B's Playoff Game Recap! - Game #2 vs. The Canes!

Playoffs Finally Start as B's Blanked by Ward & Canes' in Game #2

BOSTON (AP) -The Boston Bruins kept firing shots at Cam Ward. The "rock" of the Carolina Hurricanes kept stopping them.

The playoff MVP in Carolina's 2006 Stanley Cup victory, Ward turned aside 36 shots for his second shutout in his last four playoff games and the Hurricanes won 3-0 Sunday night for a split of the first two games. "He's our rock," Eric Staal said. "He needs to play well every night for us to have a shot and he did."

It was a description that was confirmed to coach Paul Maurice - very loudly - on a shot in the third period that Ward knocked away with his pad. "I didn't expect to hear that sound," Maurice said. "It came off that pad hard, so that's a glimpse of how good he is."

Joe Corvo, Matt Cullen and Staal, on an empty-net goal with 28 seconds left, scored for the Hurricanes, who will be home for Games 3 and 4 Wednesday and Friday nights.
They also split their first two games of the first round at New Jersey, then lost the next game at home in overtime to the Devils.

"We're looking to learn our lessons because we felt this good going back to Game 3 with New Jersey," Maurice said. "(The Bruins) are going to come in, in some ways without the pressure of playing at home and being creative."

There was plenty of pressure when they began the third period trailing 2-0.
"We played really good in the third period," Boston captain Zdeno Chara. "We were really desperate to score a goal." The Bruins got the man advantage with 6:24 gone in the second period when Joni Pitkanen was sent off for elbowing. Chara, a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman, passed the puck from the left point toward Dennis Wideman at the right point, but Chad LaRose stepped between them and stole it. He raced down the left side, skated behind the net and fed the puck out front to Cullen, who snapped a one-timer past Thomas.

The Bruins were the last unbeaten team in the playoffs after Detroit lost to Anaheim 4-3 in triple overtime Sunday. Boston goalie Tim Thomas' winning streak ended at 11 games, including the last six of the regular season.

"It's our first loss in the playoffs," Thomas said. "We've been practicing the not-too-high part, but now we get to practice the not-too-low part." Ward preserved his shutout with 6:37 left when Michael Ryder pounced on a loose puck in front of the net. Ward flashed his left pad out to stop the shot then made a save after Wideman got the rebound. "I felt confident," Ward said. "I felt like I was seeing (the puck) really well and I was containing the rebounds."

The Hurricanes nearly made it 3-0 with less than 3 seconds left in the second period when Larose's shot from the inside edge of the left circle beat Thomas to the far side. The puck ricocheted from the post along the goal line. An official signaled that it hadn't crossed the goal line, a call that stood after a long video review.

Ward's first playoff shutout of the year came in a 4-0 win in Game 6 against New Jersey. The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead at 2:30 of the second period on Corvo's rising slap shot from 5 feet above the left circle that went by Thomas' left arm.
The win was Carolina's first of the season against Boston, which went 4-0 in the regular season, then won Friday night's opener 4-1.

Notes: Rob Brind'Amour played in his 150th postseason game and 63rd with Carolina, passing the franchise record set by Ron Francis, now the team's associate head coach. ... The Bruins 2-0 deficit after the second period marked the first time they'd trailed after a period in this year's playoffs

Game #2 "Three Star" selections:

1st: CAM WARD (Carolina)
2nd: ERIK COLE (Carolina)
3rd: CHAD LAROSE (Carolina)

Winning Goaltender:Cam Ward
Losing Goaltender:Tim Thomas

Portions of this posting were taken from the AP & Bostonbruins.com

B's Playoff Game Recap! - Game #1 vs. The Canes

From the AP & Bostonbruins.com;

B's Jump out Quick and Claim game #1 vs Carolina!

BOSTON (AP) -Aaron Ward laughed when he saw all the newspaper articles asking whether the Boston Bruins would be rusty from the long layoff they earned by sweeping Montreal in the first round.

