For the second straight game, the Bruins were victimized by a hat trick.
Only this time, it cost them a game. Washington forward Mathieu Perreault scored a hat trick, including the game-winning goal at 7:18 of the third period, as the Capitals beat the Bruins, 5-3, in D.C. tonight.
For those of you with a little free time around 1:40 p.m. this afternoon while the Bruins are getting greeted at the White House, I have some great news for you.
The Washington Post will provide live streaming coverage of the defending Stanley Cup champions’ meeting with President Obama.
WILMINGTON, Mass. — After a 3-2-0 road trip mostly against teams from the Southeast Division, the Bruins returned to the Bay State and practiced at Ristuccia Arena this morning.
There’s little time to rest for the Bruins, who tomorrow afternoon will host the New York Rangers. It will be a big game not just because of the long-running rivalry between the two franchises but also because the Rangers will arrive as the only team ahead of Boston in the Eastern Conference standings.
Today the NHL named Ottawa Senators star Danie Alfredsson and Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara as the captain’s of the two teams that will play in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game January 29.
The game is being held in Ottawa. Guess which team the crowd, made up of many Ottawa residents and plenty of Senators supporters, will be pulling for.
Thanks to some timely goaltending by Tuukka Rask and the NHL’s ongoing decision to decide tie games after 65 minutes of hockey with a skills competition, the Bruins were able to at least salvage a tie during their two-game, two-day visit to Florida.
Coming off their shootout triumph over the Panthers last night, however, the Bruins were outplayed at the key moments tonight in Tampa an fell to the Lightning, 5-3, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
The Bruins’ recent run of lackluster play caught up to them in Raleigh Saturday night, as they squandered a 2-1 lead and fell 4-2.
Really, they had no business being in the lead in the first place, as they were sloppy throughout the game. But they were still 2-1-0 last week and are within striking distance of the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference for first place, even if Ottawa is nipping at their heels (with the Bruins holding plenty of games in hand on the Senators).
Fresh off their disappointing loss in Carolina, the Bruins continue their road trip in the Sunshine State Monday and Tuesday with games at the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively.
The Bruins will look to sharpen their game, especially their breakouts, against two tough opponents. But neither team plays in a building that’s a tough ticket, so it’s a great chance for Bruins fans in Florida and beyond to catch the defending Stanley Cup champions is action.
BOSTON — After the Bruins held an optional morning skate this morning at the TD Garden in preparation for their game with Montreal tonight, it was learned two of the Bruins’ best players will be headed to the All-Star Game in Ottawa along with goaltender Tim Thomas.
The NHL announced that defenseman Zdeno Chara and forward Tyler Seguin would be among the 36 All-Stars available in the player draft prior to the midseason classic. Previously, Thomas was voted as a starter for the game by the fans.
Cunneyworth
WILMINGTON, Mass. — Just because the Bruins and Montreal Canadiens are mortal enemies doesn’t mean there isn’t room for some empathy between members of both organizations.
Bruins head coach Claude Julien, who is bilingual but was still once fired as coach of the Habs, can see both sides of the situation involving Randy Cunneyworth and the issue of him not speaking French. Cunneyworth was hired last month as interim head coach after the firing of Jacques Martin.
WILMINGTON, Mass. — That the Montreal Canadiens are a bit down on their luck as they come to Boston to face the Bruins doesn’t mean the Black and Gold are going to take them lightly.
Boston hit the Ristuccia Arena ice today for about 30 minutes to fine-tune their game before a showdown with the Habs tomorrow night at the TD Garden.
Pouliot/By S. Bradley
BOSTON — The Bruins have had their hands full, and even suffered one loss, in their two prior games with Winnipeg.
So tonight should present them with a tough task at the TD Garden, as the Bruins will be without winger Brad Marchand for the first night of his five-game suspension for clipping Vancouver’s Sami Salo.
Bergeron/By S. Bradley
Patrice Bergeron was actually held point-less in two straight games before last week began.
That slump didn’t last long.
Marchand/By S. Bradley
Classifying Brad Marchand’s clip of Vancouver’s Sami Salo as “a predatory low hit,” NHL disciplinarian this evening suspended the Bruins forward for five games.
Marchand was previously assessed a five-minute major for clipping and a game misconduct Saturday in the second period of Boston’s loss to the Canucks.
Chiarelli
BOSTON — The Bruins practiced today at the TD Garden after taking Sunday off.
Among the squad on the ice was winger Brad Marchand, who then had a phone hearing with NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan about a potential fine or suspension for the clip on Vancouver’s Sami Salo Saturday.
The disappointing loss to Vancouver aside, the Bruins still had a productive week last week.
They blew away New Jersey & Calgary by a combined score of 15-1. Had they exercised a little more discipline against the Canucks, the Bruins could be looking at another mini winning streak.
