And Now It Is December…

Hot Stove:

The big news for the Red Sox from last weekend was the acquisition of 1B Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego for three highly-touted prospects (Kelly, Rizzo and Fuentes) plus the proverbial PTBNL. First, the deal was rumored to occur on Saturday, as Gonzalez was in town for a physical. Then, MLB gave the Sox an exclusive negotiating window to work out a contract extension that expired at 2:00 on Sunday. That deadline came and went and various news sources stated that the deal was “dead”. But wait a minute…not so fast. Reports surfaced that the sides continued to push forward late into the afternoon. One message board (SoSH) nearly exploded due to an overload of traffic. Three hours passed with conflicting rumors and a rollercoaster of emotions before puffs of white smoke came from the Fenway Park chimney signaling that the trade had been finalized. While unconfirmed, it is widely believed that Gonzalez has (or will) signed a lengthy contract extension that won’t be announced until after the season begins in April due to luxury tax concerns by the team.

After allowing Victor Martinez to depart to Detroit and signing Jason Varitek to a one-year deal, the natives were getting restless. The team previously “promised” that some “big moves” were in the offing. In trading for Gonzalez, the Sox have basically acquired their answer to the Yankees’ Mark Teixeira, a power-hitting, Gold Glove first baseman who can change a game with one swing of the bat. When one considers that Gonzalez put up such tremendous numbers while playing half of his games in the black hole of Dog Food Park, it’s amazing to wonder what he’ll do at Fenway (especially now that ownership is moving in the bullpen fences in right by 10 feet). As indicated in various news reports, Gonzalez is presently recovering from shoulder surgery (right labrum) and is hopefully expected to be able swing a bat by Spring Training. The other issue yet to be determined is the length and amount of a contract extension. Gonzalez is entering the final year of the last contract that he signed with the Padres and is expected to look for Teixeira/Ryan Howard AAV money ($22.5-25MM/yr) as part of any extension with Boston.

The Sox will most likely cease any attempt to re-sign Adrian Beltre and move Kevin Youkilis to third, where he’s played in the past. Beltre provided the Sox with great defense at third and had a very good season at the plate. Most likely, he’ll land back on the West Coast where he resides with his family. The Sox remain in the hunt for free agent outfielder Carl Crawford, but he’s asking for the moon and the stars and the Sox already have enough lefthanded hitters as it is. They need a righthanded bat with some pop that they’ll probably secure via the trade route. Jayson Werth signed a mega-deal (7/126) with the Nats that was a staggering overpay for a guy who’s only had three years of big numbers and is in his early 30’s. Heading into next week’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Red Sox fans know full well what Crawford brings to the table (speed and clutch hitting), but the Yanks, Angels and Rangers are in on the negotiations. As long as Crawford doesn’t wind up in pinstripes it would be no great loss if he signs elsewhere (provided it’s not with another AL East team). Next week, the front office heads off to Florida for the Winter Meetings, where they’ll continue to tweak the roster and hopefully announce another free-agent signing or secure the services of a bullpen arm (or two!).

New Englanders woke up on Thursday morning to the stunning announcement that the Red Sox signed dynamic LF Carl Crawford from Tampa Bay to a staggering seven year, $142M contract. It is the second largest average annual value contract ever given to a free agent outfielder. Crawford is a player who has tormented Boston pitching over the years and has worn out the basepaths stealing one base after another. While the Sox claimed they had an interest in signing Crawford, no news source viewed their pursuit as earnest but simply to keep tabs on preventing the Yankees from securing his services. By all news reports, Crawford was ticketed for Anaheim before the Sox swooped in with an offer of an additional year and significantly more dollars than what the Angels allegedly proposed. This deal was puzzling in several respects. He’s a lefthanded hitter, of which the starting lineup already has enough. He’s not a big-power threat but a doubles-and-triples gap hitter, though he’s a Gold Glove fielder, of which a team never can have enough. So, while he’s a very welcome addition, the contract terms look like a serious overpay. No one had any reservations with respect to Sunday’s acquisition of Carlos Gonzalez as being a “perfect fit” at Fenway but many have questioned the Crawford signing as being incompatible.