"When you are at this stage of the season, your athleticism should take over," the Boston defenseman said Friday night after the Bruins scored on the first shot of the series and pulled away from the Carolina Hurricanes to win 4-1 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. "You should never be rusty at this stage of the playoffs."

Tim Thomas stopped 26 shots, and Marc Savard scored twice for the Bruins, the top-seeded team remaining in the NHL playoffs. Michael Ryder scored for the fourth game in a row as Boston, which swept the Hurricanes during the regular season, made it five straight - by a total score of 22-7.

"Whether we lost 10-0 or 4-1 it makes no difference," Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour said. "It's a loss, and we're going to have to regroup and do better next game."
Cam Ward made 20 saves, and Jussi Jokinen scored the lone goal for Carolina.
Game 2 is Sunday in Boston.

"We've got to know that we can beat these guys. We've got to feel confident," Hurricanes forward Eric Staal said. "It's a best-of-seven series for a reason. We can be better; we know that. We've got to ... forget about this one and look forward to Game 2." Thomas won his 11th consecutive game, including four straight in the first round against rival Montreal that was Boston's first playoff series victory since beating the Hurricanes in 1999. The sweep of the Canadiens left Boston with eight days off to prepare; they didn't even find out their second-round opponent until Tuesday night, when Carolina scored twice in the last 80 seconds of Game 7 against New Jersey to oust the Devils.

"There was some rust in the first period," Thomas said. "Not anything that was a game-changer, but we got better and better as the game went on and shook the rust off. After nine days off, one bad period is not a bad place to be."

Boston scored just 94 seconds in - on the first shot of the game - when Ryder dug the puck out from behind the net and passed it to the point for Aaron Ward. The defenseman's wrist shot was tipped in by David Krejci.

Carolina tied it with 1:10 left in the first when Jokinen put a slap shot past Thomas a split-second before the goalie was flattened by Ryan Bayda. The goal counted, and Bayda went off for interference.

"I was too busy watching the puck go in," Thomas said. "So I didn't see that one at all." But that was the only time Thomas was off his game. He made a save on Tuomo Ruutu midway through the first just before the Hurricanes forward was checked into the crossbar, dislodging the net. With just under 15 minutes left in the game, Thomas made a left-pad save on Eric Staal at point-blank range to keep it a two-goal game. Two minutes later, Savard took a drop pass from Phil Kessel and beat Ward to make it 4-1. The Hurricanes lost the opener of the New Jersey series by the same score.

Notes: Ryder and Kessel have at least one point in each playoff game Boston has played this year. ... It was Thomas' sixth straight game allowing two goals or fewer. ... The last time the teams played in the playoffs, in 1999, Hurricanes defenseman Steve Chiasson was killed in a drunken driving accident hours after Carolina returned home. ... With his 31st playoff appearance, Cam Ward became the franchise leader in games played among goalies. ... Julien was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for NHL coach of the year

Canes unveil new "Score(s)" line

The Carolina Hurricanes have heard enough. Ever since it was determined that they would face off against the Boston Bruins, they've heard the talk. They're a one line team, no depth. Staal can't do it all. Well, they've finally responded to their critics and unveiled their new line which they hope will take the pressure off the Stall/Whitney/Larose line. And while they may bear a passing resemblance to the Kostitsyn sisters from Montreal, rest assured, these players are all Carolina. No word yet if the NHL will allow the giant slingshot instead of sticks, but given Colin Campbell's confusion on what sticks are for, I wouldn't bet against it. This line could provide the Bruins first real test of physical play, as they're obviously tougher than anyone the Canadiens rolled over the boards in round one.


As for the rest of the Carolina roster, meh. Not overly impressed to be honest. When you look at their roster, there are VERY few names that jump off the page at you. Yes, Eric Staal is a "star" player (at least one of those second-tier types). Cam Ward is on a roll, not unlike the one he went on on his way to winning the Conn Smythe trophy in their Cup year. After that? Mixed bag. Rod Brind'amour is a savvy veteran with loads of experience. But I don't think he's nearly the player he was just a couple seasons ago (as his 0-0-0, minus 1 for the first round will attest). Beyond that, you have a shopping list of guys who may as well be in the witness protection program. Nobody would recognize them walking down any street in the hockey world. But, is that a bad thing? The Canes won their Cup with a similar crew of "no-names" in 2006. Yes, the sum of the parts can be greater than the individuals.

