche ( 2 goals, 2 assists). Marc Savard will not be in the lineup as he has flown back to Beantown to undergo tests after hitting his head on the dasher due to a Matt Hunwick body check. Dan Paille will fill his spot.

The Bruins offense has been red hot as of late, posting 40 goals in their past 10 contests. Balanced scoring from the entire roster has been a pivotal part of the B's scoring success as 10 players boast point totals north of 20. The Second line consisting of Marchand, Bergeron, and Recchi are consistently producing much needed offense to help ease the pressure on net minder Tim Thomas.

Although giving up three goals,U-Mass Amherst product Jonathan Quick had a very strong performance vs. the Bruins on November 20th, in a 4-3 Shootout victory. Los Angeles is a stronger team at home than on the road with a 15-9-1 home record. This will be the second and final match-up between theses two teams during the regular season.

Preaching consistency, the Bruins want to go into the All-Star Break on a high note. With a win tonight and Wednesday against Florida the Bruins can breathe a little easier as they watch fellow team mates Tim Thomas, Zdeno Chara, and Tyler Seguin partake in the All-Star Festivities.

Prediction: Bruins show confidence and continue scoring. Strong goal tending helps the Black and Gold to victory. Bruins 3 Kings 1

Old Dirty Bastard

Avenging Thursday's mediocre effort vs. the Sabres, March Recchi and Brad Marchand combined for 7 points ( 3 goals, 4 Assists) fueling the Bruins 6-2 win over the Avalanche as the second line continues to play well. Tim Thomas stopped the Avalanche cold at times while notching 32 saves. Marc Savard suffered another head injury at the hands of former Bruin's defender Matt Hunwick. Savard returned to Boston for further examination and will not traveling with the team to Los Angeles.

"The Patriots Should Be Playing Sunday" Conference Championships Preview

Although many Patriots fans have "checked out" after a brutal loss to Gang Green last Sunday night, there are 2 solid football games this Sunday that are worth watching as both #1 seeds have been eliminated.

Green Bay (-3.5) vs. Chicago 3 p.m. @ Soldier Field: Green Bay shocked number one seed Atlanta with Aaron Rodgers' near-perfect performance. Chicago did what they were supposed to do as they cleaned up a Seattle team who's luck ran out. "Grass does not grow in January" is the locker room theme as both teams expect a less than desirable playing surface. President Obama has stated he will attend the Super Bowl if Chicago is to prevail on Sunday.

NY Jets vs. Pittsburgh (- 4) 6:30 p.m. @ Heinz Field: After a week of trash talk, Gang Green put their money where their mouths were as they shocked the #1 seed New England Patriots in Foxboro. Pittsburgh survived "Armageddon" vs. the Ravens with a HUGE pass from Big Ben late in the fourth quarter. A week long "love fest" from the Jets has pundits puzzled. The Jets are appearing in their second straight AFC championship game as Big Ben has a third Super Bowl victory in his sights.

Predictions:


Todd: Steelers stop the Jets Cinderella story 21-17. Green Bay overcomes sloppy field conditions and capitalize on "Bad" Jay Cutler's turnovers 24-14

Coon: I see the Jets going down at the hands of Big Ben, Mr. Wallace, and a beastly running back in Mendenhall. LT has been looking like his old self as of late, although Shonne Greene has salvaged the running game by rising to the occasion. But their ground game is gonna be no match for a stout Pittsburgh run defense (1st overall), and who knows which Sanchez will show up.

Pitt 31, NY 21

Call me crazy, but is it acceptable to like Chicago in this game? The Packers have lost three of their last four trips to Chicago, and the Bears have looked better and better over the last few weeks. Green Bay's rushing attack is perplexing to say the least, with Brandon Jackson (703 yards and only 3 TD's this season) getting the bulk of the work. If the Pack is going to win this game, they are going to have to beat Chicago through the air, which is a completely realistic scenario. But I got a strange feeling that turnovers on behalf of the Pack will be the deciding factor in this one, and I like the Bears at home.

