[Lynne Hinton]

I'm not sure if I should dwell on the Bruins' loss to the Islanders (due to a very botched non-icing call, I'll have you know, very blatant mistake) or just be worried about the Rangers game in MSG tomorrow. Of course, the biggest deal is potentially losing Tuukka long term. What now?

[Phoenix Draven]

I'm not sure if I should dwell on the Bruins' loss to the Islanders (due to a very botched non-icing call, I'll have you know, very blatant mistake) or just be worried about the Rangers game in MSG tomorrow. Of course, the biggest deal is potentially losing Tuukka long term. What now?

I saw the highlights; I didn't see the Islander defenseman touch the puck. The puck went around the board and a Bruin was the first one to take it. Just my two cents. I didn't watch that carefully nor saw any replays.

Too bad for Rask. Possibly the best goalie in the league that is not a starter.

Speaking of goalies, emergence of some (relatively) young guys -- like Matt Hackett, Richard Bachman and Robin Lehner this particular season -- always makes me think: why on earth do the clubs always hire those 30+ guys that haven't been at their best in years (or have been just shooting stars), even if they have a superb youngster in the AHL or in Europe? Veterans demand more money and are more risky in goal than majority of the elite youngsters out there. Finland alone has something like seven U30 goalies that aren't in the league but who could play as NHL back-ups (assuming that they can take the pressure). Some could even be starters perhaps. But no, they always hire these Conklins and Raycrofts. Patrick Lalime recently was such a goalie for years!

Furthermore, why is hockey journalism blind to these aging guys' regression? The season previews always tell that "This team has hired *a random veteran goalie* as their short-term back-up for this season, and this guy can still get it done in the NHL level", even though those usually have 2-5 under .900 seasons under their belts already... I just don't understand. Why grab an old goalie that doesn't quite belong to that level anymore, why not the elite prospect? The only thing I can think of is that the veteran has proven to handle the pressure. Does it matter if he still cannot catch enough pucks anymore to regularly win some games? I'd rather take an unproven, uneven, super-talented quick kid than once-good, steady .885 veteran.

This brought to my mind Jeff Reese from the 90s. He didn't actually have a fantastic NHL career. I can understand why Philly's goalies always seem to fail as long as he is their goalie coach... I haven't read any blames on Reese, but I'd think that a constant under .890 guy on his own career (pretty bad even in his time) at least could be a problem of so many good goalies failing in Philly.

[Casey]

Well, after a really, really rough start, Leafs pulled their act together and won. Hopefully Carlyle instills some kind of team-defense mentally in the Leafs game-plan. That was seriously lacking at times under Ron Wilson.

Edit: Grabovsky's first goal. What a shot.

[Abi Emily]

On the botched non-icing call: It's not clear whether or not a Bruin touched it, but in any case, the refs, after having called icing, never called off the icing. A ref went right in to see any contact, but never made a signal, whether it be the whistle or the wave-off, he just skated away. And that's what's unacceptable. If they wave off the icing call when it shouldn't have (no Bruin touched it, upon further review), then so be it. But they never waved it off! It just got through everyone, and the put their hands down...

[Adriana Lenzo]

On the botched non-icing call: It's not clear whether or not a Bruin touched it, but in any case, the refs, after having called icing, never called off the icing. A ref went right in to see any contact, but never made a signal, whether it be the whistle or the wave-off, he just skated away. And that's what's unacceptable. If they wave off the icing call when it shouldn't have (no Bruin touched it, upon further review), then so be it. But they never waved it off! It just got through everyone, and the put their hands down...

Well, I meant that after it (seemingly) went through everyone, a Bruin was first to grab the puck. Meaning no icing as it should've been a Bruins icing. Islanders were the ones who originally complained about the non-call, but they were to ones to get the goal after it, so...

Dang, so many games last night. It takes almost an hour to watch all those NHL.com highlights.

No comments on my goalie rant? :<

[darnell waddington]

And wtf Bryzgalov stopped all 34/34. o_O

[yermom]

And wtf Bryzgalov stopped all 34/34. o_O

I know I was shocked too that he played that well with a banged up blue line.

[Natalie Harvey]

Tuukka's down for the count...ish. 4-6 weeks, so the Bruins signed Turco to play for the rest of the season (he's ineligible for the playoffs). This should be a real test for Timmy Thomas, how he handles all the pressure down the stretch. Bruins need to pick up their overall game, starting, in my opinion, with Chara. He's been so lacklustre on offense and defense lately, and that's the most concerning thing. He should be a total shut-down guy, but instead he's slow and likes turning the puck over. Injuries injuries...

In other funny news, check out this Brad Marchand quote from the weekend. "I seem to be someone you either really like or really really don’t. A lot of people who don’t like me are from Vancouver who are just upset that we beat them." Right Brad, either that or the fact that you're a [censored]. I still love the guy though.

