Bruins’ Weekly Report

(From Preseason Through Game 4):

Bruins’ Preseason:

After a summer of shuttling Lord Stanley’s Cup all around the world, it was time for the B’s to get back to work. Most of the players indicated that they took a couple off weeks off to celebrate before resuming off-ice workouts in July. B’s camp opened on the 16th as the veterans and selected rookies reported for preseason training. There are at least three open spots in the lineup as Ryder (Dallas), Kaberle (Carolina) and Recchi (retired) have left the team. The B’s acquired forward Benoit Pouliot (Montreal) and defenseman Joe Corvo (Carolina) to hopefully fill two of those slots adequately. Brad Marchand was also re-signed to a two-year $6MM extension. The GM also announced that Marc Savard’s career is likely over. At a minimum, he won’t play at all this year. Fortunately, Nathan Horton appears fully recovered from the concussion he suffered during the Cup Finals.

The Season Begins:

Game 1 v. Philadelphia (10/6/11):

One week removed from the Red Sox’ historic meltdown, it was time to put away the balls and bats in favor of the sticks and pucks. Opening night brought the banner ceremony and it was highly emotional. Big Z came out with the Cup and then it was passed around to all of his teammates who each held it aloft to thunderous applause. The 1972 Cup winners then stood on one side of the banner and the ’11 Cup winners stood on the other and the banner was carried along to its place where it was raised to the rafters along side the other five championship banners. That was the final act of the championship season and it was time to move forward to a new year with new hopes and aspirations.

Tim Thomas started in goal against Ilya Bryzgalov, whom the Flyers acquired from Phoenix over the summer. The Flyers also traded away their two big guns (Carter and Richards) after getting swept by the B’s in the second round of the Playoffs. The Flyers had two early chances that Thomas kicked aside. Kelly and Seguin broke in on a 2-on-1 but the puck went over Kelly’s stick. The B’s scored on the power play as Marchand broke in on a perfect pass from Seguin and buried the puck on the backhand. Late in the period, Flyers scored on the power play as Giroux crashed the net on a pass from Jagr and knocked the puck past Thomas. Seconds later, Philly went ahead as Voracek knocked in a rebound of Simmonds’ shot directly out in front. In the second period, Marchand had an early chance that was blocked by Bryzgalov. Five minutes in, Marchand skated around Chris Pronger but his shot was knocked aside. The B’s attack then cooled off for the better part of the period. A small rumble ensued behind the B’s net after Chara leveled Giroux into the boards but no penalties were called. Marchand then had a backhanded attempt on a feed from Krejci that was blocked. The Flyers had a 2-on-1 on the penalty kill but Nodl’s shot was blocked by Thomas. Jagr followed up with a shot that Thomas knocked away. The B’s opened the third period with a brief power play but couldn’t generate any pressure. Hartnell had a point blank chance but couldn’t lift the puck over Thomas. The B’s had another power play and Bergeron had a great chance that Bryzgalov stopped. After the B’s went on the power play again, Horton had a wide open net on a perfectly-threaded pass from Krejci but couldn’t elevate the puck over Timmonen’s poke check. Seguin followed that up with a chance from in close that Bryzgalov stopped. The B’s definitely had the better of the play in the third period but Bryzgalov stood tall. The B’s were stymied late as a penalty really killed their chances. Thomas was pulled with a minute remaining but the B’s couldn’t move the puck beyond the perimeter. With three seconds left, Seguin took a high stick from Giroux causing a small exchange of shoves, but by then it was too late for the B’s to comeback.

Game 2 v. Tampa Bay (10/8/11):

After Thursday night’s disappointing loss to open the season, the B’s had a Saturday night date with the Lightning in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. The B’s downed the Lightning 1-0 in Game 7 of the ECF and the Lightning are coming to Boston looking for a taste of payback. The Lightning, led by Lecavailer, Stamkos and St. Louis, need no introduction to Bruins’ fans. They are highly skilled and well-coached and will give the B’s everything they can handle tonight. In their opener last night, the Lightning blew the doors off of Carolina 5-1. In a bit of a scheduling quirk, the Lightning play their first 10 games on the road. The Lightning have new uniforms this year, a simple blue and white design similar to the Leafs. Prior to the game, the B’s were introduced individually as in a traditional opening night ceremony.

Tim Thomas started in goal against Mathieu Garon. The B’s had an early power play as Matt Gilroy went off for holding at 4:21. Chara’s one-timer from the point was smothered by Garon. Pouliot’s backhand attempt at the close of the power play was then stopped at the post and a bit of pushing and shoving ensued behind the net. Garon then knocked away Bergeron’s backhanded bid. Downey and Marchand then went off for matching roughing minors at 9:13. Prior to a delayed penalty called against Boychuk, Thomas made a brilliant stick save. Stamkos’ one-timer from the left circle was stopped by Thomas at the near post. The B’s went back on the power play at 13:40 as Connolly went off for tripping Seguin. The B’s managed only one shot on goal during that chance as the Lightning did a good job of keeping the puck out of danger, Lucic then went off for slashing at 16:31. Late in the period, Pouliot nearly knocked in a puck at the near post.

