Chara/By S. Bradley
It surely isn’t making him feel any better today after the Bruins lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to Washington last night, but today Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara was revealed as one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman.
The members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association cast their ballots at the conclusion of the regular season. The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas June 20.
Capitals celebrate
BOSTON – There were times over the course of the regular season that the Bruins paid the price for having played 25 postseason games en route to their 2011 Stanley Cup championship.
But nowhere did the rigors of the title run exact a bigger toll on the Bruins than during their seven-game loss in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to Washington, who prevailed in Game 7 Wednesday, 2-1, in overtime on a goal by Joel Ward.
Bergeron/By S. Bradley
BOSTON — As if there was any doubt beforehand, Bruins head coach Claude Julien left little doubt in regard to Patrice Bergeron’s availability for tonight’s Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series with Washington at TD Garden.
“I think so,” said Julien after his team’s morning skate when asked about Bergeron playing.
Bergeron/By S. Bradley
WILMINGTON, Mass. — Bruins center Patrice Bergeron did not practice today at Ristuccia Arena.
He was the only player missing, as Jordan Caron filled in on Bergeron’s line with Rich Peverley moving over the center.
Here comes Game 7
Last night the NHL set the time for the Bruins-Washington Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Phoenix’s win against Chicago in Game 6 of that series last night left the Bruins-Capitals game as the only one scheduled for Wednesday night, so all eyes will be on the dramatic series finale.
Bergeron/By S. Bradley
BOSTON — Jack Edwards can stop campaigning.
Today the Bruins play-by-play man and several more of the team’s brass and fan base got their wish, as center Patrice Bergeron was named as one of three finalists for the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL. Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk and St. Louis’ David Backes are the other finalists, as selected by a vote of the members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
Seguin/By S. Bradley
The Washington Capitals let the Bruins slip out of their fingers, and Tyler Seguin escaped his cage as well.
Now there’s no telling if the Bruins will be corralled again.
Seguin scored the game-winner 3:17 into overtime as the Caps failed to close out the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in Game 6 today, and now the Bruins will host Game 7 Wednesday night at TD Garden.
Pouliot/By D. Hickling
BOSTON – If Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals was the Bruins’ last home game of the 2011-12 season, Benoit Pouliot certainly soured it.
Seconds after turning over the puck to Washington center Nicklas Backstrom, Pouliot slashed Backstrom twice in an attempt to recover the puck. The ensuing power play led to Troy Brouwer’s game-winning goal with just 1:27 remaining in regulation.
Pittsburgh’s Game 5 win against Philadelphia and Nashville’s series-clinching Game 5 victory over Detroit last night allowed the NHL to finally set its schedule for Sunday.
After the Penguins and Flyers play their Game 6 at noon, the Bruins and Washington will play their Game 6 at 3 p.m. That means back-to-back matinees for the Bruins and Capitals, who play Game 5 today at 3 p.m.
Holtby
The Bruins set a Washington opponent’s record with 45 shots on net in a non-overtime playoff game, and were credited with an astounding 83 shot attempts.
And they’re still coming home with their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series with the Capitals tied 2-2.
Spooner will be one of the 'Black Aces.'/By S. Bradley
With the Providence (AHL) Bruins finishing their season last weekend, Boston today summoned 10 players who will skate together in Providence and stay sharp as “Black Aces” should the parent club need them during the rest of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The players are: Andrew Bodnarchuk, Carter Camper, Craig Cunningham, Josh Hennessy, Lane MacDermid, Kevan Miller, Max Sauve, Ryan Spooner, David Warsofsky, Trent Whitfield.
Julien took issue with Hunter's comments./By S. Bradley
Even before he learned that he would be without star center Nicklas Backstrom due to a one-game suspension for cross checking Rich Peverley in the head, Washington head coach Dale Hunter came out with the claims that Backstrom was protecting himself and that the Bruins were targeting Backstrom’s head in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series between the teams.
Today Bruins head coach Claude Julien had a chance to respond to Hunter’s comments on the second off day before tomorrow night’s Game 4, with the Bruins now leading the series, 2-1.
Peverley took the hit, Backstrom gets the ban./By S. Bradley
Nice, try Dale Hunter. But this time, NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan saw right through your propaganda.
Shanahan tonight announced a one-game suspension for Washington center Nicklas Backstrom. The star playmaker and overtime hero of Game 2 was assessed a match penalty for cross checking Bruins forward Rich Peverley after the final horn of Boston’s 4-3 Game 3 victory Monday night.
Chara/By S. Bradley
Although the Bruins finally got two goals from forwards who do not skate on their third line, it was a shot from their defense that was the difference tonight.
Zdeno Chara capped a three-point night with a 4-on-4 goal from the right point off Roman Hamrlik’s stick that was the game-winner with 1:53 left in regulation in a 4-3 win against Washington in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
BOSTON – A Johnny Boychuk miscue turned into a Nicklas Backstrom goal with just 2:56 elapsed in double overtime as the Washington Capitals beat the Bruins 2-1 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at TD Garden.
Backstrom had just lost a faceoff to Patrice Bergeron, when Boychuk fanned on a clearing attempt. Marcus Johansson wound up with the puck below the goal line, and he passed it to Backstrom for the game-winning goal from the left faceoff dot.