2010-11 Boston Bruins Weekly Puck Drop:

Game 23 at Philadelphia (12/1/10):

The B’s opened December in Philly and a date with the Flyers, the team that unceremoniously dumped Boston out of last year’s playoffs after the B’s held a 3-0 series advantage. There’s no sense in replaying any of that, but you’d have to figure that awful memory still lingers in the minds of many of the players. On Monday, the B’s shipped defenseman Matt Hunwick to Colorado for former BU standout Colby Cohen, who will report to Providence. While Cohen is a former second-round pick with potential, this move was primarily a salary dump to create the necessary cap room for Marc Savard’s impending return to the lineup. Hunwick was on the books for $1.4MM, and quite frankly, did not give the team the best value for his salary. He was fast but not always dependable in either end of the ice. Hunwick’s departure creates a void in the speed department, as the B’s now have no puck moving defenseman and the team’s defense has already been seriously lacking in recent games.

Tim Thomas started in goal against rookie sensation Sergei Bobrovsky. The Flyers immediately pressed the action in the B’s end as the defense faltered and Thomas was tested with a couple of shots in the first 30 seconds. Danny Briere then came back with a wrist shot from a sharp angle that sent Thomas sprawling. Krejci then fired a wrist shot that Bobrovsky scrambled to save, Seconds later, Lucic was stopped on a backhand attempt but Bergeron banged in the rebound at 5:40 to give the B’s an early 1-0 lead. The Flyers went on the power play at 8:04 as Lucic went off for tripping Shelley. Thomas made a couple of quick saves as the power play expired. Tyler Seguin made it 2-0 B’s at 15:12 as he took a pass from Ryder on a 2-on-1 and fired the puck high right and beat Bobrovsky. Shelley and Thornton had a pretty good go as they both landed a few good shots before the refs stepped in. Philly went back on the power play at 18:10 as Seidenberg was called for tripping, but the B’s killed off virtually all of the power play and Thomas was hardly tested. Other than that brief onslaught at the beginning of the period, the B’s skated well, a far cry from their last outing in Atlanta.

The Flyers went back on the power play once more as Krejci went off for hooking at 1:23. Thomas made two big stops on Briere and Carter after Chara failed to clear the puck from behind the net and the B’s killed off the penalty. Thomas then stopped Briere’s stuff attempt at the left post but the B’s came right back to put a couple of shots on Bobrovsky. The Flyers had yet another play as Thornton went off for holding at 8:36. Thomas then made an acrobatic save on Carter’s attempt as the Flyers broke into the zone on a 3-on-1. The B’s finally had a crack at the power play as Shelley went off for roughing at 12:49. Krejci was robbed by Bobrovsky on a shot from in tight, but that was the only serious attempt on the power play. There was a scrap behind the net after Thomas took exception to the Flyers flailing their sticks after the whistle had blown. Hartnell and Thomas were both called for roughing as a result. Bobrovsky stoned Krejci on the 4-on-4. Hartnell then broke out of the penalty box with the puck and was hauled down by Ference. The referee awarded a penalty shot, but Thomas came out, cut off the angle and made the stop. Thomas then slid across the goal and stopped Nool’s one-timer at the right post.

The Flyers came out on fire at the beginning of the third period and succeeded in forcing the B’s out of their defensive style. Chara took a slap shot off the skate in the first minute and made his way to the bench. Horton then hit the post after breaking in alone. Ference then leveled Nool as he crowded the net on a stuff attempt. Thomas then stopped Giroux on a shot from beween the circles as the Flyers maintained heavy pressure in the B’s end. The B’s were able to match Philly’s physical play as Stuart and Boychuk knocked down two Flyers’ puck carriers in quick succession in the B’s zone. The Flyers pulled Bobrovsky with more than two minues remaining and Lucic scored on the empty net at 18:12 from about 60 feet out. Tim Thomas had another big night as he made a number of sensational stops, making 41 saves and keeping his team in the game.

