The Bruins host the Senators tonight in their second match-up of the season. The Bruins visited Ottawa back in their season opening road trip. The Bruins won that game 4-2 with goals from Marco Sturm, Milan Lucic and two scored by Phil Kessel.
The Senators are coming off a 4-2 loss in Buffalo on Tuesday. Jason Spezza scored both Ottawa goals. Alex Auld was in goal and made 22 saves. Perhaps the biggest story to come out of that game was the biting incident that took place between Jarkko Ruutu and Andrew Peters. Ruutu will miss tonight's game while he serves a two game suspension.
Goalies: Not a clue as to who is starting tonight.
OTTAWA: Martin Gerber (4-8-1, 2.69 GAA, .907 SV%), Alex Auld (9-11-5, 2.64 GAA, .907 SV%)
BOSTON: Tim Thomas (16-4-3, 2.13 GAA, .932 SV%), Manny Fernandez (13-3-1, 1.96 GAA, .932 SV%)
Thought: What the heck is with both teams' goaltenders sharing the exact same save percentage? Weird.
Who's Hot: Martin St. Pierre since being recalled has helped the Bruins a lot. St. Pierre has three points in eight games and kills penalties... Nobody else right now as the Bruins are in the midst of a losing streak. Here's hoping they get back to winning and scoring goals tonight.
Who's Not: Personally, I need to see more from Petteri Nokelainen.
Injuries: Milan Lucic, undisclosed, will not play tonight... Shane Hnidy, eye, will not play tonight... Andrew Ference, fractured tibia, will not play tonight... Patrice Bergeron, concussion, out indefinitely... Marco Sturm, knee, out indefinitely.
Milestones: Marc Savard is playing his 700th NHL game tonight... Zdeno Chara needs one assist for 200 NHL assists... P.J. Axelsson needs one goal for 100 NHL/Bruins goals.
All-Star Nods: The NHL announced the Eastern reserves for the All-Star game today. Tim Thomas, Zdeno Chara and Marc Savard will all be going to Montreal for the game in a couple of weeks. The Bruin trio played in the All-Star game last year in Atlanta. Claude Julien will be coaching the Eastern squad. Left out of the festivities are Phil Kessel and Dennis Wideman who definitely deserved a shot to be there too. Milan Lucic, David Krejci, Matt Hunwick and Blake Wheeler are reportedly expected to play in the inaugural rookies vs. sophomores game.
The Bruins are looking to get back on the winning track. Without Milan Lucic in the line-up, the Bruins are thinning a bit up front with only 12 healthy forwards. Other lines will have to step up and get the team on the scoreboard first. Bruins also need to stay out of the penalty box. On the blue line, Aaron Ward will return to the line-up. Ward was out with a charley horse.
Tonight's game is the halfway point of the season being game 41. Let's hope the second half of the season is just as good as the first half, except for the past two games. Go Bruins!
3 Comments
Very important win after the last loss.Hope Bruins will dominate in the next games also
1. Posted by Max | January 9, 2009 10:26 AM
Any update on injured returns ?
Ference ??
Sturm (I think he's out for the season)
Bergeron ??
Lucic ?? (what's wrong with him)
2. Posted by Yves | January 9, 2009 11:40 AM
Here ya go Yves...
Ference suffered a setback skating earlier this week, however he's still ahead of his scheduled return (maybe in two weeks).
Sturm is having surgery next week to repair his meniscus and possibly his ACL. Probably done for the season. Poor Marco.
Lucic is out for tomorrow's game. They still haven't said what's injured.
Bergeron talked to the media today. He doesn't want to put a timetable on his return (so he's not disappointed if he doesn't hit the return date) but he's riding the bike and has been headache free.
3. Posted by Jaci | January 9, 2009 1:03 PM