BUT, when one of these "sum of the parts" teams meets up with a team with loads of depth, and much better talent up and down the roster.....things get a little dicey. And that is just the situation the Whalers/Canes find themselves in. Yes, the Whale plays well as a team. But they don't play "great" as a team. The offense is all on the Staal line, and the defense is pretty much left to Cam Ward. That my friends, is not a recipe for success. One line (really, one player) doing all the scoring doesn't work for long in the playoffs. And while goaltending is obviously a huge part of playoff success, you simply can't expect your goalie to win you every game. The Bruins have such a clear advantage in the depth department that I can't see how, barring a major meltdown by Boston or a goaltending display for the ages by Ward, that Carolina last more than five or six games.

On the subject of depth, Carolina had 6 players with 4 points or more in their seven game series. Boston had 5 in their sweep of the Hapless Habs. And that perfectly mirrors the regular season, in which they led the league in 20 goal scorers. Oh, and one of those 20 goal guys was shuttled to the fourth line and shut-out in limited time(Wheeler) and one was held goal-less (Recchi). Raise your hand if you expect Mark Recchi to go 0-fer in the second round. Exactly. And remember, Recchi knows this team very well, having played on that Cup winning team in '06....think he may know a thing or two about Ward that he can use to his advantage? I fully expect a big series from the Recching ball.

And that's just it....we can rightfully EXPECT big performances from many different players. While the Whale can basically only HOPE for big series from most of their guys. I'm sure they'll all publicly say all the right things and display confidence etc. But honestly, do you think anyone in tobacco country EXPECTS Staal or Cole or Whitney...or anyone, to have a great series? The top line will see loads of Zdeno Chara. That in itself pretty much eliminates the "big series" from them. Now, they may score a couple goals here and there. I would never predict a shut out of high end talent, especially high end talent that has won a Cup. But they just don't go deep enough to make themselves a serious threat. Eric Cole, who was widely credited with being a big part of the Canes late season surge, has fallen off the planet. 0-0-0 for him too, with a -2 rating. If I'm a Canes fan, I'm thinking Cole could be the key to the series. He HAS to provide secondary scoring, or they have no chance.

Now, as much as Boston has a clear edge on talent, I don't expect this to be an "easy" series by any stretch. They have a lot of character. They play hard. They get rock solid goal-tending. But while the B's will have to earn it, I see this game going six at most. So that's my call- Bruins in 6.....which sucks, because dammit, I want to be there when they clinch a berth in round 3.

With the long layoff the Bruins have had, I expect to see some rust early in game one. Hopefully, after a period or so, the boys find their legs again. Thomas may have to hold the fort for awhile, which I expect he will. After that, talent will take over.
And of course, you have to wonder about the fatigue factor for the Canes. While Boston was sitting at home resting and healing all their bumps and bruises, they were playing for their lives. The NJ series wasn't overly physical, so I'm not sure how big a factor that will be. But it will have some effect, no doubt. After a few games of Chara, Ward, Stuart, Lucic, Thornton and many others leaning on them, the Whale will start to feel it.

I'll be back on game day to provide my predictions etc. Finally, a GAME DAY post is just hours away. It's been WAY to long.

Go B's-Kynch

One Man's take on the 2nd Round of NHL Playoffs 09'...

Well... That's one round down & hopefully 3 more to go for the B's. As promised (threatened really) here's a follow up on the original set of Round #1 picks I had posted previously by series and a look at Round #2 from my point of view as we all continue the Bruins "Quest for the Cup" together.

As a quick review my Round #1 picks and comments were:

In the Eastern Conference

*#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens- The Pick was the B's in 5 (Who knew the Habs would get pushed around that much...)

