
Chara/By S. Bradley
Sometime early in the Bruins game in Philadelphia today, the on-ice conversation probably went something like this:
Jody Shelley: “Hey, Zdeno, how are you feeling now that you’re back from a two-game absence?”
Zdeno Chara: “Let me show you.”
The language was probably a little saltier and might not have even been on that topic, but the Bruins captain wasted little time proving he was 100 percent healthy today. He dropped the gloves with the Flyers fourth-liner 2:13 into the Bruins’ 6-0 rout and landed several short lefts before scoring a takedown.
Chara was far from done after his fight, as he added a goal and an assist for a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” in the victory that lifted the Bruins into a first-place tie in the Eastern Conference standings. By virtue of having more regulation wins, the Flyers are still technically ahead of the Bruins. But based on today’s performance, who can argue Boston isn’t better than Philly?
Other notables on the day:
•Joe Corvo, Tyler Seguin, and Rich Peverley (3 assists) also enjoyed multi-point days.
•Tim Thomas’ 31 saves earned him career shutout No. 30. He now trails “Mr. Zero” Frank Brimsek by five for second on the Bruins’ all-time list.
•Daniel Paille scored a goal, his third in two games. He now has six on the season after scoring just five in 2010-11. Paille last scored three goals in two games in 2008 for Buffalo during a stretch that saw him pot four goals in three games.
•Shawn Thornton skated in his 400th career NHL game. He earned some shifts on the second line and some late-game power-play minutes.
•NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan will have to look long and hard at Milan Lucic’s hit on Zac Rinaldo. My impression was it was from behind and could’ve been avoided, especially considering the lopsided nature of the game. I’ll guess a one- or two-game ban for Lucic.
with my experience of nhl center ice, flyers (jim jackson & keith jones / bill clement) have the best announcers outside of jack and brick.
jim is even less of a homer than jack, but i think he was bummed he couldn’t give out any tastycakes for a flyer goal so he reverted to excuses. jonesy remained stoic.
oh, and sabres and bolts have the worst.
8 points up in the NE with a game in hand… can anyone make out what that is fading into the dust in the rearview mirror? Oh.. it’s EVERYONE!
I hate to say it, but this is going to be a bit of a boring regular season – 6 nil against the to team in the east. Again and again this team is crushing it’s greatest foes (except for the wings – who are a bit of a match-up problem, met thinks..).
Wake me up in time for the second round – and maybe to laugh at the Leafs and Habs on occasion.
Karl: I listened to part of the game on XM radio, and had to listen to the Flyers commentators. So true what you say. Something to do with Christmas, running around, and missing personel. Come on guys, give me a break.
big Z yaaahhhhhhhh
Glad to see Boychuk come to the aide of Marchand. The one thing about the Bruins, they don’t need the league office to settle scores. Two things; it appears that the Flyers crash the goalie when he’s got possession of the puck, and Chara’s shot seems to be lower this year.
Karl Hungus – The Philly announcer blamed the Flyers effort in part on their travel schedule? Sheez! 12/10 @ home against TB. 12/13 @ Wash. 12/15 @ Montreal. Those 1 hr flights to WA and 3 hr. flights to Mntl certainly are killers! As bad as flying to SJ and Van in the same span of days. To what, I wonder, did he credit their just ended seven game winning streak?
3rd period was fun listening to the flyers announcer laying the blame on injuries and travel sked. penguins did the same thing.
nice gordie by chara.
Obviously lucic caught him from behind, but did he really hit him hard. I was watching on the computer, so didn’t get a good look. Was it egregious or just a bad spot?
This is just the definition of domminance…….. See you monday JPT hope you bring a white towel with you, cause your going to need it. What a feeling