"And another one gone . . ."

Bryan Berard is officially a former Bruin. He signed with the Chicago Blackhawks today.

I had concerns about his play last year, but I also thought he contributed a lot to the Bs. At this point in the season, I'm just glad that he's signed with a team somewhere.

Good luck, Bryan.

Wild news.

Marion Gaborik has come to an agreement with the Minnesota Wild.

That's probably a good thing, seeing as his name is on the All-Star ballot.

And, oh, yeah, he might also help improve their 4-6-1 record.

Boston Bruins Academy

This isn't new; I just felt like mentioning it.

"The Boston Bruins Academy is a program consisting of ten different classes, each with a different concentration."

1. Hockey 101 for Women (sold out): Monday, 11.03.03, 6-8 pm, at the FleetCenter; Thursday, 11.20.03 game vs. the Washington Capitals
with Dan McGillis, Paul Stewart, John Whitesides, Peter Henderson, Nancy Marrapese-Burrell (the Boston Globe), and Kelly Malone (Mix 98.5)

2. Celebrity Bartending: Tuesday, 11.04.03, 6-8 pm at Champions Sports Bar in the Copley Marriott
with Nick Boynton, Andrew Raycroft, and Jeff Jillson

3. Face Off Dinner: Sunday, 11.09.03, 4-6 pm at Charley's on Newbury
with Mike Knuble, Ian Moran, and other Bruins players

4. Wine Tasting: Monday, 11.17.03: 6-8 pm at Morton's
with Sean O'Donnell, Marty Lapointe, and Hal Gill

Mind you, the first press release describes the BBA as "an education program."

I know some students who would love to take these courses.

Anyway, all proceeds will benefit the Boston Bruins Foundation, and you can call for tickets: (617) 624-1917. Don't ask me which events I'm attending. I have no idea what you're talking about!

First announcement | Second announcement

Off campus . . .

Congratulations to Salem State hockey alumni BJ Heckendorn and Kaleb Christensen! Both are on the roster of the UHL's Muskegon Fury, and I wish them luck this season!

Around the NHL . . .

Let's talk about the good and amusing from last night, shall we?

The Florida Panthers beat the Ottawa Senators, 3-2, and Steve Shields was in net. He made 30 saves and was the number one/number two star of the game.

The New Jersey Devils beat the Philadelphia Flyers, and Jeff Hackett was in net: 3-2.

The Red Wings lost to Nashville, 3-5.

Buffalo beat Toronto, 5-3.

Marc-Andre Fleury got his first NHL shutout, 1-0, and Konstantin Koltsov got his first NHL goal, against coach Eddie Olczyk's former team, Chicago.

The San Jose Sharks managed to tie Tampa Bay (I'll take what I can get at this point with the Sharks).

Finally, Lee Goren, a former pB, was recalled by Florida. He got an assist on Olli Jokinen's goal in the aforementioned Panthers' game. Congrats, Lee! We miss you back in Boston!

- - -
Speaking of former Bruins, here's an NHL.com feature that talks about the great performances of number two goalies this season, including John Grahame and Steve Shields. Jamie McLennan, Johan Hedberg, Robert Esche, and Martin Gerber are also on the list. Way to go, guys!

A little pregnant.

You can't be. You either are or you aren't. And that sort of describes Thursday's Bruins game against the Canadiens.

Or maybe it doesn't. It works in my mind, but, honestly, I'm tired right now, mentally and physically, and bed is going to be a much better use of my time than watching the rebroadcast.

My point is that the Bruins almost won tonight's game, or, at least, almost tied it. They weren't amazing from an offensive point of view -- 6 shots, 8, and 7 are not impressive stats -- but the defensive play almost made up for that lapse, and things were cranking in the third period. The Bs kept trying to win and kept themselves in the game until the end of regulation.

And then there was overtime.

I guess another team was on the ice then.

It seemed to happen so fast from our view in upgraded seats. At one moment, they were in the Canadiens' end, shooting on net or trying to shoot. I was ready, with my camera, convinced that now or a minute from now, the Bs were going to win and I was going to see everyone come off the bench to congratulate Felix.