[Unstoppable Judge]

In other funny news, check out this Brad Marchand quote from the weekend. "I seem to be someone you either really like or really really don’t. A lot of people who don’t like me are from Vancouver who are just upset that we beat them." Right Brad, either that or the fact that you're a [censored]. I still love the guy though.

How can you not like Marchand? He's trolling in professional sports

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=389625

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=389606 I hope this one bites Burke as much as the MacArthur has so far.

[Jesus Lopez]

Cautiously optimistic.

[Minako]

Understatement of the day: Stamkos is on fire.

[Milagros Osorio]

Thomas isn't seeing the puck too well, but Chara, Seguin and the offense started clicking, so we could pull off a scary 5-4 win over the less-than-mediocre-losers-since-67-Leafs.

I wonder if the Bruins will get Turco.

[Claudia Cook]

3 straight wins and Bryz has been playing well,please oh please keep this up! These injuries aren't going to help though, anyone see Kronwall's hit on Voracek?

[Susan Elizabeth]

Solid win by the Bruins over the desperate Buffalo Sabers. First time the Bs won two consecutive games since January. It was most important for Thomas to get back on his feet after a shaky performance last game.

In other news, Bryz is on fire (which is awesome for my fantasy team ).

[Mark Hepworth]

In other news, Bryz is on fire (which is awesome for my fantasy team ).

Sure is, this is the Bryz we need going into the playoffs. In fact the whole team has been playing well as of late. They also took their rightful spot back from your Bruins for most goals.

Now for Giroux to hop back on top of the points leader board and all will be right in the hockey world.

[Ross Zombie]

I like that the NHL is doing a mea culpa and seriously considering reverting changes that had unintended consequences like the traqezoid rule and removing 2 line passes.

I will take them especially seriously if they ditch the ridiculous pads, especially shoulder/elbow pads. I know it's unlikely due to NHL sponsorships and equipment manufacturers but it needs to be done.

[Marquis T]

[rant] I don't think putting the red line back in is good for the game. It's bad enough the league is allowing the clutching and grabbing to creep it's way back in. Why can't skill be on display? What can't the good players play without being obstructed. The talentless goons who really can't play hockey all that well should not have a job in the NHL. Putting the red line back in slows the game down to a snail's pace. The "New Jesery Devil" era of hockey was so damn boring to watch.

If you want to eliminate concussions, eliminate head shots. Period. Treat them like the high stick penalty. You didn't mean to hit him in the head? Too bad, you hit him. Now sit. Most concussion aren't occuring with a race to the puck at the far end of the ice (which is one of the reasons the NHL says is why they are considering adding the redline back in). Concussions are happening because people have no respect. In a vast majority of cases, head shots can be avoided. In most cases, the "stars" aren't the ones causing the concussions. It's the "stars" who are being taken out of the game by mostly nobodies. Play the puck! No one buys a ticket to see Matt Cooke play. No one buys a ticket to see someone like Eric Nystrom play. People by tickets to see Toews, Crosby, Giroux, Malkin, Stamkos, etc play. LET THEM PLAY! Protect the game and protect the players who sell the tickets. [/rant]

[zoe]

Please tell me some of you saw Giroux's shootout goal last night, simply amazing. Bryz also getting his 2nd consecutive shutout and his 3rd in the last 4 games.

[Misty lt]

Please tell me some of you saw Giroux's shootout goal last night, simply amazing. Bryz also getting his 2nd consecutive shutout and his 3rd in the last 4 games.

Saw it. Great goal.

Malkin with a dangerous hit. He's lucky he only got 2 mins for it. I should keep my mouth shut.

[Big mike]

Please tell me some of you saw Giroux's shootout goal last night, simply amazing. Bryz also getting his 2nd consecutive shutout and his 3rd in the last 4 games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZoNt9SoUXQ

[Alexandra walker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZoNt9SoUXQ

Yea, in an interview he called it the Datsyuk.

[Charlotte Lloyd-Jones]

It was quite funny hearing the difference in tone on that shootout goal between the Flyers play by play and Bob Cole of CBC.

That's certainly the right handed version of the Datsyuk -- sick.

[Aliish Sheldonn]

*Takes off his Penguins-bias hat*

I am surprised http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12072/1216175-61.stm. Whether you think the hit was dirty or not, he should have had a phone call with Shanahan. Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised...it's Malkin.

Go Pens!

[gandalf]

An odd choice by Coach Lavy. I know Bryz has been playing for pretty much a month straight and the last to games where back to back but why did he not start Bob against Toronto and Bryz against New Jersey? Now after a poor showing by Bob the Devils are tied with us.

[FirDaus LOVe farhana]

If any Bruin had laid a hit like that on Malkin, I'm sure there would be a suspension. For all the crap the Bruins get for being a dirty team (and I think they deserve a lot of it, they're somewhat borderline) they certainly do receive a lot of concussions. And now if Bergeron and Boychuck, McQuaid, Peverley, Horton, and Rask are hurt, or even not 90% or above, this cause is totally lost. Not to mention Marc Savard. What a mess.