Bruins Beat Senators 2-1, Reach 110 Point Mark

The B's try to best the teams from the old Adams Division this year.

By Jim Chandley

Boston beat lowly Ottawa tonight at the Garden to bring their season point total to 110.  The last time the B’s amassed as many points, they played in the Adams Division (that’s 1982-3 for you kids).

Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson scored in the first period to stake the Sens to the early lead.

That was all the Ottawa fans had to cheer about for the entire evening.  Milan Lucic would score early in the second from David Krejci and Michael Ryder.  After going into the lockerroom tied, the B’s came out and got a quick goal from Marc Savard (P.J. Axelsson on the assist).

This was all they would need as the game ended 2-1.

The Bruins’ 110 points are good for a nine point lead on Washington with five games to play.  This means that the Bruins can clinch the Conference title with a win on Saturday afternoon when they host the Rangers.

Bruins Win Ugly Behind Fernandez, 7-5 Over Leafs

Bruins backup Manny Fernandez

By Jim Chandley

Boston took two points out of Saturday’s tussle at the Air Canada Centre.  Toronto have had a tough year so the game should not have been very exciting.

But Manny Fernandez made it interesting.  The enigmatic net-minder has been sporadic of late, leaving fans to sweat out games the B’s might otherwise win with ease.

Saturday was no exception.

Fernandez gave up soft goals to Nikolai Kulemin and Alexei Ponikarovsky in the first period.  Mark Recchi would tip in a Matt Hunwick slapper at the end of the period to save a tie score for intermission.

In the second, the Bruins offense went ballistic.  Goals from Shawn Thornton, Blake Wheeler, David Krejci and Recchi put the B’s ahead for good.  The score after two periods was 7-4.

Fernandez would let up one more in the third, but the Bruins escaped with their skin and the two point victory.  They skate again tonight at Philladelphia.

5-3 Bruins, Chicken Little Takes a Step Back

Krejci deflated the Blackhawks' balloon.

By Jim Chandley

The Bruins won for the first time in what felt like ages this afternoon.  They downed the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 at the Garden.  New Bruin Mark Recchi announced his presence with a two-goal game.

The Bruins never trailed in this one, with Recchi scoring in the first to make it 1-0.  When Jonathan Toews scored in the second to tie things up, Krejci answered only 30 seconds later.  Recchi, Kessel and Axelsson would add tallies for the Bruins the rest of the way.

Things had clearly turned in the second, just after the Toews goal.  Any momentum Chicago had from tying the game was instantly killed by the Krejci marker, with Recchi’s only 40 additional seconds away.  From then on, the Blackhawks were rather lifeless.

Tomorrow, the Bruins will play the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.  The Rangers are currently 4th in the East.

Fur Flys as Bruins Fall

Flyers goalie Antero Niittymaki turned away 20 of 22 Boston shots on Tuesday

By Jim Chandley

The Bruins and Flyers were locked in a battle similar to a heavy-weight fight for most of three periods Tuesday.  But instead of a cliffhanger split decision, the end was an Ali-Fraizer like knockout in favor of Philadelphia.

Boston drew first blood on a powerplay goal from Patrice Bergeron at 14:25 in the first period.  The Bruins had other chances in the first.  David Krejci was robbed by Antero Niittymaki on an incredible glove save before the Bergeron goal.  Byron Bitz rattled the Philly crossbar later in the period.

Philadelphia’s Scottie Upshall scored early in the second, the only goal of the period.  Throughout the first to periods, hits flew in both directions and the biggest moment was when Zdeno Chara floored flyers winger Scott Hartnell (a noted NHL enforcer) with a single shot in front of the Bruins goal after the Upshall goal.

But the real knockout blow came from the sticks of Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble.  Gagne scored at 2:22 in the 3rd, tipping a slapshot from former Bruin Andrew Alberts.  Minutes later, another former Bruins, Mike Knuble scored from the slot to make it 3-1.

Gange would score again on the powerplay later in the period.  With a minute left, Stephane Yelle scored on a Bruins powerplay but it was too little, too late.  The Bruins fell 4-2

The Bruins will host the Phoenix Coyotes Thursday night at the Garden.