Bruins Hit The Road to Reality

Having shaken out a troubling start via the National Hockey League’s first coaching change of the 2024-25 season and coincidental progress on the part of several returning players whose individual games had been in various states of disrepair – this extended far beyond Brad Marchand’s recovery from three summer surgeries and Jeremy Swayman’s contract negotiationsContinue reading “Bruins Hit The Road to Reality”

Bruins-Flyers arrive hot

Yes, people are careful to note the Boston Bruins’ schedule when applying the asterisk to their 6-2 record under Interim Head Coach Joe Sacco; John Tortorella’s Philadelphia Flyers also come into the game at 6-3-1 in their last 10, so this – unlike the last two meetings dominated by the more-motivated road team – shouldContinue reading “Bruins-Flyers arrive hot”

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”