Bruins at Islanders [game thread]

1) On paper the Isles have zero chance, but the B’s may be over looking this game and as you point out they are missing a few big pieces that have brought them sucesss. Would be nice to see ‘the kids’ put a few behind Thomas tonight

1) Nice classy move by Bruins announcer Mike Milbury(remember him? ; ) taking a shot at the Islander attendance tonight saying the Bruins need to overlook the lack of a croud tonight

1) Having been the new Boston arena (not sure which bank is paying $$ to have the naming righs this year) in years past the B’s have hardly been selling out until recently! We can bet that if they had a few down years like the Isles their attendance wouldn’t be all the good

Just got in and missed the first period.

Just like old times, kid. That’s gotta feel weird though. Imagine the jaw pain is weirder.

Just totally allowed to walk around the net, then slip it through the arm.

I got here just in time :(

Not much of a fight. Funny how Jackman is slowly defaulting into becoming our enforcer. Not the job he signed up for, but I’m sure it helps Gordon a) not dress a pure (i.e. skill-less) enforcer and b) keep putting Jackman in the lineup.

As Rose mentioned on the air, Dubielewicz must secure a formal release from the KHL club that bought him out (Great.), and also clear NHL waivers since he played in another pro league this year. Barring injury, no one who passed on Sanford will claim Dubie. But you never know with NHL-KHL relations.

One Scott Gordon, sentenced to the late ‘80s-’90s Nordiques, compiled .829.

… is ripping the Isles on NESN. (I’m not listening to that feed, but Chemmy gave a heads-up).

I’ve always tried to like Edwards because of his enthusiasm in both hockey and soccer, but I can never get there. He’s just 110% cheesedog.

Wonderful totally unconventional break-up of the 2-on-1 by Witt.

I think he realized, “It’s just Thornton, so I can probably do anything half-ass disruptive and he won’t get the pass through.” Mission accomplished.

The Maven interviews P.J. Ax’: “You’re getting maybe a little more fight than you expected from a last-place team.”

P.J.: Obligatory “we know they’re good, just having it tough,” etc. … politeness.

Jaffe say: “In a remote location — soon to be announced, but not eastern Canada.”

My guess, based on a birdie: Saskatoooooooon.

Howie and Billy — who are slick with the spoken word — sound like they have been positively media trained with talking points on the K.C. game and the L.P. They are totally soft-selling it here in brilliant P.R.-trained fashion.

“Whether it’s a sign of something, or whether it just creates an impression…”

Fluky bounce off the end glass to the side of the net, but St. Pierre was good to jump on that and lift it past Yann Da-lowerbody.

Jaffe and Rose are talking about Dubie’s contract with Russia, etc. and all of the sudden you hear Goring (out in the crowd being third man for the night) talking about Boston playing with confidence. Sounded like he cut them off, but essentially his mic feed was still on while he was conversing with someone else.

Maybe you had to be there :)

Guerin hasn’t scored in 8 games — since he got #399 and #400 against Toronto — and hadn’t scored in the 7 games before that.

Okposo just made Chara look like rookie-Islander-era Chara, when he didn’t know how to skate.

Man, he is really starting to use his body well. And the rest of the league is noticing.

So nice to see — and to not hear him whining that he won’t be the next Gillies.
[gratuitous shot at Bertuzzi]

Boy, Thornton skates on partial breakaways like he knows he hasn’t a chance of scoring.

But he should give it a shot: It’s freaking Yann Danis.

Sweet, three minutes after I call out his stats, he breaks the slump. I will now bring out the sun.

“Spies Like Us” reference]

Too little, too late. The Bruins fans at Stanley Cup of Chowder were right in calling it a tighter game. Didn’t expect the Isles to put that much of a challenge to these guys. Most shots let up by the Bruins all season (that has to drive Julien crazy).

Finished the game, surfed Center Ice, popped open a beer, and then found this “Avenger” unmasking. Don’t get it, and don’t really wanna bother with it much. But I might have to.