In the next moment, it was a blur of white and red and it was over, Potvin knocking game winner (and former Bruin) Joe Juneau's* stick out of his pads and into the air and angrily leaving the ice.

Who could blame him?

What was the reason for making 37 saves, for Jeff Jillson's dive to block a shot, and for any other number of plays, if people were just going to skate half-heartedly when it came to overtime?

I was mad when I was watching the game in person. Now that I've seen the videotape and know exactly what happened? The word " furious" comes to mind . . .

If you are going to work hard for most of the game, and then stop skating and stand around for the last few minutes, do me a favor: either refund my money or warn me ahead of time, so I can make other plans for the next game.

Bed is calling me. I'll post more later. (Maybe I'll even let you read my letter to Joe.)

- - -
* I can hear Bob Lobel now: "Why can't we get players like that?!

Gotta get the 5:07

Dear Bruins,

I'm getting ready to catch the train to Boston. To go to the game. Your game. I know it's almost Halloween, but we'd like treats tonight, not tricks.

Unless you're talking hat tricks. One or more of those -- scored by you, not on you -- would be fine.

Thanks in advance,
B.

There's a new MB.

JC told me about a new message board for Steve Shields fans. I'm not going to post the URL here because last night on another board was more than enough time with the antiShields crew.

A lifetime's worth, already.

Of course, if you don't like Steve at all, I'm not exactly sure why you'd hang out at my sites . . .

This is true.

"Size only matters when one takes advantage of it."

Hmm.

"The Boston Bruins are off to a great start here in this young 2003-04 season, but the Black and Gold players and fans have been cautious not to get too over-excited about their 6-2-2 record."

Yeah, no sh*t.

Check out the whole article.

Just because . . .

You know, there haven't been many articles on Felix Potvin, or Andrew Raycroft, or Patrice Bergeron, or Sergei Zinovjev since training camp started, so I thought perhaps I should start posting some links for you desperate fans out there.

Here's today's Felix feature from NHL.com.

Okay, but, seriously, if you have any good links on Mike Knuble, just let me know. I'm getting a little desperate as I search . . .

- - -
Just something random: Heather can't think her Steve autograph is less decipherable than this one!

Check out some more autographs.

Gotta love the recaps.

"The Philadelphia Flyers had little trouble with the punchless Florida Panthers. Playing much of the game with an extra skater has that effect."

Oh, my Panthers. Must you take a page out of the Bruins' book?

[ Still in denial about that game. ]

Okay, now for something good from Philadelphia:

Donald Brashear went on a hayride with kids from the Florence Klemmer House.

Check out the photos -- the veggie picture will crack you up!

DARN YOU DIGITAL CABLE!

I can NOT believe I couldn't watch this game!

Look at the penalties . . . out of control . . .

They had darn well better show this on NHL Tonight and Sportscenter!

Guess how well the game's going.

brooke (9:26:51 PM): F*CK
brooke (9:26:54 PM): excuse my language
jc (9:26:57 PM): yeah
jc (9:26:59 PM): f*ck
jc (9:27:06 PM): damnit
jc (9:27:10 PM): hell
brooke (9:27:14 PM): sh*t
jc (9:27:15 PM): me not happy
brooke (9:27:16 PM): cr*p
brooke (9:27:19 PM): what else you want to add?
jc (9:27:41 PM): mmmm, how about sh*tf*ckp*ss

And it's still 5 on 3 . . .

Fight!

Oh, fun, EVERYone jump in! . . . WHY CAN'T I GET CENTER ICE?! I've already missed Steve checking JR, some awesome saves, a great Viktor Kozlov goal . . .