*#2 Washington Caps vs. #7 NY Rangers- The Pick was the Cap's in 6 (Washington's lack of a true goaltender was and will continue to haunt this team. Put it this way it's not a good sign when your playoff goaltender is still sporting his Hershey AHL mask...)

*#3 NJ Devils vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes- The Pick was the Canes in 6 (The Canes prevailed and they played one more game than I thought but who could have predicted the Game 7 melt down by the Devils at home and Brodeur failure?)

*#4 Pittsburgh Pens vs. #5 Philly Flyers- The Pick was the Pen's in 7 (As much talent as the Pens have you have to wonder if Philly's lack of team disciple was the real reason they lost this series and are now at home watching?)

That's 4 for 4 in the East! Nice!

In the Western Conference though, I had:

*#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks- The Pick was the Sharks in 6 (I guess "The Curse of Jumbo Joe & the (Nurse) Sharks" continues in San Jose huh...Unreal)

*#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets- The Pick was the Wings in 5 (Good season for the Jackets but reality set in quick for them didn't it)

*#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St. Louis Blues- The Pick was the Blues in 7 (How'd this one work out for me?! Blues goalie Chris Mason did turn in a solid effort but Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo turned in a better one as did the Brothers Sedin who combined to post 3-6-9 numbers offensively and a +8 effort. )

*#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames- The Pick was the Blackhawks in 7 (Despite the Hawks' only having ONE player post a PLUS effort (Jon Toews at a +3) they pushed through in 6)

So thats 2 out of 4 in the West (NEVER AGAIN SHARKS) so a total of 6 out of 8... Not bad but we can do better and with that in mind it's on to my picks for NHL's "Elite Eight" aka the Conference Semifinals.

In the East:

#1 Boston Bruins vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes

Based on just their four regular season match ups (which the B's took 4 out of 4) and on paper this looks like a mismatch. The Bruins go four lines deep and bring the physical game on a consistent basis. We all know without question that the B's Milan Lucic can change the "feeling" of a game and an entire series just based on his physical effort on a shift by shift basis, which is exactly what they'll need him to take the lead on from the outset of things and not let the Canes get started or feel like they have any hope of upsetting the #1 seeded Bruins. We also all know that the B's start this years potential Vezina Trophy winner in Tim Thomas in net and have the potential Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara on their blue line. Which again on paper makes this series look like one sided. Then add in the fact that from the individual match-ups side, you only need to look at Chara up against Eric Staal, the Hurricanes main man upfront and see where this thing begins and ends to slant in the B's favor. Not to get too overconfident here and take anything way from Carolina's gritty club but let's face it, for the Canes to stay in this series and have any chance to pull an upset, Staal is going to need A LOT of help around him because when you get him on that one-on-one match up against the most dominant, punishing, physical defenseman in the NHL in Chara, it can be tough sledding for even the most talented forward let alone Staal... The Pick: Bruins in 5...

#2 Washington Capitals vs. #4 Pittsburgh Penguins

So... The NHL "some how" gets their "Dream" match up and first ever "Sid the Kid" Crosby vs. Alexander "The Great" Ovechkin Playoff series. Funny how that happened huh...Anyway like many others view point, I don't think those two (Crosby & Ovie) will really be the real difference makers in this series. Crazy you say? Let's just assume for a minute that the unique talents that Crosby & Ovie both bring to the ice will show themselves but in fact with cancel each other out regardless of how spectacular the both may be...OK? The next step is to look at each clubs "2nd tier" stars to see where the edges may come from and without hesitation two names jump out. The first is the Pens Jordan Staal. If you only look at the stats you'll see a player that only had one assist and was minus-1, in Round #1 and as such will NEED to be a main guy in this series and the one that will need to step up in big way if Pittsburgh is going to pull the upset here. I realize Staal is not alone in needing a bigger effort here as the Pens will also need to also more (read: Any) production upfront outside of the Crosby & Malkin lines...HELLO 3rd & 4th lines...Anyone home! Conversely from the Caps' side of things, Mike "The Planet 2" Green has also got to play much, much better than he did in the first round against the Rangers. "Hey Mike, your listed as a DEFENSEMEN right?" OK - then play some DEFENSE will you?!... The written excuse for Green's sub par round #1 was that he was sick for most of it but regardless of that he in NO WAY looked or played like the Norris Trophy candidate he's been rightfully touted as this year and as such was baggage for the most part for a Caps team that already is shaky in their own end due to their uncertain goaltending situation. In my opinion he's (Green) going to have to be THE big, big difference maker for Washington if they're going to have any chance to win this series as well. Because of this and some other factors, The Pick is - The Pens in a thrilling 7 games...