Rich Peverley put the B’s ahead at 2:04 on a rebound of Marchand’s shot. On the play’s Marchand’s shot from the par post was knocked away by Garon but Peverley had a wide open corner. Martin St. Louis then tied the score on a breakaway from the blue line as he fired a wrist shot from about 20 feet out that beat Thomas. It was St. Louis’ 300th career goal. Marchand then broke in with Peverley on a 2-on-1 but Marchand’s shot missed the net. Adam McQuaid then put the B’s up 2-1 at 4:48 as he fired a wrist shot from the right point that squirted past Garon. The goal was set up by Seguin’s digging and beautiful pass that McQuaid one-timed. With the one-goal lead, the B’s intensified the pressure in the offensive zone. Thomas then came up with a nice save. Eric Brewer then went off for tripping Lucic at 10:24 and Seguin went off for holding Moore (well sold) at 10:59. After the Lightning’s brief power play expired, there was a little dust up between Dominic Moore and Marchand, who were both sent off for roughing at 13:21. Connolly was then sent off for hooking at 14:04, setting up a 4-on-3 for a minute and change. In the final seconds of the period, Boychuk was sent off for tripping as he attempted to break up a 2-on-1 in front of Thomas.

Marchand had a breakaway attempt on the shorthand to open the third period. Thomas then made a brilliant, acrobatic save, sliding across the crease and knocking away the puck. Hedman then had two point blank shots that Thomas stopped. Krejci made it 3-1 at 3:07 on a rebound of Lucic’s shot as Garon left a fat rebound out in front. Adam Hall then nearly batted in a loose puck that Thomas smothered. Garon then made two saves on Shawn Thornton, who tried to hack the puck in at the near post. Peverley made it 4-1 on a rebound of Bergeron’s shot. On the play, Bergeron smartly advanced the puck into the offensive zone, then picked up a loose puck and fired it on goal. Peverley had a wide open net at the near post and fired it home. The Lightning bench was then called for too many men on the ice at 10:19. The ensuing power play didn’t accomplish much. Seguin went off for tripping Downie at 17:37, which would give the Lightning a power play pretty much for the balance of the game. The Lightning never moved the puck beyond the perimeter during the power play and the B’s came away with their first win of the season.

Game 3 v. Colorado (10/10/11):

The B’s followed up Saturday’s big win by laying a big, fat egg against the Avalanche, losing 1-0 on Milan Hedjuk’s third period goal. For whatever reason, the B’s always seem to come out flat in matinee games. Although they out-shot and out-hit the Avs in the first period, it was clear that Colorado’s speed advantage was going to cause problems for the B’s all afternoon long. During the second period, the B’s picked up the pace but there was no scoring. After Hedjuk’s goal midway through the period, the B’s had a couple of chances to tie the score, particularly when Lucic broke in alone with the puck but was stoned cold by Sergei Valarmov in the Avs’ goal. Tuukka Rask (who was the only bright spot for the B’s) was pulled with a minute remaining and had one great chance but the puck bounced over Peverley’s stick. (There must’ve been at least ten bad bounces of the puck for the B’s today). It was only one game, but the lack of scoring and intensity was disappointing.

Game 4 at Carolina (10/12/11):

The B’s hit the road for the first of two road games, starting with a date with the winless Hurricanes in Raleigh. David Krejci suffered an “upper body injury” and did not make the trip. Seguin was promoted to the top line to replace Krejci and Jordan Caron dressed. Tim Thomas started in goal against Cam Ward. In the first 45 seconds, Carolina’s Jiri Tlusty put a tough shot on goal that Thomas knocked away. Minutes later, Ward came up with two quick saves off of shots by Lucic and Seguin. The Hurricanes were caught with too many men on the ice at 4:23. The B’s haven’t scored on their last 12 power plays. Make that 0 for 13, as the power play was ineffective on that chance. The B’s then went right back on the power play as Skinner went off for slashing at 6:54 but the power play did even less than the previous try. Boychuk then put a big hit on Staal. Late in the period, Skinner came back and put a heavy shot on goal that was knocked away. Chris Kelly went off for roughing at 18:48. Staal missed a tip-in attempt.

Joni Pitkanen scored at 42 seconds on a slap shot from the right point that appeared to have been deflected off of Seidenberg’s skate. Dwyer and Tlusty followed up with shots as the B’s defense was seriously out of sync. Tlusty then went off for high-sticking at 3:18. Boychuk had a shot on goal from between the circles. The Hurricanes were caught with too many men on the ice at 8:23. Midway through the power play, Lucic and Bergeron fired shots on that were turned aside by Ward. Seguin attacked the net coming from the half wall and fired a shot on goal. Boychuk then went off for goaltender interference. Kaberle had a quick one-timer that Thomas knocked away. The B’s did a good job keeping the puck away from Thomas. Late in the period, Lucic and Horton had back-to-back chances.

Seidenberg started off the third period with a shot on from between the circles. A minute later, Caron followed up with a shot from in close, with Bergeron firing a rebound that Ward knocked away. Anthony Stewart made it 2-0 ‘Canes at 3:42 as he broke in alone and fired a puck that slipped through Thomas, Seguin made it 2-1 at 4:07 as he went top corner on a pass from Horton that rang off the post and into the net, Tlusty and Dwyer then came back with two quick shots that Thomas knocked away. Peverley then went off for tripping at 6:08. Kaberle fired a shot from the left wing circle that Thomas stopped (why didn’t he shoot the puck when he played for the Bruins?). Harrison followed that up with a point blank shot that Thomas saved. McQuaid hit his head on the end boards when he slipped on the bad ice. Ruutu then came back with a shot that Thomas smothered. Tlusty made it 3-1 at 13:32 as he took a pass from Sutter in the slot and fired a slap shot that beat Thomas on the blocker side. Marchand made it 3-2 at 16:35 on a one-timer as he was in the right wing circle and snapped the puck over Ward’s shoulder and glove and into the net. After a timeout, Thomas was pulled with about a minute left. Lucic then fired a shot on goal from the slot with 47 seconds left. The B’s had one last chance with 15 seconds remaining but Allen cleared away the puck and Thomas was put back into the net. Carolina picked up their first win of the season as the B’s lost again. Is it too early to panic?