Home of the Caniacs.

Like New Jersey and Boston before them, the Pittsburgh Penguins now have to deal with the ear-busting sound of the RBC Center in Raleigh after opening the Eastern Conference finals series with two home games.

But unlike the Devils and Bruins, the Pens are heading into the Carolina Hurricanes’ home with a 2-0 series lead, which right away gives them some hope that the crowd won’t reach its absolute fever pitch. (more…)

Huet

The Chicago Blackhawks paid their two goaltenders more than $12 million this season, so they might as well put them both to work in the postseason. And having two world-class netminders worked in the ‘Hawks’ favor last night, as Cristobal Huet replaced an injured Nikolai Khabibulin before the third period of Game 3 of the Western Conference finals and held down the fort until Patrick Sharp could score the game-winner in a 4-3 overtime victory over Detroit.

Chicago still trails the series, 2-1, but Game 4 is on the ‘Hawks’ home ice Sunday. (more…)

Penner

PROVIDENCE — Two power-play goals by defenseman Jeff Penner and a solid first 20 minutes by the Providence Bruins both went to waste tonight, as the Hershey Bears rallied from 3-0 and 4-2 down to take Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, 6-4, at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

Hershey now leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday back here at “The Dunk.”

“It’s disheartening getting up 3-0 and then 4-2,” said Penner after the loss. “We can’t sit back once we get leads like that. And we just sit back and stop skating and they came at us hard. They’ve got a skilled team and that’s what’s going to happen if we sit back.” (more…)

Final score: Hershey 6, Providence 4.

So now the Providence Bruins have to figure out what they did right in tonight’s first period and come up with a way to do it for a full 60 minutes, as they squander leads of 3-0 and 4-2 en route to falling behind two games to one in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals series with Hershey. Game 4 is Sunday night back here at “The Dunk” and I’ll be live blogging the action again.

I’ll have complete postgame reaction/analysis in a bit. (more…)

Hnidy

When they start using DNA for human cloning, they’re going to take Shane Hnidy’s biological code and create a legion of sixth and seventh defensemen to populate the NHL. Never flashy and sometimes overmatched, Hnidy proved to be the perfect foot soldier for the Boston Bruins in their march to the top seed in the Eastern Conference and a berth in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Seemingly able to perform at a high level after weeks of time spent only practicing, and not playing games, Hnidy provided the Bruins with much-needed depth throughout the season when the injury bug bit key members of the defense corps. (more…)

Fernandez

Sort of overlooked among Boston Bruins players returning from extended injury absence heading into this season (Patrice Bergeron, rightfully so, stole the bulk of the comeback headlines), Manny Fernandez was equally challenged to return to form this winter.

And for the better part of three months, he not only returned to his Minnesota form but might’ve actually surpassed it. While he was healthy, Fernandez gave the Bruins the best one-two goaltending punch in the league — and even challenged Tim Thomas for the No. 1 job right around the holiday season. Although a back problem snuck up on him at midseason, Fernandez provided the support necessary to keep Vezina finalist Thomas sharp and rested for the postseason. (more…)

Chelios

Now we know why the NHL decided to schedule so many two-day breaks between games of the conference finals series.

So long-ago-eliminated players like Jeremy Roenick have plenty of time to stir up non-controversies with ridiculous statements on radio shows. The idea that Detroit head coach Mike Babcock, whose team is up, 2-0, on Chicago heading into tonight’s Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, is anti-American for not playing Chris Chelios is hilarious. After all, two of the defensemen playing ahead of the oft-scratched Chelios — and playing quite well I might add — are U.S.-born Brian Rafalski and Brett Lebda.

Anyway, back to actually hockey that’s based in reality, the ‘Hawks are going to need more than home-ice advantage to get back in this series. (more…)

It was a performance that made you glad to sit inside and watch hockey on a scorching-hot May evening in the Bay State. It was a showing that had some of his teammates and his owner comparing him to the greats of the game (with even a Wayne Gretzky mention).

Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin was a one-man wrecking crew in helping his Penguins overcome a second-period deficit and roll past Carolina, 7-4, last night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals at Mellon Arena. The Penguins now lead the series, 2-0, heading to Raleigh for Game 3 and 4.

Malkin capped the hat trick with a play Pens head coach Dan Bylsma said is simply called “The Geno.” Here it is:

(more…)

The Providence Bruins and Hershey Bears will play Game 3 of their Eastern Conference finals series tonight at Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The series is tied, 1-1.

TheBruinsBlog.net will be your source for complete coverage of the game, as well as Game 4 (Sunday) and Game 5 (Monday), including a live blog during the game, and postgame analysis and reaction after the contests.

So be sure to log on to TheBruinsBlog.net for your dose of Providence Bruins coverage this weekend.

Ference

Rumor has it that when healthy enough to play in at least 75 games, if not more, Andrew Ference is a legit top-four defenseman who can move the puck and play solid in his own end.

Since he came to the Boston Bruins, we’ve seen glimpses of Ference’s all-around strong play but injuries have made those moments only a little less rare than an on-time flight out of Logan Airport. Ference’s dressing room presence and his team-involving projects to protect the environment are worthy of respect, but Ference is going to have to figure out a way to change his karma in terms of the injuries, which have not in any way been his fault. (more…)

Lucic

For those who missed it, Sports Illustrated recently picked a list of “The NHL’s Most Rugged Players.”

No. 12 on this all-encompassing list, none other than Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Komisarek. Now for the most part I’ve been a fan of Komisarek. Prior to his crosscheck to the head of Milan Lucic near the end of Game 4 of the Boston Bruins’ Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with the Habs (see below), the former Michigan standout has always been a pretty stand-up guy. (more…)

Chara

When the Boston Bruins bestowed their largest free-agent contract on Zdeno Chara in the summer of 2006, the 2008-09 season was just what they had in mind for the gargantuan defenseman.

It wasn’t just the career-high 19 goals and the plus-23 rating that made Chara the best defenseman in the league this season. When it came time to put the clamps on Alexander Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk or any of the league’s other offensive machines, Chara was there to grind them to a halt. He had his share of problems with Eric Staal in the playoffs, but regained his form in time to help the team force a Game 7 with Carolina and did nothing to tarnish what was definitely a Norris Trophy-worthy campaign. (more…)

Bitz

The Boston Bruins’ attempts to fill in for the injured Milan Lucic and Patrice Bergeron with Martin St. Pierre and Vladimir Sobotka wasn’t working, so Jan. 10 they called up Byron Bitz and Martins Karsums from Providence (AHL). While Karsums became trade bait at the March 4 deadline, Bitz became a fixture on the NHL roster and stuck for the remainder of the season.

Not as highly touted a prospect as some of his former P-Bruins teammates, Bitz brought an element of size, grit and toughness the Bruins needed to finish first in the Eastern Conference and then go two rounds deep in the playoffs. (more…)

Helm

Sometimes you just have to shake your head when you see the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings continue to fill their roster with young talents like Darren Helm and Jonathan Ericsson when they endure injuries to key players.

So far in these playoffs, the Wings’ budding stars haven’t hurt the club’s cause to repeat — and, in fact, have helped Detroit reach the Western Conference finals and take a 2-0 lead in the series with Chicago heading into Friday night’s Game 3. So much is made of the Blackhawks’ youth and potential for future success (in addition to possible present victory), but they won’t be really impressive until they start to lose players and replenish the roster the way Detroit consistently does. (more…)

Kessel

Boston Bruins star winger Phil Kessel underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his left shoulder, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli announced in a statement this morning.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Peter Asnis and Dr. J.P. Warner at Mass General Hospital, and will force Kessel to miss approximately six months. Kessel, the Bruins’ leading goal-scorer with 36 in 2008-09, is scheduled to become a restricted free agent July 1 barring a new deal agreed to with the Bruins prior to that date.

Center David Krejci (hip) and defenseman Andrew Ference (groin/hernia) are scheduled have surgery in the weeks ahead.