In the West:

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks

This whole series may well come down to two facts: Fact #1: The Red Wings power play is now firing on all cylinders these days and downright scary... Fact #2: The lions share of the Ducks game is based on their very physical & sometimes down right dirty play which either has intimidated opponents and allowed for turnovers and odd rushes down their opponents end or them being severely shorthanded most of the time... So when you add these two facts together and I'm sure you'll agree that this combo may be tough (near impossible really...) for the Ducks to overcome this situation if they end up spending the whole series in the box, playing shorthanded. Look it, if you consistently play on the edge and at times to and over the extreme, you better make sure your goaltender and your penalty killing will be able to bail you out. With this in mind, The Pick is- Red Wings in a tough 6 games...

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #4 Chicago Blackhawks

The easiest way to look at this match up would be to throw out the line that this will be a clash of the Blackhawks offensive prowess against the Canucks defense, more specifically their goaltender Roberto Luongo. True but again easy... For me this one could be all about the "Battle of the After the Whistle, Pushing and Shoving Face Washers"... I see the Blackhawks fourth line of Ben Eager, Troy Brouwer, and Adam Burish continuing to unsettle things both on and off the ice just as the did so effectively against the Flames in round one. Burish in particular was a big factor agitating the Flames top line (See: Iginla, Jerome) on the ice as well as having a lot to say off the it too, which really seemed to effect the Flames and that whole series. On the flip side Vancouver have no shortage of "agitating grinders" as well with guys like Alexandre Burrows, Ryan Kesler, Steve Bernier, Kevin Bieksa etc,. All that being equal I see the "O vs. D" factor being important (that's my one of my Turk like "Key's"btw...)but again I'm really thinking this one will be decided by the team that's LEAST effected by their opponents "in your face, extra jab, extra comment, nastiness" and chippy style. The Pick- The Blackhawks in 6...

So in recap form my picks this round are: B's & Pens in 7 in the East and the Wings & Blackhawks in the West.

Until next time. Let's get focused again and Jacked & Pumped for Game #1 tomorrow night in Boston! Go Broounze! - KingKrej46

B's 2nd Round Opponent Snap Shot - The Canes!

CAROLINA HURRICANES

Regular Season Record: 45-30-7, 97 pts

Head-to-Head Record vs Bruins this season: 0-4

Last Stanley Cup Win: 2006

Last Stanley Cup Final Appearance: 2006

Last Postseason Appearance: 2006

Current Canes Players with Stanley Cup Rings: Ray Whitney (1), Rod Brind'Amour (1), Matt Cullen (1), Erik Cole (1), Chad LaRose (1), Anton Babchuk (1), Niclas Wallin (1), Frantisek Kaberle (1), Cam Ward (1)

How They Got Here: The first round series against the Devils was a back and fourth affair. Five of the seven contests were decided by a single goal and two have gone to overtime, if you count Carolina's winner with 0.2 seconds left in Game 4.
Martin Brodeur was stellar for the Devils but so was Hurricane goaltender Cam Ward, who was Brodeur's equal in every way, matching the Devil netminder save-for-save throughout the series. That is, until the last minute and a half of Game 7 when the Hurricanes shocked New Jersey with one of the biggest quick turn wins in playoff history by scoring the TYING & WINNING GOALS with under 1:20 minutes left in their collective seasons.

