"First Ding Today..." Michael Ryder's Day With Stanley Cup

Is this technically a Cup Fail since stuff like this is kinda expected...???

((HT: mokyboy11))


Every player gets their day with the Cup and for the Bruins' Michael Ryder, it fell down and went boom...

This happened on the roof of a posh St. John's restaurant, at a media event attended by dignitaries including Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale.

Ryder, who was about to leave St. John's to bring the Cup to his hometown of Bonavista, posed for photographs.

"It won't blow away," he quipped.

Boston Bruins Celebrate First Stanley Cup Since 1972

As they would say in Boston, "It's wicked awesome."

The Boston Bruins can stake their claim of championships in the city of Boston. Since the turn of the century the Patriots have three Super Bowl titles, the Red Sox two World Series titles and the Celtics have an NBA championship.

Heck even in the same sport Boston College and Boston University won NCAA Frozen Four championships, the Eagles two in 2008 and 2010 and the Terriers in 2009.

Here's the game story of Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. (Thanks CSN New England)



Great production, well done.

Here's a one - on - one with Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, who won the 2011 Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup Finals MVP. (Thanks CSN New England)



In the locker room Bruins head coach Claude Julien receives a champagne shower from captain Zdeno Chara. (Thanks CSN New England)



One - on - one with Mark Recchi who won his third Stanley Cup. (Thanks CSN New England)



Finally here's a really cool video of Boston's Stanley Cup run. (Thanks CSN New England)

And So It Goes... Bruins Win First Cup Since 1972...Vancouver Riots In Anger...

((HT: NHL on CBC))

The Vancouver Canucks have a lot of blame to go around...

The power play had none. The injuries weakened their scoring punch and depth. The Sedin's game was on a milk carton, and Roberto Luongo seemed out to lunch at the worst time...

However, Tim Thomas played out of his Dominik Hasek-loving mind and the Bruins got points from the most unlikely places- and that's what it takes...

When you mention guys like Marchand, Bergeron, and Peverley, you know what's up... and the Canucks left their fans to set cars on fire in town to let out their frustrations.

Flame out... now, the HQ sees the irony there...

Here's your highlights- if you dig Boston...


The HQ would also like to salute Mark Recchi and Rich Peverley for their time in Atlanta and now get their names etched on the Cup. And don't think Blake Wheeler is kicking himself after getting traded for Peverley at the Deadline, either...

Recchi retires a three-time champ... and the HQ also was getting a good laugh out of the fact that the only thing that got a larger boo than a Bruin was Gary Bettman...

Next up... the Draft...

But, first... the riots...
((HT: CBC/youtube))

Another Boston Massacre For Luongo, Bruins Protect Home Ice--Post game reax

It would appear throughout this Stanley Cup Final series that Roberto Luongo's game never made it past customs at the U.S./Canadian border. All of British Columbia is holding their breath that the trend continues for Luongo. Another fantastic performance on home ice by the Canucks goalie and they skate the Stanley Cup for the first time.

Luongo answered the questions of his game 6 performance to the assembled media last night. (Thanks Rogers Sportsnet.)



Luongo has allowed 15 goals in just over 4 1/2 periods in Boston. There will be no more trips to Bean Town for Luango until next season.

Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault and goaltender Roberto Luongo face the media following the game 6 loss to the Boston Bruins. (Thanks CSN New England)



For the record the Canucks Daniel Sedin has already guaranteed a Canucks win in game 7.

"We're going to win Game 7," Sedin said after the game.

Read his comments RIGHT HERE

The Bruins did what they had to do and protected their home ice to force a Game 7 and are embracing the opportunity. Here's sound with Mark Recchi, Shawn Thornton, Tim Thomas and head coach Claude Julien on their opportunity to win the Stanley Cup, something Boston hasn't won since 1972. (Thanks CSN New England)

Bruins bombard Canucks: Game 7 Looms

In what has been a very consistent, yet exciting series, the Boston Bruins held serve at home Monday night, beating the Vancouver Canucks 5-3, tying their best of 7 series at 3 games each.