Game 24 v. Tampa Bay (12/2/10):

One night after shutting out Philly, the B’s returned to the Garden for a date with the Lightning, just a week after Tampa Bay easily dispatched the B’s 3-1. The big news for Boston was the return of Marc Savard to the lineup after having missed the first two months dealing with post-concussion syndrome. Earlier in the day news reports confirmed that the B’s traded LW Marco Sturm (still on Long Term Injured Reserve while recovering from knee surgery) to Los Angeles for a draft pick, but later in the day, reports surfaced that the deal fell apart after LA was purportedly skittish over Sturm’s medical reports. Sturm carries a sizeable cap hit that would exceed the limit one Sturm is cleared to play. The team also needs some cap flexibility to address whatever needs may exist at the trade deadline. The deal will probably go through one Sturm is healed and has time to perform either with the B’s or rehabbing with Providence. At least the B’s GM was honest enough to state that he had requested that Sturm waive his NTC and that he had discussed trade possibilities with other teams.

Mike Smith started in goal for the Lightning against the amazin’ Tim Thomas. One of the Lightning players tried to aggravate Thornton off the opening faceoff but wisely backed off. The B’s came out with high intensity and were hitting everyone in a white sweater. David Krejci (4) put the B’s ahead at 10:52, when he took a puck at the blue line, skated in and beat Smith with a wrist shot. Dennis Seidenberg scored his first goal of the season at 19:20 on a wrist shot from the red line that Smith fell asleep on. The B’s played a very good opening period.

The B’s kept up the pressure in the Lightning’s end to open the second and Lucic (12) put the B’s ahead, 3-0 at 6:48 on a tip in from Krejci’s perfectly-executed pass on a 3-on-2 break. The Lightning finally got on the board at 15:14 as Victor Hedman scored on a pass from Ryan Malone on a 2-on-1 break. The play started at the B’s blue line after Boychuk’s stick snapped in two and Thomas was basically left defenseless. But the B’s came right back to take a 4-1 lead at 17:30 as Shawn Thornton scored on a backhand after a misplay by Smith in front of the net. Thortnton hustled toward the goal and had an easy tap in. In the final minute Andrew Ference decked Stamkos with a tremendous check as the B’s maintained their intensity throughout the period.

In the third, the B’s blew the game wide open with four goals. Krejci scored at 34 seconds on a wrist shot coming down right wing. He Smith was then replaced by Dan Ellis in goal. Michael Ryder then scored at 1:50 when he picked a bad pass at the blue line, broke in and fired a slap shot on which Ellis was helpless to defend. Mark Recchi made it 7-1 at 7:28 on the power play as he picked a rebound of Ryder’s shot and tucked it past Ellis. Blake Wheeler capped off the scoring at 13:55 as Recchi broke up a pass at the blue line and passed to a wide open Wheeler, who banged it open. It was the best 60 minutes of hockey the B’s played all year. They skated hard, played a physical game and completely overwhelmed the Lightning.

Game 25 at Toronto (12/4/10):

The B’s traveled to Toronto for a Hockey Night In Canada date with Leafs. It was the 635th meeting between these teams since 1924. Does it get much better than a national broadcast with Don Cherry? After a fast start, the Leafs have hit hard times and are coming off a 5-0 defeat by Edmonton. They’re presently tied with Florida for the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference (only the Islanders and Devils are lower in the standings). Leaf Nation is furious with the coach and wants his proverbial head on a platter, but it’s Brian Burke who has put this team together and he’s not going anywhere. He’s brought in some big names like Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, and they have bright young stars like defenseman Luke Schenn but the various combinations have yet to jell.

Tim Thomas started in goal against Jean-Sebastian Giguere. B’s came out in their home back sweaters while Leafs wore their classic old-school 1940’s white and blue sweaters. Kessel (starting at center for the first time all year) had an immediate shot on goal that Thomas turned aside. Leafs came out at a high tempo looking to grab a quick score. Leafs thought they had a goal on a 2-on-1 as Colby Armstrong crashed the net, but the referee had already blown the whistle and a review confirmed the no-goal call. Nathan Horton scored (his first goal in ten games) at 4:48 on a turnover that Lucic picked at the boards and fed to Horton, who snapped it past Giguere. It was a shame for Leafs, as over the first five minutes, they were out hitting and out hustling the B’s to the puck. Shawn Thornton then had a go with Rosehill, and definitely won the bout on points. Lucic then broke in and popped a shot on Giguere that was knocked away. The Leafs came right back as Beauchemin fired a bomb that Thomas smothered. After the B’s had two really god shifts, Leafs tied the score at 15:53 as Carl Gunnarsson scored on a wide open left corner after the B’s defense broke down and Gunnarsson jumped up into the play and took a pass from Bozak in front of the net and tapped in the puck. The B’s were then hit with a delay of game penalty at 16:53, but the Leafs’ power play was ineffective and the B’s had no problem killing it off.