[ I'm in denial about the game right now. ]

Here's a fun little conversation I had with one of my students earlier tonight:

brooke (7:35:02 PM): [ celtics ] game start yet?
s (7:35:22 PM): I THINK 8
brooke (7:35:37 PM): gotcha
brooke (7:35:41 PM): snacks again tonight?
s (7:38:17 PM): BELIEVE THAT
brooke (7:38:32 PM): lol
s (7:38:49 PM): THAS LIKE ASKING A FIEND IF HE IS GETTING HIGH TONIGHT
brooke (7:39:06 PM): LOL
brooke (7:39:08 PM): you're so crazy
s (7:39:16 PM): OR ASKING U R U WATCHING THE HOCKEY GAME
brooke (7:39:26 PM): lo
brooke (7:39:27 PM): lol
brooke (7:39:34 PM): I'm listening to one online right now! :-)
s (7:39:41 PM): EXACTLY
s (7:39:50 PM): SOME THINGS IN LIFE ARE A GIVEN

asl;jasl! aljfsdlakjfl! saj;lksjdalfj!

Come on, Panthers, this is not acceptable! Two goals in 91 seconds? Get it together! It's Philly, and I don't like Esche that much. Kick some butt!

askjfasl;kj!

That is to say, JC just IM'd me to tell me that Luongo is out, and Steve is in for him. Yes, it only took me 5.8 seconds to start up the radio and get to the scoresheet! It's not that I could definitely afford Center Ice, what with my compulsive need for tickets and whatnot, but it'd be nice to think that I could get it, if only I could get digital cable where I live!

Mystery solved.

Well, mostly.

For some time now, Heather and I have been wondering why the pronunciation of Sergei Zinovjev's name apparently changed around about the time he finally figured out how to get himself out of Russia and over here for the end of training camp. Turns out that Zinovjev is also spelled Zinoviev, and, accordingly, pronounced differently.

"Zinovjev -- pronounced (zuh-NOH-vee-ehv) -- caught the eye of Boston Bruins scouts three years ago . . ."

Now if someone can just explain to us why both his first and last names can be found spelled two different ways, depending on the source,* we may be all set with this Sergei/Sergey Zinovjev/Zinoviev thing.

- - -
* You have to register to read Providence Journal articles, but registration is free.

Heather's a whore!

(Apologies to the kids in advance.)

