Red Wings at Bruins

This is a late-arriving crowd at TD Garden for tonight’s Wings-Bruins game that is being carried exclusively by ESPN+/Hulu. NESN360 won’t help you tonight. Detroit is ranked 31st is 5v5 goals for and last in penalty kill. Can the Bruins turn these deficiencies to their advantage? They need to because let the Red Wings hangContinue reading “Red Wings at Bruins”

Interpreting Playoff Trajectories

It was suggested to me via a group chat earlier today that the Boston Bruins (12-11-3 through 26 games) need to play .634 hockey to reach 98 points, considered by my colleague to be a safe zone of sorts. But does it really take 98 points to make the playoffs? Since the current rules wentContinue reading “Interpreting Playoff Trajectories”

Bruins-Canadiens: Centennial Game

This is the culmination of the Boston-Montreal rivalry, today’s game commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Boston Bruins’ inaugural game, a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Maroons on Dec. 1, 1924, at Boston (Matthews) Arena. As I acknowledged in my column following yesterday’s festivities, this is most definitely the final public gathering of the Big,Continue reading “Bruins-Canadiens: Centennial Game”

Bruins Hockey Makes 100 Impressions

Sunday, Dec. 1, the Boston Bruins will host the Montreal Canadiens in a 4:15 pm game commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first official Bruins game in franchise history, a 2-1 victory over a Montreal Maroons (also an expansion team) on Dec. 1, 1924, at Boston Arena. The rink that was home to the teamContinue reading “Bruins Hockey Makes 100 Impressions”

Penguins at Bruins

It’s a 6:30 pm anthem for the first game of TNT’s doubleheader with the Pittsburgh Penguins visiting the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Before the game, Rink Rap was fortunate to collide with hockey historians Jeff Miclash and Dave Stubbs, who are in town for the weekend’s Centennial celebrations. At left, Dave Stubbs, former ofContinue reading “Penguins at Bruins”

Bruins start over with Sacco

Boston Bruins Interim Head Coach Joe Sacco downplayed impending changes in hockey systems and strategies when meeting the press gathering after this morning’s practice at Warrior Arena, but General Manager Don Sweeney engaged the following question: Is it possible that Jim Montgomery’s shift from (Bruce Cassidy’s) shot-volume offense to a puck-possession game and a lotContinue reading “Bruins start over with Sacco”

Sacco will have Bruins’ ear

Some years ago, yours truly was in the bowels of the then-Dunkin’ Donuts Center after the Providence Bruins lost a game in which they were, frankly, manhandled by a manlier team. Regular season, playoffs, I don’t remember, and I honestly cannot remember if Jay Leach was still coaching the P-Bruins at the time – mightContinue reading “Sacco will have Bruins’ ear”

Blues at Bruins

Two teams that easily could have had reversed records (minus Boston’s third-period comeback last Tuesday in STL), trying to find traction. For the Bruins, that means more shaking up in the forward-line depth, as Johnny Beecher gets a seat in the press box and Patrick Brown has been returned to the Providence Bruins, who areContinue reading “Blues at Bruins”