Another Reason (NOT) To Cheer For The Hurricanes: Carolina was a great story when they won the Cup in 2006, but everything went downhill from there as the club missed the postseason for the next two seasons. But with head coach Paul Maurice returning behind the bench, the Hurricanes were one of the hottest teams down the final stretch and look like a contender in the wide-open Eastern Conference.

The Big 3 look to's:

1. What They Bring To The Table: A bust in Edmonton with 27 points in 63 games, Erik Cole returned to Carolina in a trade deadline deal and brought back instant chemistry. Reunited with Eric Staal on the top line, Cole should be one of several big weapons up front.
2. In net - Cam Ward is also on his game, breaking the franchise record with 39 victories this season and finishing 14-4-2 over the last 20 games. A Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2006, Ward has been a workhorse in goal, building a 10-1-2 record in March and finishing the season with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
3. Up front - Eric Staal led all Hurricanes in goals (40) while Tuomo Ruutu set a career high with 26 goals. On the blueline, Joe Corvo led all Hurricanes defenseman in points (38) while Anton Babchuk had a career season, posting 16 goals (best among all 'Canes blueliners) and 19 assists with a plus- 13 rating.

It's really has been a LONG wait for the B's and their fans after the BROOMING the HATED HABS in only 4 games but this match up looks like it may be worth it as it should be a very SPICY & rough series from the get go! Can't wait till Friday! Let's Go Broounze! - KingKrej46

Carolina on our Minds... Opponent & Dates Set for Round #2!

The B's 2nd round opponent & dates are (FINALLY) set! And it's a Hurricane Warning! Here is the complete schedule as reported by TSN Canada and blogged by John Bish on bruins.com;

Game #1 Friday, May 1 at Boston (7:30 p)
Game #2 Sunday, May 3 at Boston (7:30 p)
Game #3 Wednesday May 6 at Carolina (7:30 p)
Game #4 Friday, May 8 at Carolina (7:30 p)
*Game #5 Sunday, May 10 at Boston (7:30 p)
*Game #6 Tuesday, May 12 at Carolina (7:00 p)
*Game #7 Thursday, May 14 at Boston (TBD)

*If needed...

The other Eastern matchup will feature 2008 Stanley Cup finalist Pittsburgh opening on the road against the Washington Capitals, who pulled out their own 2-1 Game 7 heart-stopper Tuesday.

The matchups in the Western Conference were set Monday night after the No. 8 Anaheim Ducks closed out intrastate rival and top seed San Jose in six, and Chicago's young Blackhawks did the same six-and-out number on the Flames at the Saddledome. Anaheim travels to Detroit to open its second-round series in a battle of the last two Stanley Cup championship teams, while Chicago travels to Vancouver to open its conference semifinal series.

B's NewsBlast! - Tim Thomas Named Vezina Finalist!

As announced by the Bruins on Bostonbruins.com;

BOSTON, MA - The NHL announced today that Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas has been named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, which is awarded “to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position.” Thomas joins Minnesota’s Niklas Backstrom and Columbus’ Steve Mason as this year’s Vezina finalists. This is the first time Thomas has been a Vezina finalist in his career.

Thomas - who set a career high with 36 wins this year and played in his second straight NHL All-Star Game - finished the 2008-09 regular season as the league leader in Goals Against Average (2.10) and Save Percentage (.933). He helped lead the Bruins to their highest victory (53) and points (116) totals since 1971-72, and he and teammate Manny Fernandez shared the NHL’s William Jennings Trophy as the goaltenders for the club finishing the regular season having surrendered the fewest goals (196).

The general managers of the 30 NHL clubs submitted ballots for the Vezina Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Thursday, June 18, during the 2009 NHL Awards that will be broadcast live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas on VERSUS in the United States and on CBC in Canada. Following are the other two finalists for the Vezina Trophy, in alphabetical order:Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota WildAfter nine seasons honing his craft in Europe and two earning increased playing time in the NHL, Backstrom established himself as the Wild’s go-to goalie this season, appearing in 71 games.