The B’s opened the second period by testing Giguere with three tough shots as they heavily forechecked Leafs in the first minute. Clarke MacArthur went off for hooking at 1:30 but the Leafs easily killed the penalty. Thomas made a brilliant stop on Kulemin’s shorthanded bid on a 2-on-1 break with Versteeg. After the power play, both teams checked heavily and neither team allowed many open chances to score. Lucic was sent off for a highly-questionable hooking call at 15:28 and Blake Wheeler had a shorthanded break that Giguere slapped away. Seconds after the power play concluded, Grabovsky had a great chance that Thomas turned aside. Thomas then stopped Kessel’s shot in the final minute as play turned wide open.

Kessel fired a shot from a sharp left angle 15 seconds into the third period that Thomas scrambled to knock away. Gregory Campbell put the B’s ahead 2-1 at 6:08 on a quick give n’ go from Seguin from the left side and he whistled the puck past Giguere. The Leafs’ Komisarek (a dirty player when he was with Montreal) went off for tripping at 9:12. Schenn and Lucic then got into a push n’ shove match but no penalties were called. Thomas was then called on to make two spectacular stops off of Bozek and Kadri. Two minutes later, he made another tremendous stop on a blast from the point that was tipped out in front. Bergeron was called for holding at 17:30, giving the Leafs a golden chance to tie the score. Thomas made two quick stops off of shots by Versteeg. With a minute left, Thomas then stoned Kulemin as the Leafs crashed the net. Versteeg then scored at 19:19 as Kessel won the draw, Kaberle fired a blast from the point and Versteeg banged in the rebound into a wide-open left corner. Were it not for Thomas, this game would not be headed to OT, as Leafs certainly had the better chances during regulation.

On to overtime, where the B’s have yet to win the extra point (0-4). Thomas absolutely robbed Beauchemin as he dove to his left to snare Beauchemin’s point blank wrist shot. Boychuk was called for hooking with 23 seconds left but the B’s killed off the penalty and it was on to the shootout. Kadri scored on the Leafs’ first try while Seguin scored on the backhand on the B’s try. Kulemin missed on his try and Krejci missed as well. On the Leafs third try, Kessel scored after Thomas fell backwards into the net while Ryder missed and the Leafs won the game.

Game 26 v. Buffalo (12/7/10):

After losing in frustrating fashion to the Leafs on Saturday night, the B’s greeted Buffalo Sabres (11-13-3-25, 4th Place Northeast) at the Garden on Tuesday night. It was one of those dreaded “Versus” games, which meant a sizeable portion of the viewing audience was shut out of the broadcast. Tim Thomas started in goal against Ryan Miller. Four minutes in, Ryder broke in on a 3-on-2 and tipped a backhand that Miller knocked away. A minute later, Thomas robbed Nathan Gerbe point blank on a feed from Thomas Vanek. Midway through the period, Horton then nearly scored when Miller turned over the puck behind the net. Milan Lucic (13) put the B’s on top at 13:21 when he scored from the right circle on a shot that trickled through Miller’s pads. Lucic grabbed a loose puck behind the net, circled around to the front and fired. Boychuk and Steve Montador had a quick go, with Boychuk getting the better of the bout. Montador received the instigator and the B’s went on the power play for the first time. Miller made a couple of nice saves near the end of the man advantage to keep the score 1-0.

In the opening seconds of the second period, Lucic had a tip in on a nearly wide open net but missed. Mark Stuart went out with an undisclosed injury in the first period and did not return, so the B’s were down to five defensemen for the rest of the game. Four minutes in, Miller stopped a flurry of shots from Recchi and Bergeron. Tyler Seguin was then sent off at 5:58 after whacking Gerbe with a high stick. Vanek had a glorious point blank chance that Thomas knocked away. Recchi had a shorthanded bid at the end of the power play that hit the post stick side. Luke Adam tied the score for Buffalo at 12:57 as he picked a rebound out in front of Thomas and banged it in. It was Adam’s first NHL goal. Sabres came right back and fired three quick shots on Thomas that were turned away. Derek Roy was sent off for hooking at 15:32 for hooking but the B’s power play was ineffective.