The 1st period was the difference in the this one with Boston getting out to an early 4-0 lead and chasing Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo from the game.

The Canucks did stop the bleeding, scoring 3 goals and making the Bruins work for the win. The difference maker in this one, besides Luongo's failure after calling out Bruin goalie Tim Thomas, 43-year old Mark Recchi. Recchi didn't have a goal, but he did have 3 assists.

One game note: Vancouver winger Mason Raymond was injured in an awkward collision on the boards just 20 seconds or so into the game and sent to the hospital. Raymond needed help just getting off the ice and more than likely is done for the series.

The climactic game 7 will be Wednesday night in Vancouver, and if the rest of the series is an indicator, should be one heck of a game.

Your game highlights from NHL.com:




NHL.com also gives us video of the play on Mason Raymond:

Vancouver One Win Away...

((HT: NHL on CBC))

All it took was Max LaPierre solving Tim Thomas and Roberto Luongo saving 31 Boston Briuins shots for the Canucks to be one win from their first Stanley Cup trophy in the 40 years of the team's existence...

The Bruins have outscored the Canucks 12-1 in Boston, but have been outscored 5-2 in Vancouver. Game 6 is Monday in Boston...

Here's the highlights of a tight game from beginning to end...

Bees Even Up Series With Canucks

((HT: NHL/CBC))

It took the Bruins all of 48 hours to even up the Stanley Cup Final and chase Roberto Luongo with the Game 4 4-0 win in Boston...

All Thrashers fans have to do is look at Rich Peverley and Mark Recchi and think even deeper about what might have been...

Here's the beginning of the end where Alex Burrows, aka Public Enemy Number One, and Bruins goalie Tim Thomas go at it and start going at it even more with less than two minutes left...


The HQ will be more than happy to quote our ol' buddy JR...
Business is about to pick up...

Boston destroys Vancouver after Horton hit... ((UPDATED- Horton And Rome out for playoffs))

This got ugly. Brother Jon reported earlier on the hit by Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome that knocked Bruins winger Nathan Horton out cold.

It made the highly competitive series go from hard-played, to physical.

Boston, instead of cowering in fear, got mad. They annihilated Vancouver 8-1, though they still trail 2 games to 1 in their best of 7 series.

The game got a bit out of hand in the 3rd period with Boston up 4-0. 20 penalties and a fight, combined with 9, 10-minute misconducts. The ageless Mark Recchi had a couple of goals though most everyone chipped in for Boston in some way, shape or form.

The Bruins were also still stewing over Alex Burrows not getting in trouble for biting in game 1, then coming in and dominating game 2.

So far, both teams have held serve, game 4 is Wednesday night in Boston and if form holds, it should be a lot of fun to watch.

Your highlights from NHL.com



Tony Amonte offers his analysis on the hit on Nathan Horton. (Thanks CSN New England)

Post game sound with Milan Lucic, Dennis Seidenberg, Shawn Thornton and Mark Recchi. (Thanks CSN New England)

AM UPDATE: Horton is done for the playoffs... Rome is, too...

GM Peter Chiarelli announced on the Boston Bruins website that Horton was diagnosed with a severe concussion and would not return...

Vancouver's Aaron Rome had a disciplinary hearing with NHL VP of Operations Mike Murphy this morning and he was given a four-game suspension- taking him out of the playoffs as well...

From CBC Sports and FOSG Elliotte Friedman via Twitter...

The league ((translation: Mike Murphy)) is going to talk to both teams about all the taunting that went on in Game 3. Bruins head coach Claude Julien wasn't too keen on all the extra-curricular stuff. The HQ thought it was pretty funny ourselves...

Or quoting Murphy: "the crap, the garbage that is going on..."

ESPN's Pierre LeBrun also talked to Murphy:

Mike Murphy just told me that he's told both clubs the next player who does the finger wagging in a scrum gets 2 min plus 10-min misconduct

DEVELOPING: Bruins Horton Plowed Early In Game 3

A possible rule violation where Rule 48.1 is concerned... while Aaron Rowe did not leave his feet, he targeted the head of the Boston Bruins' Nathan Horton...