heather (6:19:43 PM): [ written by lauren ] you just confess your sweet undying love to xxxx, whilst xxxxxx dies just a little more on the inside.
heather (6:19:49 PM): lauren's mean. :-(
heather (6:19:53 PM): but!
heather (6:19:56 PM): it's drunk bruins!
heather (6:20:00 PM): don't they understand?
brooke (6:20:00 PM): what's wrong with what she wrote?
heather (6:20:06 PM): ITS A LIE!
brooke (6:20:07 PM): that's what I think EVERY time you talk about xxxx
heather (6:20:11 PM): THATS WHATS WRONG WITH IT!
brooke (6:20:26 PM): it's not a lie
brooke (6:20:30 PM): there he was, busting his butt--
brooke (6:20:40 PM): okay, not, because he couldn't move his butt--
brooke (6:20:50 PM): there he was, mentally busting his butt in a hospital bed
brooke (6:20:56 PM): trying to get well to get back here for you
brooke (6:21:06 PM): and you go and find some boytoy to play with!
heather (6:21:55 PM): HE KNOWS THAT HE ALWAYS COMES FIRST!
heather (6:22:00 PM): god, the two of you are so MEAN!
heather (6:22:24 PM): making it sound like i'm in this for any ol' defensemen who comes in off the street
heather (6:22:27 PM): god.
brooke (6:22:41 PM): we are NOT mean.
brooke (6:22:44 PM): we are realistic.
brooke (6:22:57 PM): no one said anything about "any" defensemen
brooke (6:23:08 PM): although I should point out that not all of your eye candy plays defense
heather (6:23:40 PM): half do and half dont.
brooke (6:23:56 PM): ahem
brooke (6:24:03 PM): I like the way you just proved my point
heather (6:24:29 PM): LISTEN!
heather (6:24:35 PM): i do not have to JUSTIFY MY LOVE to YOU!
brooke (6:24:50 PM): no.
brooke (6:24:51 PM): just to xxx
brooke (6:24:54 PM): good luck with that
brooke (6:24:57 PM): slut
heather (6:25:41 PM): i'm a whore for my site publicity. that's where that ends.
heather (6:26:06 PM): [ written by lauren ] "He's all "Heather, why don't you love me anymore?" with puppy dog eyes and tears welling up."
heather (6:26:09 PM): i hate you both.
brooke (6:26:15 PM): lies
brooke (6:26:24 PM): you're a whore for more than that
heather (6:26:38 PM): nuh UH
brooke (6:27:00 PM): yahh ah-haah
heather (6:27:24 PM): NO
brooke (6:27:34 PM): yes
brooke (6:27:45 PM): do you really want to have this argument?
heather (6:27:58 PM): gggggrrrr.
heather (6:28:08 PM): have you checked your yahoo mail lately?
brooke (6:28:10 PM): go ahead. try to justify and explain yourself.
brooke (6:28:32 PM): oh, that's good -- change the subject!
heather (6:28:39 PM): no. i'm not going to. i only have to answer to xxxx and xxx. not you or lauren. hrumph
brooke (6:29:21 PM): you forgot xxxx, xxxx, xxxxxx, xxxxx, xxxx, xxx, and whatever other flavor of the month you're gonna add for November
heather (6:29:34 PM): NO!
brooke (6:30:06 PM): okay, miss so-very-obsessed
brooke (6:30:34 PM): should I include the ones who aren't with the Bruins any more as well?
heather (6:30:46 PM): Just xxx and xxxx. xxxx and xxxx are bonus candy. I don't want xxxx like that anymore, xxxx and xxx are married and i'm only in it for the squishability, xxxxx's too young and impressionable, and i like xx only cuz he reminds me of xxx and he seems he'd be fun to hang out with, like xxx.
heather (6:30:50 PM): grr. like?
brooke (6:31:06 PM): lee goren. jay henderson. john grahame . . .
heather (6:32:29 PM): None of which were in the same vein as xxx and xxxx.
brooke (6:32:46 PM): does that really matter?
heather (6:33:21 PM): yes.
brooke (6:34:17 PM): I think that's called rationalization and justification.
heather (6:34:36 PM): no!
heather (6:34:39 PM): it's not!
brooke (6:34:45 PM): uh huh
heather (6:34:50 PM): oh, whatever.
brooke (6:34:59 PM): that's what people who JUSTIFY things and RATIONALIZE tell themselves.
brooke (6:35:44 PM): don't worry. I'll delete all the names when I add this to my blog :)
heather (6:35:59 PM): oh, i hate you too.

Reason no. 3408 why I like Atlanta

"Something sets [Keith] Peiris apart from his peers. While other 10th-graders his age enjoy computer games, Peiris actually designs them. In 1999, at age 11, Peiris founded Cyberteks Design, an interactive Web design company that specializes in hockey Web sites."

Check out the whole story.

I can't say I'm surprised.

Is it just me, or has my whole hockey season this year thus far been a stereotypical roller coaster ride of highs and lows of varying degrees?

Someone gets traded, a new person gets signed, one player has an accident, another returns his qualifying offer, another gets traded, this one gets hurt, that one doesn't make it out of camp, this one gets sent down to Providence --

And those are all extremely, extremely minor things compared to what happened with Dany and Dan. I am well aware of how to keep things in perspective.

And that is why, when Heather just told me that PJ Stock was leaving the Providence team for Philadelphia, I didn't get as upset as I could have. I figured his being traded (acquired, reassigned -- call it what you will) was only a matter of time, though I didn't expect that time to come so quickly.

Glad I got to see him in Friday's game.

Hockey-greedy

I admit that I am. I already admitted to having a problem. I never said that I had any solutions for resolving the matter, now did I?

Just because I want to go to everything* just announced, and I'm still trying to figure out how to go to all the games that I want to see, you think that's cause for concern?

Right now, I'm just wondering if being hockey-greedy counts as one of the seven deadly sins, or if I'm okay so long as it doesn't spread outside the sport . . .

- - -
"Too much is never enough." -- old MTV slogan

"Particularly stellar."

Mmm hmm.

Imagine that.

Enough said.