Gerbe had a shot right off the opening faceoff of the third that Thomas turned aside, but Buffalo’s team speed turned the tide in their favor. Thomas then made two quick saves on Pominville and Adam. Vanek put the Sabres ahead at 4:07 when he banked a shot off of Thomas and into the net. Midway through the period, Lucic had a great chance as he fired a shot on Miller in a scrum in front of the net; Miller lost the puck between his legs and it slid near the goal line before Montador swept it away. Vanek then fired a shot that hit the post and picked the rebound that Thomas slapped away. Horton (10) scored on a turnover in the zone by Mike Weber at 13:39 and snapped the puck past Miller. Seguin nearly put the B’s ahead on a feed from Ryder, but fired the puck over the net. Montador went off for high sticking at 15:28. Savard fired a shot on goal that Miller knocked away and Horton followed with a shot that hit the post. After the power play concluded, Bergeron ripped a wrist shot that Miller snared. In the final minute, Vanek and McCormick each put shots on Thomas that were knocked away. Chara put a shot on Miller with two seconds left and it was on to overtime.

Roy had a great opportunity to win it but the puck rolled off his stick. Seidenberg then put a testing shot on Miller that was turned away. Adam was sent off on a double-minor at 1:46 for a high stick that caught Savard above the right eye. Recchi tipped in Seidenberg’s shot from the point that appeared to have hit the crossbar. The goal light did not light up but the B’s protested that the puck went in. Krejci was then robbed by Miller. At the first stoppage of play (almost a minute later), Seidenberg’s shot was reviewed and it was ruled as a goal and the B’s came away with a (delayed) win.

Game 27 v. NY Islanders (12/9/10):

Prior to Thursday night’s game with the Isles, the B’s announced that defenseman Mark Stuart suffered a broken hand in Tuesday night’s game and will be on the shelf for 4-6 weeks. That’s an awful blow for Stuart and the team, as he’s been a tough, physical presence in front of the net all year. Steve Kampfer has been recalled from Providence to take his spot on the blue line. The B’s also made a couple of trades involving minor leaguers, sending forwards Jeff Lovecchio and Jordan Knackstedt to Florida for defenseman Sean Zimmerman and then moving forward Levi Nelson to Tampa Bay for forward Juraj Simek. Zimmerman and Simek will report to Providence.

Islanders are 5-15-5-15 and are in dead last in the Eastern Conference. They have suffered some key injuries (Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo) and bad management. They’ve already fired former P-B’s coach Scott Gordon a couple of weeks ago and replced him with Jack Capuano. A recent article by Larry Brooks in the Post called for the NHL to take control of the team from owner Charles Wang, who appears to have run this once-great franchise into the ground. Their venue is sub-standard and attendance has dwindled perilously low. What a shame, as it was only three decades ago that the Islanders were in the midst of a dynasty, winning the Cup four straight times. They had a core group of Hall of Famers (Potvin, Bossy, Smith, Trottier) that were among the greatest in hockey history. Sadly, it’s been pretty much all downhill for the Isles since their glory years.

Tuukka Rask started against local product Rick DiPietro, who has struggled with injuries ever since being picked first overall out of BU in 2000 (has it been that long ago?). The B’s came out at a very high tempo off the opening faceoff. Kampfer decked Blake Comeau with a heavy body check in the opening seconds. Shawn Thornton hit the post on a give n’ go from Marchand. Adam McQuaid and Zenon Konopka (the NHL’s leading fighter) had a decent go with no clear victor before it was broken up. Krejci had a chance that DiPietro knocked away as the B’s had the edge in play over the first ten minutes. Nathan Horton was then sent off for tripping at 10:16. Eaton went off for holding at 11:16, giving the B’s an abbreviated power play. DiPietro made two great stops off of Horton’s tip and Seidenberg’s rebound. DiPietro was then called for delay of game, giving the B’s a 2-man advantage for 34 seconds. Radek Martinek went down after getting hit with a slap shot and had to be helped off the ice. Lucic (14) scored right off the faceoff to put the B’s up 1-0. After the goal, the B’s continued to press the action in the Isles’ end. In the final seconds, P.A. Parenteau checked Boychuk from behind and was sent off for boarding. Boychuck went flying face first into the boards and Parenteau was immediately confronted by Chara and Lucic, but no further penalties were called.