He ranked among the League’s top five goaltenders in goals against average (2.33, third), save percentage (.923, fourth) and shutouts (eight, third) and his 37 wins were a franchise record in addition to being the NHL’s fifth-highest total. Backstrom established a club record with 149:19 of consecutive shutout goaltending Dec. 31-Jan. 8.Steve Mason, Columbus Blue JacketsMason began his NHL career by winning his first three starts, Nov. 5, 7 and 8, seizing the Blue Jackets’ No. 1 goaltender role. Named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for both November and December, he posted a club-record three straight shutouts in late December.

Mason finished strong, going 8-2-4 from Mar. 7-Apr.8 as Columbus captured the first playoff berth in franchise history. His 10 shutouts led the League and his 2.29 goals against average ranked second to Tim Thomas’ 2.10 for Boston.History of the Vezina Trophy:Leo Dandurand, Louis Letourneau and Joe Cattarinich, former owners of the Montreal Canadiens, presented the trophy to the National Hockey League in 1926-27 in memory of Georges Vezina, the outstanding Canadiens goaltender who collapsed during an NHL game on Nov. 28, 1925, and died of tuberculosis a few months later. Until the 1981-82 season, the goaltender(s) of the team allowing the fewest number of goals during the regular season were awarded the Vezina Trophy.

It's kind of like wrapping an old Fish in last weeks Newspaper..

Well True Bs Believers! Series #1 & the Habs 100th Season Jubilee are KAPUT! And as we await our Round #2 opponent and the "Return of Kynch" from his 10 days in Florida (must be nice huh...)

I figured I'd wrap things up from my perspective by sharing a note I had posted on the very well done "All Habs" blog: (http://allhabs.blogspot.com/)

which if you haven't seen or heard of yet is a similar Fan Blog site to the Kynch's Korner but from a group of passionate Habs fans rather than us RATIONAL B's ones (yeah right..) Anyway what I posted was in response to the traditional post series smack talk and relentless listing of "Whys, What If''s and If Onlys" and went like this...

From under the All Habs Blog heading- "Game 4 -- The better team won"

"All, Out of respect to the work of "Rocket" and the rest of the All Habs staff as well as what I assume are the few REAL Habs fans on this blog. I'll try and keep my true feelings and personal comments brief on this one but all in all the fact of the matter is that the Bruins at least for this season are the better team and really do look to be in much better shape heading into the near future given obvious disarray that the Habs organization is in and the fact that there's now some serious, serious doubts wheter or not Carey Price can rebound from this whole sub par season and this specific series and be able to even play in Montreal any longer (Are we seeing a "Roy II" here...?)

As an observer from the enemy side, I have to think you're all down right GIDDY to be RID of that FRAUD Mike Komisaresk who's departure from the series & Centre Bell mirrored the way many of the Habs so called "Fans" in attendance did, that is without ANY CLASS whatsoever. Which seeing it come from what many consider the "jewel" organization within the NHL has to be a complete embarrassment to the club and the great City of Montreal! That was totally WEAK showing of any sportsmanship and respect to either team's efforts.

As much as I'm a non-believer in the "second coming" aka Carey Price, the booing and ridicule that he was subjected to was downright crude and PAINFUL even for me to hear given the build up that this kid has gotten from your fans and organization since he was first drafted a few seasons. God, he's still only 21 years old for Price's Sake... Ugh!

Despite all that B.S. though I was impressed with Big George Laraque believe it or not who despite being my more MYTH than actual player at this point, handled the post game hand shake in a very professional and even warm way which really struck me that despite all the back and forth nonsense that goes on between our two teams & cities sometimes, shows that there really is a mutual respect between the two clubs and that sometimes that's the 2nd most important take away we should get from these events outside enjoying the beauty of game itself...In the end a sincere "Great job" to everyone at All Habs & believe me when I say we know your current pain all to well but that we rather enjoy it being you guys feeling it this time around! :-) Until we inevitably meet again, keep well & Go Bruins Go eh'!" - Go Broounze, KingKrej46"