And here's what happened...
((HT:NHL/Versus/HockeyFights.com))



The update on Horton is that he was moving all of his extremities when he arrived and was initially examined at Mass General Hospital...

Good news as the game got immediately chippy...

More when we know more.,..

Cancuks beat Bruins in O.T, right after it started

Alex Burrows of Vancouver helped account for all 3-points, including the game winner just 11 seconds into overtime, leading the Canucks to a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins Saturday night.

The win gives Vancouver at 2-0 lead in the best of 7, Stanley Cup Finals.

Burrows had a night to remember for sure. He scored on a power play in the first period, assisted on Daniel Sedin's goal to tie the game in the second period. And then there was the winner. He ended up with the puck right off the faceoff, circled the goal and stuffed the puck home before Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas could get near it.

Game 3 is in Boston, Monday night. A game the Bruins must win or, well, this so-called "Dramatic" series, won't be so dramatic.

Your highlights from NHL.com:

Late Goal By Torres Gives Vancouver Game One

((HT: NHL on NBC/CBC))

We enjoyed the abject chipiness of Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals...

The HQ knows what this would mean to the province of BC to win three more games, but they went bananas after Tico Torres ((as explained by Ryan Kesler)) scored late...

Very late... last minute late...
And it was awesome...

Here's the highlights... there are a lot of them, just one goal...



And post-game sound with Bruins Goaltender Tim Thomas, who had 33 saves in Game one against the Canucks.



Game two is Saturday... and the larger issue for Vancouver is the physical state of defenseman Dan Hamhuis- who is, officially, day-to-day...

Aren't we all...

FOSG Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun discuss Game One...
((HT: ESPN))

Burrows Enjoying In-Game Meal During Stanley Cup Finals... ((UPDATED: No Suspension))

((HT: NHL on NBC))

To say the Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals has been a chippy one is a bit of an understatement... face washes, cross-checks, and two high-sticking on Zdeno Chara's face are just the beginning...

The HQ thinks we'll be here a while...
Alexandre Burrows may not after this...
((HT: PuckDaddy))


Our guess is that there will be a one-game suspension from NHL League Minster of Defence pro tem Mike Murphy...

At least... silly play at a bad time...

OFF DAY UPDATE: Burrows is not suspended...

"After reviewing the incident, including speaking with the on-ice officials, I can find no conclusive evidence that Alex Burrows intentionally bit the finger of Patrice Bergeron," Mike Murphy said in a statement.

Burrows denied biting Bergeron...

"I don't mind rough play and scrums at the end, as long as it's just pushing and shoving and all that," Bergeron said following the game. "But biting? I mean come on."

This should go over well for Game 2...

Stanley Has Bees and Canucks Now...

((HT: NHL.com/CBC))

Bob Cole was on the mic- as it should be for games of this kind of importance...

It is a total of 76 years of futility that will be addressed when Vancouver and Boston meet in the Stanley Cup Final.

A a rule, the HQ will tell you that Game Sevens in the playoffs are not to be missed...

WE did miss this one, however, since we had tickets to both Rodgers and Hammerstein and "The Hangover, Part 2." Yes, we're also aware that it is an interesting combination of events...

By the way, "Hangover...?" Funny, but very dark...

Oh, the game...

Nathan Horton proved why he was a great pick-up for the Bruins at the deadline...

Here's the highlights...


Game One is Wednesday...

Lightning strikes: Series vs. Bruins to go 7

It wasn't always pretty, but the Tampa Bay Lightning did what they had to do and held off the Boston Bruins 5-4, tying their best of 7, Eastern Conference Finals series at 3 games apiece.

Martin St. Louis was the sparkplug for the Lightning, knocking home 2 goals and an assist. Goalie Dwayne Roloson wasn't outstanding, but he only faced 20 shots and he did enough to keep the Bruins from coming back and winning the game.

David Krejci had a hat trick for Boston, but he was the only one really able to muster any offense for the Bruins, who also got a goal from Milan Lucic.