Moving into the second period, with Hillen in the penalty box for tripping, Frans Nielsen broke in alone on the shorthand rush and was dumped by Bergeron; the Isles were awarded a penalty shot, Nielsen then scored on the penalty shot at 3:41, roofing a backhand past Rask. Thornton and Gillies then had a really good bout that that Thornton won on points and that temporarily energized the B’s, but it quickly faded and the Isles had the better of the chances. Krejci was sent off for hooking at 13:27 as the Isles picked up their level of play. Tavares had a great chance on the power play that Rask knocked away. Brad Marchand then scored on the shorthand at 14:40 after DiPietro came way too far out of his net and Marchand skated around him with the puck and popped it into an open net. After the goal, the B’s came out of their funk and began pressing things in the Isles’ end again, thanks in large part to the energy created by the fourth line. Krejci had a snap shot that DiPietro slid across to save.

DiPietro made a nice stop of Krejci’s one-timer early in the third. Thornton was called for tripping at 6:28 and Krejci had a great shorthanded bid that DiPietro turned aside and the B’s killed off the power play. Tempers flared after the Islanders crashed the net and attempted to jam a loose puck behind Rask; Seidenberg took exception to Matt Moulson’s stick work and there was the usual pushing and shoving in front of the net. Tavares was felled by a Chara slap shot that struck his arm and he immediately went to the dressing room. Nielsen went off for a cross check at 12:17. Horton fired a shot from the point that DiPietro deflected away. Ryder (8) scored with one second left on the power play from the left point on a wrist shot following a beautiful pass from Andrew Ference. Rask made a nice save on a redirected shot that initially appeared as if it went in. Rob Schremp scored with 3:33 left after DiPietro headed to the benchon a deflected shot to make it 3-2 as the Isles tried to seize momentum. After DiPietro headed for the bench again, Lucic (14) scored a long-distance empty net goal to make it 4-2. Bergeron then scored another empty net goal in the closing seconds as the B’s skated off with a hard-fought 5-2 win. The Isles may be struggling, but they gave the B’s everything they could handle on this night.

Game 27 v. Philadelphia (12/11/10):

Prior to the game, the B’s announced that they traded/salary dumped Marco Sturm to LA Kings for “future considerations” (“nothing”, to quote the GM). This trade was originally announced over a week ago but was delayed most likely for medical reasons. Sturm underwent major reconstructive knee surgery last spring after a devastating injury suffered in the playoff series with Philadelphia and had yet to play this season. He was the last remaining player acquired in the Joe Thornton trade with San Jose five years ago and was a pretty productive player (though injured a lot) during his time in Boston. His biggest moment with the B’s came last New Year’s Day when he scored the winning goal in the Winter Classic played at Fenway Park. Bruins’ fans enjoyed Sturm and his game quite a bit, but his salary became prohibitive under the cap and, with the trade having been completed, the B’s have some wiggle room under the cap if they need to be creative on or before the trade deadline.

The Flyers come into this game hot, losing only once in their last ten starts. Tyler Seguin did not dress as he was out with the flu. Daniel Paille started in his place. Brian Boucher started in goal for Flyers against Tim Thomas. Shelley fired a shot on Thomas and then crashed the net, knocking it off its pegs and causing a scrum in front of Thomas. As expected, there was plenty of hitting in the early going and the game was perhaps a little more wide open than the B’s would prefer. Boychuck knocked Timonen ass-over-teakettle when Timonen broke into the B’s zone with the puck. Boychuck then moved up in the play and fired a heavy shot that Boucher smothered. Daniel Carcillo went off for interference at 9:33 after he knocked Savard into the boards away from the play, giving the B’s their first power play. The Flyers did a great job, aggressively cutting off the passing lanes and the B’s had no shots. Lucic had a great chance on a pass from Krejci as he tried to stuff in the puck at the right post, but Boucher held tight. Chara then had a great poke check that robbed Briere of a point blank chance. The Flyers had two chances that Thomas stopped, the second coming on a shot by Carter while he was flat on his back (“incroyable”). Both teams played extremely well over the first 20 minutes.