CHI 28, GB 27

Bruins vs. Avalanche Saturday 3 p.m. @ Pepsi Center

Coming off another flat performance at home, the Bruins head into Avalanche country to try and get back to their winning ways. This is the only meeting between the two clubs during the regular season. The Bruins are 14-5-4 on the road while currently sitting 3rd in the Eastern Conference, however, they own a 1 point lead over the Montreal Canadiens in the Northeast Division with one game in hand. The Avalanche are in 8th place in the Western Conference and own a 13-9-3 record at home. Former Bruin blue-liner Matt Hunwick, faces his old team for the first time since Boston traded him on November 29th to clear cap space. Look for Tim Thomas to start in net and Coach Claude Julien to call on all 4 lines to give a total 60 minute effort.

Prediction: The Bruins try their hardest to give this game away but goal tending saves them once again.  Bruins 3 Avalanche 2 (S/O)

26 Days Until Pitchers and Catchers!

Adrian Gonzalez is playing catch. Paps and Jacoby re-sign. In the words of Bart Scott "Can't Wait!"

PATS: Embarrassing or Embarrassed, That is the Question

Over the past week, I continually heard how the New York Jets completely and utterly embarrassed the Pats on Sunday. As expected, this statement was a bit hard for me to digest, mainly because I fucking despise anything and everything having to do with New York, especially the Jets. But before I go any further, I would like to clear something up: you know as well as I that we shouldn’t have beat the Jets by 42 points in our second regular season meeting; to say this triumphant win caught the nation entirely off guard would have been an understatement.

But naturally, following a colossal victory such as the one in week 13, it would only make sense to hold the highest expectations possible for a repeat performance, especially when playing a postseason game in Foxboro.

However, two dropped “gimmes” in the end zone (Crumpler/Welker), a botched fake punt, and the first interception by TFB in 340 pass attempts all contributed to the collapse of the Patriots. Yet, in light of all of these mishaps, I’m not quite sure where the Pats were EMBARRASED by the Jets; these were errors made on behalf of New England. And we’re not talking justifiable errors, we’re talking a miserable interception thrown in, I guess, the ‘general vicinity’ of the Law Firm, 14 points left on the field via dropped TD’s, and an additional 7 for the Jets following an uncharacteristic fake punt from Pats’ own 38-yard line with 1:14 remaining in the first half.

Was the defense lit up? Well, as Bart Scott put it, “They couldn’t stop a nose bleed.” Did the offensive line show up? Didn’t seem like it, with 5 sacks allowed (there were seven total sacks allowed in the final four games of the season.) So were the Patriots embarrassed? You bet, but nay at the hands of the Jets; rather, at the hands of themselves.

-Coon

Thanks for the.....Demotion?

Much maligned Bruins forward Blake Wheeler's play has been, to say the least, less than pleasing to the masses at The Garden over the past year or so. Coach Claude Julien has been toying with line combinations for most of the season to find the right spot for Wheeler. He has spent time on the second and third lines for the majority of his career as a Bruin.

The University of Minnesota product was, much to the fan's chagrin, re-signed by the team before the season. Although his numbers are decent, it seems Blake, to take a quote from the movie "Miracle", needs to be told "Don't forget to bring your game." Inconsistent play has plagued #26 for the better part of two seasons (not to be singled out as multiple other Bruins have been labeled as inconsistent).

But with the surprising quality play from previously unknown forward Brad Marchand, Wheeler has found his self dealing with a demotion to the fourth line alongside agitator Gregory Campbell and fan favorite tough guy Shawn Thornton. Although a demotion can have an adverse effect on a player’s confidence, it seems Blake is thriving in his new role as the newest addition to the "Energy Line."

But Energy is exactly what Wheeler is giving the Bruins in the Past few Games. He notched a helper during a 7-0 rout of the Carolina Hurricanes during a matinee on Martin Luther King Day. The next evening, the Bruins were getting shelled by the Canes during the second period of Boston’s 3-2 victory at RBC Center, Julien called on Wheelers unit late in the period. They kept sustained pressure in the Hurricanes zone for the entire shift and energized a Bruins third period rally for the victory. In yesterday’s 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres, Wheeler made an appearance on the score sheet with a heady redirect pass to Campbell in the slot for the second goal of the game. The trio was also able to establish an effective cycle with some quality puck possession for most of the game.

One can only speculate as to why Wheeler has found success so quickly. It could be that, while on the second and third lines, he was trying to keep up with the other skill players while playing a reactionary style and now, while on the fourth line, he has the ability to control the play. This “demotion” could result in the boost he needs to become a consistent producer for a Cup-Hungry franchise.