Oh, okay. I'll add this, too:

"With the clock his only ally, Shields staved off wave after wave of intense Atlanta forechecks to improve to 5-0 lifetime over the Thrashers and hand them their first regulation loss."

Four days later and I'm still bringing this up? Of course, I am!

Hey! That was funny.

The most amusing ad was just on NESN, for the Canucks/concert game: Nick Boynton laughing and actually almost smiling, Hal Gill teasing the Dropkick Murphys, and the DMs telling Hal that the Bs had better win!

Did you read my last post?

Mike Knuble just scored, so it's 2 - 0, Boston over Montreal, at 10:09 of the second period.

Why do I have the feeling that this won't bode well for Thursday night?

Decisions, decisions . . .

Actually, I'm not debating a decision, and it's not like my wishes seem to have much impact on the team's performance, anyway.

But I'm wondering if I should want the Bruins to win at Montreal tonight, or to tie or lose. Will they be more up for the second game if they don't do well in the first? It's not that I ever really want them to lose (though I certainly have been darn happy to see them eke out a tie on occasion), but that I don't know which outcome will have the greater impact on Thursday's game, and that, naturally, is the one I care about a little bit more.

After all, I'll be there. We know what happened last week, and I'm just not up for that again.

Yeah, yeah: The Habs are our big rivals, and the guys always get up for those games, and it's a home and home series, so both games should be good.

You believe that if you want. I know better.

All right. Once again, I say, it's out of control.

FleetBoston is being acquired* (not exactly merged with, as some say) by Bank of America. You know what that means?

I mean, do you know what that means besides the inevitable changes in service and eventual layoffs for Fleet employees?

That's right: The FleetCenter is going to get a name change!

Listen. The only reason I don't still say Boston Garden is because they actually built a new building in its place (or, rather, off to the side). I rarely say, "I'm going to the Fleet;" I usually just say that I'm going to see the Bs and leave it at that. I still say Candlestick Park, Great Woods, and Foxboro -- not 3Com Park (ugh!), the Tweeter Center, or Gillette Stadium. (At least Gillette could pass for someone's name, though.)

Come on. You go around naming things after companies instead of people, and the next thing you know, scandal hits** and you're got to rename your baseball stadium!

Not only that, but I am not going to say, "Hey! I'm going to see the Bs tonight at the Bank of America Center!"

- - -
* "While the deal is described as a merger, Bank of America would clearly remain in charge and its name would replace that of FleetBoston across New England. FleetBoston was formed by the 1999 merger of Fleet Bank and the Bank of Boston.

"Bank of America, with historic roots in California, is itself the product of an aggressive expansion. In 1998, Charlotte-based Nations Bank purchased San Francisco-based Bank of America to form the current Bank of America."

** I was referring to Enron when I wrote this, but while searching for links, I found this in the LA Times article noted above:

"In recent weeks, Bank of America has been dealing with the fallout from a government probe into illegal trading practices at its mutual fund subsidiary and other mutual fund companies. The company has allocated $100 million to cover fines, legal settlements and other related costs."

Goalie madness! Atlanta madness!

So Cujo has been called back up to Detroit. When should we expect him to play so that the Wings can try to market their excess of goods?

I'm listening to the Atlanta - Toronto game online, and Eddie Belfour just whacked the Thrashers' Marc Savard with his blocker! What a nutter! Savard had just tied the game, and then Belfour lost it . . . craziness! Why can't these games be on national TV?! Man, I hope they show this on Sportscenter . . .

On to overtime . . . Belfour just messed up but somehow still made the save? . . . Andy Sutton just got a bad penalty for elbowing, protested it by smacking his stick, and drew a second minor. That's the rest of overtime, in case you hadn't guessed. Oy . . . Frantisek Kaberle is playing out of his head. Perhaps because he's playing against his little brother, Tomas? He just knocked the puck out of the air to keep it from going into the goal! . . . Now a penalty against Toronto? Crazy! It's 3-on-3 the rest of the game . . . Marc Savard just scored! His second goal of the game! No way!

