Another Vezina/Calder Candidate?

Now that’s how you finish a hockey game!

Full disclosure: I had not planned to write a blog tonight. The game was going to be on in the background and I was going to half pay attention to it while catching up on paperwork. But then…..

Just when I thought I was out from EditingAndLayout

I’m going lightning round style with bullet points.

Pitter patter let’s get at ‘er:

• Chris Wagner was back in the lineup tonight
  • Senshyn sits
  • Wags was out for the closing minutes and earned his ice time tonight

• Kevan Miller returned after missing the last 20 games
  • In for McAvoy on the top pairing. Chuckie out with UBI (gulp)
  • Logged over 22 minutes TOI and didn’t look rusty
  • Brought the snarl back to the backline
  • Pretty much challenged the Flyers bench at the 2^nd intermission

• Brad Marchand brought the A effort
  • 29^th career SHG tonight
  • Not a big deal, just another 4 point night

• Jeremy Swayman with his first career NHL start
  • Sick pads and helmet with a map of his native Alaska on the back
  • Rocked the old school goalie #1
  • Faced 40 shots in his debut (2^nd most all time for Bruins goalie debut)
  • 0.952% Save Percentage not too shabby

• Patrice Bergeron with the hat trick (which I predicted last blog, not a big deal)
  • 903 career points for Bergy. One of 4 players to cross that threshold
    • Johnny Bucyk – HHOF 1981 – jersey retired 1980
    • Phil Esposito – HHOF 1984 – jersey retired 1987
    • Ray Bourque – HHOF 2004 – jersey retired 2001
    • Is that good company??

The team snoozed through the middle period and let Philly back in with 2 goals in less than 3 minutes. If it wasn’t for Swayman this could have gotten very ugly. He looked relaxed and after the game said he couldn’t stop smiling all night. Ladies and gents, we now have 2 candidates for the Vezina and Calder.

The Bruins got some swagger back after Marchy scored the shortie, but what really got them all pulling together was Konecny being a punk. He and Miller went hard to the corner and (naturally) Miller got the better of the collision. From his belly, Konecny slashed Miller across his surgically repaired knee and of course wouldn’t fight him. What a hero. I’m sure Miller and the Bruins won’t forget.

Saturday against these muppets for the 3^rd time in a week, should be plenty of nasty.