Lady Luck is a Bitch

So much for being clairvoyant. Just when you think the Bruins are playing great hockey and look like they have found their groove, Thomas Vanek puts a dagger in their hearts. To start the third frame, The Bruins sustained over 5 minutes of quality pressure on the Sabres (including two chances that came perilously close to lighting the lamp) only to have a perfectly placed slapper deflate any momentum that the Bruins may have gained (Note that Tuukka Rask was already in the butterfly position leaving the entire top shelf open before Vanek even wound up for the shot). The Black and Gold could not hold two 1-goal leads in the first and second periods before ultimately giving up the game winner on a broken play in the offensive zone. The fourth line continues to produce for Coach Julien although their go ahead goal in the second went for not.

Question of the Night: Has Tuukka Rask overcome the devastating collapse vs. Philadelphia in the second round of the 2010 playoffs?

The Binky of the New Age

A long time ago, when we were cranky, newborn infants, our parents would typically give us a binky to gnaw on. This chew toy would send us into a silent trance and solve every dilemma of our young lives. And nowadays, there’s a binky of the new age, which is more commonly referred to as a ‘smart phone.’ You see, smart phones aren’t so different from binkies; we are irritable without them, yet content beyond belief when able to “get our fix.”

But as of late, I have been blown away by the amount of time people are spending on their cell phones. Whether it’s at the dinner table, in the movie theatre, or down the bar, people are always on the binky. This may just be my opinion, but when I’m hanging out with friends that are constantly punching away on their miniature keyboards, I get the sense that they’d rather be somewhere else. Time that used to be spent being engaged in abstract conversation is now spent playing Risk, “checking-in,” and updating the Facebook faithful on every move they make (as if the majority of them care the slightest bit.)

Unfortunately, there is a major problem brewing here: the more connected we become with each other in a virtual sense, the less connected we’re becoming with each other in a personal sense. We’ve gotten to the point of always being so binky linked, that if someone doesn’t respond to a text message or a missed call within ten minutes, we contemplate sending out a search party for them.

And why do they still call them phones anyway? When is the last time you actually made a phone call and spoke to someone on the phone? And if you can remember when the last time was, I’m sure you weren’t too fond of actually having to speak words and carry on a conversation. This day in age, plans can be made in an instant, and broken just as easily (typically by text message.) And should I have to alter my behavior when I’m out trying to have a good time because I may be secretly caught on video, which could later be uploaded to The Book for all to see?

Next time you go to hang with some friends, try turning the phone off for a change. Most people won’t be able to last too long, as studies have actually been conducted proving that people are addicted to their binkies. So this begs me to ask the following question: is there an app to combat the loss of personal connections with friends? Because if so, we could sure use it.

-Coon

Bruins vs. Sabres 7 pm @ TD Garden

Looking to improve to 61 points in the Eastern Conference standings, The Bruins take on division rival The Buffalo Sabres this evening. The Bruins try to keep gaining momentum after sweeping a home and home against Carolina on Monday and Tuesday. Milan Lucic and Co. need to keep racking up the points as Montreal is keeping themselves within shouting distance of the division lead. Tuukka Rask was first off the ice during the morning skate so look to see him between the pipes as it looks like the Bruins are giving Red-Hot Tim Thomas a well deserved rest. Andrew Ference returns from injury and the Bruins give rookie defenseman Adam McQuaid the night off. Prediction: Bruins 3 Sabres 2.

Zdeno Chara vs. "The Cone"

Lately, I have been hearing rumblings from the TD Garden faithful about the performance of Zdeno Chara and how he is becoming the new Dennis Wideman. There is no possible way that Big Z, the captain of the second place Bruins, could be compared to "The Cone." 10 Goals, 15 Assists and a + 20 Rating seems far from terrible. If you were to tell me at the beginning of the year that our top defender would have 25 points and be on the ice for 20 more even strength goals than he has given up over the first 46 games, I would be very satisfied. Now granted, Tim Thomas has bailed out the defense on more that one occasion. But make no mistake I will take his freakishly long reach to clog up passing lanes on the PK and his 105 MPH howitzer from the point all day, every day. Every player has a bad game from time to time. But the numbers that Big Z currently own at the halfway point have earned him a spot on the 2011 All-Star roster and do not even come close to qualifying for the shit he has been taking. To suggest that the "C" should be taken off his sweater is an insult to him and the team.