ATLANTA WINS! YEEEAHHH!

"Memo to the Sox"

In today's Boston Herald, in a column by Michael Gee on Red Sox manager Grady Little's then-impending release:

"Take it from someone who spent a decade watching Wilt Chamberlain's teams chase Bill Russell's teams. When you're always close to an opponent but never catch 'em, that doesn't mean you're equals. It means they're a lot better than you are. A managerial change won't alter that reality."

The Boston Bruins: Helping others make history . . .

One player (or team) at a time.

As I think (ha ha) I've mentioned once or twice before, the Bs helped the 'Canes get their first win of the season (and first since last March, for that matter) last Thursday. Today I was visiting the NHLPA site and saw that Ilya Kovalchuk was the Player of the Day. I really like Ilya (and even more so since he started playing defense, under Coach Bob Hartley, last year).

As I was reading the write-up, I couldn't help but be amused to note that he scored his first NHL goal in his second-ever game, two years ago.

Against Byron Dafoe and the Boston Bruins.

- - -
[ added at 9:39 pm ]

Coincidentally, Ilya was today named the NHL Offensive Player of the Week -- for the second week in a row.

What's that like?

Good morning, Vancouver.

The Canucks re-signed Todd Bertuzzi to a new four-year contract Sunday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The 6-foot-3, 245 pound forward was in the final year of a deal that will pay him a base salary of $3.7 million. Performance bonuses could increase that to around $5.5 million.

Bertuzzi had a career-high 46 goals and 97 points while playing all 82 games last season.

A four-year contract. Not even a three-year contract just given to rookies. Four years for a veteran player. In 2003, pre-CBA expiration/explosion/implosion. I can't even imagine what that would be like for the Bruins! I mean, I can -- we have Marty Lapointe, after all. But Marty's stats from last year and Todd's are not really in the same realm, are they?

Junior Rangers

Check out the New York Rangers' Kids Club, and look at the photo gallery at the bottom of the page, and tell me that those kids aren't just the cutest!

"No rust."

Happily found on the Boston Globe site:

Unwanted in Boston and unused in Florida, Steve Shields last night did something no other goaltender has accomplished in regulation time this season. He earned a victory over the Atlanta Thrashers.

Check it out now before the page is removed.

Red Sox fans are happy! . . . Or not.

I know, it's off topic, but this only happens once a year.

The Florida Marlins have won the World Series, beating the Yankees in six games, with Josh Beckett pitching the entire game for a shutout, at Yankee Stadium.

One might expect Sox fans to rejoice, thrilled at the fact that an unexpected Florida team -- heck, any team -- won three straight to end the Series at the home stadium of the so-called Evil Empire. Right?

Well, no. Not exactly.

Most Red Sox fans stopped following the Series after last Thursday's game seven loss. Heck, some people I know turned off the TV or radio before the game was over, so convinced they were that it couldn't possibly end well. In any case, baseball season ended last week, not this week, for many Sox fans (and Cubs fans, too). The fact that a team more unlikely to win than their own was competing was little compensation and of even less interest.

Well, the Marlins' manager, Jack McKeon, started halfway through the season and is 72 years old. He helped the Marlins turn around a record that was well under .500 five months ago. Pitcher Dontrelle Willis, called up from the minors, was as entertaining to watch as he was effective. And the aforementioned Beckett, second on my list of favorite young pitchers only to Barry Zito?

He was so good tonight, he scooped up the ball and tagged Jorge Posada for the final out of the game.

Sox and Cubs fans, get well soon. Next year's not as far away as it seems.

- - -
World Series MVP Josh Beckett on not having a game tomorrow: "It's kind of a relief, and I get to go deer hunting now."

Now wait a minute.

Heather and I went to the Bruins game against Carolina on Thursday night. As you will recall, the Bs lost 0-2.

We went to the pBs game against the Albany River Rats (the AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils) on Friday night. Providence lost, 2-3.

On Saturday night, when Heather and I were at neither game, the Bruins kicked New Jersey butt -- revenge for the pBs? -- and won 5-2. The pBs battled to a