Both teams maintained their frenetic, hard hitting tempo coming out for the second period. The B’s had a 2-on-1 was that was broken up by “Drago” Pronger. The Flyers came right back and Thomas robbed Hartnell’s shot from the left circle. Adam McQuaid was heavily cross-checked into the boards from behind by Shelley after the whistle had blown for icing. McQuaid had to be helped from the ice and Shelley received a five-minute checking from behind penalty and a game misconduct. After being totally shut down for the first two minutes of the power play, Ryder had a great chance on a rebound from Chara’s blast from the point but Boucher made a great stop. Savard hit the crossbar on a good drive toward the net. The B’s had five shots on goal as the Flyers’ PK units did a marvelous job of aggressive forechecking. McQuaid returned to the ice shortly after the power play expired as the action went back and forth and both goalies made quality stops. Ryder was robbed by Boucher, who made a spectacular stop on a one-timer. Boucher then made another great glove save on Ference’s blast from the point. James van Riemsdyk scored the first goal of the game at 18:39 on a 2-on-1 break as he took a pass from Coburn and fired the puck past Thomas.

Boucher made another great glove save off of Bergeron’s shot from directly out front to open the third period. The B’s continued to mount pressure in the Flyers’ end and had a couple of good chances that Boucher turned away. Nathan Horton tied the score at 9:43 as he knocked the puck away from Pronger and banged the puck home. The B’s had been pressing and effectively checked to keep the puck in the Flyers’ zone. Recchi was called for hooking at 11:17 after he reached and hooked Richards around the midsection. Krejci and Bergeron broke in on a 2-on-1 but Boucher made an easy stop. Leino broke in alone on right wing and muscled his way in with the puck but Thomas came out to make the stop. After the B’s killed off the penalty, the Flyers continued to press and had two really good chances that Thomas smothered. Timonen then fired a shot from the point that Thomas dropped to his knees to save. With a minute left, Gregory Campbell fired a wrist shot from the left circle that Boucher snared. In the final seconds, Horton had a point blank shot that bounced off of Boucher’s chest. No one in attendance could complain that they didn’t get their money’s worth for that 60 minutes, and it was on to overtime.

Coburn opened the overtime session with a shot that deflected off of Thomas. Carter then followed with a wraparound that Thomas stopped. Seidenberg broke in with a shot from the left wing that Boucher saved. Thomas made an unbelievable diving stop on van Riemsdyk’s shot. Thomas came back to make a glove save on Pronger’s shot from just inside the blue line. Mike Richards scored the game winner with three seconds left in overtime as the Flyers broke in on a 3-on-1 after all of the B’s were in the Flyers’ end and a bad pass sent Richards into the zone and he patiently waited for two more forwards to enter the zone and fired the puck past Thomas. That was some hockey game, it just a shame that the B’s came up short.

To The Pitch:

Liverpool Match 17 at Newcastle United (12/11/10):

On Monday, Liverpool downed Aston Villa 3-0 at Anfield on goals by David Ngog (14), Ryan Babel (16) and Maxi Rodriguez (55). Reds returned to action on Saturday afternoon at St. James Park for a date with Newcastle United and lost 3-1 as Kevin Nolan scored for the home side in the 15th. Dirk Kuyt equalized in the 49th, but Joey Barton put Newcastle ahead in the 80th and Andrew Carroll added the croaker in extra time to spell doom for Liverpool. Reds are now 6-7-4-22 and in 9th place in the Premiership.

Wrexham v. Kidderminster (FA Trophy First Round) (12/11/10):

Dragons downed the Harriers 2-0 at the Racecourse on Saturday afternoon on goals by Jay Harris (29) and David Brown (34) to advance in the tournament, with the second round draw to be announced next week. After 21 matches in the Blue Square Premier, Wrexham is 8-4-9-33 and in seventh place on the table, only one point out of playoff position.

Piacenza Match 19 v. Livorno (12/11/10):

After playing to 1-1 draws with Torino on the 27th and Sassulo on the 4th, Piacenza lost 1-0 to Livorno at the Garilli on a goal from Juan Ignacio Surraco Lame in the 58th. Biancorossi are now 3-8-8-17 and in next-to-last place in Serie B.