Game 7 and the right to face the Vancouver Canucks is going to be played Friday night in Boston at the TD Garden. It will be the first conference final to go to a game 7 since 2006.

Your highlights from NHL.com:

Bruins one game away from Stanley Cup Finals

Could they be your first participant? The Boston Bruins used some clutch goaltending from Tim Thomas and goals from Nathan Horton, Brad Marchand and an empty netter from Rich Perverly to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 and take a 3-2 lead in their best of seven series.

The Bruins got their 3 goals on only 19 shots and had to rely on Thomas standing on his head while making 33 saves. Simon Gagne got the Lightnings only goal, scoring just 69 seconds into the game.

Game 6 is back in Tampa on Wednesday night.

Your highlights from NHL.com:

Lightning strike 5 times to overcome Bruins

It was a tale of two games. Well, almost. The Tampa Bay Lightning used a 5 goal barrage to stage a furious comeback and beat the Boston Bruins 5-3 in the Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals.

Lightning fans thought the game might be over when starting goaltender Dwayne Roloson was pulled after allowing 3 goals on the first 9 shots of the game. But after Teddy Purcell scored two second period goals to tie things at 3, Simon Gagne dropped one in to give Tampa Bay the lead and eventually the win.

The win ties the best of 7 series at two games apiece. Game 5 is Monday night back in Boston.

Your highlights courtesy of NHL.com:

Bruins hang a Goose Egg on Lightning

There was no electricity in Tampa Bay last night. That's because Boston Bruin goaltender Tim Thomas stood on his head and did everything else needed to shut out the Lightning.

Thomas stopped 31 shots en route to a Boston 2-0 win, giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead in the best of seven Eastern Conference Finals series.

David Krejci scored early and and Andrew Ference scored late, the two goals being more than enough to slow down the high scoring series. This despite the Lightning out shooting the Bruins 31-23.

Game 4 in the series is set for Saturday at 1:30 pm in sunny Tampa.

And your highlights from our friends at NHL.com:




Here's sound with the Bruins Patrice Bergeron and Tim Thomas. (Thanks Comcast Sports New England)

Bruins even things up with Lightning

We watched this game. And got tired just watching it. The Boston Bruins used a 5 goal 2nd period to hold off the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-5, tying their best of 7 series at 1 game a piece.

The win stopped the Lightning's 8 game playoff winning streak and set-up an exciting game 3 and 4 starting Thursday night in Tampa.

Boston rookie Tyler Seguin had possibly his best game this season with 2 goals and 2 assists in that watershed 2nd period. Michael Ryder had 2 goals, thanks to Seguin and the Bruins chased Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson after 2 periods.

But the Lightning fought back and made it exciting, heck they scored 13 seconds into the game. Tampa has put up 10 goals in two games against the Bruins, the team who gave up the least amount of goals through the regular season.

If Tuesday night was an indication, this is going to be some "Can't miss Hockey" over the next few nights.

Your highlights--and there were a lot, from NHL.com:

Claude Giroux Gives Bergeron Concussion

((HT: NHL/youtube/CBC))

Nothing like a concussion to add some fuel to a series...


Now, as Boston preps for Tampa Bay, Bergeron is out indefinitely...
Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli confirmed the concussion and said it was "mild."

Whatever that means to someone who has a history of head-knocking...

He lost most of the 2007-08 season due to a hit from the Flyers' Randy Jones. And he also suffered a concussion in December 2008 when he collided with Dennis Seidenberg when the hitter was in Carolina...

More when we know more...

Monday NHL Recap: Good News, Bad News In Philly...

((HT: Versus/NHL/HockeyWebCaster))

Lauren Hart took a deep breath, exhaled, and sang with Kate Smith again in Philly last night for Game 2 in the ESF series with the Boston Bruins...

The arena was on its ear...


The Bruins Adam McQuaid tried to land an elbow on Mike Richards, missed, and ended up with a nasty fall... no word on his condition...


JVR had a big start for the Flyers, but David Krejci got the last word...