Fernandez

Remember last spring when the Detroit Red Wings thought they were going to ride the goaltending of future Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek to the Stanley Cup?

Here’s one a little more recent: Remember when the Boston Bruins were a two-goaltender team so fearsome they took down those defending champion Red Wings, plus pretty much every other would-be contender that stood in their way. That was just three months ago.

Well, the ’08 Red Wings were forced by an injury to turn to Chris Osgood after just four postseason games. Having played in 43 regular-season games to Hasek’s 41, Osgood was sharp and ready to go when it came time to carry the Wings to the promised land. Last season’s Red Wings should be a cautionary tale for a Bruins club that has suddenly turned into a goaltending dictatorship rather than a bi-netminder system. (more…)

Savard

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Kudos to the Bangin Panger blog for its astute observation from Sunday’s Boston Bruins-Pittsburgh Penguins game — noticing that  some time after the first period Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby removed his visor from his helmet.

Crosby’s winger Chris Kunitz confirmed on radio 105.9 The X Monday that Crosby had altered his equipment in response to a challenge from a Bruins player.

“He was letting the other player on the other team know that he wasn’t intimidated,” Kunitz told radio host Mark Madden.

While Kunitz did not name the player, and the mainstream Pittsburgh media hasn’t touched this story yet, the Bruins’ culprit is suspected to be center Marc Savard. Today after the Bruins practiced at Ristuccia Arena, Savard didn’t deny that he was chirping hard with Crosby. But beyond that, he offered no comment.

WILMINGTON, Mass. — No celebrating of St. Patrick’s Day for the Boston Bruins after taking yesterday off.

The team practiced today at Ristuccia Arena, with only winger Phil Kessel missing in action. Maybe he’s searching for the pot o’ gold that awaits at the other end of the rainbow (otherwise known as restricted free agency this summer). Head coach Claude Julien called Kessel’s absence a maintenance day.

Center  Stephane Yelle, absent the last five games, skated with his usual fourth-line partners. He said he took more contact than in his last practice but wasn’t sure if a Thursday return would be a realistic target.

Blake Wheeler and P.J. Axelsson flanked Marc Savard in Kessel’s absence.

The Bruins spent a major part of practice working on 4-on-4 situations and things picked up at a pretty fast pace.

Miller

The biggest news coming out of Buffalo since the Terrell Owens signing emanated from Western New York yesterday and today, as Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller got back on the ice for the first time in more than a month.

Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reports that Miller, who has been out with a severe ankle injury, skated on his own yesterday, and then did the same today before the Sabres practiced as a team.
“That’s what I’m working for,” Miller said about a return to game action before this season. “If I don’t work it and do the things I’m doing, then that becomes a little more difficult. If I keep doing this kind of stuff and working through it, it pushes the timetable way up. I fully expect to play. That’s what’s in my head.”

MK: While Miller might be targeting a return close to the end of the regular season, it’s doubtful the Sabres without him can make those game be meaningful. But if they could pull it off and get a healthy, rested Miller back for a playoff series, that would make them dangerous.

Elsewhere around the division:

•Toronto forwards Mikhail Grabovski and Jason Blake tussled in practice for the second time this season.

•There’s no denying that Ottawa has improved since its coaching switch to Cory Clouston.

•Head coach Bob Gainey had his Montreal Canadiens get back to basics at practice yesterday.